How travel is changing the outlook on life. The journey that changed my life

Over the past six months, we have changed three countries, not counting our home, where our journey began. We lived in each of them for some time: a month, two, three ... They discovered their extraordinary world and offered to look at many things from the other side. Different cultures, religions and traditions, but they all have something in common. A country can be compared to a person. She has her own character, temperament, moral principles, foundations, as well as a unique personality and soul. This is where the first fact follows.

1. Travel expands the boundaries of our consciousness. Seeing how other people live, penetrating into the heart of the people, you begin to understand their logic, thinking, strategy of behavior. There is such a concept as cultural shock - culture shock, literally means "breaking the patterns." In scientific terms, this is the breaking of old neural connections and the formation of new ones, taking into account the information received. This is exactly what happens, you start to think wider.

2. All really necessary things are placed in a backpack weighing 20 kg.Living in one place, you involuntarily overgrow with material things. People tend to make their life comfortable and to be hoarding. Jars, small bottles, a new pair of shoes or a blouse, a set of tools. The result: clogged shelves and wardrobes, dresses worn once, three pairs of shoes that are tight and a certain amount of money spent. How often are these things used? Once a year, two? How necessary are they? But this tidy sum would be enough for a trip to warmer regions.

3. Each move frees you from a mass of unnecessary things and thoughts. When you leave your home, believe me, it is not so easy to part with all the acquired property. The main question arises: Why do I need all this? And what to do with it?With frequent moving, answers to these questions come. You learn to immediately separate the really necessary things, and with them thoughts, feelings and priorities.

4. We will never be the same. For some reason, it is on the way that it becomes more clear than ever that you will not be like yesterday. And tomorrow you will be completely different again. In fact, this always happens, but you realize it right here.

6. Elixir of youth.As they say, the main thing is not to grow old in soul. Have you seen at least one traveler without pep? They are all optimistic, cheerful and full of energy. Of course, each in its own degree. It is not for nothing that European retirees go on cruises in their old age - to discover a new world and new themselves. Many people say that life is just beginning for them. Two of my acquaintances are happy to shop, chat about men, study fashion trends - they are 50 years old. How it works? I do not know. But the result is obvious. They look younger than their years, and they have enough vitality for another 50.

7. The habit of quickly adapting and learning is developed.Of course, it is important to be able to do this in our modern society, because it is dynamic, active and changeable. This skill is essential in all areas of life, both in career, business and in personal relationships. Travel gives us an opportunity like nothing else. Imagine: you find yourself in another country, where everything is different, people, climate, norms of behavior, laws, rules, traditions, even food and clothing. And naturally, the level of comfort in life will depend on how quickly you adapt. And we all, one way or another, strive for this. Therefore, the mind, body and perception learn to quickly adapt to new living conditions, harmoniously fit into the surroundings while maintaining individuality.

8. The world is not as big as it seems. Being thousands of kilometers from your country, you can meet not only a person who speaks the same language with you, but also a former neighbor. Indeed, 6 handshakes are enough to say hello to the president. Acquaintances of acquaintances, work colleagues, fellow students and classmates ... but whoever you can meet on your way. It would seem an accident. But there are no accidents. Your people are everywhere, and they find you.

10. In the end, you realize that life itself is a journey.It doesn't matter if we move physically in space, change cities, apartments, professions. We are always time travel. We got on our bus of life the moment we were born. Our journey continues now. People join us, we call them friends, loved ones, they get off at their stops, and we continue to go in our direction. Perhaps our paths will still cross, or perhaps other fellow travelers will appear. We will spend some part of the way alone with ourselves, at other times there will be so many people that we will understand: the bus is rubber and you can also ride on the roof. And when the time comes, we will change the owl transport to another, and a new life will begin.

These are the discoveries that happen on a journey. Their list can be continued indefinitely and everyone can bring their own discovery or insight into it. Anatole France once wrote: "Sometimes one day spent in other places gives more than 10 years of life at home." And there is some truth in this. But to learn this for real, you can only on your own experience.

Happy travels to you!

Some travels are remembered because they were at a certain time - honeymoon or graduation. Others - by being the first: the first trip abroad, the first flight, the first trip. And some travels are made because it's time for a change. They give a new perspective on life, a breath of fresh air and a chance to change everything for the better.

Here are just 15 places that can really change your life:

Denali National Park, Alaska

More than 100 km of road through the park in a subarctic landscape, which is not found anywhere else in North America. Golden eagles fly overhead, deer climb the slopes, and grizzlies make their way through the tundra. The mountain that gives it its name rises above the park. The protected natural area stretches over an area of \u200b\u200b25 thousand square kilometers - the size of a small European country, such as Macedonia.

There are many campsites here, and it is easy to get lost in nature, untouched by the passage of time, in such a huge space where everyone will feel negligible.

Istanbul, Turkey

Although Turkey is in a not very favorable neighborhood with Syria, Iraq, and in itself there have been a lot of conflicts lately, but if we abstract, then Istanbul is just a joyful reminder that everything should be different. The ancient Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque ... Everything is combined here: the historic city center, modern architecture and art, vibrant nightlife and modern cuisine.

Bagan, Myanmar

A thousand years ago, this city was the capital of the kingdom of Southeast Asia, which built 10 thousand Buddhist temples along the Ayeyarwaddy River. More than 2 thousand of them remained. Unlike Cambodia, where crowds of tourists go, it is even more spacious here and the locals themselves will show you the sights.

There are no big hotels or resorts here. This is a real journey in time to Asia, which no longer exists elsewhere.

Caribbean sea

Feel like real pirates, but without robbery and bloodshed. Hiring a private boat is much easier than it sounds and not very expensive as they say. Spend a few days at sea, stay on small islands that seem to have never been discovered by anyone.

Holi Festival, India

A real riot of colors is celebrated every spring in the Indian cities of Mathura and Vrindavan. The festival has spread all over the world, but it retains a special significance here - at the birthplace of Krishna. It is a holiday of spring and a day of forgiveness.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Swim here, of course, under water, and you will realize how truly our world is huge and majestic. The 2,900 reefs, which make up one Big, are home to billions of tiny living creatures, corals, which together create their own separate underwater space.

This is what is best done sooner rather than later. Every year, due to global warming, the reef rises to the surface. Even experienced divers will discover this unearthly world.

Paris

Romance and art, fashion and food. The French capital offers it all year round, but the pinnacle of it all can be seen at the Salon du Chocolat chocolate fair. Every autumn, the world's best chocolatiers, pastry chefs and cocoa experts prepare the most delicious desserts. This year there was a 6-meter chocolate bear and a fashion show of clothes made from or inspired by chocolate.

Kyoto, Japan

High-speed trains and LED street lights faded into Kyoto, the ancient capital of the empire of pagodas and temples, where tea ceremonies can last for hours. Here you can meditate throughout the journey, walking under the sakura trees near the shrines. Many temples have guesthouses where you can stay.

Chicago

Amazing architecture, jazz clubs and ethnic festivals every weekend all summer. In the Second City Theater, you can learn to be a comedian, because this is where famous American comedians came from. The full course lasts 8 weeks, but there is also a short intensive course. They seriously believe that laughter can change your life, therefore they offer appropriate courses for those suffering from depression or autism.

Drakensberg, South Africa

There is a kind of otherworldly landscape, which is indicated by the very name of the main local attraction - the Drakensberg Mountains. Jagged ledges, sheer cliffs, snow-capped winter peaks. For thousands of years, people have admired the special mystical mood of this area with the largest collection of ancient cave paintings in Africa. Some of them are 4 thousand years old and are accessible only to experienced climbers.

Buenos Aires

Everyone knows about his tango, good wine and steaks, but many are missing out on another attraction - the books. The Argentine capital is a botanist's paradise with more bookstores per capita than any other city in the world.

One of them is located inside the old theater El Ateneo. The seats have been replaced with shelves, but the theater boxes have nooks and crannies to read a couple of pages before purchasing.

Forbidden City, Beijing

This is the largest palace complex in the world, the main "white house" of the Chinese emperors of the last centuries. The two main gates are located almost a kilometer from each other. More than 15 million people visit this place every year, most of whom are Chinese, for whom it is a real center of power, a national symbol and historical pride.

California Highway SR 1

You might have seen this track in movies, advertisements or NFS. Sharp turns, sheer cliffs, large bridges are great places for chase scenes or romantic travel. More than a thousand kilometers from San Diego to the north of San Francisco. And don't plan to just drive them around with a breeze. There are many places to stop and take in the views. The mountains cut into the Pacific Ocean in the Big Sur area, the picturesque town of Carmel invites you to walk, and Hearst Castle will allow you to plunge into luxury.

Finding the gorillas of Rwanda

Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is certainly not for everyone. Not everyone can stand hiking in the rainforest, up steep mountain slopes, and sometimes on slippery trails. There are only 700 mountain gorillas left, and meeting them can radically change the very idea of \u200b\u200bwhat it means to be human. In Rwanda, only 10 groups of gorillas are used to humans.

Bali, Indonesia

The name itself is already associated with a tropical paradise, and not without reason. Bali has long been a haven for artists and writers looking for the inspiration it offers in abundance. Stunning scenery, great food, nightlife and peace to come. And although many tourists come here, there is still a place to escape from everyone.

I write this while hiding from the typhoon, hurricane wind and rain on the east coast of Taiwan. When it's over I'll try to finish mine huan dao 2012, full island trip, over 1000 km by bike. I made a similar journey in 1992, my first year in Taiwan. But, both my life in Taiwan and my passion for cycling tourism - and I have 100,000 km and more than 24 countries behind me - stems from my cycling holiday in Malaysia 25 years ago.

In fact, the story began even earlier, a year before, when I first came to Asia, to Thailand. And that was a big disappointment.

Do not misunderstand me. I love Thailand as much as I love Malaysia, Taiwan and many other countries.

But I made the mistake that many neophytes make. I followed the directions in the guide to find popular destinations, shopping centers, and beach hotels. And although I had a good time, it was not clear to me where in the end Asia was, since I had not come across anything that I could not see without leaving home.

So for next year I packed my bike and, despite the fact that I had never traveled further than school or the beach, I decided to ride it through southern Thailand, all of Peninsular Malaysia and enter Singapore. Everything is in the place a little more than 2000 km. I was going to fly from Kuala Lumpur.

It looked like the most stupid thing in my life, but it turned out to be the smartest thing to do. And, as I said, it changed the course of my life, and more than once.

I didn’t have to give up visiting the sights, but between them I had to drive past “real” villages and cities, interact with “real” people, live in small hotels, along with truck drivers and merchants, and there is one like them , writing. Despite the pain in my legs, arms, back, and especially in its very lower part, the trip won me over.

In Alor Setar, I celebrated my arrival in Malaysia with a can of Guinness beer. I was pleasantly surprised by the widespread availability of beer. But what I was even more surprised was that my favorite Irish stout was among the popular brands.

The next day I pedaled, and in Georgetown, Penang Island, I realized that I had fallen in love with Asia. I can't say what exactly I liked so much, but tongue-tied is not an option for a writer, I must try. A mixture of peoples, or at least a mixture of culinary traditions. Or the architecture of old cities, study taiqiin the park, trying to master a few phrases Bahasa Malay - I still didn't realize how widespread English is here - and bike rides along the beaches late at night to swim.

My planned two days turned into two weeks, and even then it was difficult for me to leave. The next stop was Tanakh-rata, at an altitude of 1500 meters in the Cameron Mountains. I spent four days on this halt.

I got by with two. One late evening I arrived in Ipoh, the next stage, which included a five-hour climb in a thunderstorm, took me to Tanah-Rata, a small town in the middle of tea plantations, at a very pleasant altitude. The hotel manager said my schedule was perfect. Early the next morning, the Indian Tamil festival of Thaipusam began, during which devotees surrender themselves into the hands of the Indian gods, injecting dozens and even hundreds of hooks into their bodies before a 5 km parade through the streets. Then a treat awaits them at the local church.

I quickly rolled down the mountain and arrived in Kuala Lumpur before midnight. This was the first time I drove 200 km in a day. Time was running out even faster than my savings, however, soon it was time for me to return to England to work, so I left the capital, counting on my next visit.

I made a short stop in Malacca, where the old town conquered me, and Muare, which is still a lovely sleepy port.

After that, the trip to Singapore was not difficult, I already knew that cycling in Asia would become an important part of my life, and not just one of the vacations.

If you found this article interesting, we invite you to learn more about travel to Malaysia by visiting our website:Tourism in Malaysia

Mark Caltonhill (Taiwan)
Mark Caltonhill, writer, actor and amateur cyclist based in Taiwan, was born in Manchester, England. Read his other works: http://markcaltonhill.blogspot.com.au/

Translated from:The journey that changed my life - Cycling Malaysia in 1987, by Mark Caltonhill

Firm confidence and just trying to plan your best trip can make a huge difference in your life, and it can change it. So why put it off?

I started traveling on my own in 2012 when I took a bus with a friend to Finland and Sweden. This was my first independent journey after graduation. After that I flew to Spain, traveled across Russia, lived in Thailand and visited the countries of Asia closest to it.

All this, one way or another, leaves its mark on our life. Completely different thoughts, ideas and aspirations appear, which are simply impossible to feel if you live a measured life, typical for most people. At some point this happened to me.

After I traveled all over Thailand on a motorcycle for about five thousand kilometers, something clicked in my head. A few months later, I returned to Russia and, together with a friend, came up with a new motorcycle trip. More global and even at that time not quite real. I decided to take a motorcycle ride across western Europe. And not just drive, but stay in a state of travel for two months, although such a route can be “flown” in a couple of weeks.

It was August 2014, I did not have my own motorcycle, nor the necessary rights, nor money, nor visas. There was nothing at all, except for the complete confidence that in May 2015 I will sit on a motorcycle and go on my journey called One on Moto , no matter what.

Usually, after a while, most people forget about their dreams. They continue to lead an ordinary life and come up with 1001 excuses for themselves why you can't give up everything and do it right now. This happened to my friend, who after a couple of months actually gave up the idea of \u200b\u200bour trip.

Oddly enough, but on my own, I felt relieved. There was no need to adjust to other people's desires, to go where I personally do not want. I had a ready idea and the opportunity to do everything the way I liked it, without looking back at someone else.

Everything suddenly became clear and transparent. It is at this moment that the mere desire to go on a journey begins to change our life rapidly and irrevocably.

I got a job, income, a goal. All year I have been preparing for the trip. The problems that usually concern the average resident of a large city have become indifferent to me. It is this indifference to the little things of everyday life that releases energy in us for really worthwhile actions, deeds and decisions in our lives.

Needless to say, I got married in January 2015! A man who, for the past five years, has been firmly convinced that he will not marry before he gets rich or lives to at least thirty.

You might think that all this is common enough. Maybe. But we begin to make serious decisions in our lives only when we are confident in our life goals. There are no hesitations and empty thoughts, whining and cottoniness cease to prevail over us. Being in this state, I can confidently say that right now I really live!

While planning all aspects of the trip, I started studying maps, terrain, motorcycle design, visa subtleties and more. All this helps to move away from the usual activities, broadens the horizons and gives new food for ideas.

At the end of winter, the idea came to me to tell as many people as possible about the trip, to do something that had not yet been done before me.

There are hundreds of motorcyclists who visit Europe every year from Russia. But few people talk about their feelings and generally move away from the usual "snatch" on the European autobahns of several countries in two weeks. After all, it is outside the well-trodden routes that the most interesting begins.

I have always been repulsed by travel programs and programs that pour from screens refined and absolutely hackneyed information for a package tourist. Using the situation, I decided to make a mini-series about the journey after returning and publish it on my YouTube channel ... Thus, another desire appeared, for the sake of which it was necessary to overcome new difficulties, to set goals. As a result, we got the result - I agreed with the studio about editing, found cameras and everything I needed, the only thing left was to shoot the material.

This is just another example of how you can discover new horizons through related areas and directions. I am a designer by profession. But the whole story of this journey made me rethink my professional desires and now I have a lot of ideas where and how I really want to develop. What really matters to me in life.

Thousands of people spend years and a lot of money for this understanding, go to trainings of all kinds of charlatans. But you just have to go on a journey, plunge into the unknown, talk to yourself cleanly and many things will become obvious to you.

During the downpour that caught me among the hills and mountains on the way from Krabi to Bangkok, I got a whole storm of sensations and emotions. Fear, cold, dampness, stuffiness, freedom, joy. Damn it, I was happy and focused as much as possible on what was happening, lived in the moment and I really liked it! May there be more moments in your future journey when you just live without thinking about anything.

You can find out more about preparing for the trip on the website