Spot on article. I always preferred spending more than couple of days at a place (say, couple of months, if possible), just to see how it really is. Try to be one of them (locals) during the months you are there.

Also, walk. Walk in random directions, without a plan. See what's really going on!

In my opinion, there's no other way of truly experiencing another culture. Taking a picture in tourist-packed place is surely not the way to experience anything.

I realize that's difficult to spend a month in another country due to other obligations (kids, work, etc.) - not sure how are we going to solve that, ever (or even if it needs "solving" at all). That's just how society is structured, for now.