Why travel? 10 things I get from travelling

Hi everyone! Today I would like to share with you what I get out of travelling and what I continue to get from it.

I'm not going to describe in detail all the life lessons that it has taught me up until now, but rather the question of "why" we should travel. But an article on life lessons I have learnt will be available soon!

To give you an insight, there are many people who don't quite understand my enthusiasm for travelling. For example, they often as me, "but why do you want to travel so much?" or even, "why do you want to go on a trip around the world? It's long, dangerous... "

The first time someone asked me those questions, I admit I was caught a bit off-guard! (and I didn't know how to respond to them without gibbering)

I would therefore like to share my answers in a bit more detail!

Firstly, I would just like to share my thoughts on the difference between the words "tourist" and "traveller", which seems an interesting point to clear up.

Even if I think that the importance of this fine detail remains subjective.

According to the dictionary, a tourist is a person "who travels for pleasure" and a traveller is someone "who travels".

So, apparently it would be the notion of pleasure which differentiates one from the other.

But I think that it's more complex than that, and it would be a good idea to find out the reason and the intention from the start.

In fact, it simply depends on what you are looking for on your trip. Adventures? Discoveries? Comfort? Relaxation?

There isn't one particular reason which is worth more than another. But in my opinion, in this article I will talk about travelling in terms of a "traveller", envious of discovering new cultures and who loves challenges, adventures, and looking to get out of their comfort zone.

Why I travel, what it brings me:

1) Pleasure (of starting a trip)

From the planning to the carrying out, starting a trip requires time and energy (even if the amount really depends on the style of traveller). But whether I'm just at the dreaming stage, planning stage, experiencing stage or the recalling stage, there's truly a spark which ignites and gives me a lot of pleasure!

2) The pleasure of being understood and speaking other languages

At school, I'm sure they reminded you again and again that to some degree it's important to know other languages (at school they particularly stress the importance of English, but it goes the same for every language).

Even with a little knowledge of a language, we have access to new information (books, television series, YouTube videos... ) and especially to new connections and encounters rich in experience and history!

Travelling lets you absorb this and practise those languages. What better way than to be thrown in at the deep end?

3) Opening your mind

I think that this is one of the things which comes first when we think about travelling.

People often say that "trips train young people" and open new horizons for us. All simply thanks to wide differences in cultures and beliefs.

When we meet a population which has completely different traditions, we can't just allow ourselves to remain stuck on the idea that "the values from my country are the best" or "the rules and regulations from my country are the fairest/most ethical".

The fact that we are surrounded by a different cultural majority entices us to really question ourselves.

4) Unlikely encounters

The point that intrigues me most is this one. Because I honestly think that the magic in life comes from interactions and connections we have with others.

So, encounters are very important, and also even more when they bring people from different horizons together.

We learn how to communicate together, we make friendships, we discover parts of the world together, we share moments, memories and experiences... Anyway, this type of encounter is a source of happiness for me.

5) Access to activities, unique sensations

Travelling provides us with a deeper exploration of our senses.

For example, an Egyptian could only have an authentic experience of the immensity of the northern glaciers by travelling. On the contrary, a Swede could only experience the beauty and sensations of the Sahara Desert by going there.

I know that it may be obvious put like that, but it really motivates me to explore the unknown, go to places which are completely different and disoriented.

And it works the same way for activities: hot air balloons in Turkey, zip wires in Costa Rica, having a Japanese style coffee...

6) A taste of adventure

In my opinion, I try to divert from the typical tourist things because what interests me is being in contact with a culture and a population.

I don't want to make do with a created image, one which a country wants to show me.

It's that approach which leads me to places which aren't particularly inviting for visitors and almost deserted.

And it's because of my self-obligation to find this authenticity (staying with the locals, hitch-hiking, car-share, small jobs... ) that makes travelling adventurous. It's this excitement of adventure which brings a bonus to the life I have decided to live, a life which I find more exciting and less boring!

7) Tests and discomfort to overcome

Well whoever says adventure, also says obstacles! Travelling is not all bright and we could stumble upon many unpleasant situations along the way. However, it's that which creates and brings us to our destiny of experiences and depth in life!

8) Being stripped of everything, just being with ourselves

Another difference between a weekend tourist and a long-term traveller is that the latter does not have the time to recharge their batteries.

Having done my tour of Europe with a huge suitcase instead of a backpack, believe me it was the worst thing I could have done.

By travelling lightly, and having the bare minimum, it may not be obvious however, you quickly realise that it also lifts a weight off your shoulders in terms of your thoughts and mental strains.

Fewer things to manage, less risk of losing or breaking things.

Anyway, just pack the essentials, things which you really need, which you consider necessary. And believe me, it's often a lot less than the things you own!

9) Helping me to realise that I'm a child in the world and not only in one country

I find it such a shame that we divide ourselves, that we are scared of others, that we fight instead of uniting as people from the same planet.

As human beings, I believe that we belong to the entire world!

At times, some people have the sensation that they were born in a bad country, or they don't feel like they belong to a community: travelling can help us to find ourselves, discover what intrigues us, understand why and find the place (or places) where we actually feel at home!

10) Discovering new things about myself

When people first said that to me, I found it a bit silly, I didn't understand how it would help us to get to know ourselves better.

But it's by living it that everything became clearer: I have never been so close to myself before.

Being completely stripped of the unnecessary and faced with unusual situations was when I started questioning myself.

To give you a really silly example, was when I joined in a "free" guided tour, but they still asked you to give a donation at the end.

I was really happy with the tour and I had learnt a lot of things. But the fact was, I was on a budget, and it made me quite stressed, so I preferred to discretely hide and leave when they were giving tips. Then later, in the afternoon, I saw the guide again from afar and the first thing which came to mind was to hide and wait for him to go past.

All that because I didn't want him to see me, because I was ashamed of not giving him a tip.

And after that, I realised my behaviour was completely childish and I felt so guilty that I had to go back to the tour guide office to ask them to give my tip, which I had put in an envelope, to the man (and I gave him double what the majority did).

All that to say that it let me find out several things about myself (anxiety towards money, the fact that I preferred to get away instead of being comfortable in this situation, and how I caved in because of guilt... )

And there you have it! I think I must have left some points out... But who knows, maybe I'll write another one?

I hope you liked this and were inspired! Thanks for reading and have a good day!

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