They say that the past always seems beautiful in retrospect. Even if our past was filled with heartbreaks, loneliness, wanderlust, despair, and countless mistakes, when we look back, it unfolds like a nostalgic silent film projected on a cozy movie screen, making us smile.
However, that’s only when we view our past as a spectator. Once we sit up straight and start examining our past as an investigator or judge, scrutinizing every detail, the story changes. We remember incidents that could have led to great embarrassment if we had been caught, events that caused deep regret and remorse, and shocking fragments of betrayal that no one else knows about. We can no longer return to the perspective of a spectator.
But by taking enough time to summon all our memories, prosecute them, and deliver a verdict in our minds, we can better understand ourselves and learn from our mistakes. In this way, memories that were once like a mere film become pearls found in the mud after a painful process.
The same goes for travel. Think about past trips. Why do we love to travel? Is it for the delicious food, exotic sights, the feeling of freedom in unfamiliar crowds, duty-free shopping, or local specialties? While these are all undeniable attractions of travel, isn’t it true that most people love traveling because it’s an expensive way to play and eat?
Imagine if, upon arriving at your destination, you had to clean your hotel room, do the dishes after breakfast, work part-time at a nearby company during the day, and then go out for a quick dinner before sightseeing. No one would enjoy such a trip.
What people truly enjoy are elegant and comfortable hotel rooms with air conditioning, relaxing on a poolside bed with a stunning view, guided tours to shopping centers and tourist attractions, and leisurely, luxurious dinners. But here’s something to consider: you can experience most of these things in any city, in any country.
With this kind of travel, there’s little difference between Vietnam and Thailand, or between the United States and Canada. You could even have a similar experience in Busan or Jeju Island. So, unless your goal is simply to collect souvenirs, it’s hard to see the point of traveling to distant lands. There are countless stories about how great Australia, New York, or other places are, but what exactly makes them so great? Even the most beautiful scenery, the best infrastructure, and the most delicious food become familiar after half a year. For the locals, they may be just part of their tired, depressing, and stressful daily lives. So it’s hard to fully agree with such positive reviews. While they may not be lies, they’re not entirely true either.
Of course, many people travel solely for the weather, resorts, or golf courses, but in these cases, it’s more about leisure and sports than travel. Leisure and sports involve engaging in predetermined activities, while travel is about discovering the unknown.
We often describe life as a “journey.” This implies an expectation of the unknown, of encountering different people and experiences along the way. It’s a hope for serendipity and fate.
I believe travel should be the same. Booking everything in advance and knowing exactly who you’ll meet and what you’ll do is not travel; it’s more like a visit. Travel should be an adventure, a journey into the unknown, where you might encounter strangers, face dangers, and make fateful encounters.
There have been many reports of people suffering from travel withdrawal syndrome due to the COVID-19 p(l)andemic. Some airlines have even created routes that involve taking off, having a meal, and then turning around, giving us an idea of just how strong this travel withdrawal syndrome is. But is this really a longing for travel, or is it a longing for expensive vacations and leisure?
If you’re feeling depressed and restless because you can’t enjoy expensive vacations in exotic locations, your best bet is to get vaccinated as soon as possible and get on a plane. But if you’re longing for the essence of travel, there’s no need to wait. Even though our lives are becoming increasingly restricted and gloomy, we are still on a journey called life. We can still meet new people, face dangers, and have fateful encounters. The adventure of the unknown still awaits us. So let’s keep traveling with our hearts open.
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