Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the people, places and moments that take our breath away.
The world is such a beautiful place. Filled with wonders which are the stuff of dreams. That magic of the stars, the authority of the pounding seas, the calm of a morning sunrise, the solitude of a full moon. The urge to travel – to open our minds and move beyond the familiar is not a new phenomenon. It sent Darwin on his journey to ‘discover’, it took Che Guevara off on a motorbike and fuelled the passions of our greatest journalists from John Simpson to John Pilger. St Augustine once wrote: ‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page’. Wherever we visit, travel changes us, sometimes superficially, sometimes profoundly. It teaches us something about a place, its peoples, its day-to-day lifestyle.
Great adventures are inside all of us, maybe buried deep waiting to be discovered. My favourite things, an author once wrote is to go to a place I have not yet been. We all recognise that feeling of discovery when we visit a new place for the first time. A place which brings happiness – a great holiday, a walk in the countryside, a horizon pleasing to the eyes.
Airports and train stations always feel like the starting place of adventures. Our planet is filled with treasures in all sorts of places if we look for them. They can inspire us in different ways. Japan brought warm hospitality in the fishing villages of Amakusa. India encouraged a further search for inner calm. Bangladesh brought love and companionship where we were building houses with the local community. Cambodia brought a stark reminder of what happens when the world chooses to forget. Borneo instilled a passion to protect the environment and the natural rainforests. Australia’s aboriginal peoples brought laughter and a culture of art to me which continues to fascinate…the list is endless.
Travel can dispel many of our bad myths and impressions, can confirm the positive, and always promises surprises. The best thing travel can do is to make us more curious, ask questions and seek answers. Once our minds become stretched like this they cannot return. It is now so easy to go and see the most far flung place in the corners of the world. It is also quite possible to discover something new about the peoples living in your community. Who is your neighbour?
The world is such a beautiful place. Filled with wonders which are the stuff of dreams. That magic of the stars, the authority of the pounding seas, the calm of a morning sunrise, the solitude of a full moon. The urge to travel – to open our minds and move beyond the familiar is not a new phenomenon. It sent Darwin on his journey to ‘discover’, it took Che Guevara off on a motorbike and fuelled the passions of our greatest journalists from John Simpson to John Pilger. St Augustine once wrote: ‘The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page’. Wherever we visit, travel changes us, sometimes superficially, sometimes profoundly. It teaches us something about a place, its peoples, its day-to-day lifestyle.
Great adventures are inside all of us, maybe buried deep waiting to be discovered. My favourite things, an author once wrote is to go to a place I have not yet been. We all recognise that feeling of discovery when we visit a new place for the first time. A place which brings happiness – a great holiday, a walk in the countryside, a horizon pleasing to the eyes.
Airports and train stations always feel like the starting place of adventures. Our planet is filled with treasures in all sorts of places if we look for them. They can inspire us in different ways. Japan brought warm hospitality in the fishing villages of Amakusa. India encouraged a further search for inner calm. Bangladesh brought love and companionship where we were building houses with the local community. Cambodia brought a stark reminder of what happens when the world chooses to forget. Borneo instilled a passion to protect the environment and the natural rainforests. Australia’s aboriginal peoples brought laughter and a culture of art to me which continues to fascinate…the list is endless.
Travel can dispel many of our bad myths and impressions, can confirm the positive, and always promises surprises. The best thing travel can do is to make us more curious, ask questions and seek answers. Once our minds become stretched like this they cannot return. It is now so easy to go and see the most far flung place in the corners of the world. It is also quite possible to discover something new about the peoples living in your community. Who is your neighbour?
When the inhabitants of the world can learn to understand each other we move one more step closer to peace. Close your eyes. Visualise the peoples around the world. See them as they really are and as friends. I see the flutter of prayer flags in India, smell the incense in Thailand, taste soft fruit in Indonesia, feel the fresh air in Tasmania…most importantly I see smiles.
There are good people wherever you go and I encourage you to seek them out. They are kind, hospitable, loving and generous. You meet them when you least expect it but they make your journey special. We need to hear your stories told by travellers about these good people. Then we would all stand up and say: ‘Protect our friends’.
It is our duty to explore, to dream and to look within for understanding and compassion. Then maybe we can all live in harmony. Then maybe we can all live in peace.
