Are We There Yet?

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page" was stated by St. Augustine and I believe it to be true. I am a travel enthusiast. As often as possible, I try to get away because I know travelling can be a powerful tool for personal development. It tends to magnify all human emotions. One of the principal values of travelling is that it breaks the monotony of life and work. Life is a mad rush for most people. In this process, people tend to forget who they are. Travelling is a time when people get a chance to relax and reflect.

All of us tend to take things for granted. Some of these things include food, electricity, transport, heating and safety. Going to a country where these basics are not always available is a real eye opener. Certainly, travel can enlighten us about many other things like environment, attitudes of people, quality of food, cultural behaviour, differences in fashion and much more. It has a great informative value. For example, when people of Delhi visit South India, they learn about the mode of living, social life, agriculture, worship, beliefs, art forms, etc. Such a visit is bound to enlighten visitors and make them more appreciative of other cultures. Travelling also has a special importance to students. Many of the things they learn in textbooks can be practically understood when they visit various places.

Few reasons to love travelling:

Sights

Travelling makes it possible to stop seeing things in a way we see them every day. Unless there’s something unusual about the weather, we don’t really notice it. Travelling forces your eyes open because you’re seeing things you’ve never seen before. Pictures can never do justice to the real thing. No picture can ever convey that feeling of amazement you have when you witness the beauty of the world first hand.

Food

We tend to eat the same kind of food when we are home. But our taste buds come alive in a different culture with all kinds of unfamiliar food. It’s like an immediate expansion of horizons for the palate. Though there are many restaurants that boast about their ethnic qualities, there's nothing like eating it from the source.

People

There are amazing people in all corners of the earth. It is possible to meet new people at home but many of us stick to our same group of friends because we prefer to stay inside our comfort zone. By travelling to new places, we get to meet new people who are either entertaining for just one conversation or day, or they end up becoming friends that last for many years.

Entertainment

Travelling is a lot of fun. Exploring new places, watching street performers, skydiving, or just relaxing on a beach in front of an ocean are just some of the fun activities one can do while travelling. It is one of the better ways for recharging your batteries and sparking your passions.

Learning

Whether it's about the place we’re visiting or about ourselves, there is an unending stock of knowledge that is waiting to be uncovered. We overcome our fears by working our way through challenging situations, finding a destination in a complicated city. Every single thing that we learn can be applicable to our lives at some point.

Thus, travelling has tremendous educative, informative and social value. It widens people’s mental horizon, adds thrill and relaxation to life, dispels boredom and helps in promoting tourism.