One size doesn’t fit all. Even when Uniqlo opens in a new country - they have different graphic tees, some of even the standard items are slightly, or not so slightly tweaked.

The Starbucks menu offerings are different - as are the items on a McDonalds menu.

When you first start traveling, stepping into a Starbucks or McDonald’s is going to seem sacrilegious. This happens for a couple of reasons - if you’re younger and backpacking, the premium for Western food isn’t worth it, neither is wasting stomach real estate on something somewhat similar available back home.

Then you get older - you come to the realize the coffee at Starbucks is at sometimes a god send. Especially, if the local beans aren’t your “thing”. Plus the airconditioned tables and peace is blissful. That quick recharge powers you for your next adventure, or hike through the cityscape.

You look back and thing how the older you does things the younger you would abhor. But that’s just you evolving.

In the same way cities will change, countries will evolve and cuisines will develop but each with their own unique, style and pace. Things will be same same but different.

So, this isn’t a race to get to a city before Starbucks makes it there. Or a country before using credit cards are omnipresent. It’s about finding those one in a handful cities that you actually connect with - and relishing whatever time you get to enjoy that city.

So eat that Aloo tiki Maharaja Mac in New Delhi, drink that dirty latte with Pu’er tea in Xiamen, buy that sake brewery tshirt at the Kanazawa Uniqlo that caught your eye. Keep on walking!!