Knowing the Answers
I've been back in the US for about 2 weeks now. If you read the What's New section you will see I've been spending alot of time updating the various parts of the website. I'm only now finishing up my 21 Days to WA trip report - Part 1 that is. (Part 2 will have to wait) I realize now that I learned so much in those first 3 weeks. Hopefully you'll have a better appreciation for it after I post my report. I'm almost beginning to wonder if the concentration and scope of knowledge that I acquired based in those 3 weeks can possibly be equaled.
Off and on over the past half year I started to wonder that - maybe I already know most of the answers to the questions I am seeking to answer. Travelling then is a confirmation of the "answers" and the building of conviction for those beliefs as well as fine tuning the details. After all, I didn't just quit my job to start travelling. I did alot of pre-trip analysis as well as knowledge acquisiton through the many books I read (Alot of them are in the Reading Library now) and prior places of travel. Yet, I know there is so much more to learn. New pathways of knowledge to be discovered.
I did an official count last night - I have set foot and explored (to various levels of detail) 20 different countries in my life, including my home USA. Less than I thought - I thought I was closer to 25. In fact, based on the # of countries out there it is pretty unimpressive - although certainly not by historical standards when getting around was far more time consuming or for those new to travelling abroad. But, that is just a meaningless #. More importantly, I have set foot in many different types of regions of the world and on all continents save Antarctica (My 2 days in South Africa barely qualify - but I saw alot in that stretch). I have sought out specific points of interest, and more recently, looking with new eyes.
In some ways I consider myself "arrogant" for thinking that I know the answers already. Then I begin to wonder about those who have been to far fewer different places (Not countries) or are less widely-read (Not # of books, but types of books) than I who have strong(er?) convictions about some of the questions I am asking - and they strike me as being both completely ignorant and far more "arrogant."
Travel News
On the travel front 2 pieces of news --
1) I'm scheduling to drive out in Mid-May across the US before heading overseas.
2) I just learned of a work around for making the One World Alliance Around the World ticket I am planning on using last longer than 1 year. In fact there is no time limit with the work around. This means I no longer have to rush through certain areas. I now have the leisure of exploring all 6 continents at my own pace -- all on 1 air ticket. I also clarified one of the rules in my favor which means I can see more places for less $$!! This, combined with what I learned about traveling in South America has the potential to radically alter my timeline...
Off and on over the past half year I started to wonder that - maybe I already know most of the answers to the questions I am seeking to answer. Travelling then is a confirmation of the "answers" and the building of conviction for those beliefs as well as fine tuning the details. After all, I didn't just quit my job to start travelling. I did alot of pre-trip analysis as well as knowledge acquisiton through the many books I read (Alot of them are in the Reading Library now) and prior places of travel. Yet, I know there is so much more to learn. New pathways of knowledge to be discovered.
I did an official count last night - I have set foot and explored (to various levels of detail) 20 different countries in my life, including my home USA. Less than I thought - I thought I was closer to 25. In fact, based on the # of countries out there it is pretty unimpressive - although certainly not by historical standards when getting around was far more time consuming or for those new to travelling abroad. But, that is just a meaningless #. More importantly, I have set foot in many different types of regions of the world and on all continents save Antarctica (My 2 days in South Africa barely qualify - but I saw alot in that stretch). I have sought out specific points of interest, and more recently, looking with new eyes.
In some ways I consider myself "arrogant" for thinking that I know the answers already. Then I begin to wonder about those who have been to far fewer different places (Not countries) or are less widely-read (Not # of books, but types of books) than I who have strong(er?) convictions about some of the questions I am asking - and they strike me as being both completely ignorant and far more "arrogant."
Travel News
On the travel front 2 pieces of news --
1) I'm scheduling to drive out in Mid-May across the US before heading overseas.
2) I just learned of a work around for making the One World Alliance Around the World ticket I am planning on using last longer than 1 year. In fact there is no time limit with the work around. This means I no longer have to rush through certain areas. I now have the leisure of exploring all 6 continents at my own pace -- all on 1 air ticket. I also clarified one of the rules in my favor which means I can see more places for less $$!! This, combined with what I learned about traveling in South America has the potential to radically alter my timeline...
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