Seeing is travelling? Does travelling makes you see, or is there an art to travelling?
The last time you went to the Blue Island, did you see what you saw… that beautiful bough of resplendent white bougainvillea fluttering in the cool breeze as you rushed to the sea.
Remember that small pathway to the hotel, an old woman smiled at you but you missed that happy face in that happy place.
The colour of the sea water changed as the weather kept tripping through the day. You missed it again.
And you missed those small squirrels smartly squirting up and down the tree outside the window as you pulled the curtain to look out.
You never saw the beautiful lemon tree with small ripe yellow lemons which was growing wild at the entrance of the gate to the hotel.
But she saw it all and brought home the story.
The traveller sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see: Gilbert K Chesterton.
There lies the difference between a traveller and a tourist.
The beauty of travelling lies in what he sees and feels and embraces it all to become a part of him or her.
The traveller is led by the light of the glow worm in the dark, the whispers of the enchanting woods and the haunting sound of the strong winds.
The traveller weaves a new life with all of what he sees and feels. And a new journey of endless weaving of tales begins. The hidden gems of the less explored in the world of no boundary becomes his daily trails and sojourn.
More and more people are travelling around the world on leisure or work. The list of top travel destinations is increasing. Travel-related activities are expanding as more people are venturing out and exploring new places of interest. Business opportunists are making hay while the travel sun shines.
And, from the call of luxury travelling to the call of the wild and birds, to unwind, rejuvenate, get away and to explore… the nature of travelling is varied.
But, “The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot,” writes Warner Herzog.
In the words of William Blake, “Travellers repose and dream among my leaves.” Such is the way of travellers…