I don’t travel a lot, in fact I hate traveling or should I say I used to hate traveling. The idea of being in transit for hours to a destination never really seemed fun to me. Maybe it’s because I’m restless and I hate being confined to a particular space or position. Traveling was a big red flag till one experience changed my orientation completely. I went on a road trip with my family one Easter, did I mention how much I hate traveling by road? Well I really do.
We travelled four hours from the city we live to a small village to climb a historical mountain with waterfalls. The idea wasn’t fun to me at first, of course I thought “why would anyone travel four hours just to climb a mountain with waterfalls”, till we arrived at our destination.
The environment was serene. The ambience was different; the chirping birds and trees, the water from the falls felt so soothing; clear and calm. Climbing the mountain to the top for about three hours was a challenging and tedious one but it felt so different from everything I’ve ever done in my life. The view from the peak of the mountain is one of the most beautiful views I’ve seen in my life. Everything about that experience was a whole new feeling; the villagers we interacted with, the food and the small villages we encountered on our way. After everything, I said to myself “I’d love to do this again” because it was worth it.
Traveling-it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.- Ibn Battuta
It is funny how some people don’t think they have really travelled or it is really worth it if they aren’t leaving their country to a different region or continent. Travel is simply visiting another location, it could be another city or state within your country or another country or continent. You do not have to leave your country or continent to get that travel experience you hope for. The beauty of it are those little things; the little details you don’t see or experience in your everyday life. Traveling is an activity that eases the mind.
A major travel deal breaker is the expenses. It’s okay to visit places you can afford before you move on to other more expensive places. To visit expensive places, deliberate planning is mostly required. You would have to save up for the trip or journey. That is why it is important to adopt a saving culture. Also, some people conclude there are bad travel experiences, yes there are because there are ups and downs at every point in life. No matter how bad the travel experience is, you will still discover a new world different from what you usually see and learn a thing or two. It is something that is worth it, it will always be. Read more
Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves a mark on your memory, on your consciousness, on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, leave something good behind.- Anthony Bourdain.
5 important reasons you should travel more
- Discover cultures- Culture Is the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular people or society. There’s so much to discover and learn in life and traveling is one of the easiest ways to discover more. Culture is a mirror; a reflection of generations of history, generally accepted values and beliefs of a group of people. Culture encompasses food, art, music, fashion and so much more. Discovering cultures is basically taking a peek into the lives of other people, their identity; what makes them who they are. By discovering cultures you will find what you have in common with a group of people and a lot of things that differentiates your way of life from theirs.
2. New perspective- Everyone needs a new perspective at some point in their life. Having a new perspective makes you open minded. You are ready to learn new things. You are able to adapt to any situation. Having a new perspective gives you a better relationship with others. It makes you understand others more; you are able to step into their world and relate with them.
The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.-Saint Augustine.
3. People and networks- Meeting new people exposes you to so many opportunities. Traveling gives you a chance to meet with an endless list of people. Networking is tapping into connections you have to help you get the right opportunities. Every time you leave your usual geographical location to another, you meet different people with access to different networks and opportunities. You have to use your communication and inter-personal relationship skills to secure connections; you should get to know other people, what they are about and how they can be helpful to you.
4. Memories and adventures- There is so much to do when you travel. Different destinations hold their own experience. Everything that happens while you travel is an adventure on its own; the experience, the cuisine, the sites, the luxury. Remember to hold on to those memories; Take lots of pictures. Make videos. Write if you can. One of the sweetest parts of it the memories it brings.
5. Innovation- Sometimes all you need to get fresh ideas and inspiration is to travel. The reason you are having a creative block may be because your mind is tired of your usual environment and you need a change of environment. Have you heard people talk about their success story and they say what led to their major breakthrough was an idea they got during a trip? Yes that’s the power of traveling. Do not limit yourself, there’s so much to discover!
“I travel because it makes me realize how much I haven’t seen, how much I’m not going to see, and how much I still need to see.”-Carew Papritz