Running Against the Wind

Running against the wind-

The question on what defines a traveler is a curious one. For me it’s not the number of places you’ve been nor things you’ve experienced, but rather a state of mind. Does simply having the lust for travel make someone a traveler? Probably more so than the number of countries you’ve been to, but no that’s not it either. Maybe someone savvy in the art of travel? Someone that knows how to find cheap airline tickets, bargain their way into a room discount or talk to the waiter in his native language? Doesn’t make them a traveler either, not to me anyway. There is a quote from Paul Theroux that hits this one on the head- “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.”

With each passing day I loose the tourist mentality and embrace the travelers mindset, but I have to admit I don’t think I’m completely there yet, not the way I’d like to be anyway. Sure I’d be considered a traveler by the strictest of most other peoples definitions, but if I thought other people’s definitions mattered it would probably mean another piece of clay on the tourist side of the scale. I’ve lost interest and no longer care about sights and I would trade in a temple any day for an experience. After seeing Angkor Wat in Cambodia (which was awesome) I have very little interest in anymore temples or monuments. I’m not a historian or archeologist, so why should I? They have become tourist traps to me and I really can’t be bothered with them anymore. Give me a small village and local people to hang out with instead 10 times out of 10. The largest Buddhist temple in the world is Borobudur here in Indonesia. It’s said to be amazing and the best sunrise photo in the country. I gave it a pass. There are 3 ruins in the world I’d still care to see; Tikal in Guatemala, Petra in Jordan and The Great Pyramids of Egypt. If its not one of these three I can take it or leave it, and that is a fairly new development for me that I think makes me less a tourist… But not necessarily more of a traveler.

To me a hardcore traveler is defined by mental freedom. To have a list (actual or mental) of places to go prevents real freedom. Even to have a return date stymies this. I forced myself to never make a physical list of countries to go to, but the mental list has always been there. I am actually saddened to admit that after 8 months I’ve gone to all the countries I’ve wanted to and none that I hadn’t originally planned. Though in my defense I purposely never have any idea where I’m going until I get there). Other things that go against the footloose and fancy free principle are distractions like an iphone, laptop, camera, blog, instagram page etc. At this point my digital addictions prevent me from loosening the reins on these as well. Of course I’m being very strict on my definition of a traveler which probably more closely resembles a wanderer or explorer. No doubt the burden of a self proclaimed “vagabond”.

There is one country that has recently been a thorn in my side and its Myanmar (formerly Burma). The country opened up its borders to travelers only a few years ago and it’s the hot topic right now in the backpackersphere. Much like Vietnam was 5 years ago or Thailand 10 years ago. Everyone I’ve talked to that’s been to Myanmar raves about it and has one echoing piece of advice- “go now because it’s still ‘real’, it will be a completely different place in a year or two… its changing already”. [Enter- ATM machines and Coca Cola].

I came to a crossroads with a decision. On this trip I want to experience Africa, but I’d also love to see what all the hype is about Myanmar. If I go to Africa I’ll likely never see the REAL Myanmar. If I go to Myanmar I’ll have to rush through Africa and something’s gotta give. For weeks I’ve been thinking about this and I simplified the question by asking it to myself this way; If this is the last trip I’ll ever be fortunate enough to take. If work or illness or war or a freakin meteorite or whatever dictates that when I return to the U.S. I’ll never again be able to leave. What would I liked to have done? Asking myself this way I came to a conclusion. In a few days I leave behind the Asian continent and head for Africa where I plan on staying until returning to the US. I can’t help but believe an uninhibited traveler, may have went the other way on this. I’ve always maintained I’d go where the wind blows me. It was blowing the direction of Myanmar, yet something stronger pulled me to Africa.

I had an unparalleled 6 months in Asia and although it’s sad to be running against the wind on this one I think it’s time to keep calm and chive on. If I had too much regret for that decision I wouldn’t be leaving, but the second guessing is going to be there. I find comfort in knowing that I’ll be searching out the REAL Africa once I get there and the unknown element of a new continent has given me a renewed excitement. As for Asia I’ll be back! Pending no meteorites heading our way anytime soon.

Bob