A thought I had - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**urOZm8** · 06-11-2005, 07:31 AM

Hey kids! I had some unusual thoughts and feelings when I was on the bus to work this week...

Anyway I catch the same bus, at the same time and same stop to and from work everyday. Familiar faces carrying out their routines and the predictibility of the bus route got me down a bit.

It was at this time that I wished I was away. When travelling you don't think much of it at the time but I wished I was on a bus or train heading to a new place. I was actually missing that feeling of wondering, wondering if this was the stop for the town I wanted to visit. Wondering if this was the change over train station. Wondering why we had stopped - had we reached the final destination or was this just a stop to have a break/stretch? I guess it's a weird thing to miss but I was.

I believe it's the repetition of life that creates desire for me to want to travel, to see new things and to experience the unknown. That unknown is what in my opinion provokes thoughts and creates excitement and adrenaline.

So to my question: Is there any strange things you miss from travelling? Is there anything in everyday life now that triggers wishes to be on the open road without a responsibility in life?

ev

**d_fresh** · 06-11-2005, 10:51 AM

I miss trains, subways, hearing different languages being spoken, seeing different products.
I try to go to a new place in the province every couple of weeks....so that kind of gives me that want of seeing something new and different.

**mowark** · 06-11-2005, 12:07 PM

Buses actually do it for me as well. I think it is because I have lots of time to just sit and think. Also, everytime I see a billboard for the lottery I think about all the travelling I could do with the money.

**Diorama** · 06-11-2005, 01:07 PM

I think I miss how everything was so easy. Yeah sure there were financial stresses. But everyday promised to be something so fresh and new. You wake up in the morning, meet some new people, sit on the beach watching the sunset talking to these peeps and get insight on new ideas and cultures. Nothing was ever stale, and if it was (like fruit picking) then you always knew that it would be over in a few weeks. I just loved how waking up everyday seemed like a fresh start to a life full of freedom. Now it's the same ol' shit. Pee, eat, work, eat, sleep.

**TheJake** · 06-11-2005, 01:22 PM

yeah same here, for me it is the constant mundane. I know what I did yesterday will be the same as what I do tomorrow.

And I miss shopping and buying food that I have no idea what it is and then trying to cook and and and

damit now I need to go cry

**GoKrazy** · 06-11-2005, 02:27 PM

For me it's all about meeting new people. Even if I don't actually meet them, like when you sit over a cup of coffee and watch the people walking by, I find it fascinating. The different language and scenery add to the experience making it so much more enticing then at home. People in a new country always seem to me to be engaged in some wonderful secret daily ritual, which is that more alluring because it is new to me. Plus it's a different speed of life, a different attitude and a different appeal.

But that's just me...

showtimestafford · 06-12-2005, 02:39 AM

I just miss not living with my parents!

**pinion** · 06-12-2005, 08:28 AM

I miss the fact if I don't like the city or the people I'm with I can just leave the country lol

oohhh man, I could so leave the country right now

**worldwidemike** · 06-12-2005, 09:09 AM

I miss the people...the fellow travelers. Not that I don't have friends or family I enjoy talking to...

It's just to hear travelers talk of their plans, or their experiences, what they enjoyed, what they recommend...it wakes up something inside me. It's a completely different feeling I get from sharing a conversation with a fellow traveler.

Sigh...I'm going to go cry with Jake...

worldwidemike

**MolsonGirl** · 06-12-2005, 09:22 AM

I miss having no clue where I am or what's around the next corner... everything is new... and if you just take a walk and not know where you're going you'll always find something cool

**TheJake** · 06-12-2005, 01:46 PM

hey mike if you help me get a job at PHX with your airline I'll fly out to wherever you want so we can cry together.

**benna2** · 06-12-2005, 02:23 PM

I just realized that I am just like my father. Especially after reading this thread.

Last week my dad was scrolling the internet for good travel deals, found a great price on a trip to the Dominican and the next day he was on a flight to the fabulous place. It is only June and this is like his fifth vacation this year!

I wish I did stuff like that....and I wish I had his wallet to pay for it! But yeah, he told me that whenever he starts to feel "mundane and bored" he takes a vacation...

I think all travellers feel this way at some point.

**omisan** · 06-12-2005, 11:37 PM

I miss trains.

I miss discovering new drinks/food/music just from sitting someplace and asking the person next to me, "What's this?"

I miss struggling with a language, and then a few days later, making that "breakthrough" and speaking with ease.

I miss making new friends at every turn.

I miss how something as simple as helping track down peanut butter or an English language newspaper can make someone's day.

I miss not being in this country.

**worldwidemike** · 06-13-2005, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jakethepunk@Jun 12 2005, 08:45 PM
hey mike if you help me get a job at PHX with your airline I'll* fly out to wherever you want so we can cry together.

Shoot, Jake, I think they're PAYING people a bonus to take on a job at America West. Just apply...seriously. And you can use my name "Mike Demana" as a reference, although I'm not sure where it'll get you!

worldwidemike

foofiter · 06-13-2005, 09:59 AM

Wow. You guys just hit the nail on the head. I just got home late last night from my 2 weeks in Europe.

I already miss the night trains filled with backpackers. I miss all of the great food in restaurants where you speak none of the language and use a menu decoder to attempt to order something. I especially miss talking to other travelers and taking everyone in your hostel dorm out together to share a few bottles of wine and travel stories.

Everyday I am at work this is all I can think about unless I am really busy with work stuff. Since I plan to hit the road forever in a couple years I have been obsessed with saving money. I am not 100% sure this is a good thing, but I have to do it and track every penny to make sure it happens. Now that I am back in the states and have work tomorrow I have to clean up the financial mess I made in Europe and go back to my routine. I really do not want too. When I was at Schipol airport yesterday morning I was thinking about saying "screw it" and just hitting the road right then and just having bad credit from not paying off my debts. But I came to my senses and deicded that I should honor the promises I made to repay (its a moral thing for me). So now I will work and try my hardest to make it happen.

I have learned so much from traveling and the number one thing that comes out of it is that you don't want to stop learning. Therefore, you do not want to stop traveling. I do not think it is possible to absorb too much culture, architecture, history, friends, stories, nights on the town, languages, and food. I have a huge world map on the wall in front of me as a constant reminder of what I am working for. Work is depressing, but I have to do it in order to be able to travel.

The bottom line: The only thing that makes my truly happy is traveling and friends. I am working everyday to reach my ultimate goal and it will happen. I get very emotional about travel and I find myself trying to convince others to do it. Long live the travel spirit!!

foofiter

**space virgin** · 06-13-2005, 10:21 AM

Jesus, just reading this thread makes me want to cry.

I miss EVERYTHING about traveling. Sigh.

But I'm also trying to not dislike my time at home too much either.

**TimmyJames1976** · 06-13-2005, 10:24 AM

I had a thought once......once

**llemus7** · 06-13-2005, 10:39 AM

wow those were all great comments.

I hear you guys and one vacation a year does not work for me, it should be at least one every month, that will be awesome to do. Just imagine how much i would learn just taking a vacation a month. One day it will happen.

**bellelass** · 06-13-2005, 10:44 AM

Well, I do not miss this, to quote one of my poor frustrated aussie on the road friends:
"I've been trying to get away from the touristy areas because im getting a little pissed off with this american frat party culture that seems to exist in most of the hostels that ive been staying in, I didn't come to Europe to drink, eat subway and complain that dunkin donuts isnt as good here as it is in the states, i also keep meeting americans who dont know the capital of canada (apologies to american who do know basic geography)." Gah. I really hated that. Please, guys, try to be cool. Its enough to convince me to never step foot in europe during the summer.
That said, I miss the freedom of movement... Getting up and deciding- well I think I'll go to edinburgh today.. or... Rome sounds good, lets hop a plane, or even being able to go cross town with ease.. I miss hash-smoking hombres who let me practice my spanish. I miss the camaraderie that exists between complete strangers when traveling. I miss bitty little shops run by wizened arabs, I miss not having ranch dressing. I miss cornish pasties and sunday mornings at The Church followed by Monday nights at Heaven.
Sigh.
Now that I want to be euthanised....

**space virgin** · 06-13-2005, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bellelass@Jun 13 2005, 05:43 PM
Please, guys, try to be cool.* Its enough to convince me to never step foot in europe during the summer.

... That and the higher ticket prices and less hostel availability are pretty much exactly why I, too, will not set foot in Europe in the summer time. *shrug*