I suppose I’ve done a bit more traveling than your average Joe. My Dad is a keen traveller and had my mum, my sisters and I on all sorts of exotic long-haul holidays when we were kids. We would go to places like America and South East Asia for three weeks at a time hopping around from hotel to hotel.
The trips were always cultural, educational and adventurous and (much to my adolescent dismay) hardly ever involved lying on a beach. I have my Dad to thank for opening my eyes to the world of travel the enriching experiences that it can. All of this is what has inspired me to pursue a career that allows me to combine my two greatest loves; writing and travel.
But whilst I am extremely fortunate to travel on a regular basis, what I have never done is go away ‘travelling’ for a long period of time on a multi stop trip. I’m talking plan an adventure, pack a rucksack, and fly into the sunset. I’ve never done it and I’ve got to admit, it’s one of those things I HAVE to do before I die. Here are a few reasons why I am holding on to my dream of going travelling, as I believe these are the ways travelling can change your life…
My best friends Steph, Lauren and Becca during our trip to Thailand
1. You can be at the right place in the right time
There’s something so romantic about travelling. Nothing thrills me more than stepping into the unknown, waking up every day not knowing what is around the corner. For me, that is exactly why I love travelling. You never know who you are going to meet day to day. And every person you meet could open doors to an incredible opportunity. People you meet could be the stepping-stone into a dream job.
Storms brewing on Koh Tao Island
2. You can fall in love
Yes of course, there’s a chance you could fall in love with that ridiculously sexy Latino whilst partying at the Rio carnival, and let’s admit it, that sounds pretty fun. But I don’t just mean you can find love in a cliché holiday romance style. If you go travelling with your boyfriend / girlfriend, travel could make you fall in love even deeper and make a tighter bond through experiencing so much togehter. Similarly, leaving the person you love at home whilst you travel can also make you fall deeper in love. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. No matter how you look at it, travel = love.
Trekking through the mountains of Chiang Mai, Thailand
3. You can become street wise
If it’s one thing that travel does, it makes you that little bit wiser, making you grow up and fend for yourself. For many, going travelling is the first time you’ll ever have to work out how to wash your clothes. It something goes wrong, you can’t just call Mummy and Daddy to wave a magic wand and sort it out. You automatically have an increased awareness about you that you acquire, and never loose. Lessons for life right there!
Falling off a moped in Thailand when I was 19 certainly made me a little more streetwise
4. You learn appreciate the beauty of home comforts
When you’re away travelling for a long period of time, chances are you’ll find yourself in some rather questionable digs during your trip. And whilst you’ll love every minute of it, there will be no better feeling than when A. You spend an hour on the sofa watching crap TV B. When you make ‘a nice cup of tea’ and most importantly C. When your head hits the pillow of your very own bed.
The diving boats coming into Koh Tao, Thailand
5. You make friends from all over the world
Travelling makes you realise just how small the world is. When I go away I love meeting people from different countries and asking them about about their lives and cultures (the journalist in me always comes out). Most of the times I’ve done this, it’s made me realise that everyone is the same around the world. We all want the same things from life: love, happiness, and success. And not only that, you create a web of contacts around the world that would probably more than happy to put you up if you’re ever in the area!
I met so many amazing people from lots of different nationalities during my trip to Thailand
6. You remember how to think
All those hours on buses, night trains, departure lounges, planes can add up. And there’s only so many times you can listen to your iTunes or play noughts and crosses with your travel buddy. It is this travel time which forces you to THINK. Think about home, think about life, think about the people you love, think about where you’re going next. Time to think is a luxury that most time-poor people lack. Never under the importance of down time.
I got this mug when I ordered a tea in MBK shopping mall in Bangkok and it make me THINK
Has this post inspired you to travel? Can you relate to any of my ideas in some way? How else can travel change your life? Leave me a comment and let me know! I reply to each and every single one 🙂
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Travel is the greatest education you could ever get, you learn more about not just what is important in the world but what is important in life. You learn that all the things people absorb and waste time and money on back at home is just ‘stuff’. I truly hope you can back it all up and join the long term travellers club. You won’t look back 🙂
Hey Jaryd. So glad that you agree. Thanks for your comment!
Jess
Great post – I’ve just decided that this time next year I’m jacking in life and heading off on my travels for as long as I can afford – this list is all the reasons I simply cannot wait!
I totally agree! So many people dont go travelling because ‘they have a partner’ etc, but it’s an unmissable experience, either go with them or love them even more when you get back!
No regrets – thing is, people don’t realise how good it is until they go!
🙂
Mollie xoxo
molliebylett.blogspot.co.uk
Learning to think is definitely a lost art with our generation. We are always on phones or computers trying to entertain ourselves. Travelling is amazing at forcing you to recognize the world around you and therefore think about everything you experience. 🙂 Good post!
Hi Jo
Thanks for your kind comment. So glad you enjoyed my post and agree with my ideas. You are quite right about the lost art bit, that’s why I love travel! Hope you keep reading 🙂
Jess x
Everything you wrote is true. And what I like about it is that you wrote it from your heart. I know many people, many travellers but I have to tell, you are devoted one. Your dad did a great thing when he decided for you to see the world. Good luck!
Hi Julie. Thanks for such a lovely message. I am glad my passion for travel comes through in my writing! Yes indeed, I will always be grateful to my Dad for that. Hope you keep reading 🙂
Jess
If you ever wann hop on the Eurostar for a weekend in Brussels lemme know! 😀 xoxo
That’s so sweet Kaori, thanks. I would love to do this. If I ever get the chance to come over I will definitely let you know. Hope all is good with you! 🙂 x
Awesome post! I especially like the part about “time-poor people” not having as much time and the luxury of downtime. I can especially appreciate that since I am one. And thank you for the blog post inspiration!
Ro.
Hi Ro. Thanks for your comment. Glad you found this post useful. Most people are time poor in someways these days but that’s what makes travel so much more special, it’s definitely a luxury ! Hope you keep reading for more blog inspiration 🙂
Jess x
All very true and it widens your horizons literally and figuraltively. You realise the world is not that big and everyone on it despite different cultures and lifestyle are all pretty much the same under the skin. Great post Jess 🙂
Quite right! Thanks for your comment 🙂