To holiday or to travel. To travel or to holiday. One or the other, or one and the same?
There is a big difference between holidays and travel. One is the fully-air-conditioned stay in a club facility, where one is spoiled all around and the minibar is always filled. The other is the pursuit of freedom, independence and personal growth. A holiday relaxes you. Travel changes you.
When you set out on the road you want not only to remove the borders of the countries, but also your own. Seeking contact with strangers, nurturing curiosity in conversations, opening eyes and ears, heart and mind to new experiences. Getting to know something that does not exist at home, values and traditions, religions and customs. The encounter with other cultures and people makes us much more cosmopolitan, more communicative, more relaxed and tolerant.
When you travel, you collect something worth more than money or material things: moments and events, experiences that perhaps change your life or refocus your outlook. But you don’t just take; wherever one travels, one always leaves something of oneself in the place where one was. Gifts such as small and big life stories, smiles, trust. A confirmation that you get help and support – even from people you don’t know.
And what you bring back from your trip is images that tell stories; life stories of people living so completely differently to what you are used to. Food that tastes more exotic, phone numbers of new friends. Memories that are inspiring to look at. The real reason behind the saying: Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.
