I love to travel. It started for me early in my career when I had to spend a week in Thailand to help a client upgrade their IT systems. The week was very hectic,- hour days at work, social business invitations after, I didn't have a lot of time to myself at all. I ended up taking a day of annual leave though and staying in Bangkok for the weekend and the following Monday. Those three days opened my eyes. Thailand was such a different world to what I had in Melbourne, Australia. I was hooked, I needed to see what else the world had to offer. I'd officially caught the travel bug.
I ended up seeing the world during that job, I was very lucky. I had long projects in Africa, Europe and Asia. And the mileage points I accrued during these travels funded my personal travel experiences for years later. Truly I've been blessed.
Pretty early in the piece I realised that travel meant memories. When I understood this, I realised there were three things you needed to pack, to ensure you kept your memories for ever. So a camera, a travel diary and a pen were always the first three things I packed. I have been rewarded for my foresight. My walls are now adorned with my favorite photos of places I've been, people I've met and all those special moments. And whenever I am in the mood to reminisce, I pick up one of my journals and read. The prose isn't 100% refined, but ahhh, the memories.
When reflecting on these journeys, I can see how much my mind has been opened by the experiences I have had. In witnessing the diversity the world has to offer, I have become a wiser person, a better person.
Then there are the people I've met on the way. In accepting their hospitality, their customs and generosity, my heart has been opened. Sure, they may have a different way of doing things, a different way of interpreting events, they are just people though, people like you and I. In learning to accept them without prejudice, my capacity for love and tolerance increased immensely.
I know I have grown as a person as I traveled. I know I will keep doing so, so long as I continue to travel. However I also know that there are many, many people who do not have the opportunity or luxury to see the world as I have. That is why I publish the things I have written, my insights, my lessons and experiences. Hopefully others, not as fortunate as I, can at least share some of the joys of travel through reading.
It is in this way that the travels which have been so good for my soul, may also be good for the world.
I ended up seeing the world during that job, I was very lucky. I had long projects in Africa, Europe and Asia. And the mileage points I accrued during these travels funded my personal travel experiences for years later. Truly I've been blessed.
Pretty early in the piece I realised that travel meant memories. When I understood this, I realised there were three things you needed to pack, to ensure you kept your memories for ever. So a camera, a travel diary and a pen were always the first three things I packed. I have been rewarded for my foresight. My walls are now adorned with my favorite photos of places I've been, people I've met and all those special moments. And whenever I am in the mood to reminisce, I pick up one of my journals and read. The prose isn't 100% refined, but ahhh, the memories.
When reflecting on these journeys, I can see how much my mind has been opened by the experiences I have had. In witnessing the diversity the world has to offer, I have become a wiser person, a better person.
Then there are the people I've met on the way. In accepting their hospitality, their customs and generosity, my heart has been opened. Sure, they may have a different way of doing things, a different way of interpreting events, they are just people though, people like you and I. In learning to accept them without prejudice, my capacity for love and tolerance increased immensely.
I know I have grown as a person as I traveled. I know I will keep doing so, so long as I continue to travel. However I also know that there are many, many people who do not have the opportunity or luxury to see the world as I have. That is why I publish the things I have written, my insights, my lessons and experiences. Hopefully others, not as fortunate as I, can at least share some of the joys of travel through reading.
It is in this way that the travels which have been so good for my soul, may also be good for the world.
About the Author:
Damian Papworth likes to write travel stories to share his travel memories You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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