The question

Travelling without travelling – I have seen this topic discussed by several travel writers. My thoughts, put simply, are that one cannot travel without travelling. It defies logic.

What are these are writers talking about, then? Well, I think a well-intentioned writer may be attempting to explain that you can “travel” by seeking similar experiences that travelling offers in your day-to-day life: meeting new people; learning new skills or languages; tasting new foods; appreciating different cultures. Or it may mean reliving past adventures, reminiscing by sharing stories, and looking over old photos. Perhaps, quite simply, it could mean just imagining it. That last one might be the most pretentious of all the answers, but I will return to the power of the imagination.

I should be clear that I think all the activities I listed above are great; I would encourage anyone to do those. However, I don’t think those activities are intrinsically linked to travel. Not everyone has to travel, and you can lead a meaningful and fulfilling life without doing so.

It may appear I am downplaying the importance of travel, on my website that is based on entirely on that subject. That is not the case. I will tell you what I think travel has to offer and why it can be so rewarding.

The meaning of travel

I want travel to be appreciated for what it is, and what it can be. Not what it isn’t. What you take from your own travel experiences is up to you. I have created this website to share what it means to me. It doesn’t mean the same to everyone, and you don’t have to see the same values in it as others may tell you.

I don’t think travel is a unique experience that only travellers can understand. It’s one of many parts of our lives. I don’t see travel as a separation of my “normal” life; I see it as an integral part of it. That is why I don’t like the term “gap year” – travel shouldn’t be considered a gap. Every moment on our travels can be as meaningful as our time at school, at work, or with our families. Travel should feel special because it is an opportunity to do, see, and experience many new things.

What travel has done for me

On a personal level, travel helped me build confidence, inspired me to try new things, and test myself in challenging situations. It helped me become more thoughtful about myself, my actions, and my influence on those around me. Travelling also helped inspire self-belief. My time while travelling was an important part of my development. And I had some of the best times of my life.

When living in New Zealand and Australia, for large parts with no family or close friends around, I had to go out and make new friends; that hadn’t always been my strong point. I met many wonderful people. On several occasions I had very little money, which requiring me to take on types of work I had never done before. And I embraced it. When travelling in Central America, I had to improve my very basic Spanish into conversation level. To my own surprise, I managed to start having conversations, and making connections with people in a new language.

Leaving your comfort zone

If you don’t move beyond your comfort zone on occasion you will more likely meet people with a similar mindset to you, in a structured environment, that isn’t hugely different to experiences you could have at home. You may see new sights and have encounters you otherwise wouldn’t have had, which make it an unforgettable time. But it is less likely to be an experience that is shaped by the place you have travelled to.

The subtle variance I am highlighting is that the predictable experiences aren’t derived through adventure, through curiosity, nor a desire to explore – the essence of travel. The urge for the unknown, to me, separates an adventure from a holiday. If you take yourself off that carefully planned itinerary, and away from the safe option, your encounters are more likely to be unique to you. Let your imagination (see above) wander, dream up possibilities, and then make them reality.

Taking a chance

What also helps me feel adventurous on my travels is spontaneity – taking a chance, then getting the reward, made all the more special by knowing I took a leap of faith and had a new experience. One example of this was my trip to Kui Buri National Park, in Thailand. I arrived in the country on an open-ended trip with no set plans. My first week was spent on the islands and coastline. It felt like I was following many other European travellers on the same path. I wanted to explore.

Following limited information obtained online, in search of wild elephants, I was dropped off by a highway at the start of the quiet road into the park. There was nothing for it other than to hitch a ride in. Amazingly, the first car to pass in those twenty minutes stopped and offered a ride to a lodge conveniently located a few miles from the park. There, I received my reward.

I had, to my amazement, my first ever sighting of wild elephants in that park; it would not have happened without taking a chance on a hope.

Find your own path

I think there is a lot to be said for finding your path along the way. As in life, as you travel you will find opportunities you don’t expect. So, my advice to you, is to go beyond what you feel comfortable in. That doesn’t mean take unnecessary or dangerous risks. It does mean exploring beyond the path well-travelled, seeing more than the most popular destinations, and maybe leave some things down to chance – to spontaneity.

If you don’t seek these opportunities, you won’t uncover all that travel has to offer – those experiences that makes travelling so inspiring, and one of life’s most rewarding pursuits.