FELLOW TRAVELLERS
As any traveller
knows, once you have the bug, it never leaves you. That yearning to hit
the road, jump on a plane or sail the oceans is a strong magnet.
About twenty years ago, I was living in a city down south, which had a lot of ships coming and going. Most of this was related to nearby mining, though not all. There was a little cave on the headland that I used to sit it in where I could enjoy an interrupted view of the ocean's traffic, while no one from the top of the headland could see me. As I was in a city, I loved this sense of invisibility and sought it out often.
With every single ship that sailed by, I would wonder who was on board, what their story was, where they were going, what countries they'd seen and if they had family waiting at home somewhere.
To this day, these questions still always surface in me whenever I see large ships, or even small ones for that matter. Those same thoughts come to me sometimes when visiting cosmopolitan cities too. They are such a wonderful melting pot of people. I wonder about all of their stories as people of so many different nationalities walk by, with a wonderful variety of accents and appearances.
Each time I find myself at an airport, particularly an international one, again I wonder about everyone, where they were two days ago and where they'll be in two days time. One time I spotted some people and thought this, then arrived in New Zealand only to see them walk past me again. That answered my question!
Finding the balance between settling and travelling seems to be becoming an easier one for me now. I must have been ready. For the last couple of years travelling to gigs, particularly festivals, has satisfied my travel urges and my need for the road. But having a solid home base again, makes me look forward to coming home too. It is a new feeling for me really, a nice one.
Work, especially my writing, will take me travelling a fair bit over the next year or two. What a dream, to travel for work, incorporating a love of travel in the meantime. The seeds for this have been planted for years. It is beautiful to see them sprouting now.
Although the cottage is hidden from the road by a huge Tallowwood tree, and a creek flows in front of that, from the right place on the verandah you can see down to the road. It is not a highway and other than motorbikes on Saturday mornings, it is rare to hear traffic. Usually it is only the birds singing that can be heard.
After spending the morning working on a writing project, I just stood and looked towards the road. Once outside of the hours that rural people head to town for work, the road hardly sees a car all day. Any traffic that does go by though, is usually travellers in their camper vans or motor homes. I love it. I love seeing them and again the same questions come to mind.
Who are they? What's their story? Where are they going? And even if I cannot be travelling at the moment, I am always delighted to be reminded that someone is. In a way, that's sometimes enough for me. Just knowing there are people out there enjoying the wonders of travel.
The picture above was taken when I was travelling through the Northern Territory years ago. It is fabulous there, wild country for sure, but the roads go on forever and ever. It is easy to forget about busy cities even existing when you are this far away from everything.
Yesterday was spent with a friend who delighted in showing me his photos from recent trips to Nepal and Laos. Did I really just say that knowing others were travelling was sometimes enough?! He has stirred the travel bug in me again terribly.
But right now I am consumed with writing projects. And while I would love to be hitting the road to anywhere, simply for the love of travel, I am also counting my blessings to be doing work that I love in such an ideal environment.
And one day again soon, I will hopefully be one of those people driving by a curious person's place. If you see travellers passing through your life, please send them some good wishes. They are out there everywhere, enjoying the wonders of discovery. And if you yourself are currently travelling, I wish you safe and joyous adventures.
Travelling bridges cultural differences and done the right way, can celebrate the beauty of the planet too.
Even catching a train or bus to work is travelling too though. So if you are travelling anywhere today, near or far, my very best wishes are with you.
Happy, safe travels.
About twenty years ago, I was living in a city down south, which had a lot of ships coming and going. Most of this was related to nearby mining, though not all. There was a little cave on the headland that I used to sit it in where I could enjoy an interrupted view of the ocean's traffic, while no one from the top of the headland could see me. As I was in a city, I loved this sense of invisibility and sought it out often.
With every single ship that sailed by, I would wonder who was on board, what their story was, where they were going, what countries they'd seen and if they had family waiting at home somewhere.
To this day, these questions still always surface in me whenever I see large ships, or even small ones for that matter. Those same thoughts come to me sometimes when visiting cosmopolitan cities too. They are such a wonderful melting pot of people. I wonder about all of their stories as people of so many different nationalities walk by, with a wonderful variety of accents and appearances.
Each time I find myself at an airport, particularly an international one, again I wonder about everyone, where they were two days ago and where they'll be in two days time. One time I spotted some people and thought this, then arrived in New Zealand only to see them walk past me again. That answered my question!
Finding the balance between settling and travelling seems to be becoming an easier one for me now. I must have been ready. For the last couple of years travelling to gigs, particularly festivals, has satisfied my travel urges and my need for the road. But having a solid home base again, makes me look forward to coming home too. It is a new feeling for me really, a nice one.
Work, especially my writing, will take me travelling a fair bit over the next year or two. What a dream, to travel for work, incorporating a love of travel in the meantime. The seeds for this have been planted for years. It is beautiful to see them sprouting now.
Although the cottage is hidden from the road by a huge Tallowwood tree, and a creek flows in front of that, from the right place on the verandah you can see down to the road. It is not a highway and other than motorbikes on Saturday mornings, it is rare to hear traffic. Usually it is only the birds singing that can be heard.
After spending the morning working on a writing project, I just stood and looked towards the road. Once outside of the hours that rural people head to town for work, the road hardly sees a car all day. Any traffic that does go by though, is usually travellers in their camper vans or motor homes. I love it. I love seeing them and again the same questions come to mind.
Who are they? What's their story? Where are they going? And even if I cannot be travelling at the moment, I am always delighted to be reminded that someone is. In a way, that's sometimes enough for me. Just knowing there are people out there enjoying the wonders of travel.
The picture above was taken when I was travelling through the Northern Territory years ago. It is fabulous there, wild country for sure, but the roads go on forever and ever. It is easy to forget about busy cities even existing when you are this far away from everything.
Yesterday was spent with a friend who delighted in showing me his photos from recent trips to Nepal and Laos. Did I really just say that knowing others were travelling was sometimes enough?! He has stirred the travel bug in me again terribly.
But right now I am consumed with writing projects. And while I would love to be hitting the road to anywhere, simply for the love of travel, I am also counting my blessings to be doing work that I love in such an ideal environment.
And one day again soon, I will hopefully be one of those people driving by a curious person's place. If you see travellers passing through your life, please send them some good wishes. They are out there everywhere, enjoying the wonders of discovery. And if you yourself are currently travelling, I wish you safe and joyous adventures.
Travelling bridges cultural differences and done the right way, can celebrate the beauty of the planet too.
Even catching a train or bus to work is travelling too though. So if you are travelling anywhere today, near or far, my very best wishes are with you.
Happy, safe travels.
