Why we travel

Ko Phangan, Thailand

Ko Phangan, Thailand

Seldom is there just one reason why a person travels, a point Colin Thubron eloquently makes in the opening pages of his Shadow of the Silk Road:

Sometimes a journey arises out of hope and instinct, the heady conviction, as your finger travels along the map: Yes, here and here…and here. These are the nerve-ends of the world…

A hundred reasons clamour for your going. You go to touch on human identities, to people an empty map. You have a notion that this is the world’s heart. You go to encounter the protean shapes of faith. You go because you are still young and crave excitement, the crunch of your boots in the dust; you go because you are old and need to understand something before it’s too late. You go to see what will happen.

As we travel to better understand ourselves and the world in which we live (and to discover how the two are intertwined), we also travel with all our senses involved. In my next five posts I plan to use our primary senses — hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell — to frame some of the reasons why we travel. I hope you’ll consider adding your own experiences and insights to each of these as we go along.

Posted by | Comments (2)  | May 6, 2010
Category: Images from the road, Notes from the collective travel mind


2 Responses to “Why we travel”

  1. Rebecca Says:

    Most people travel to escape their daily lives. Unfortunately, when they come back to reality, their problems, family, friends, and issues they face are still there. Travel to enjoy it, meet new people, get rid of your baggage, learn about culture and history, and enjoy yourself.

  2. GypsyGirl Says:

    What a great idea Joel! Often times the strongest memories we carry are imprinted by an over load to one or more of the senses. (weather we are traveling or not) Extracting that sensory awareness, then sharing it via writing is a challenge; banking on the faith of understanding,comparisons and experience. Being exposed to the intense moments stretches our comfort zones that much more.
    Look forward to reading your post!
    PS: Is the Egyptian sand staying out of your camera equipment…