When you travel
It’s only when we stop and step out of our lives that we can take stock of our lives and find out how happy we really are. It’s only when we step back from the canvas that we can see the larger picture.
Do you know about the Chinese wedding tea ceremony?
The tradition involves the newlyweds going around serving tea to elderly members of the family, seeking their blessings in return. The ceremony is a significant part of Chinese nuptials since the 7th century.
The cup of tea waiting for me at the end of the day is not as sacred but today it made me smile thinking about the strange diversity of the world.
Image Credits: weddingidea.xyz
On the other side of the bend of the road, the world lives differently.
People discover their own ways to go through life at every corner of the world. And believe me, a 30 minute international news segment with voiceovers dictating stories about people, rather than people themselves, will not give you the answers you're looking for. Under the garb of being informed, we are constantly color coding the people based on their governments.
Image Credits: wikimedia
To Travel is to question.
Judith Fein, an award winning travel journalist, felt an irresistible urge to travel to Vietnam after the war. Her overriding question to the people she met there was, "Are you angry about the war?"
From her experience in the country she learnt that wisdom is not about harbouring resentment and thinking about the injustices of the past, it is to rather focus on the future. Overwhelmed by her experience in Vietnam, she talks her travel and adventure in her book, Life is a Trip.
Image Credits: readthespirit
The Story of Humans Of New York
Brandon Stanton's photography venture 'Humans of New York' began as an initiative to document the lives of 10,000 New York inhabitants. From travelling around the streets of New York to countries around the world, gave new dimensions to aims to the photographer.
Image Credits: ismailimail
Currently in Iran, Brandon's stories from his travels have made us question our perception about the world and the truth spoon fed by the media. His photographs and positive stories from the present day Pakistan and Iran in the month of August 2015, have created a everlasting impact on the readers on social media
...something that innumerable political summits and the media could never achieve.
Image Credits: Humans Of New York Facebook Page
Story of Eugene Cho and One Day Wages
Eugene travelled to the jungle of Burma 6 years ago. He visited a makeshift classroom where they instructed men, women and children on how to avoid landmines. It startled him. Later when he asked the village leader about the challenges they face, they talked about education and lack of teachers in the country.
He reminisces episode saying, "I asked him how much teachers' salaries were and he said $40. I thought he was talking per day, which wasn't the case. I thought it was per week, which wasn't the case. I thought it was per month, which wasn't the case. It was actually per year."
Image Credits: onedaywages
Eugene Cho along with his wife and children founded One Day’s Wages (ODW) a collaborative movement which has raised more than $2.9 million dollars for projects to empower those living in extreme global poverty.
Image Credits: onedaywages
To travel is to question, sometimes with a smile and sometimes without.
To understand the multiple realities in the world that exist. Maya Angelou correctly said, “By demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”
Image Credits: SarawutIntarob
After all there's not just one way to live.
Image Credits: Christopher Michel
Not just one way to celebrate.
Image Credits: Takeshi Kuboki
Not just one way to fall in love.
Image Credits: wikimedia
Not just one way to raise kids.
Image Credits: photoworld
Not just one way to say goodbye.
Image Credits: photoalbums
Every heart is fiercely curious!
Image Credits: IANTB
Like the story? Share it.
If you have an interesting story about your fantastic travel experiences, about you or the amazing people you met, share it with me on the comments section below.