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.