“Born to be Wild”
New York travel plans.
Falling in love with unknown destinations, serendipitous events, new friendships, exotic cultures, strange cuisines, crazy adventures, and unlikely experiences is the essence of travel. Being a travel junkie myself, I can whole-heartedly attest that these are only a few of the many reasons why I love traveling so much. From seeing enchanting waterfalls in Costa Rica, hiking previously untraveled trails in Belize, biking down city streets in Amsterdam, and tobogganing and careening down steep slopes in the Swiss Alps; to eating Escargot in Paris, tasting ten different types of Jerky in South Africa, and catching, killing, and subsequently eating Trout in Austria; to finding and coming to terms with spirituality in India and understanding the impact of religions in the mosques of Turkey; to taking a swig of “La Fée Verte” in Prague and diving headfirst into a green-fairy-filled oblivion of sorts, traveling has provided me with a bevy of tangible memories to peruse and relive at whatever time my heart desires.
Traveling isn’t just about seeing the sights, eating the food, and immersing myself in the culture; it’s also about meeting and connecting with the locals around me. I have found that making connections can lead to some of my most rewarding experiences as a traveler. I cannot count how many times locals have given me on-the-road tips and advice, and surprisingly, many people have even invited me into their lives for the short time that I am visiting. From a chatty tour guide in Turkey to the families I met in South Africa, people have welcomed me with open arms to become a part of their lives, even for the briefest of moments. I’ve shared meals with a family in Philippolis, swapped life stories with pub-goers in London, and shared first-time experiences with fellow travelers in Amsterdam. Time and time again, I have, without fail connected with the people around me, and never have I met a place where I have felt stranded and alone. Although we may come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, as people, we can connect on so many different levels.
Recently I have come to realize that I have primarily thought of travel solely outside of the United States. Although I absolutely love traveling abroad, I have also discovered how much of the US I have yet to explore. I think I have come to take the beauty and wonder of the US for granted since I was born and brought up here. Especially living in the same city for a long period of time has made me almost numb to new experiences. I go about my daily life without the wonder and joy I know I have when I first move to a new place. Having not been able to travel very much due to class, work, and lack of vacation time, I have almost forgotten what it is like to view the world through innocent eyes.
The first time I realized just how jaded I had become with the world around me, was this past weekend when I took a trip to New Orleans. Although I normally love traveling, this trip in particular was really bringing me down. I was ecstatic that my cousin was getting married, but I somehow couldn’t even feign the slightest amount of excitement at the thought of flying over. Rather begrudgingly, I hopped into a cab for Logan International Airport in Boston for my 10 AM flight. I even went as far as planning my escape during the taxi ride over. Maybe I could say I slept through my alarm clock, or they gave my seat to the President, or they offered me $300 for my seat and I took it, but none of my excuses really seemed plausible. Sighing, I resigned myself to my fate and boarded the flight. With my wonderful luck, I was, of course, one of the last people to board the plane. After finally finding a place to stow my carry-on bag, I squeezed past the two other people in my row and situated myself for the two hour flight to Chicago, where I had a two hour layover. Just as I closed my eyes, trying to block out the noise and rustling of my fellow passengers, I felt an uncomfortable presence to my left. Trying to ignore it, I concentrated harder on the music I was listening to, but when the feeling didn’t subside, I opened my eyes and looked over to find an older man watching me intently.
As soon as he saw my eyes open, he proceeded to pelt me with questions about life, travel, and being a student in Boston. He learned so much about me in those two hours, yet I only learned two things about him, he used to live in New Orleans before he joined the army. Lost in my annoyance with the world, I completely brushed off the kindness of a stranger who was willing to give me insider tips about a city I hadn’t visited in more than ten years. I didn’t give my actions a second thought during the flight, and to tell you the truth, it only really hit me once I had landed in New Orleans. How could I have even thought of scoffing at someone who was so excited for me to visit their hometown? It’s almost as if I had turned into some kind of mutant-freak travel snob who couldn’t even bear the thought of leaving my luxury, latte-filled life at home. Who was this monster who was an obvious homebody with a temper that could rival that of Christian Bale, and what on earth had it done to my travel-obssessed alter ego? Where was that girl who met and engaged a passing author on the New York subway in deep conversation, who once shared a meal with a sweet, elderly lady on the bus back to Boston, and who always managed to make friends on the road? This lightning bolt back to reality really hit me hard. I was stunned by how quickly my outlook on life could become so jaded.
As my plane landed in New Orleans, I renewed the pact I had made with myself four years earlier, after my first experience traveling on my own itinerary in Europe — I promise myself that I will live every day like it’s my last, and I will constantly experience my surroundings as if it is my first time seeing them; I will take charge of my world as it flies by, and I will push myself to veer from the beaten track; I will always be open to new experiences, and I will forge new friendships; I will take chances, and I will fall in love with travel once more.
~Sithara Reddy~
