I heard this question for the first time in Texas some weeks ago. And a couple of more times since then. I was astounded and speechless.The question was not ‘Why did you travel here?’, ‘Why do you do backpacking?’ or ‘How do you pay for the travels’. Neither was the guy who asked me that expecting to hear my philosophy of travel or life or anything like that. Nope, just ‘Why travel?’ This was such a no-brainer to me that I haven’t thought about it in awhile. But this conversation got me thinking again. When you have the choice between doing what you do all day (study, work, watch TV) at the same place with the same people or visiting exciting places you have never seen before, making new experiences, meeting new people, trying new food, having fun – which one would you chose? Again, the question was not about having the time or money to go traveling, the question was the why. If I have the choice between living ground hog day or the beach, I chose the latter any time.
It turned out, that the guy has never left the U.S.A. and in fact visited only one other state besides Texas. If you have never experienced what it means to travel, then maybe you develop this mindset of ‘It’s okay here, why should I go somewhere else? I’d rather watch it on Discovery Channel…’ That kind of limited attitude saddens me.

PS. Just to make sure I don’t come across all that arrogant: I am fully aware that not everyone in this world has the means and opportunity to travel as I do. (Though, most people I know would have if they chose to…)