I'm as free as a bird now…

Recent, m-a apucat un dor de nestavilit de calatorit; calatorit in sensul de inchis ochii si ales un punct pe harta, urcat in tren si drum bun. Anul trecut, cam pe vremea asta, aflasem de un proiect fain – Travel means freedom – realizarea unui e-book  format din povestile a 111 oameni despre ce simt cand calatoresc, sau ce inseamna a calatori pentru ei si m-am decis sa trimit si eu un articol pe subiectul ‘Travel – as I live and breathe’. Articolul meu n-a aparut printre cele 111 din carte, dar m-am gandit sa-l postez aici.

Travel – as I live and breathe…

“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” – Mark Jenkins

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber

source: google.com

 What does traveling mean to me? That’s a difficult question. Traveling is a way of life, my way of life.

Through travel I’ve had the chance to discover new places and to meet amazing people.

When I’m on the road I just feel like the world is mine, I could go anywhere…All I need is my backpack and a camera. The unknown awaits and I’m beginning my exploration each time filled with hopes and dreams. I love the feeling of not exactly knowing my next step, of having just a vague idea of what I’d like to do or where I’d like to go next. I love the new smells, the exceptional sights when I least expect them, the unusual, funky tastes and the mild wind brushing through my hair on sunny days.

I always like to pick my destinations depending on season – warm, lively places in the summer and cold, snowy locations during winter. Once I’ve figured out my main destination I start thinking about means of transportation. Traveling by train is usually the most convenient when I want to have freedom and the opportunity of backpacking around a larger region. I choose planes when I want to explore one place in particular and discover all the dark corners of a certain city and I won’t say no to hitch-hiking on relatively small distances between cities. I’ve never stepped outside Europe yet, but I’m taking it bit by bit, breathing it all in. The world is huge and I want to savor every piece of it

So what is traveling? Well, it’s me – it’s a perfect mix of my personality – spirit of adventure, unknown, a little bit of home in a big pile of new, speed, light, memories, creativity and most importantly connectivity. Travel connects me to myself and to others. With each journey I learn something new about the world and about my true self. No matter how many crossroads or obstacles I encounter during my trip, I always overcome them and never look back. Traveling makes me stronger and more confident with every step I take.

 As we all know, every corner of the world has its own charm, and a large part of this charm are the people, the communities. Meeting new people and living for a few days as you belong in their society is always an experience worth having. One of the most important reasons I enjoy traveling is the opportunity of being part of different environments and learning diverse customs and traditions, merging beliefs, sharing stories and opinions, and witnessing all types of cultural movements.

 To my mind, traveling means fast-forwarding through life and history whenever and wherever you choose, taking with you the best parts and learning the most valuable lessons. Enjoy!