travel: not for everyone.

i was very excited to finally be heading to the airport to fly back home to the comfort and safety of korea. i was sun-stroked, 5 pounds lighter, and i had enough mucas in my throat to support a toad for it's entire lifespan. the pollution in ho chi minh city was slowly eroding my very existence, and i had been hassled by prostitutes the previous night. let's just say i was ready to go back.
i walked to the airport bus, generously provided by vietnam air for $2.00. the company i shared was very intriguing indeed. i met an ederly gentleman, who had clint eastwood / sean connery rogueness to him. he was well-versed in theatre and poetry of all nations. he also once taught english in japan, and was flying to meet up with his wife in malaysia who was competing in a dragon boat regata. he had what i admire and yearn for as a traveller. behind him was a younger fellow, in his early thirties. he was patiently waiting to embark on the most epic of conversations with me once we arrived at the airport. (we had both discovered that we both had a very long wait.) so we arrived, so began the 4 hour conversation. he wanted to talk about 'everything' as he quoted. 'we can talk about politics, philosophy, travel, and religion!' he said excitedly. and so we did. at one point he very seriously expressed how he thinks 'everyone should travel.' i said the opposite. here were my reasons:

1: not everyone wants to travel. and i mean why not. grandma hutchinson enjoys knitting in her warm living room by the fire. i highly doubt she wants to go on a jungle excursion. let alone leave her house. the comforts of home are delightful. why do you think you miss it from time to time.

2: not everyone is built for travel.
exhibit a:


needless to say, i made my point. but he is probably still thinking to this day that 'everyone should travel' cause it sounds all liberal and impressive to new travellers.
so what is the advantage of travelling? what is the point? why do people travel? i do agree that is broadens the spectrum of culture and understanding of people. it can make you get some street sense into that suburban brain of yours. it can teach you that the world isn't as scary as it seems. it can also teach you that you shouldn't travel.
i have taken the liberty to divide these travellers into catagories:

1: the all terrain
this traveller wants a challenge. climbing mountians, swimming to a small island off the coast of neverland, and punching great whites in the mouth.

2: the soul searcher
gazing out into the sunset of a indian slum. this traveller is so introspective that their soul might explode into a million light years beyond the next universe into their past reincarnation that is also gazing at the 3 moons on planet zanex.

3: the drunken monkey (also the 'woo' girls)
these people travel to exotic places find an island and PARTY. 'it was so CRAZY! i've never had moonshine so strong! this crazy tico guy gave it to me and that is all i can remember! party blah blah. party? where? partyyyyy!'
things that these travellers pack: camera (doubles as memory), flip flops, body paint, ipod with portable speakers, and ibuprofen.

4: the complainer
their friends somehow convinced them that going on this 7 days water rafting trek in papau new guinea was a good idea after they had just broke up with their girlfriend. "it's too hot, i miss janice, it's too cold, i don't understand why the people here are like this, ugh these beds are too hard, that woman ruined my life, and why don't these people know how to speak english?!" i don't know who the trip is worse for, the traveller or their friends...

5: the bragger
'dude. so like i was like in this real bind in pakistan like when i accidently bumped a drink into the president's body gaurd. he really like wanted a piece of me, you know? like lucky for me i knew a dude that knew the body gaurd's cousin and like i got the first flight out of there to the maldives...like." this traveller really knows to tell a story. and some how knows how to get themselves in and out of trouble abroad. but i must admit there is a little bit of this traveller in all of us.
things that these travellers pack: cigarettes and chocolate to bribe the cops, canadian flagged backpacks, and oakley sunglasses bought 10 years ago.

6: the all inclusive
you will probably never run into this traveller unless you are on a family vacation, or engaging in spring break activites. you will predominently see these travellers in the caribbean, jamaica, cuba, and mexico. this catagory also includes my mother.
however, a cruise does sound nice.

7: the me love you long time
you've seen it. back home and abroad. an old feeble white man holding onto an underaged asian girl. okay that was exaggerated. but let me tell you, these white men have got more game then you will ever have. unless you come to asia as well.
don hate de playa, hate de game. (said in cute asian female accent)

8: the couple
seems to be the new trend. they say danger and adventure and strengthen a relationship (i learned that from the movie 'speed'). this couple is usually 'super nice' and is heading to the same city you are. you have nice chats with them about where they have been, how they met, how long they have been married, and what made them decide to go on a trip together. they will probably answer in unison, you will smile at how cute and in love they are, and wish that you had someone to travel with too. but just briefly until they start to bicker about the name of the hostel they stayed at, that they want to recommend to you.

i'm sure there are many more. not everyone falls into a catagory (disney taught me that), and if you plan on travelling in the near future, i wish you luck and safety.

xo.
vb.