humanity
If nothing else, travel opens your eyes to the colorful quilt that is humankind.
A Trip to California
I felt it when we crossed the border. That sounds ridiculous, but I did feel something when we crossed the Peace Bridge into New York. It may have been the heat or the thrill of being in a strange vehicle on a road trip to a place I did not know, but I remember a sensation of pressure in my head and on my body, like I was changing atmospheres. I know now that this was also a sensation of fear. What would the trip in this van, with at least four people I did not know, involve? Would we be safe in America (a concern that would be a real problem for me in California, as I will explain eventually)? Did they have the food I liked to eat, the TV shows I liked to watch? I only half understood my own feelings at the time.
By Kendall Defoe 4 years ago in Wander
An Ode to the Youth Hostel
I visited London last week for a 36-hour eating event. The toss your sack down on the bed, apply new antiperspirant, and go making the rounds following showing up sort of outing. I'm moving from Europe back to the United States in May and have been partaking in my last opportunity to get around this Continent without any problem. On this excursion, very much like on many outings before it, I booked myself into the least expensive lodging accessible: a young inn. What's more, I understood as I remained there checking in, sandwiched between the rec room, kitchen, latrines, heap of old manuals, and "front work area" that was simply an assortment of compressed wood poorly nailed together, that this may be my last inn stay.
By amouna mona4 years ago in Wander
BREAKING NEWS: The 'Pura Vida Lifestyle' is Only a Mindset! This is a Life Changer. .
Far, far away. . in another land that, at times, seems as if only a dream. . when one closes their eyes and feels deep in their soul the desire to experience what is so very special, Costa Rica comes to mind. . a land of enchantment. Many never arrive. . only in spirit and in make believe. .
By William "Skip" Licht4 years ago in Wander
When I First Received my Passport
I applied for my first US Passport book for international travel; nothing could have prepared me for what I'm about to tell you. When it comes to something I really want, I'm not the best person to have patiences. With the United States opening up for Passport application services on the day I went to apply I was nervous as it was. But my boyfriend I think is even more nervous than I. You see we are engaged and we want to marry at Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. I never thought it would take this long. It feels like an eternity to be waiting this long even longer for us to get this far in our lives.
By Emily Curry (Rising Phoenix)4 years ago in Wander
Going Spiral
Insanity is within our minds eye as we are dreaming a dream worthy of the sight of reality. We always think we are there. We think this is reality. Our mind plays tricks making us think it is real. We are in the spirals of an infinite matrix. The whirlpool of some sort of limbo. Doors that lead to nowhere. Doors that lead to somewhere. The myths and legends of the people of our multiple nations. The dreams of the greatest imaginations.
By James R. Landes4 years ago in Wander
Once Goodness is Given, it is Always Appreciated. .
Your Time Invested in Assisting Others in Need Will Come Back to You Tenfold! Paying it Forward is a Healthy Way to Make Sure that You are Worthy of What We are Offered and GIVEN Here in the Land of Plenty!
By William "Skip" Licht4 years ago in Wander
Where are you Ms Ardern?
It took a day in the heat to get our bus ready, to join the convoy to Parliament in Wellington over two weeks ago. The current price of diesel called it a $500 round trip. The chalk paint with our slogans on the windows held up, just.. we lost a couple of flags but gained morale - as in each small town we trundled through hundreds came out - in the rain, some with tears streaming down their cheeks, some standing on fences to thank us, waving flags, signs and giving us thumbs up and whole body enthusisatic support. Every bridge over the motorways in the cities. We felt like rockstars. So, to experience that part alone was worth it.
By Nina Mayhara4 years ago in Wander
If you can dream it, you can do it
On 24 of January 2006, for the first time I put my foot on the driest continent on Earth. What an amazing and bewildering day it was, such a mix of emotions. No words can describe how excited I was to see my dreams come true, to travel to the exotic country I new only from some TV shows, not to mention to be joining Andy in the country of our dreams. I couldn’t wait to see him after so many months of separation. On the other hand, however, there was some apprehension, some fear of the unknown. What if things didn’t go well with Andy? What if he broke up with me again? Who would help me? I didn’t know anybody there, I didn’t have any money or job or contacts, I was fully depended on him… All I had was a tourist visa, without work permit and with “No Further Stay” condition. Nonetheless deep inside I knew coming here was the right decision, I knew everything would be all right. I could sense it wouldn’t be easy, many things wouldn’t go to plan and I would go through a lot of difficulties, but I knew at the end everything would be all right. In this foreign and unknown place I felt home, I knew it was were I belonged.
By Janin Lyndovsky4 years ago in Wander
The US Mexico Border is a Train Wreck
Author's preface: Early in the writing process for this article I realized that my friend and writing colleague, Samantha Drobac, who holds dual Mexican and US citizenship, could bring a perspective that one written only from the US point of view would lack. Initially, I thought I would publish the completed piece and then ask her to reply in a separate post, but as the story evolved it seemed more useful to ask her to respond directly to many of my points.. Fortunately, she kindly agreed to participate and her responses and her own interjections are included throughout the body of the story. Our commentary/discussion is indicated by our initials DD and SD and in italics while the main body of the text is not italicized and was solely authored by me.
By Everyday Junglist4 years ago in Wander
In Search of Beauty
In early Summer (in the waning of the moon from May to June), I set out on a quest, à la Odysseus. Only I had no ship and it didn’t take me 10 years to reach my destination. After a few hours by train and car, my travel companion and I were there. My destination: Italy. My purpose: to seek out beauty.
By Maria Stallmann4 years ago in Wander
