Beyond Getting There: What Travel Days Show Us
07. Mar, 2010 
15 Comments
Today’s guest post is by Gillian at One-Giant-Step.com sums up for me that imperceptible change that happens when you travel… you start appreciating things you never thought you would. In that process, maybe you even learn a new way to see the world.
Who is it that said “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey”? Nine months of full time traveling has proven to me that this is absolutely true.
Before leaving on this trip the thought of an 8 or 10 hour bus trip was pretty daunting. The longest trips we’d taken were on planes, where they serve drinks and meals and we can pass the time watching movies. Eight hours on a bus, without the same amenities sounded like torture but we jumped in right from the start with a 22 hour ride from Lima to Cusco that, while not the most comfortable ride, got us into the swing of things pretty quickly.
Once we got a routine down…snacks packed, books prepared, podcasts ready…and had determined our favorite seats…on the drivers side, no window bar blocking the view, no children nearby…bus journeys became easy and now travel days are some of my favorite days.
They are a chance for quiet reflection, to leave behind what is past, to think about the place we are leaving and start thinking about how we will remember our experiences there…that great evening we had at the market, the interesting people we met at the cooking course, the horrible bed at the guesthouse. They are a chance to look forward, to anticipate what is coming, and to plan ahead…where will we go next, how will we get there…where will we stay. They are a chance to stare out the window and think about where we’ve been and where we’re going, about past successes and future plans…when else is there a chance to do nothing but quietly think?
Travel days let us learn a little bit about the people and culture of the places we visit. Sitting in an airport, bus station or train depot gives me a great vantage point to see how people relate to each other. Who is traveling with who? Where might they be going, and why? Are they traveling for work, or holiday, or to visit family? Who are they meeting…or leaving behind?
In a small northern Turkish town we witnessed a heart-wrenching goodbye between two young men. Turkish men are very close – it is normal to see them holding hands and embracing each other – and this couple seemed heartbroken to be leaving each other. One boy sat in the seat ahead of us, perhaps on his way to school or military service, his friend stood outside the bus. They spent their remaining time together with hands pressed against the glass, trying to talk through the window and texting each other on their phones. I don’t understand Turkish but is was clear they were going to miss each other terribly.
I like the act of traveling, the moving forward, the getting somewhere. I love watching the scenery slowly change from rolling hills to flat plains, along high twisty mountain roads or perfectly straight desert highways – there is always lots to see. One of my favorite bus rides is still that first 22 hour ride between Lima and Cusco. I will always remember dawn breaking over the altiplano, the smoke rising from the llama herder shacks and the sun glinting off the frost that covered the ground.
There are plenty of stories to be told about dodgy bus trips, or awful plane rides, or the never-ending tuk tuk/minivan/bus/boat combination…what would we do without those stories? But there are also plenty of journeys that are made perfectly lovely…the lemon spritz on Turkish buses, the meals served on Argentinean buses, or the comfy bed on the overnight Thailand train.
Travel days are an integral part of travel. They are filled with possibility and anticipation of what lies ahead. I like the optimism they have, the sense that fun and adventure lie ahead. No matter how long or short the journey they will always be my favorites.
About the author:
Gillian believes that we are all only One Giant Step from making our dreams come true. She, and her partner Jason, left home nine months ago for a one year trip around the world. She writes about their experiences and adventures at One-Giant-Step.com
Pic: BertBeckers.
Pic2: Hoyazmeg
Thanks for sharing! I really enjoyed reading your article. As someone who is seriously considering venturing out on a few adventures very soon, simply to experience life and try new things, I found your words inspirational.
Continue to enjoy the journey!
April Brown´s last blog ..Dutch Almond Boterkoek..sinful, buttery and delicious…
Thanks, Gillian, and happy trails to you. We recently had a similar experience in a bus in Mexico. At first, the distance sounded uncomfortable, but it actually was a beautiful, smooth experience. Sitting higher on a bus gives you a different, refreshing perspective and a chance to use the time for something you would ordinarily be too busy to do. Nothing beats close-up views of Popocatepetl covered in fresh snow while you glide by … in a bus ! The sound of Spanish around me was so pleasant it lulled me into relaxing sleep.
Adri Pedersen´s last blog ..
I loved this article because it reminded me that one of the best parts of travel is sitting on a bus or train and just staring out the window watching the scenery pass me by. It’s a time to get quiet and think about all the great things I’m doing that during the hustle and bustle I don’t have time to think about.
Joya´s last blog ..Three Travel Bites of the Week
I love that you are traveling around the world, I want to do the same very soon… how amazing your journey must be! Great post, it took me out of myself for a few minutes and gave me a mental vacation
I’ll be checking out your website for sure to continue to follow your journeys.
Maren Kate´s last blog ..The #1 Question that leads to Massive Success
Very cool article especially with people who are not in their 20′s and have been working for some time. It’s great to learn they are from the area. I’ve been living in Victoria for just about 1.5 years now.
expatraveler´s last blog ..A Photo Tour
This post was the most beautiful thing to read first thing this morning! I agree in every way–whenever I’m in transit to a new location, I can’t help but get this amazing feeling that I’m actively participating in the construction of my future beliefs, perspectives etc. that inevitably are tweaked just a little–and for the better–with each trip I take. It’s empowering!
Wonderful post.
Ash´s last blog ..How Societal Ideals Conflict With Societal Goals
There’s something elemental and organic about traveling on wheels. Gives you a sense of connection to the earth, the ground upon which you’re wandering, which is the reason I think I (and you evidently) find myself becoming very introspective on journeys on the ground. Planes make me lose touch with the sense of being connected to things. Not sure why. Perhaps it’s a suspended animation.
Thanks for the thoughtful post!
AirTreks Nico´s last blog ..Friday Afternoon Palate Cleanser – Bobby Lapoint’s “Framboise”
great post! just makes me miss traveling even more! I love how relative things can be – a 22 hr bus ride can be uncomfortable but so memorable and worth it.
Adriana´s last blog ..a travel epiphany moment
I love this post. You’re right…sometimes we dread the long travel days, but those sometimes end up being our most interesting experiences. I find that I always tend to meet interesting people on trains, planes, and buses while traveling. And you’re right, it is a great time to reflect (and even journal). Sometimes I still dread travel days, and they are sometimes as awful as I think they will be….but other times they turn out to be unexpectedly pleasant and interesting.
This post is right up my alley. I only use flying to cross continents, otherwise slow and methodical is a treasured choice. With time and altering scenery, one has time to absorb events, dream, catch up on sleep, or mingle with fellow travelers (local or not). And for me, scribble madly in a notebook. Thanks Gillian, for reminding us that getting there is just as significant as being there.
Nomadic Chick´s last blog ..My Top 3 Travel Secrets
I, too, love the “travel” part of traveling for many of the same reasons. Often they are some of the only times that I can be completely “by myself,” as well. It was nice to meet you here, Gillian.
Cherrye at My Bella Vita´s last blog ..Travel Tip Tuesday: Three Things You Should Know Before Visiting Southern Italy
Focus on the process not the outcome – a point well made in travel and all aspects of life.
AJ´s last blog ..Who’s Watching (Answer)
Learning to appreciate the act of moving—and seeing the people and the landscape—is a big part of what separates long-term travelers from short vacationers. They don’t have time for that so they miss a lot. These trips can be mundane, but they give you a better sense of the country and its people, even if that does mean chickens on the roof or a guy selling rats on a stick.
Tim L.´s last blog ..Shoestring Travel Means Getting Used to the Simple Life
Very nice writing, Gillian! I can see I’m going to have to visit your site. What’s great about the writing is the seeming ease with which it lifts you forward into the next sentence, the next thought. I wonder if it comes that easily or it’s like Hemingway who sweated blood over it. Probably not THAT hard for you!
Perfectly positioned on the travel writing blog, too. What’s also true is that not only is the journey important but the uncomfortableness (how else would we know where we were comfortable), the awkwardness, even total disasters that we survive are a lot more memorable than the comfortable numbness of everyday existence.
Why else travel? Why else blog?
TerryDarc´s last blog ..Namibian Photo Gallery
it’s so true, moving around overland is a big part of anyone journey RTW.
the mixed feelings of such long trips, the moving images of a changing landscapes, the expectations that grown in your minds on the destination as you are one step closer, the stories of the people set next to you have made up our travel stories and memories