Does travel promote understanding?
Posted Thursday, December 27, 2007, 7:56 PM by Lonely Planet
Here at Lonely Planet we suggest it does, but then why am I so confused? After a few days safely stashed away in the stupor of the silly season, I've just today again reached for the papers.
I'm having greater difficulty digesting what I'm seeing online, in print and on the tele, than the clogging concoction of peanuts, chocolate, tarts and turkey I ate on Christmas Day.
As 2007 comes to a close, I'm left wondering whether anyone out there has any understanding why the world is so, well, (insert your favourite word for broken here).
Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in Rawalpindi, Pakistan; landslides and flooding have killed hundreds in Solo, Indonesia; holiday road tolls keep rising; the 'war on terror' is costing the US $15billion a month; thousands in Sudan still go hungry.
Can we hope for something better in 2008? And will travel alone help?
Labels: Travelsnitch
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5 Comments:
Was it ever thus?
Mass travel has been a reality for decades now.Many people who have left their home shores now understand how other countries, look,feel, smell and generally tick.
But whilst individuals may come to understand other cultures, I doubt if travel in itself promotes "understanding".
One of the ironies of travel is that it really highlights how different cultures are. whilst we may embrace and immerse ourselves in many of these cultures we still know "what side our bread is buttered on"
When nations/societies engage in the primeval pursuit of economic competition, cultural argy bargy and ultimately armed combat, many a traveller (no matter how worldy) will line up with their own nation/society and do whatever it takes. After all they have their houses, cars, superannuation and way of life to protect.
I don't mean my response to be cynical, but recognise that no matter how much we understand other cultures, for the timebeing the caveman within us still ultimately pulls our levers.
My spin on the value of travel is ultimately that its fun. And at almost age 57, even better than sex.
Jack
Are you talking about the understanding between friends/lovers/family?
If yes, I'd say YES. When people confront with the unusual situations, how they react shows the truest them. these might not be possible in the normal comfortable days.
However, I still like traveling with companions as well as alone. When traveling alone, i've definite freedom to do what i want without having to think of others. then the price to pay is, i need to be always independent and settle everything by myself :)
Whilst many people think that the best things about travel are the wonderful sights you see, for me it has to be the people you meet and talk with from everywhere, and the connections you can make - these are what I remember when people ask me for my highlights. But therein lies the joy and sadness of travel - some people are open to new experiences, to different people and ideas and to learning, changing and adapting, whilst others are closed and continue to live within their own unchanging understandings. And I talk here of both travellers and locals. So I guess that travel does promote understanding, but often isn't totally successful.
Travel does not necessarily promote understanding - awareness, yes, but true understanding requires more than just travel. It requires empathy.
Understanding in what sense...the world or the people? I agree that travel promotes understanding of places and routes. Read my blog on some place in India I have been to.
http://indiatravelntours.blogspot.com
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