What is Travel: My Thoughts On Why People Travel, Why I Travel And Why Travel Is An Onion
For some people, travel can be a weekend away to a new and exciting place. Yet for others, travel is purely visiting a country that is not your own. Claims abound that ‘backpacking’ is where the real travelling is to be done, whilst others are happy in the notion of a guided hotel tour or a 7 day trip on a cruise ship.
Many a grizzled veteran traveller will tout the potential clash of cultural experiences to be some of the more rewarding travel experiences, whilst much of the younger crowd on their first trip abroad will sing a merry tale of their socialising and drinking antics and all their new friends from around the world.
Is travelling a sign of maturity and the constant endeavour of humans to connect with the world around them, both emotionally and physically? Is it the innocent youth cracking the world like an oyster, surprising themselves with the pearl they find inside?
Travel means something different to everyone who experiences it, it’s layered like an onion (thanks for that one, Shrek) – and not everyone loves onions. I think that onions should be a staple for every meal!
For me, travelling and backpacking is a combination of every aspect in ‘normal’ life that I find myself looking forward to, except that when I’m travelling I get to experience those things every single day.
Things like meeting new friends and hanging out with old ones, more time to explore and think and be creative, and of course giving me the opportunity to see other cultures and other ways of life. It gives me perspective, and it means that I can be thankful every day for being born into a place where I get to make all of those choices for myself.
Also, the chance to read more great novels and drink more local beers from all around the world is a decidedly positive bonus, I won’t deny it.
Not everyone thinks of travel like I do, some people don’t like it. They don’t like leaving their comfort zone or this barrier that they’ve put up around themselves that is resistant to breaking the bubble of familiarity. And you know what, that’s okay. It’s their choice, and if they’re happy then I’m happy.
All I ask is that if you’re thinking of travelling but keep putting it off, don’t. If you’re thinking of doing something crazy like moving overseas for a few years to try something fun and different, but you delay doing it out of some fear of the unknown, then don’t. It’s your life, live it how you want to live it. Shut that little voice of betrayal that says you cannot do it because it’s new and unfamiliar and scary, because it’s wrong.
9 Responses to “What is Travel: My Thoughts On Why People Travel, Why I Travel And Why Travel Is An Onion”
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A great one tommy..you are getting better and better.
Thanks Louise!
Nice post Tom 🙂 Everyone has their own reasons for travelling, and needs to travel to their own terms 🙂 I’m also a big fan of onions, and with garlic, they form the basis of pretty much every meal I have. I’m probably not a good person to be too close too on a regular basis. Maybe that’s why I have to travel…
Haha, I too am also a big fan of garlic. Maybe there’s something there…. thanks for your comment Laurence 🙂
Thought piquing Tom, good on ya. I like to travel to learn about new things which makes me learn about myself.
Thanks Don! That’s a great reason to travel, thanks for stopping by!
Nice Post! I also think traveling is like an onion for all the reasons you mentioned but also because it’s a journey within! After every layer we peel off something new we discover!
Hi Anji! That’s true, I’m always discovering new things about the world and myself on the road. Thanks so much for the comment.
If you look at in a certain light, travel is rather pointless. But for people like you (and me), I think that it makes us feel more alive and happier than many other things in life could. As you said, some people need their own comforts. Keep travelling and keep pushing your limits because life is for living. Thanks for the interesting post.