B
For my part, I keep a diary and always have,
religiously, for over quarter of a centry. Like
anything that is done repeatedly I got better at
it. I don't really blog much anymore, unless
there is something on my mind that is bigger
than the capacity of a status update. But when
my journey brings me back home, I read the
diary and relive the trip day by day as I write
the pages of the next book. I love that,
regardless of sales and popularity, I have just
done my journey all over again in the comfort
of my own house. It feels like I’m on the road,
only now I have the convenience of a fridge
So what you have to decide is, much like a
and a porcelain toilet both in close range
diary, are you writing for yourself or for
everyone else. Is it to jog your memory, refresh (although in different rooms). No extremes in
your recall in years to come, or is it an account temperature or weather, it’s not armchair
travel, it’s firm stall recall. My journeys are not
of your mile by mile view of the world as you
long enough (about 100 days) to spend too
pass through it, so all who come across it can
much time in front of the screen. I experience
experience it through your eyes.
all I can in the allotted time, then, senses filled
with sights, smells, scenery, and culture I take
There is only one blog I read, my little
escapism into someone else’s journey, which is all my memories back home before they
overflow and run together in a tie-dye of
not like anything I have ever done. Also the
confusion. I heard it said that after 3 months
qualities of the person in question are ones I
you get into the zone, may be, I’ll probably
wish I had. So for me it’s not just learning
never know. I've found what works for me and I
about the environment she’s transversing it’s
don't want to burn out on seeing too much,
also about her open and receptive attitude
which always attracts good people. That in turn anymore than I do on having to relay those
experiences as I'm having them. Save me a
for me reminds and restores my faith in a
temple and a mountain view, I’ll be back next
world that, if we got our impression of solely
year.
from the media we would never dare venture
out into.
ack in the day when as an
‘individual-public-transport-using-overland-
visitor-of-alternate-cultures’ my paths would
cross with the gap year backpacker. I
discovered that without exception they
considered themselves world travellers, they
would talk about Golden Triangle jungle treks,
reclining Buda’s and overnight bus journeys
without taking a breath. It’s better to have one
story, with a beginning, middle and end, tell it,
and then shut the fuck up.
An