Welcome to Reasons to Love Traveling!
What does traveling mean to you? Here are 10 of the many reasons I love traveling! In today’s fast-paced, tech-obsessed world, social media may well be the perfect platform to showcase the world’s beauty through the lens of travelers across the globe.
But travel is so much more than just getting that perfect Instagram shot for the ‘fans’. Travel should be meaningful to us all.
It should be exciting and inspiring, rejuvenating and grounding, educational and challenging, and most of all, it should be humbling.
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Traveling makes one force themselves out of their bubble and into the rest of the world, discovering new places, and new people; it’s the best way to gain perspective on truly how beautiful life is.
Travel gives us the most incredible stories to tell, our most cherished memories, and countless irreplaceable learnings that we can choose to pay forward to others in our lives.
It teaches us all about ourselves and others, it can broaden our horizons, and, just like a reset button, it forces us to refocus on what matters in life.
For me, travel is essential to my life. I was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and have been lucky enough to have traveled abroad from as young as 6 months old. I am also lucky enough to have family in all corners of the globe, including the states and down under. When I finished school a year young, I lived in the United Kingdom and managed to travel extensively in Europe for portions of 2017.
It all triggered my love for travel; I almost didn’t have a choice; I was always going to love traveling no matter what!
I am in the final semester of university honors and itching to travel again. The pandemic put a real dampener on the whole process. However, I know that the second I get fully vaccinated, my flights will be booked! The travel bug has bitten; there is just too much for me to explore!
Now for the ten reasons I love traveling:
1. Travel to leave our world a better place
I believe that people underestimate how travelling could impact the future. Not only does tourism aid individuals in countries which are economically struggling (low developed), exposure to different issues through travelling can make an actual difference. I have been lucky enough to travel to different National Parks in South Africa and one this I know is that the more exposure the better!
Some places are doing remarkable work for conservation and wildlife protection and they are sadly struggling for funding.
2. Travel to meet different cultures
Travel exposes us to different cultures and ancient traditions. Through these authentic encounters, we learn to embrace and celebrate the cultures and understand both our similarities and our differences.
Often cultures are misconstrued in media or glamorised. When you immerse yourself in a different country and into the local culture perhaps you will find you will gain a whole new perspective on the way you look at the world. Being respectful when doing so is of utmost importance, if you don’t understand something or don’t like something, make sure to voice this respectfully if you must at all.
Travel teaches us about humanity and gives us an appreciation, understanding and respect for different points of view and ways of life around the world.
3. Travel to eat
This might be one of my favourite reasons to travel! One thing you’ll never find on a suggested packing list is a strict diet. Leave that at home! Just make sure you bring a healthy appetite and a willingness to taste new flavours and sample all of the local delicacies. Remember, mimosas are totally acceptable at breakfast and dessert is always a good idea! Indulge, go back for seconds and exercise when you get home.
When I was in Europe some might say I had suffered the ‘Heathrow Injection’, if you don’t know what the refers to, let’s just say I had picked up a few extra kg’s. But looking back now, I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever! I was happy, embracing the good old English Sunday roast and loving my surroundings. It’s important to let yourself enjoy where you are in all aspects. Get the whole experience is what I say!
4. Travel to escape reality
Foreign country, foreign language, foreign food, new reality indeed. We all need to fall off the radar and escape reality every once in a while, it’s just a must. Travel allows us to enjoy anonymity in new and unexplored territories. It gives us freedom to live in the moment and it allows us to be anyone, to go anywhere and to do anything we like.
When I was backpacking Europe in 2017 I had bought an interrail pass, which allowed me to be as spontaneous as I wanted. Pick up and go here, move there, I went to Brussels just for one day on the bus. It’s all possible, especially when you’re doing a little solo travel. Travel enables us to be spontaneous and seek new experiences and places.
5. Travel to relax
In some cases, travelling is not about running around cities trying to see every possible sight imaginable, it’s about stepping back. Our lives are completely time-starved and technology-driven and, let’s be honest, it’s not often that we actually take the necessary time to de-stress and truly switch off from our responsibilities.
Travel allows us to escape life’s daily demands, the dramas and the deadlines and enables us to clear our minds. It encourages us to recharge our batteries and to truly disconnect (from our phones, Wi-Fi, emails, laptops, social media, etc.) in order to reconnect (with ourselves, each other, the natural environment and wildlife). It’s so rare in fact that we truly remove ourself from our environment, and I would argue that since the pandemic no one has truly had a rest. The pressure to always remain online and connected is immense.
6. Travel to learn
Not all classrooms have four walls and an alarm bell… Travel is the best way to immerse yourself in geography, history, culture, gastronomy, languages, biology … you name it, travel is the way! Travel enriches the mind and educates us far beyond any textbook or travel guidebook.
Not only do curious travellers learn about different landscapes, languages and lifestyles; glean fascinating facts while observing wild animals in their natural habitat; delve into a region’s history and taste the local flavours; but they also learn about themselves (and each other). Learning can also be turned inwards towards yourself… when you’re in a foreign country and you’re about to miss your train and you have to figure out what you’re going to do, you’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of achieving.
7. Travel to explore
Travel takes us out of our comfort zones and inspires us to see, taste and try new things in the new place we find ourself. It constantly challenges us, not only to adapt to and explore new surroundings, but also to engage with different people, to embrace adventures as they come about and to share new and meaningful experiences with friends and loved ones. Thats why its nice to have 10 reasons to love travelling!
Whether you seek adrenaline and non-stop activity, or unapologetic siestas and ultimate relaxation, travel gives us the opportunity to explore with an open heart and also an open mind.
Exploring may mean something completely different to you as it does to me… it all depends on where you are in your life and what space you’re in at time of travel.
8. Travel for humility
This aligns with traveling for leaving the world a better place. Without a doubt, travel is the ultimate crash course in humility. As we cross borders, and oceans, we gain true perspective in our lives. We are really just a small piece of the bigger puzzle, of humanity…
We learn to recognise and be grateful for all of the things we take for granted at home in our own lives, and we gain an appreciation and respect for how others live. Travel teaches us to be tolerant, flexible and open-minded, and most of all it makes us humble!
9. Travel to be transformed
Don’t just travel for the sake of traveling. Travel to seek adventure, seek new things and feel alive! Take part in authentic experiences that will not only change the way you see the world, but that will also encourage self-reflection. Environmental awareness and global action will help protect and conserve our planet, participate where you can!
Transformation takes many shapes, to you it might mean visiting a conservation area, transformation might be giving your pair of shoes to a stranger in need. It all goes, just be mindful and considerate- it’s very much worth it though!
10. Travel to live out your bucket list dreams
Every traveler’s and persons bucket list is different. Whether you wish to watch the sun set over the Taj Majal, snowshoe on the side of an active volcano, witness Africa’s Big Five and the Great Migration, or find your Zen on a yoga retreat in the Himalayas, if you can dream it, you can do it.
My bucket list item which I plan on fulfilling next year is to climb Kilimanjaro! Luckily in Cape Town I have a decent mountain to use for training if you ask me!
Travel (like laughter) is the best medicine and long may it continue to take our breath away and turn us all into storytellers and committed custodians of our precious planet!
11. Bonus reason… TO HAVE FUN!
I cannot emphasise this enough, whatever fun means to you… do it! Get out there, meet new people, explore, push yourself out of your comfort zone, go bar hoping! Go and do whatever it is that makes you have fun and don’t regret it!
#yolo
Summary of 10 Reasons to Love Traveling
At Animals Around the Globe, we are dedicated to sustainable travel, seeking wildlife in their natural habitats, giving back to the community, and seeking new adventures! We love traveling, we hope you do too!
Comment below on where it is you are dying to travel to next!
Thank you for reading ten reasons to love Travel!
For more Blogs that may interest you, have a look below: Top 10 Animal Encounters after Corona or 10 Animals that have recently gone extinct.
Thank you for reading 10 reasons to love traveling.
I'm an animal and wildlife enthusiast and love diving and skiing. My favorite locations to see animals are: The Azores, Yosemite National Park, and California.
I'm a certified Advanced Open Water Diver with a Master of Science in Economics and Electrical Engineering.
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