Walking a different path. Travel … one of the best things we can do for both ourselves and our children. As a family we travelled … a lot. I changed schools every two or three years and after a while you make friends like a traveller makes friends … knowing that it's a temporary thing … one or other of you will be gone soon. You don't put down roots, they'll only be torn up in a couple of years. You learn to be compact and self-reliant. On the other hand you get to see things other people do not. Countries that no longer exist. Ways of life that have disappeared forever. I remember seeing Chinese junks in Penang and Singapore harbours. Orchard Road with wooden shops before it became high-rise. Islands before they became the footprint for mega-resorts. It wasn't that long ago either.
I remember returning to Australia, to a new school again after one of these trips and finding people simply didn't believe that I'd been overseas … that I was making it all up … that everywhere was simply the same as it was here. How I longed to be able to teleport them to walk along one of those streets, or to the center of an asian market where you chose the chicken you wanted for dinner, went away and returned to find it newly converted into fresh-plucked chicken … still vitally warm … or you could stay and watch. That would learn them … maybe.
I believe it's vitally important to walk down another street. A place you've never been … surrounded by people living a life completely different to yours (albeit superficially … I mean we're all essentially looking for love and warmth and food) to see how people live. It changes the way you view the world and your place within it … at times if only to realise just how lucky you are to have the things you have and often take for granted.
I took the picture above on a recent family trip to Ubud in Bali. I liked that it showed that essential nature of travel … walking a different path.
Do you travel? Have you walked another path?
Oh , you are so right. Such a beautiful story and a great picture. I one time sat down and counted the number of times that I had move around in Toronto(most of), in Ontario (a bit), in Canada(not so much) and I didn’t have enough fingers and almost ran out of toes. Sometimes it makes me sad because there were times that I knew that I had really lost something precious and then there were times I had a chance to see how someone else lived and I realized that though we are all different in how we live but in some ways we are not so different at all. It’s always interesting to see how others live because there are times it gives one a clue how it is better to do something which one has struggled with for some time. But you are right – you do ,in some way, lose that sense of permanence although I have to admit there are times I let myself dream that some things can be more permanent for a longer time. It is an interesting phenomenon in any case. Thank you for the story and for the picture which truly is worth a thousand words.
Thanks Marialla. It’s so enriching but like all things it’s a balance between gain and loss π
amen. couldn’t have put it better! travelling, like everything else, is a mixed blessing. I wouldn’t want to miss the different perspectives and experiences, the opportunities to learn about different cultures as much as about myself, but the never putting down proper roots is getting to me. it’s fine for a while. but I guess eventually I have to find a place to settle down for at least more than just a couple of years… not sure if Singapore is going to be that place…
Look, settling has its advantages, particularly where children are involved. I know my kids will have that stability that comes from growing up in a place and I hope to vary it enough with travel to show them the world too … best of both worlds! I reckon that unless you’re born in Singapore or plan to spend the rest of your days there … no-one really puts down roots in Singapore: it’s simply not that kind of city. You’ve never struck me as an expat wife either ;-P
ha, don’t get me started on the expat wifes!!! unless I find some ‘real’ people, and find them soon, I will go crazy. a job would be good, too.
I’m doing the moving around thing for about 15 years now. I guess I have another 5 years in me. unless I decide to have kids which might change things a little. or it might not.
no, I do like the nomad lifestyle. to me the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages!!
How about expat wives using Instagram? π
Are you allowed to work in Singapore or do you require a different visa?
I would need a visa. seems to be quite straightforward to get though. i’m still not sure if I want to stay though….
Still too early for that kind of decision!
Oh yes, Geoff. Travel is part of the warp and woof of my life. When I was married to Bill for 21 years, we lived in 6 different American cities from Michigan to South Carolina, Wisconsin and Georgia. Now I live in the Netherlands and get to travel all over Europe. It’s what makes me tick. But I need to add that I am a Gemeni (short-distance travel) and have 2 planets in my house of long-distance travel. In other words, it’s “in the stars” for me that I would love and need to travel! π
interesting. I’m a Gemini too. but I don’t anything about houses of short or long distance travel. how does that work?
It’s about your natal chart, Petra, and where the 10 planets “fall” in it the minute you were born. The chart is comprised of 12 houses that correlate with every area of your life and personality. Think of it like the biggest personality profile you can find of yourself. I’ve been doing natal charts since 1990 and find them absolutely fascinating!
thanks for the info. now I just need to find out the minute of my birth. my mum should know. I’m the only child she has π
Don’t be too surprised if your mum doesn’t remember (if it’s not written down somewhere of course – I recall asking my mum and got a time +/- 12hours!)
Perhaps I could trade you a few oculus tips and you could do mine? π
Thanks Ginnie.
I think all those planets are what’s making your feet itchy π
Very nice and special photo! Like!
Thank you and welcome to the blog Birgitta π
I walked in a path different from that known but staying in the same place, have different experiences but life brings unexpected surprises and sometimes change the path and right there in front of you!! the photo makes it very clear idea of your thinking and brings with it a very strong feeling!!
Indeed! And thank you Fabrizio, sometimes travel of the mind without moving the body is most beneficial too.
Great post and photo (has a magical quality about it). I travelled a lot with my family as a child as my father (a historian) went on sabattical every four years and the whole family would go along when we were young – drive through Europe in a combi van, lived in a Greek fishing village for a few months and then Athens, also England and Wales and Scotland, Italy, France, Switzerland etc.,. Went to Bosnia-Herzegovinia during the civil war with my Mum. Certanly opens up the heart and mind. Love the countries but hate the actual travelling – ie., the car drive, the plane trip, the boat journey.
But waiting hours at airports and bus stations is soooo much fun! π
Roots on two continents – that sounds fantastic and I can totally imagine that some people had difficulties to believe it. Wandering between two worlds I think it really was. Must have been amazing and wonderful to return after quiet a long time.
Most of my life I spent in the same town, living in the same house with my parents for about twenty years. Since I left home, I’ve changed apartments a few times and moved 600 km away from my hometown, but there are not that many differences. Even when you travel within Europe, a lot of things will be very much alike, there are differences in culture and also in the development of each country but most of it is really minor, I’d say. My mother is originally from Bulgaria but the last time I was there was almost 20 years ago and I don’t really have a connection to these roots. Maybe I should take the time one day to discover my second ‘home’…
Within the last year, I traveled to the US and the Middle East, there is not only a big difference between those two worlds but also to life in Europe. And even though there are of course a lot of big and exciting things to see, I often find the most pleasure in the little things, different flowers and animals running around or simply the goods you can buy in a supermarket. Walking different paths, not simply from one tourist attraction to the next but rather discovering small alleys and the little oddities of a place is just so much fun. Your picture captures this very well.
Sounds fantastic I know … but they’re not really roots as such but more a collection of experiences tied together by location. That sounded more fluent in my head by the way! I don’t know that I would call SE Asia a ‘home’ but I do feel very comfortable there π
My family also moved quite a bit when I was a kid, but only within the US. Although I agree that travel changes one’s perspective and opens many doors, I’m glad to be a bit of a homebody today. I relish the familiar. But, that’s just me. Wonderful image and thought provoking post, as usual:)
Thanks Elena. The picture captures for me that essence of travel π
A very poignant message beautifully illustrated.
Thank you. I love this picture and what it says to me … and that nit says something to you too.
Your photo of your little boy walking down that path is so sweet!
Do I travel? Yes.
Have I walked another path? I am still walking that other path. I don’t know where “home” is anymore . . .
I have stopped looking, stopped asking and accepted that where I am at the moment is fine. Wherever that happens to be . . . . and it took a long time getting to this point!
Thank you Patti for visiting and for taking the time to leave a comment … I appreciate that.
A quick glance at your blog and I see that you do indeed travel a lot … not only travel but are open to experiencing the place when you get there too.
The story begins: going to an unknown path. Nice shot.
Have a nice day.
Thanks