Reflection

It has now been 110 days since I left my home in Oakland, California to begin my travels. I spent 9 weeks in Abu Dhabi with visits to Dubai, Al Ain and Oman, a month traveling though India, and now nearly two weeks in Thailand.

The time I spent in Abu Dhabi I was with my brother and his family. My purpose there was clear and my time was more or less structured. I had freedom to come and go, but ultimately I lived in a home with my own room and there was a place for everything.

Since leaving Abu Dhabi, I’ve been solo traveling, living out of a bag, with no plan from one day to the next. I’ve been staying mostly in mixed dorm hostels meeting people from all over the world; many of whom are doing the same thing as me.

I have met so many different types of people on this journey who will forever hold a special place in my heart. Each of them has taught me something about human nature whether that be about kindness, desire, fear, empowerment, or self love.

I have learned that people travel for all kinds of reasons.

Some travel because they’re running. Running from family or social pressures to “settle down”. Running from a bad experience like a divorce, break up, or death of someone close to them. Running from a mundane life they couldn’t put a smile on one more day for.

Some travel because they’re searching. Searching for love, searching for some kind of answer, searching for “themselves”.

Some travel for the adventure of the unknown. The self inflicted stress of learning their way though a new city in a new country where nobody speaks the same language.

Whatever it is, everyone has their reason for starting their journey, even though many don’t know exactly when their journey will end or where it will take them.

In fact, of all the traveling I’ve done and the people I’ve met on those journeys, this journey has been by far more eye opening in the number of travelers I’ve met who are my age and have no plan. People in their early and mid thirties from all over the world are on a mission to see the world and learn about the differences and similarities of us all and I think its beautiful and says a lot about my generation.

I just want to say that I’m proud of each and every one of the people that I’ve met. From the 19 year olds working at the party hostels to the 70 year old taxi driver, you have all brought something very valuable into my soul that I’ll hold onto forever. I hope to be able to share each persons story eventually.