Why We Travel

There are 26 reasons from different people on why set out for a trip is in their veins. Some of these also similar to my reasons and it's the question that can be answered only after you start traveling.

I used to travel just for pleasure, spending time with family and friends or running away from something. These days my perception is a bit changed. I'm looking more for an answer of my future.. self-discovery maybe, sharing more experiences with people I met on my journey. Many times, I met new people by chances. Some made me feel like it's such a fate and later we end up become friends for a lifetime.

Inspired by multimedia article featured in NY Times' Travel. Take a look. You may be able to give yourself some answers or share similarities with them.

Here are my reasons answered by others :)

WITNESSING A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS IN THE ADIRONDACKS, OCT. 5, 2008


"We try to go away for weekends as much as we can, and the Adirondacks is the nearest place. It’s a great feeling to hike to the top of a mountain. I love the feeling of looking out, and you can see everything. And it’s a great thing to do together as a family. Normally, I don’t see my parents that much. Whereas, when we hike, I get to see them. Normally, there’s other stuff interfering, whereas, when you’re hiking — it’s like it’s a good opportunity to just talk to them.”

A DREAM FULFILLED, WASHINGTON, JAN. 20, 2009: Natosha Sutton, 48, N.C., rejoicing at the National Mall as Barack Obama was sworn in as president of the United States.


"So many people were there, regardless of their race. Yes, he is the first African-American president. But he also just seems like a really serious person who’s willing to try to do the best he can for our country. That picture was taken right after he was sworn in. For me, that was the finishing moment — that this is real; this is the truth. At that moment, I was just thanking God it had happened.”

TWO OLD FRIENDS AT THE TEATRO GRECO, SYRACUSE, SICILY


"Each year you feel more a part of the country you’re in. When I go back, I find it harder and harder to understand what I saw in living in a big city where the values are so different. Here it’s not all about money. It’s more about family and friends. "

AT THE DECHEN PHODRANG MONASTIC SCHOOL IN THIMPHU, BHUTAN, MARCH 27, 2008


"When you show a digital image to kids from a place where they don’t see that so often, they get really excited. But this time it was in slow motion, so I was bending time right there in front of them — and they were ecstatic.”

AT FIREFLY, NOËL COWARD’S FORMER RESIDENCE, PORT MARIA, JAMAICA, OCT. 21, 2008 Peter Graf, 42, an executive vice president of SAP, a German software company


"On vacation, my wife and I always look for special places: serenity, the great view that sticks in your mind so you can go back later when you close your eyes. There’s a bronze statue of Coward on the mountain. When you stand next to it and look over this bay, it’s one of the most beautiful things you could see. It’s just bursting with life.

SHARING A PHOTOGRAPH, ODDAPALLI, INDIA, NOV. 20, 2008 Dr. Dagmar Schmidt Etkin, 53


"Each day, we started at 5 a.m. and went until at least 10 at night. I’d take the kids on nature walks, and then I taught classes — chemistry, environmental sciences. I really made a connection with the children and staff at the school. I feel like they’re part of my family now. Besides being a chance to be with my son, it was, personally, a wonderful experience.”