MORE AND MORE ... ADVENTURES

Grand Canyon, the Great Wall of China, trekking to Machu Picchu, discovering Taj Mahal, admiring the Great Pyramids of Giza, riding elephants in Sri Lanka, petting tigers in Thailand, swimming with the dolphins in the Caribbean,... there is no end to travel bucket-lists. And they seem to be growing even longer now in the times of no travel!

Looking at Instagram, Facebook, travel forums and blogs, as well as working in a travel "industry" I got an impression many times that the places are getting less and less important! With the speed of light they were turning into just another bullet on another wish-list.

THE DEVALUATION OF REAL PLACES AND PEOPLE

This devaluation of countries and cities, together with the people and their cultures makes me feel very sad!

The wold seems to have become a flat playground for a spectacle of adventures... more and more... never ending!

THE GAINS OF PANDEMIC- a treat?!

But what the pandemic had given us, in my opinion, was some empty, still time to stop and turn to inside- and hopefully find meanings that we were missing before, in that passion driven non-stop need of new and new adventures.

THE MEANINGFUL TRAVELER

Respect, slow travel, deep interest, growth and connection... seemed to be greatly missing in the past industry of tourism. It is beautiful that so many people are able to travel. It opens so many new horizons to so many people... but- does it really? To how many of us?

Travel was (and still is) taken as a right and as a norm for living by so many ... (me included in a certain way).

TRAVEL AS A PRIVILEGE AND AN OPORTUNITY TO CHERISH

But, is it not actually rather A PRIVILEGE to be able to move long distances and see places our parents' parents only read about in books? Is it not a thing to respect deeply and try to give back when we visit- to the people, to the country, to the nature, to the animals,... should travel not be an event that connects, not superficially exposes, a love that inspires and awakes wondering- and not just brings new plans before we even arrive home?

MEANINGFUL TRAVEL & RESPECT

Some of us will always travel with all our depth and hearts, with respect and wondering, with love for learning and growing, with a wish to connect and form meaningful relationships!

And for the others- well, it is a free world.
We can share it and do each what we love! Can't we?! :-)

I wonder, what are your thoughts on The Spectacle of Travel? How do you feel about it?

⚜️ Alja