Captured Moments: The Spontaneity of a Culture Vulture…
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Saint Augustine
Captured Moments: The Spontaneity of a Culture Vulture – Travel Spots Globally
“The world is magic when your eyes are open to the love and beauty inherent in every moment. All becomes clear…” Sophie Morris
“But I believe above all that I wanted to build the palace of my memory, because my memory is my only homeland.” Anselm Kiefer
Where a part of you goes, the rest of you will follow—given time. You call yourself a teacher: Therefore learn.” Rabia
Captured Moments: The Spontaneity of a Culture Vulture… I was reading the New York Times summer travel magazine and found myself drifting off to some exotic locale or two; reminiscing about days gone by when youthful exuberance took me to other parts of the world. Back then, travel was something to do and be proud of; to savor like a tall summer drink. It was a way to make new friends and to capture special memories without fear of being an innocent bystander in the path of aggression or a victim of say, the swine flu.
Like the creative muse, once the travel muse or bug bit you, it held tight and pushed you to explore new terrain, near and far, to see nature’s beauty in magical places; to the bluest sky, the brightest flora – earth and sky touching. In my youth, travel was not prohibitive either; you could travel cheaply and stay in hostels, pensiones, or the home of a friend. You could also trade up to something luxurious without breaking the bank… Yes, even in the extravagant eighties and nineties.
“I am a passionate traveler, and from the time I was a child, travel formed me as much as my formal education.” David Rockefeller
Captured Moments: The Spontaneity of a Culture Vulture – Travel Spots Globally
“Observe the wonders as they occur around you. Don’t claim them. Feel the artistry moving through and be silent.” Rumi
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science…” Albert Einstein
Alas, we now live under shifting economic conditions where ‘‘inconspicuous travel’’ as one of 2009’s top trends” is becoming an accepted practice. People who can afford to venture away from home now travel for cultural learning experiences to justify to underemployed friends that they are not being thoughtless. Spontaneity may still prevail for culture seekers who have kept abreast of global travel rules and restrictions; especially for the culture vultures who know where/when to land and inhale all the goodies a country has to offer.
Today, the savvy traveler must pay attention to travel, health and media reports; to take safety precautions and/or procure the requested paperwork if needed. Essentially, we travel in a world of prepared spontaneity.
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“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” Kahlil Gibran
Captured Moments: The Spontaneity of a Culture Vulture – Travel Spots Globally
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Confucius
“I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.” Marie Curie
Granted, there is much to see in the world and if you plan to travel, have a clear agenda of what you want to see and check ahead to be sure you can get in. Before I traveled with my children to Japan last year, we checked to make sure we could get into the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka and, fortunately, we found out advance tickets were required. We bought them before leaving the USA.
If Art is your shtick, I love art/artistic expression, the NYT piece “29 Places to Get Your Art Fix” should keep you busy traveling around the globe visiting museums and galleries for quite sometime. Of course, you can start wherever you are by visiting local treasures. It is never too late to capture moments… One is never too young or old to see the world, kiss the stars or to seize the moment.
If all else fails or if you are still somewhat leery of the current prospects for world travel, stay home and travel through timelessness in your mind’s eye. As George Eliot once said, “Adventure is not outside man; it is within.” What do you plan to see in summer/fall/winter/spring? What is your favorite travel memory? Where would you like to go next?
PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS/LOCATION:Kyoto, Japan – Kunkakuji Golden Pavilion Temple, Stockholm, Sweden – City Views from Historic Sodermalm, Bavaria, Germany – Land of Beautiful Castles and Landscapes, Berlin Wall, Germany, Church of St Mary The Great, Cambridge, England, Downtown Manhattan Skyline, NY – Views Of Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge, Joshua Tree National Park, California – Where Flora and Fauna Flourish, Joshua Tree National Park, California – Where Flora and Fauna Flourish.
Positive Motivation Tip: Travel opens our hearts and minds to other cultures. Explore and expand your personal universe
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Copyrighted and from my Personal Collection.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
There is much we can learn from traveling… 🙂
I would love to travel more but it can be a costly endeavor! I do hope to at least travel to all of the 50 states. P.S. My favorite photo is your view of Mount Rainier from Puget Sound!
There are many ways to travel cheaply these days… but I hear you. Thank you for your feedback, I love everything about Seattle too. 🙂
I love your photos. Back in the day, I used to travel without having to worry about diseases and security dangers. Now, you have to think twice before you go.
True…. Every overseas trip requires great preparation and security checks, to ensure you are not going to a war zone or danger area on vacation… such a shame as there are many places I’d sill love to visit. 🙂
We’ve been on many road trips, but haven’t taken our three boys on a plane yet. Hopefully, next year.
Great. I bet they will enjoy it. 🙂
They already talk about it. I’m actually glad we waited, so hopefully they can always remember the experience of their first flight.
I love how you weave your stories in with wonderful quotes, a little bit of your own experiences and gorgeous photos. As I was looking at the photos I could have sworn I saw movement in one of them! Perhaps I was just taken away on a journey!
Hahaha! I do hope so. 🙂
“Inconspicuous travel?” Well thank you for teaching me a new phrase that I will never be accused of doing! I travel for me – my edification and broadening of my own horizons – not to brag but to meet, greet and eat with others in distant places. Love your post and again thanks for the lesson. 🙂
Hahaha Claudette, thank you! Back when the economy crashed and many lost their jobs and savings, some folks who didn’t felt that they needed to be a bit more considerate of their struggling friends. Travel was curtailed or became “inconspicuous travel” as per the NYTimes definition of it… I remember that time well and understand the origins of it… It wasn’t everyone’s experience but, I remember it. 😉
I am so passionate about traveling. I visited more than 10 countries but had to stop after pregnancy. Hope to travel again soon
Good for you and do take your little one with you on some of your travels.
I really love your photos they are great. I haven’t really traveled out of the UK in the last few years. Mainly due to money restrictions. I’d love to go to India. Hopefully one day soon I will.
Thank you Jessie! I wish I could do more international travel but, haven’t been able to lately… I plan to so, and local travel is a good way to get out too.
i loved your photos and the write up . I am an avid traveller so I know what it is to dip in the culture of a place and getting lost in the beauty . Well written
Thank you Anushreee! I enjoyed my visit to your blog and yes, I can see from your travels that you are an avid traveler. It is a great way to connect with people and learn about other ways of life.
I wish i travelled more, but work and money all pay a major factor in this. Great pictures and really interesting post.
TY! You can always travel within your area when you have a vacation break or on your days off. Travel can be local, regional, national or international. We get to choose.
Thanks so much for sharing. Before my spine collapsed and I had to have surgery (which failed), I loved to travel and it truly was for cultural learning experiences. I no longer am able to travel so I travel through blog posts and photos :).
Sorry to hear about your injury Terri! Hope you continue to heal… I’m glad for you that you did travel in the past, and so those memories will always stay with you too.
None of my kiddos have ever been on a plane. I’ve only ever been on one once when I was 8 years old. Maybe some day soon. Your photos are just lovely Elizabeth!
TY and I hope you get to travel somewhere with your kids; even if within the US or where you are…
As I’m trying to plan upcoming travels, I realize that I need to do more planning. Thanks for the reminder.
You are welcome April. Bon voyage!
I have never been on a plane before and honestly I’m a little afraid of it. I always just drive where I need to be.
People really feel the need to justify traveling to their friends. They must just need some new friends who are not jealous and petty.
Great pictures….. I love traveling so much and I learn different cultures through traveling
I love traveling and visiting new places. This way, we acquire new knowledge about the history of the place, people, and heritage. I’d love to go more frequently whenever possible and when resources are capable. But I do the best I can, at least, one trip at a time.
Mhar Sefcik
Same here Mhar! I’d love to travel a bit more and visit new places and write reviews about my travels. 🙂
I love to read about any place I am going to travel to. That way I hope that I don’t miss any out of the way jewels. Love traveling.
I am not spontaneous AT ALL! I love to have everything planned out.
Great reflections and I agree life seems more complicated nowadays that it used to with all of our global awareness, but knowledge is also power. Instead of going in blindly there are just extra considerations. What a wealth of images and phrases to be inspired by. Thank you.
Travel really does open you eyes to so many things this world has to offer! I used to travel a lot, but have slowed down over the past 10 years. I miss it very much! Beautiful photos!
Stunning shots! I can’t wait to travel more and farther. I want to travel and visit the places I have loved to learn about in history and capturing those memories by photo is something I think I am looking forward to the most.
I’m usually pretty limited in what I can do on my trips. It would be so nice to make time and have the freedom to really explore.
I have not gone anywhere in like a decade. I am screaming for a vacation so that I can rest – really rest. No deadlines, no housework, no worrying about pain or someone getting sick. I am so dang depressed about this that I feel the only vacation I can have is when I am six feet under.
I wish we could travel more than we do but it’s time for us with my husbands job. Great post and lovely pictures.
i can’t wait to travel again! I would love to explore the world and not to worry about work
Interesting thoughts… thanks for sharing your insight into traveling 🙂
I have always loved traveling and discovering new places. Sometimes it doesn’t mean having to hop on a plane. Seeing pictures and watching video (travel channel) can transport us to places we can’t ever dream of traveling to. I love the quote from Confucius: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Sometimes this single step is our desire to want to go places, experience new things, and meet new people.
Traveling is a great education for both myself and my children and the world will open your eyes!
It is amazing how beautiful things that you take for granted appear through the eyes of someone who appreciates it.
I still have a big travel bug, and love taking my son with us as we adventure!
Traveling gives such great lessons to be taught.
Wonderful photos! Looks like you have awesome journeys!
You write so beautifully and it makes me yearn for my traveling dream to be fulfilled!
I love traveling, but have not been out of North America yet. I don’t even have a passport. I have to get one, and start seeing more of the world.
Do treat yourself to one and start local
Great idea to plan ahead if you want to attend certain events when traveling. Sometimes it’s too late to get tickets so you will want to get them before you go on your trip.
It’s a good one to remember.
This photos are beautiful! The world is amazing! so much to see, to visit and to learn! learning is the most important! xx corinne
Yes, we have inherited a beautiful planet we need to be kept that way…