Modicum Of Mystery

If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail. - Heraclitus

Lonely Planet guides, travel blogs, backpacker forums. Today, more than ever, we have access to a wealth of information about any subject imaginable with travel being no exception. The ability to research popular tourist sights, unique daily activities and lists of top things to eat is accessible to anyone with a computer and wifi. If one was so driven, every single nuance of a destination can be distilled down to the minute details. Fully detailed itineraries are not uncommon even in the backpacking community. In contrast, there are others that go to a location not knowing what to expect. I personally tend to favour the latter approach. The spontaneity of travel, to be captured in its flow, is the essence on what draws me to heading out into the unknown. There is magic in going out for an evening stroll only to be surprisingly enveloped by a vast bamboo garden or stumble upon a set of ruins away from the beaten path. Many may be familiar with this feeling when visiting friends or family in a place that is new to them. Almost all the sights and experiences will come as a welcome surprise. There are certainly understandable advantages of having an itinerary. Anyone on a shorter trip would want to maximize the amount of time by being more efficient about routes to get to certain places. Time efficiency could also mean properly packing the right gear needed for certain scenarios. Additionally, certain travellers just need a certain level of planning for a sense of comfort and security. All of these are notable reasons. In reality, there is usually not a rigid dichotomy between the two approaches as most individuals tailor their trip to a level of balance they see fit.  This is not meant to discount the purpose of having a plan, but rather to have a balance between both styles of thought. Therefore, the focus of this entry is the deliberate intention of leaving a modicum of mystery in your travels. Exploration carries with it the possibility of surprise, wonder, and awe. All these ingredients serve to accentuate the meaning of adventure.

Focus

Everything has beauty, but not everybody sees it. - Confucius

The last sliver of the sun slowly starts to descend in the horizon. Fine wisps of clouds blanket the sky amidst the wide array of colours. Waves gently break on the surf and spread thinly across the sand. Leaning palm trees scatter the foreground. The culmination of all these elements warrants a photograph. Ideas rush through my mind as I reach for my camera. What touch ups in Lightroom does this need? Should I use an Instagram filter? What description should I write up to describe this image best? Which hashtags should I use? I take my time to frame the shot ensuring that all the important details are captured. Just as I’m about to press down on the shutter, I pause. Am I truly present right now? I slowly start to lower the camera, turn it back off and just stare silently out into the ocean. Did I just miss an opportunity to take an epic picture? My love for photography has inspired me to find new and interesting material to capture. The pursuit of perfecting this craft can sometimes come with a price, especially when paired with a social media platform. The art can transform from being a personal endeavour to a production that appeals to the masses. Digital media has the power to take away the essence of the “why” in taking a picture. Additionally, my focus would all too often be on the camera preview screen rather than the beauty that is all around me. True immersion in the moment will capture nuances that a photograph never could. Experiences should be less about the camera focus ring and more about inner focus. Less about the social media recognition and more about recognising gratitude. Less about how to capture the moment and more about being in the moment. Focus on taking back the moment.

Peeling Away The Layers

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.  - Aristotle

I’m going to find myself! This is a very common response to the question on why are you going on such a long trip. I’ve always found that statement a little odd, especially since I myself don’t feel like I was lost when I started any of my trips. It is as if the act of wandering aimlessly will magically reveal the figurative treasure they were searching for. I am not unique in that sense, since I know and met many backpackers that have a strong disposition in life. Yet almost every traveller will admit that they are undertaking some form of an intrinsic journey. In doing so, they will undergo a profound evolution within themselves. This may not be evident to the person initially, but it will be apparent to friends and family once they return home. A change this profound surely could not have happened by chance. It was most likely due to a string of conscious decisions. So maybe it’s not about finding one’s bearings in life, but really the peeling back of the layers within themselves to reveal what is truly important at their core. Why is it that travelling has the ability to do so? Is it the fact that putting up a false image is taxing enough and the energy should be spent on hauling that 70L backpack to the next hostel? Or is it that it has the effect of lowering inhibitions to a level where the truest self is slowly revealed? Whatever the reason may be, allow the journey to uncover your true self. What you may have been seeking may have been within you all along.