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Why Do You Travel?

Why Do I Travel?

I remember about 10 years ago (summer of 2007) going to New York City for the first time, I was 21 years old. Seeing the bright lights of Time Square, the streets full of people at 2am, the amazing high rise buildings, but most importantly, just being in awe and feeling like it was the most AMAZING place EVER! Although it was a city so close to home, it felt like a total culture shock. Everything about it was so different from what I was used to. For years, all I wanted to do was experience that feeling again.

It is now ten years later (2017), and I can honestly say that not only have I experienced that feeling again, but in the last 5 years, my passion for travel has intensified immensely. I have traveled to many cities and countries and explored things only before seen when I closed my eyes at night to dream. From bringing in my 29th birthday standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, to bathing elephants in Thailand, to riding elephants in Bali, to hang gliding in Brazil, to standing on top of Table Mountain, to visiting Soweto in South Africa, and the list will go on.

Sometimes it just feels very surreal. In my 31 years of life I’ve never had an alcoholic beverage or did any drugs, but sometimes I feel like an alcoholic or addict unable to think of anything else but the craving of my next destination. Most times the craving comes as early as when the plane touches down at home from a prior travel adventure. When asked, I always tell my friends that the high people get from being under the influence is  what I feel every time I take my seat on an airplane and get ready for take off. At least that’s what I equate it to because I’ve never indulged. I literally crave and chase that sensation of being in those clouds heading to a new and unknown place. But the real high begins as soon as I hear the flight attendant say “Ladies and Gentlemen, we have started our descent/in preparation for landing, please make sure your tray tables and seat backs are in their full upright position”.

By Rahiem Johnson