“Too often on the road, people seek the spiritual side of life in the same determined way they might join a gym: they want results, and they want them soon. Thus, the yoga camps of India, the meditation retreats of Thailand, and the evangelical group-tours of Galilee sell out (literally and figuratively) to vacationers in search of instant spiritual gratification. In reality, there is just as much epiphany to be had in wandering lost through the alleyways of Varanasi, enduring diarrhea on the Bangkok-to-Surat Thani minibus, or playing games with children in the Nazareth town square. Moreover, spirituality is an ongoing process that deepens with the seasons — and those who travel the world hoping to get “blinded by the light” are often blind to the light that’s all around them.”
–Rolf Potts, Vagabonding (2003)