leigh767's VirtualTourist Home Page

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 waver 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.


MAJOR UPDATES

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?:
Amid all our happy travels, I think we need to take some time out to put things into perspective. Some footage from Uganda taken by a group of people of my age. It is funny and sad all at once. Above all, it is real. Please, give it a chance-- a moment of your time is all I ask--

Invisible Children video clip

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

A typical street scene.

A rare (for me, at least!) architectural shot.

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

VT Page

The City of Dreaming Spires

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.

* * * * *
Countries thus far:

Australia
Belgium
China
Czech Republic
Denmark
Egypt
France
Great Britain
Greece
Hong Kong
Italy
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
Nicaragua
Singapore
South Korea
Thailand
The Maldives
The Netherlands
United States of America

Miscellaneous interests:
Flying at night, when the stars are not above you but around you
Reading a good book atop the Acropolis, the testament to our common history of triumph and defeat
The thick aroma of coffee, enjoyed in good company