Ringing in the Travel
China 2009
While traveling, my brother, Jim, a retired History professor at Whitworth College, asked me why I traveled, and accompanied it with an article from ReVision Magazine, Vol.32. No. 1, titled "Transformative Travel" by Susan L. Ross. My guess is that he wanted me to read the article to see if it struck a responsive chord with me. It did not. Perhaps her opening line colored my view of the rest of her article because she started with:
"This article explores how to travel, when approached in a conscious way, can be a widely available, individually tailored, and enjoyable way to gain self-awareness, spiritual experience, and an expansion of consciousness."
The only travelers I have seen that are not traveling in a conscious way are the drunk or drugged out people you see in the cities throughout the US and some other parts of the world. Maybe they, too, are living in their own conscious way.
Dr. Ross’s orientation is in the area of recreational therapy for folks with post-traumatic stress and adventure therapy with an orientation to traveling to sacred sites to cultivate ancient rituals, relationships with living energy. and partnerships with elders. I am sure some travelers would recognize that their travels fit into these categories.
So if none of Dr. Ross’s categories of "Transformative Travel" give me that "Aha moment!" then I think, why do I travel?
In reflecting on this question, I reviewed some of my travel blog reports, thought about where, when, and how I like to travel. Here are some of the reasons for doing the travel I do:
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Enjoy challenges,
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Try something new and different,
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Gain perspective about other cultures compared to mine,
- Because I can.
Enjoy Challenges
The mental challenges include figuring out where I want to travel and setting up an itinerary so my spouse knows where I am going and how to contact me. Of course, while traveling I make lots of changes to this plan as opportunities arise—-and keep her posted on my changes. Planning for your travels is an integral part of your travel experience. Many times your travel is over even before you return home. As John Steinbeck said in Travels with Charley: In Search of America:
"Who has not known a journey to be over and dead before the traveler returns? The reverse is also true: many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased."
I like to prove to myself that I can navigate my way through territory I have yet to explore, and
find food, shelter, and travel in places where no English is spoken using phrases from guide books, pantomime, and recently, iPhone translators the locals have, are challenges I enjoy.
The physical challenges include taking some adventures ranging from:
- riding zip lines in Chile and Nepal,
Chile 2011
- climbing volcanos in Chile, Washington, Oregon, and California,
Villaricca Volcano, Chile 2011
- shooting white water rapids on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica, California, Oregon, and Washington.
Klamath River, CA 1968
- snorkeling in SE Asia, and Latin America,
Krabi, Thailand 2005
- riding camels in Mongolia, horses in Peru, and elephants in Thailand,
Mongolia 2014
Cusco, Peru 2005
- taking amazing hikes like the Pacific Crest Trail, Circuit "W" in Patagonia, Hua Shan, Great Wall of China, Leaping Tiger Gorge in China, Cordillera Blanca Mountains in Peru, and the Great Baikal Trail in Russia.
PCT Mexico
2002----2008
PCT Canada
Torres del Paine, Chile 2011
Hua Shan, China 2009
Great Wall, China 2014
Leaping Tiger Gorge, China 2009
Cordillera Blanca, Peru 2005
Grand Baikal Trail, Russia 2014
- boating the Amazon, Mekong, Perfume, Mae Kok, Chao Phraya, Kwai, Yangtze, Li and Yulong Rivers,
Amazon Boat 2012
Cargo on Amazon 2012
Hammocks on Amazon 2012
Canoe, Amazon Jungle 2012
Mekong River, Laos 2013
Chao Phraya, Thailand 2014
River Kwai, Thailand 2013
Yangtze River Boat, China 2009
Li River Boat, China 2009
Yulong River, China 2009
- biking from Danang to Hoi An and short moto-taxi rides in the cities and islands,
Easy Rider, Vietnam 2014
Friendship Pass, China 2014
Ko Samui, Thailand 2004
Yangshuo, China 2009
- riding trains, boats, and buses,
Trans-Siberian, Mongolia 2014
Sapa Soft sleeper, Vietnam 2014
Kwai Train, Thailand 2013
Bullet Train, Naning, China 2014
Bullet Trains, Japan 2004
Mekong Delta, Vietnam 2007
Foz do Iguacu, Brazil 2012
Halong Bay, Vietnam 2008
Ko Samet, Thailand, 2014
Krabi, Thailand 2007
Phuket, Thailand, 2008
Chiang Rai 2004
Fortaleza, Brazil 2012
Sukothai, Thailand 2013
Pingxiang, China 2014
Minivans, various
- getting lost and then finding your way,
- traveling during revolts or coups,
Quito, Ecuador 2005
News, Ecuador 2005
Campesino Road blockade, Bolivia, 2005
La Paz-El Alto, Bolivia 2005
My hotel, La Paz, Bolivia 2005
Cochabamba, Bolivia 2005
Thailand--Coups almost annually
- eating unusual foods like durian, monkey brains, snakes, tarantulas, snails, fried crickets and larvas,
Snake Restaurant, Hue, Vietnam 2002
Blood whiskey, Hue, Vietnam
Tarantula, Cambodia 2007
Brazil Nut Larva 2012
Brazil Nut Larva, 2012
Fried Crickets, Vietnam 2014
Caviar, Russia 2014
Snails, China 2014
Snails, China 2014
Terremoto, Chile 2011
Street Beer, Hanoi, Vietnam 2007
Lomito in Punta Arenas, Chile 2011
Borscht, Russia 2014
Chicken Livers, Russia 2014
12 courses, Myanmar 2004
Deer in Dalat, Vietnam 2014
Tamarind Restaurant, Hanoi, Vietnam 2014
Rice meal with Monks, Taungoo, Myanmar 2004
Try Something New and Different
I am always curious to try anything new and different whether it is a place, experience, food, modes of transportation, especially when it comes to doing it in a different culture than my own. I enjoy going to countries that are not similar to my own which is why I like going to SE Asia and Latin America over Europe. I shy away from Africa since the public transportation system seems fraught with uncertainty and danger as does travel to some of the Middle Eastern countries.
Rather than flying from one city to the next, and then getting a taxi to the downtown area, I prefer using the local transportation whether it is a light rail, metro, bus, jitney, or moto-taxi. Taxi rides for me are very infrequent even though cheap in many countries I visit. I find that the Lonely Planet guides provide some of the best information on the various modes of transportation available when going to or leaving cities.
I enjoy staying at the budget hotels as described in the Lonely Planet guides or in hostels with dorms and other travelers from different countries, usually European countries like the UK, Holland, or Germany, Australians, Chinese, and Japanese. I encounter very few Americans in the hotels and hostels I stay in. The physical challenges listed above give you some idea of the types of different activities I like to try. Here are some of the interesting and inexpensive places I have stayed:
Lovina, Bali 2011
Lovina, Bali 2011
Chiang Rai, Thailand 2004
Ko Samui, Thailand 2004
Ko Chang, Thailand 2007
Pingyao, China 2009
Paraty, Brazil 2012
Ito, Japan 2011
Capsule Hotel, Nagoya, Japan 2011
Kyoto, Japan 2011
Nagi, Annapurna Circuit, Nepal 2002
Inle, Myanmar 2004
Inle, Myanmar 2004
HCMC, Vietnam 2014
When I take local tours, I am usually the only Westerner among the tour group. Some of the tours have been in Brazil, Chile, Peru, China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, India, and Myanmar.
Yangtze River boat 2009
Bike tour in Yangshuo, China 2009
Secret Great Wall, China 2009
Amazon Jungle, Brazil 2012
La Throng La Pass, Nepal 2002
Room to Read, Laos 2007
Room to Read, Delhi, India 2004
Room to Read, Jaipur, India 2004
Room to Read, Mekong Delta, Vietnam 2007
Room to Read, Siam Reap, Cambodia 2005
Road trip Myanmar 2004
Mingun guides, Myanmar 2004
Broke Dragon Terrace, China 2009
Changsa, China 2009
Changsa, China 2009
Safari South Africa 2005
Damnoen Market, Thailand 2004
Dominoes on Amazon boat, Brazil 2012
Laos village near Luang Prabang, 2002
Dalat tour, Vietnam 2014
I have had lots of different foods both in restaurants and street food that the locals seem to enjoy. I try some of the spicy food, but if it is too spicy, I start hiccuping so I end up piling on more rice or noodles or swilling cold beer to soothe my taste buds. I have sampled fried crickets, larvae, tarantulas, snakes, snails, deer, rabbits, sausages of all kinds, known and unknown fruits and vegetables.
Gain Perspective About Cultures Other Than Mine
With each culture I visit, I increasingly realize that ours is not better than theirs, but rather different. I gain a greater understanding of my own culture by viewing other cultures. We could learn from some of their cultural and public services and they could learn some from our culture as well.
While doing some homestays with families in Peru, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, and India, I got to see first hand how individuals, families, and communities interact with each other, their neighboring communities, and tourists. In most of these homestays, there were few outside influences since they were out of range of TVs, radios, and in most cases roads. As a result, they found ways to work, support, and entertain each other. Festivals and other gatherings were occasions for them to arrange marriages for their "eligible" children and maintain relationships with neighboring villagers that may help each other in the future. I also enjoy encountering other festivals in my travels.
Vegetarian Festival, Thailand 2006
Vegetarian Festival, Thailand 2006
Loy Kratong, Phuket, Thailand 2005
Wedding party at Angkor Wat, Cambodia 2005
Dali High School, China 2009
Bagan monklets, Myanmar 2004
Monk initiation parade, Myanmar 2004
Fengdu kids, China 2009
Room to Read, Beneghat, Annapurna Circuit, Nepal 2002
Room to Read, Nagdi, Nepal 2002
The restaurant owner, Ta Prohm, Cambodia 2006
Vicos school, Peru 2005
Salvador, Brazil 2012
Lunar New Year, Penang, Malaysia 2008
New Year Penang, Malaysia 2008
Cheers in Yangshuo, China 2014
Ollantaytambo festival, Peru 2005
Black Hat festival, Goempa, Bhutan 2000
Black Hat festival, Thimpu, Bhutan 2000
I value the kindness of strangers as they help me along my journey by giving me directions, treating me to meals or drinks, giving me rides, offering me places to stay, discussing their lives and dreams, and so on, even if sometimes, we do not have any common language.
Guilin tourists, China 2009
Galapagos BD party, Ecuador 2005
Pachamama feast, Peru 2005
Baha'i Temple, India 2004
Valparaiso boating, Chile 2011
Because I Can
Now that I am retired, I am fortunate to have the time, money, health to travel as much as I can, as long as I can. Also, my spouse, Tani, still enjoys staying at home and supports my solo travels.
I enjoy solo traveling because I do not have to coordinate with anyone on where to go, how to go, how long to stay in any one spot, and also because it makes me more open to reaching out to others, both locals and other international travelers.
To maximize my travels, I rely on frequent flyer mile programs to fund my air travel overseas. I enjoy the challenge of seeking out ways to rack up mileage by "churning credit cards and other mileage offers.
Once in the country, I focus on local transportation modes both as a way to save money and to observe and interact with people. Oftentimes I am the only "Westerner" on the boat, bus, or metro. My trips of usually 2 months end up costing around $3,000 to $5,000 which is about what a two-week vacation to SE Asia, Latin America, or Hawaii would be excluding food and local transportation.
My trips would even cost less if I did not spend as much as I do on food, but I am a foodie and enjoy eating well. Also, when I am at home, my daily average dining and grocery expenses average $28 per day compared to $35–38 per day when I travel. My home average normal food cost of $28 per day would be $1,680 for two months. If I were to back out this amount from my 2-month trips, these trips would then just average between $1,322 and $3,320.
We are all on a life’s journey and how I enjoy traveling may not be enjoyable for others. With that in mind, I like to refer to this Walt Whitman poem from Song of Myself, section 46 that points that out:
"Not I, not anyone else can travel that road for you,
You must travel it for yourself.
It is not far, it is within reach,
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know,
Perhaps it is everywhere on water and on land."
When I finished hiking the Pacific Crest Trail—-a trail of 2,660 miles from Mexico to Canada, I remembered one of the most frequent mantras I heard from other hikers was HYOH—-hike your own hike, meaning that to enjoy your long-distance hiking experience you need to stop when you want to, rest when you want to, eat when you want to, and hike at the speed that you want to without feeling pressured by others to do otherwise. With regard to travels, that would translate to TYOT—travel your own travel. That is what I continue to look forward to doing.
Cheers, Ollantaytambo, Peru 2005
Next up, a return to Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico where I will do some more hikes in the area and describe them in this blog. My next overseas adventure, in the Spring, may take me to the Philippines for lots of island hopping by boat and possibly plane.
