I recently read Pico Iyer’s book “Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells.” The well known and respected travel writer and avid ping pong player wrote, 

“….. every time I come back from a trip, everything seems much the same. I’m carrying the call to prayer above the flickering lights of Jerusalem inside me, or the intricate alleyways around the blue tiled mosques of Isfahan, and my friends are exchanging fast forehands………… “ 

This totally resonated with me.  

Often I find myself mentally in Bhutan or Japan or Paris, while going about my daily life here in Grand Rapids.  Something will trigger a memory.  A picture of a French macaron on the cover of a magazine on the stand by the counter of grocery store check out sends me mentally to Paris. 

Recently I’ve been reliving my time in Myanmar as I hear about the awful military takeover.  I see the  happy smiles of the people right after the election of Au Sung Su Chi or “The Lady” as she is called.  The country was upbeat in 2015.  The people were happy.  While ATM’s didn’t work and the roads were terrible, the people we met smiled from ear to ear.  I see them when I hear the news, wishing they could return to those days of hope.

I can feel a frigid middle of the night in Iceland standing with my tripod and camera attempting to capture the Northern Lights when I hear about colorful sightings in Canada.

Or when I hear about climate change,   the glaciers in Norway or South America or the Polar Bears crowd out other images in my head. 

Talk of spring coming takes me right back to Cherry Blossom time in Japan—a special almost spiritual time in the Land of the Rising Sun where the people appreciate and savor the fleeting nature of beauty and life.  

To state the obvious.  Our travel experiences live with us and become part of who we are.

Pico Iyer, recently gave a three night series of virtual talks for Sante Fe Workshops and I was most intrigued with what he said about the impact of travel.  He said the best travel writing is about the place, but it is both a public story and the expression of one’s  inner journey at the same time.  Travel can be a transformational experience. 

When he says, “Travel isn’t about movement; it’s about being moved” I think about my visit to a small school in North Vietnam near the Chinese border.  With our guide we brought apples and jump ropes to a small school.  I’ve been forever changed by seeing their expression of wonder and delight.  Yes, I was moved. 

Pico also said, “I like to go places that make me uncomfortable.  I realize how good my life is.”

Interestingly for a travel writer much of Pico’s three day talk was about stillness.  The importance of stillness.  In fact, he has a whole book called “The Art of Stillness Adventures in Going Nowhere.”  

It’s an interesting read.   Thoughtful.  Sensitive.  Wise.  Hints of Buddhism.  Probably a topic for another bog post.  

But….doggone it….I want to hit the road.  Get out of this house.  See something new. 

For a lot of reasons, it’s time for the Pandemic to end.