A Traveler’s Moment
Posted by spillay on May 1, 2008
I read this wonderful essay this morning : What Would You Give For Your Traveler’s Moment?(Written by Benjamin Orbach). It is one of those materials that makes you stop… think….feel envious…and, become wishful.
My Travels
I feel almost guilty using the words “My Travels”. Honestly, I don’t feel as if I have actually travelled anywhere. Yes,..I have been to England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Thailand, …. and if you count the time that I travelled as a toddler with my parents on that European cruise we took on the Russian Liner, then I’ve been to many, many more countries in the world. But,… have I travelled? If you were to ask me if I had “experienced” these wonderful countries on my list,… my honest to God answer is,… barely.
Travel -Experience
By now, I can imagine some of you wondering…” How can you visit so many countries and not ‘experience’ them?. For sure, that is impossible!“. Sadly, it isn’t. As I read Eat Pray Love, I know this now for a fact. It doesn’t count that my travels hadn’t been for more than 1 week at a place, at a time. I know now, that even a day is enough. Enough to let go of who you think you are and simply be part of the place where you stand. To become one of the locals and to do and think as them. To ’know’ that you have actually been there all your life. To be at “home”, even though your feet hadn’t touched the ground you stand on before that day. …. That is when, I believe, you truly experience and become a true traveler.
May 1, 2008 at 3:21 pm
All I can still say is WOW - but I do know what you mean. I have only been to few places but India is probably the only place I can say I truly felt a part of (especially the trip I made with my best friend before I got married which included taking a dip in the Ganges - I must write about it soon).
I too am reading the book that you’re reading
- I’ve bought a whole lot of new books, some by Mitch Albom too - just have to find the time to read….
May 1, 2008 at 5:53 pm
How true! Every time I travel I try to stay in the non tourist spots, always fascinated in the cultures and the history, meet people and talk. Travellers moments are what we make of them
May 1, 2008 at 7:40 pm
@ Boiseangel: New nickname and avatar! Cool!
. I look forward to reading about your Ganges experience soon.
@ SanityFound: That’s the true way to go - the non-tourist spots!
May 5, 2008 at 1:36 am
Thanks for the kind words —
best,
Ben
May 5, 2008 at 11:13 am
@ Ben: Wow! I never thought a real life author would visit my blog! Thank you for dropping by
. BTW, I am looking up your book “Live From Jordon”,.. and I look forward to reading it.
May 7, 2008 at 12:52 pm
i know what you mean, and you brought out the message beuatifully..