Viajar por Viajar

“Are you two looking for work?”
“No, we aren’t looking for work.”
“No? Then why are you traveling?”
“…We travel just to travel.”

This is one of the defining scenes my favorite movie: The Motorcycle Diaries. Ernesto Guevara, before he becomes the polemic Cuban revolutionary “Che” Guevara, is traveling the South American continent with his friend Alberto Granado. Here they are camping with an itinerant couple in the Atacama desert. The Argentine duo is exploring the world to learn about it; the vagrants have been forced to travel in order to find work.

A lot of the weight in the scene comes from each side realizing the other’s motivations. The opposite would never have occurred to them as a possibility. It portrays that as a pivotal moment in Guevara’s outlook on life. In the context of travel, though, it solidifies the idea that some people are simply wandering spirits whose natural state is motion, and who need to see the world just for the sake of seeing it.

In the prologue, Guevara reveals his restlessness and his aversion to the concept of a static life. He explores what he truly wants from his life. Much like Guevara, I’ve been spending a lot of my mental energy on what I want to do with mine. I keep coming to a conclusion that I have shared multiple times in many ways: I want to travel, to see the world and share it with the rest.

That led to asking why I want to travel. Surely there must be some deeper motivation. Am I running away from something? From the responsibilities of adulthood? Or am I chasing some nebulous idealism? It would only make sense, right?

Wrong.

Like Guevara, I travel for travel’s sake. Viajar por viajar. That’s what drives me, what makes sense to me, what gives meaning to life. I never feel sharper than when I am on the road.There is no specific thing about travel that draws me to it; It’s the entire concept that pulls me out into the world. 

It’s not running from anything, nor is it chasing. I’m thankful that my friends and family are supportive (and envious) of my trips, but I’m aware that many people view long term traveling as an irresponsible flight from the challenges of life. On the contrary, it is just a different understanding of life. Through this mentality, it’s natural to wander and explore, while settling into a steady and predictable routine would be running away from a real life.

In light of this, I have slowly gravitated toward the idea that I’m not trying to “find myself” or anything like that. Instead, this is my “self”.

“Benditos sean… Benditos sean tus viajes.”

“Bless you… Blessed be your travels.”

Watch the scene here.

Some Self-Promotion

The time has come for yet another adventure. In under two weeks I will depart for London to bike through Europe. This is only part of what I have intended to do (circumnavigate the globe), but is progress in that direction. Visas and money prevent me from completing this in one step, but I hope to work my way around the world in chunks.

At first I had tried to purchase a one way ticket into France in order to bike for as long as my trip, money, or resolve would last. But alas, immigration officials are wary of foreigners entering without proving that they’ll leave, so visa regulations forced my hand in limiting the trip. Therefore I have until the beginning of July to ride from London, England to Vienna, Austria. I’m leaving everything in between up to improvisation.

My largest fear since returning from Indonesia was not what I would do with my career. That was a close second, though. Instead, it was that I would fall into a rut without challenging myself in this way or seeing the world the way I want to. I’m thrilled that I’ve gotten myself to this point and can’t wait to see what transpires during my wanderings.

I have also developed a longer term goal: keep traveling, wandering and seeking adventure. Of course there is major self-interest in this goal, but I also want to inspire other people to do the same. Travel, and all that we learn within it, is what brings us together, what makes life great.

In that vain, I want to turn this blog into a source of such inspiration. I want to show readers how much is out there for them, and how possible it is to lead a great life.

As a result, I hope to develop a higher quality blog. Consistency is my biggest issue, which I will work on by developing ideas ahead of time. However, I would really appreciate feedback. What do readers like, dislike or want to see? What should I write more about, or less? What questions do you have?

If anybody really wishes to get involved: give me (affordable and legal) missions or tasks. I’ll test the waters with this.

Also, I’m uploading my photos to a RedBubble account in an attempt to make some extra cash to supplement my travels. Please browse and give me feedback as to how you think I could improve these as well as my blogs.

Most importantly, though: please share with anybody who might be interested. I want to see where this can go. The goal is to develop a steady stream of tales, adventures and reflections that would encourage other people to engage in their own.