What travel can teach us

There's so much to gain from roaming the globe.

By Alexis Buxton-Collins
Published: Wednesday, May 20, 2020

With many borders still closed around the world, we reflect on all that travel has taught us, and explore the boundless opportunities awaiting when we can once again fly free.

By the time I was first ready to leave Australia on my own, I’d spent years planning the trip. The airfare alone could’ve paid for a decent car, and the planning took months. At the airport, I clutched a physical boarding pass, while my carry-on luggage included several phrasebooks, a giant Lonely Planet tome and a secret wallet full of traveller’s cheques. Those things have all become obsolete over the decades, but my motivation to explore the world remains the same.

Everyone travels for a different reason. Some people prioritise adventure, others relaxation, discovery or a sense of purpose, but most trips combine all of these elements.

When we’re away from home, we live life in a different way. Put simply, travel has the ability to change who we are.

Being in an unfamiliar place means we’re bombarded with new ideas and stimuli, activating parts of our brain we don’t usually use. Sometimes things don’t go as expected and we have to completely rearrange our plans. All of these experiences give us a different perspective on the world, equipping us with tools and stories for when we return.

Cappadocia, Turkey. Image: Getty
Cappadocia, Turkey. Image: Getty

In new environments, we’re constantly learning. We’re exposed to new cultures, landscapes and even languages, but we also have more time to read and, crucially, listen. Travel also lets us escape. It provides a change of pace and a break from the responsibilities of daily life through excitement, adventure, and relaxation. In many ways, it allows us to be free.

Travel allows us to connect with others and make new friends in the unlikeliest of locations. When we’re away from home, we can find common ground with locals and fellow travellers who we might never talk to in other situations. Being out of our comfort zone, in new surrounds, can heighten our emotional connection with others, whether that’s our partners, our friends, or even complete strangers.

Lake Arrowhead, Montenegro. Image: Getty
Lake Arrowhead, Montenegro. Image: Getty

Staying with family overseas can also be incredibly rewarding, opening our minds to entirely new ways of life, while – in some cases – allowing us to discover more about where our ancestors came from, and their culture.

Of course, there are so many reasons people roam the globe. A desire to help those in need could lead to travel of a humanitarian nature, while an urge to escape the monotony of day-to-day life could manifest in a solo round-the-world trip. Ask any member of a Contiki tour about their motives (especially after a couple of drinks), and your answer will more than likely involve self-discovery, excitement and, dare we say it, love.

Exploring the streets of Spain. Image: iStock
Exploring the streets of Spain. Image: iStock

On my first trip, I found myself staying with friendly locals, being fascinated by the history of places I’d never heard of before and exploring ideas that changed the way I saw the world. Through travel, I learnt to embrace the unexpected, and immerse myself in whatever situation I found myself in, rather than thinking about what comes next. When I came home, I remembered to prioritise things that filled me with joy and had meaning, and to fit my commitments around them rather than the other way around.

My first trip lead to many more. I’ve experienced the sensory overload of a Middle Eastern market with brightly coloured pyramids of fragrant spices, the visceral thrill of walking through a Central American rainforest to a lost city, and the sense of awe that comes from seeing a wild tiger prowling mere metres away. Every time I embark on a new trip, I’m struck by a sense of anticipation for the many possibilities awaiting me.

Aerial view over Zanzibar. Image: iStock
Aerial view over Zanzibar. Image: iStock

The proliferation of airlines and new routes in the past 2 decades has allowed me to live my childhood dream of exploring the world. As 2020 dawned, anyone armed with a smartphone and credit card could travel more easily and cheaply than at any point in human history. In this incredibly privileged position, we began to take travel for granted. Now, COVID-19 has shown us just how fortunate we were.

With international borders locked down for the foreseeable future, it’s more important than ever to engage with the world around us. We can find inspiration and delight by reading about other people’s journeys, reliving our own experiences or literally exploring our own backyard. Instead of feeling trapped by the lockdown, we can use the time to appreciate our immediate surroundings, and, of course, plan for future adventures.

The aurora borealis. Image: iStock
The aurora borealis. Image: iStock

When the borders do reopen, and travel is once again on our radar, we’ll be more ready than ever. After months spent dreaming, planning and appreciating all that travel can teach us, we’re bound to re-emerge with a renewed sense of adventure, and thirst for discovery. No matter why you want to escape – cultural discovery, excitement or connection – or where you plan to go, rest assured that there are brighter times on the horizon. Until then, open your laptop, flick through magazines and keep dreaming.

We’ll be here when you need us

While you might be stuck to the screen for now, our travel team will be there when you need them.

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