I left home last week and have been on the road ever since. Travelling the world has opened my eyes to new realities and realisations. I list here some of them for the benefit of the explorers among you.
1. Income spike
When you decide to quit your job and travel the world, not many people realise that you suddenly start making money out of the blue. Every place you visit, a salary account gets mysteriously opened locally and money starts pouring into it, in local currency. Go on, try it if you don't believe me.
2. Cultural assimilation
You'll be amazed how much of local culture anywhere in the world just consists of taking photos near tourist spots. Selfie with statue of Liberty - you're already half American. Selfie next to Eiffel Tower, you can pass for a French person for a day. I stayed in a hotel in Agra once and the locals started addressing me as Jahan panah the next day. And what better way to learn a new language? I did a succession of daytrips in 2010 which now means I know how to say 'Hi' in 20 languages (15 of which are the same as 'Hi').
3. Perspective change
Ever notice how when you travel and get back home, you are a changed person and don't even realise it? I went to Nagpur once and got a bad stomach bug, as a result of which I went from being a middle-size peaceful bloke to being a thin, cranky person now.
4. Learning who you are
It is ironic that we need to travel out to truly understand who we are. I know now that I'm allergic to stale pudina chutney, for instance, something that even my closest friends wouldn't tell me directly to my face.
5. It's about the people you meet
And finally, travel, like everything else in life, is about the meaningful relationships you strike with interesting people you meet on the way. Like the pilot you never see, who tells you the altitude and temperature, mid-flight. Like the housekeeping lady at the hotel who says 'housekeeping' twice outside your door and then leaves. Like the pilot on the way back who...and so on.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bag and be on your way. Here's to more world-travel induced life lessons!
1. Income spike
When you decide to quit your job and travel the world, not many people realise that you suddenly start making money out of the blue. Every place you visit, a salary account gets mysteriously opened locally and money starts pouring into it, in local currency. Go on, try it if you don't believe me.
2. Cultural assimilation
You'll be amazed how much of local culture anywhere in the world just consists of taking photos near tourist spots. Selfie with statue of Liberty - you're already half American. Selfie next to Eiffel Tower, you can pass for a French person for a day. I stayed in a hotel in Agra once and the locals started addressing me as Jahan panah the next day. And what better way to learn a new language? I did a succession of daytrips in 2010 which now means I know how to say 'Hi' in 20 languages (15 of which are the same as 'Hi').
3. Perspective change
Ever notice how when you travel and get back home, you are a changed person and don't even realise it? I went to Nagpur once and got a bad stomach bug, as a result of which I went from being a middle-size peaceful bloke to being a thin, cranky person now.
4. Learning who you are
It is ironic that we need to travel out to truly understand who we are. I know now that I'm allergic to stale pudina chutney, for instance, something that even my closest friends wouldn't tell me directly to my face.
5. It's about the people you meet
And finally, travel, like everything else in life, is about the meaningful relationships you strike with interesting people you meet on the way. Like the pilot you never see, who tells you the altitude and temperature, mid-flight. Like the housekeeping lady at the hotel who says 'housekeeping' twice outside your door and then leaves. Like the pilot on the way back who...and so on.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bag and be on your way. Here's to more world-travel induced life lessons!
