Travel is amazing. It is exciting and different. You experience at the very least new food, new places and new people. Deeper, you gain a better understanding of different cultures, ethics and religion. It is an opportunity that not everyone has, it is important and we are grateful that we can do it.
All of the above is true and none of us need reminding of this when we are travelling care-free and happy. But, there are some days when you feel travel-weary, everything feels like a unrewarding task and you crave the order and routine of home. This is so completely normal. For all the amazing experiences travel brings there is a downside. That will range from not being able to get a simple bowl of porridge when you want it, to missing life events happening at home.
We are nearing being away a year now and have felt the darker-side on only a few occasions. Moving from place to place is hard and having to rely on others to take you there is not something we usually have to do back at home. When we were shuttled from place to place trying to catch a bus in Cambodia, with no honest answer regarding times I was pulling my hair out. When the bus finally turned up and it was an already over-full night bus I was about ready to go home but, breathe…. And, later that day when we had finally crossed the border in to Thailand I was having a delicious pad thai and Chang, and had forgotten all about the frustration of the day.
When you stay in different places each night and have to get up to find breakfast each morning I can’t help but think it would be SUCH a luxury now to be able to go downstairs and make a decent cup of tea and a piece of toast. So simple, but I miss that stupid freedom so much! But, once outside at a food stall I am back to thinking… but being here is so damn cool.
In some ways I have found that long term backpacking actually takes away the excitement of trips. It took me a while to get over comparing holidays and long-term travel. I love trip planning and when I am sitting at my desk at work I was often distracted by travel blogs and despite relying on those to plan trips here, it is not the same. There is not the time or inclination to plan your trip to so much detail here. You chill and go with it, which has it’s own benefits of course, but without such specifics to look forward to.
At home, my favourite past-times are meals out and beer. When you are eating out constantly this becomes your least favourite past-time. I want simple food… now! And, when you are allowed to have beers whenever you want, beer o clock isn’t such a treat! Travel takes your enthusiasm for certain things.
As with everything, when something becomes normal it loses its appeal. When your life is travel a flight is no longer exciting. This was the feeling that was creeping up on us recently, until we realised… four weeks to go. How did that happen? Four weeks until our flight back home; until (unless we make a decision meaning otherwise) our lives go back to nine to five. With that dawning on us, suddenly travel is great again and we are throwing ourselves in to the four weeks we have left. Sun? Back to being a novelty. No work? We can chill all day! Routine will come back to us soon and leave us craving for what we are currently living; a lucky life, travelling the world.
Sometimes, it just takes a little wake up call. We aren’t ready to go home just yet.
