All my past travels have been constantly and unrelentingly on my mind these recent weeks and I keep asking myself why. Is it because the world is changing at such an accelerating pace that it brings about a sense of fear about what awaits me once I will venture out of my small island in an unknown future? It's undeniable, the planet will not resonate with the same vibes anymore. Human tragedy is all over the place with this pandemic bringing a complete upheaval in its sway and for someone like me who has been blessed with the opportunity of seeing a few destinations, I can already feel the wind of change occurring.
I have always traveled for pleasure. And from what I have gathered, it is very much different than travelling for work. Travelling for leisure gives you ample time to pause, enjoy and reflect on the small experiences that come your way as you visit places and meet people. There is no rush, you can sit on a coffee terrace and lazily stare at passers-by for hours or walk down the streets with no specific destination in mind. Actually, one of my favorite word is 'flâner' which literally means 'to stroll'. It is one of the most enjoyable things to do on holidays as it is the perfect moment to slow down and wear a relaxed smile on your face without having to worry about any daily chores.
I am a keen traveler and very often I imagine myself in the shoes of a globetrotter. My wildest dream would be to take one year off and travel the world in search of that 'je-ne-sais-quoi' which makes life so exciting. It is difficult, though, to leave an island so remote as mine, a place where air fares are extremely costly, almost unaffordable for the average income earner. Were I married with kids, it would have been almost impossible for me to go anywhere. Since I am not and that I used to earn sufficient money in the past with no big loans to repay, I was blessed with the luxury of treating myself to a trip abroad every now and then. My air ticket booked and I would become a kid again in my head.
I can never understand people who feel blazé taking the plane. As far as I am concerned, my journey never begins when I step inside an airport. Oh no! No, no, no. It starts way before (probably two weeks prior) to the actual trip itself. I have this crazy childlike enthusiasm which sticks with me and I have come to realize that the more I age, the more enthusiastic I become about the whole idea of stepping inside a terminal, so much so that I can already smell the perfume of coffee past the immigration desk in the waiting area before boarding. There is no sound more enchanting to me than the 'ding ding ding' in a departure hall and the musical voice preceding flight announcements. I absolutely delight in observing passengers with their luggage rushing over to the check-in counter, others getting all emotional and tearing up at the moment of goodbyes and farewells. The emotions contained in their gestures and reactions are always something priceless to watch. I love the perfume that spills in the air in the duty free shops, I always long for that little lump in my stomach the minute I board inside the aircraft and can't get enough of the warm, welcoming smile of the flight attendant at the door. Yes, it does sound mellow and stupid but I couldn't care less. I enjoy every micro second of that whole process.
Then, there's is the trip itself. To me travelling is first and foremost a mindset. It is about being bold and open enough to welcome whatever experience lies ahead, good or bad. I enthusiastically look forward to discover the culture, food, architecture, history, scenery I am yet to come across while ensuring that I show respect to the people I will come across, from the cab driver to the hotelier, the cashier in the shops or the waiter in the restaurant. I have realized that the more friendly and respectful I was the more enriching and warm my trips became. People around the globe are so different yet so similar. They all carry their own stories that, at times, they are willing to share with you. All these cultures I have been exposed to have a soul which speaks to the core of who I am, a soul which truly resonates in me. With time it has dawned on me that it is a combination of little things that create that soul; the human stories, the attachment to the homeland, the culture, the history, the scenery...
There have been years of frustration when I was unable to fly and I became all morose, feeling a real emptiness inside of me, longing to be hypnotized, captivated and fascinated again. Exploring foreign lands helps peeling a new layer of understanding in me. The world holds indescribable beauty and poetry. Had I not stood long minutes mesmerized by Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' one afternoon maybe I would not have been able to fully grasp the very essence of melancholy. Had I not attended that midnight projection of ' The Rocky Horror Picture Show' I would not have immersed into joyful subversiveness . Had I not walked into a gompa at 5am and assisted to a tantric prayer session, my spiritual flame would not have awoken to what it is today. Had I not met Leo, Nick, Josie, Bashar, Anne, Thomas, Kundan, Sholto or that sweet old lady owner of a fragrance shop in Innsbruck, my outlook on life would definitely not be the same. All these 'strangers' ignited something in me. They offered me a broader perspective of what life could be. By travelling mindfully, we connect. We connect to people, to places, to authenticity, to honesty, to diversity, to truth and thereon we quietly find our place in this world.
As I write tonight I cannot but feel a little scared of what is out there, nervous about venturing into a covid world where the 'feel' of what makes a place so special has suddenly faded. A page in human history is being turned, it will take us time to recover and the idea of not being able to find a connection to the spirit of what makes a place unique and special is kind of depressing to me.
