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leigh767   
It doesn't matter where you go or what you do; what truly matters is deciding to get onboard.


Real Name: Jane
Lives In: Beijing, CN
Birth Date: July 6
Member Since: May 23, 2005
Last Login: Nov 15, 2009   04:31 UTC
Member's Time: Nov 16, 2009   01:27 CST
VT Rank: 1030
Deals Rank: 313
External Page:penguinprint.blogspot.com/
Travel Interests: Budget Travel, Cruise, Beaches, Photography

 > View Larger Map
Antarctica  77  83
Cairo, EG  25  40
London, UK  21  25
Marrakesh, MA  12  30
Oaxaca de Juárez, MX  15  21
Hong Kong  20  11
Beijing, CN  7  23
Edinburgh, UK  6  19
Athens, GR  13  11
» more...
 

Page Views: 7,248            

What do we travel for?

by leigh767 - last update: Oct 2, 2009

I want to take a lifetime to find the answers

Sunset in Florence. unedited photo
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in an attractive, well preserved body; rather, to skid in sideways, body thoroughly worn out, covered in scars and screaming, “Yahoo! What a ride!”

People travel for many different reasons: some to confirm the sights they have seen in books, others travel to challenge their existing beliefs about the world; others travel to forget, and still others travel to remember. Some travel to feel connected with the world, while others travel to affirm their own existence.

No matter how much I travel and how much I see and hear, after bearing witness to the glorious beauty of the oceans, skies, deserts, forests and ruins of the world, perhaps the main reason why I travel is for the stories.

The master weaver in Oaxaca may have a very different story to tell from the one that the young child in Lijiang has to share. But stories, like birds, all have a soul of their own and long to be freed. Stories are happiest when their songs are spread to the furthest corner of the earth, when their tunes fall on a new pair of eager ears.

And when you have exhausted the trail of your travels, and have seen all the dunes and valleys of the world, perhaps it is time to sit down by a stranger's side and hear the story that we each have to offer to the world.


Most recent updates (29 Sept, 2009):
- Dunhuang
- Hong Kong
- Marrakesh
- Beijing
- Oaxaca

* * *

MAJOR UPDATES


Antarctica 2009:
Click here to see my VT page
Took a dream journey down to Antarctica in January and I must say, it was worth its weight in gold. "Seeing is believing" apparently doesn't apply to the White Continent because even after looking back at my photos I still wonder if it hadn't all been just one fantastic hallucination...

Mexico 2007-2008 tour:
Travelled through Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Cristobal, Palenque, and Cancun during a 3 week long trip in Mexico. Some amazing sights, but even more amazing people. Take a peek:

My Teotihuacan Page
My Oaxaca Page
My San Cristobal Page
My Palenque Page
My Cancun Page

Cycle the Nile Expedition 2006:
Thanks to a travel grant, a group of friends and I cycled down the Nile this summer to raise funds for cancer research. Yes, I know "summer" "cycling" and "Nile" don't always go hand in hand, and technically we just did the Egypt portion of the river (1300+km). Still, it was amazing beyond all measure.

HERE's the result!

Updated Travel Page with new tips and pics: London, England.

DO WE DARE TO FACE IT?:
Invisible Children video clip

ICEBERGS

Antarctic Icebergs

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY

Hello there! Welcome to my little cavern on the internet. Even though we haven't had the chance to cross paths on our journey through the real world, I'm glad I can share some pictures and sights here on VT with you. As you would probably notice throughout my tips and pages, I'm a big fan of photography.

My biggest wish is that in addition to offering good travel tips I could bring a different perspective on much-visited/photographed sites or, simply, just to convey the -feeling- of being in a certain location. It doesn't matter if it's a photo of the vastness of Antarctica or the maze-like souks of Morocco; if looking at it somehow makes you want to go there even more, then I would be very happy.
THE MALDIVES

The Maldives-- Heaven on Earth

Also, for those who're interested/geeky enough, here's a quick rundown of my camera equipment that has helped create the photos on my VT pages:

- Canon PowerShot A95
- Canon 350D
- Canon 24-105mm f/4 L
- Canon 70-200mm f/4 L
- Sigma 10-20mm
- B+W UV filter
- Hoya circular polarizer

ENJOY THE PAGES! FEEDBACK ALWAYS WELCOME :0)

Cheers,
Jane
SICHUAN, CHINA

Jiuzhaigou, Si Chuan

They call it THE most beautiful place in China. It's not hard to see why.

For more shots of this area by another person, check out this guy's works.

VT Page
TEMPLE OF ZEUS, ATHENS

Land of the Philosophers

Stretch out with a book on the hills of the Acropolis, and see if you couldn't hear the voices of the ancient past...
INSIDE OLD TOWN HALL, PRAGUE

Prague, Czech Republic

That touristy place with the beautiful soul of an ancient man...

VT Page
OXFORD UNIVERSITY, UK

Oxford, England

The City of Dreaming Spires

The spectacle that comes once a day, always.

Firenze

Once in a blue moon, there comes a sunset so stupendous in its fading glory that it silences everything else. The bustling of the world around you peels away and there's nothing save you and those fiery hues of transient red.

I saw one such sunset in Florence of Italy.

leigh767's Albums
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
The White Continent- 1
That Jinxed Trip- 1
Moments of Gold- 1
So. The beauty pageant.- 1

Comments for leigh767
jumpingnorman Sun Oct 25, 2009 05:32 UTC
 Congrats, Jane - which pic won??? We are now here in Laughlin, Nevada near vegas and kids are just about to sleep in hotel...Norman :)
Yaqui Tue Sep 29, 2009 17:32 UTC
 Howdy Jane, thanks for stopping by my Vegas page. It is huge one, but I cannot keep from adding to it everytime we visit. The place is blast. Have a lovely day!
DennyP Mon Sep 28, 2009 06:16 UTC
 A wonderful introduction to your travelling world..with excellent photos and writings, leave a hunger for fellow travellers to consume..I especially liked your opening photograph..well done..I must return for more..Denny
KiKitC Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:54 UTC
 What an absolutely beautiful opening shot of Florence! Wow.
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