Here are some hypotheses that I thought when I was traveling.
1.We can have clearer,more vivid dreams when we are traveling as we get more new information from the surroundings, it makes the brain process more during REM.I had better dream when I stayed in the hotel.
2.About some random thoughts that make you can’t fall asleep during WBTB:I think that in this stage,the brain started to process stuffs like the brain usually does in the dream.So you can’t stop it as it is something subconsciously.
I know that they may be wrong or ridiculous (or even known),so please comment & point out my mistake.
Yes with number one I believe you are onto something. I noticed a trend of that happening at one point as a dreamer. While you are observing and taking in your new surroundings you are practicing awareness of your surroundings which will likely carry over into your dreams.
Funny thing on number one: Whenever I travel to some place I haven’t been to often, I have horrible recall, and I don’t have lucid dreams until I’m in the same place for a few weeks. I think this sort of thing differs for everyone.
Currently backpacking around Europe for 3 months, every few days I’m somewhere new, however I’ve noticed a massive drop in dream recall, I’m not sure - different for different people I guess.
I believe that you are more aware when somewhere that you are not safe in (not home) because of your natural instinct. This is how I have always seen it. When traveling with wife and kid I noticed that it is even more aware, because of the instinct to protect.