3 Reasons Travel is Good for the Soul
My first trip was on a group cultural tour to Taiwan and Hong Kong with at least 100 other young people from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
It felt like my eyes were opened to how many different experiences exist around the world.
The travel bug had bitten and there were many trips that followed (and still many more to be planned in future).
In what ways did travel change me?
1. Newfound independence
After the first group tour where we followed our tour guides like sheep, I started to plan my own trips. There are so many aspects of a journey that need to be researched and arranged if you are doing your own planning.
Working with different time zones was a bit challenging at the beginning, as some flights arrive at your destination the next day. You had to make sure you booked accommodation for the correct check-in and check-out dates, as well as lining up the transport arrangements with your arrival and departure dates. It got even more complex when you were traveling to multiple destinations across different time zones.
Once you have traveled and made it back home without getting stranded somewhere, you gain a new level of independence that you never had before. It grows each time you travel and eventually you feel ready to call yourself a seasoned traveler.
2. Problem solving skills
What would a trip be without a couple of unforeseen problems? Like getting lost on the streets of Barcelona and finding out that your hotel has given your room away by the time you find it, or landing up in Ipoh (Malaysia) instead of the airport, because the person who sold you the bus tickets thought you said “Ipoh” and not “airport” (I can’t remember why we didn’t notice that on the tickets).
Sometimes you make a mistake in your planning, or things just don’t go according to plan, and you have to find another solution. You get better at it each time you experience something new or hear about someone else’s mishaps. Thankfully you don’t need to make all the mistakes yourself, so it’s always helpful and fun to chat to other travelers along the way.
3. Appreciation of other cultures
Seeing how people from different cultures live their lives is one of the most enriching experiences you will ever have. It shows you how insulated your life has been and how much there is to learn about the world.
One of my trips’ highlights is tasting the food that the locals eat. Each region has access to different ingredients, so you get to try some things that you never even knew existed. Sometimes you add a new favorite to your list and other times you’re satisfied with just saying you’ve tried something once. If you’ve ever tried durian, you’ll know which category it falls into. I highly recommend speaking to the local people to ask where they eat, as the tourist hotspots are usually expensive and often not authentic.
I’ve gained so much from traveling and feel privileged that I’ve had the opportunity to visit so many places. Each country has added something unique to my life and has taught me more about myself.
My advice is to travel every chance you get – whether it’s an hour’s drive from your home or across the oceans hopping from continent to continent. It all counts.
