Last year, I escaped to the Isle of Wight with Luke’s family. Unlike other family holidays I’ve been on, this escape to the Isle of Wight wasn’t about escaping the rain, nor escaping the domesticity of home. In fact, it was about embracing both of those things.
There is one thing we did escape though: the internet. Luke and I both spend a lot of our day online. We read the news online when we wake up, we work online in the mornings, we speak with our family and friends online and we write our blogs online. Sometimes we spend far too much time online, and sometimes we forget that too.
During our escape in the Isle Wight, we stayed in a grade II listed miller’s house, built in the 18th century. It was rustic, but cosy. There was no internet. Instead, there were large communal rooms, board games, muddy walks through the woods and mushrooms growing on the ceiling. It was quiet, peaceful and communal.
Being offline was strange for me, but at the same time it was liberating. I spent my time pursuing activities that usually fall by the wayside when I have the internet to distract me – reading books, playing board games, and walking in the countryside. I love doing all of those things but never seem to find the time when there’s an internet connection available.
How often do you escape the from the online world? Do you think it’s essential to do so, or do you crave being connected?
It sounds an amazing escape if you ask me. Sadly I’ve never been to the Isle of Wight but, spending most of my time online too, I understand perfectly why it was nice to have a break from it and do something different. I miss sometimes being able to be Internet free and do other things that sometimes I even forget I like to do. I should escape the online world too and more often :)
The Isle of Wight is nice, especially out of season – as the Summer gets really, really busy with young families. It’s kind of wistful and whimsical in the Autumn and Spring.
Yes, I feel exactly the same way, and sometimes I worry that the internet is taking over. Yet at the same time, the being online is how I earn a living and communicate with my friends across the world. Catch 22.
Exactly Charlie, catch 22!
I know what you mean, we all get caught up in the ever changing world of modern technology and gadgets that we sometimes for get to stop and smell the roses.
Yes, very much so!
Looks like a very quiet and peaceful place where you can gather your thoughts and really reflect on life. This is especially true because you don’t have the distractions like internet or TV.
Yes, you are spot on Bryan. I liked having the time to sit, walk and just reflect on life. Do you get to escape the online world often?
I wish I could get lost here at least once. Absolutely amazing scenery!! x
Yes, there’s a really rustic feel to the place :)
I’ve never thought of the Isle of White as particularly exciting after growing up in Dorset, but your photos remind me of something out of a Jane Austin novel. It actually makes me miss the English countryside. I actually find it quite hard to get online a lot of the time while we’re hitchhiking and camping- it’s good to remember that you can actually live without it!
That’s awesome! I like a break away there but I’m not sure I’d want to live there.
Amazing photo’s Charlie and what a beautiful place. To be honest, when I traveled (except for short city trips), I went pretty much completely offline. I didn’t even bring my smart phone. I checked the internet once every five days on the hostel computer. And, I loved that! However, now that I have my own travel blog I think I won’t be able to do that anymore :(! Still I think I’ll try to use internet in moderation. Like each day or every other day max. one hour in the evening online to update my social networks :)
Thanks, Manouk! That sounds pretty awesome, and I was definitely the same before I started writing a travel blog. I still don’t log on all that often and I think my social media is often the thing that suffers for it. I think the 1hr rule is a good one, I might start that! :)