5 reasons to invest in travel, rather than things

If my mother had read this post, it's probably for a long time would not speak to me. And my mother in law just called us fools traveling. And I understand why. Their generation has grown up with different values: house, car, furniture, jewelry and savings were of paramount importance and were a way to show the status, personal achievement and development. All this is still important, but my generation is gradually beginning to shift to another way of thinking, where the experience more important than the whole.

Priorities shift from the accumulation of things to gain experience.

My husband and I - the usual pair of middle-income, which most of his life creating memories. Given the limitations of our budget, I prefer to ride a Honda and rest four times a year, than to give up traveling and spend the next 10 years to repay the loan for Mercedes. Also at the beginning of the relationship, we agreed that it was better to go on a date in the Michelin restaurant than exchange gifts.

You can call us drug addicts and will be right. But I prefer to call it a passion. In any case, the symptoms are clear: I feel bad if I stay in one place for more than three months; I have to constantly go somewhere for the weekend; I I plan to travel once or twice a year and prepare detailed itineraries for each trip.

That's why I do it.

1. Travel expands consciousness

As rightly observed Mark Twain Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness. The two-year diplomatic mission in Haiti has opened up my life from an unexpected quarter. You can look at the difficulties of developing countries on the TV, but do not see their own eyes, unable to truly appreciate the everyday struggle of the people living there.

In Haiti, we did not live in abject poverty, however, I began to appreciate the simplest things like asphalt roads, traffic lights, shops, cinemas and shopping centers - all the things that I thought myself granted.

2. You meet new people

I was not enough just to see the sights. I do not think you can learn something about the country and its culture, not associating with local residents.

Multicultural interaction - the key to understanding the beauty of this world. A bunch of friends in all parts of the world gives a sense of inner richness.

Travel - it is an opportunity to meet with different nationalities and learn a little about their culture. Anyone with whom you encounter on the way, has its own history and is ready to tell her.

3. You get a new cultural experience ...

Luau-party in Hawaii, climbing the Great Wall, overnight in the Japanese Buddhist temple, diving in St. Kitts, sumo tournament in Tokyo or travel through the dunes in Dubai - all it means dipping into the local culture. Watch how other peoples lived, and understand what makes their heart beat - superb. When you travel the world in search of new images, smells and sounds, it opens your mind and enrich you.

4.... and new dining experience

I love good food and travel in all try to sample the local cuisine. No matter how many people around the world are trying to recreate these dishes, they will never be so delicious, both at home. Because in other places it is impossible to find authentic products and spices.

Khachapuri never be as good as those made in the kitchen of my mother in Tbilisi Thai food will not be as tasty as in Thailand and India - as in India.

I still remember our gastrotur in San Juan, where we enjoyed local delicacies, walking through the beautiful cobbled streets. Our latest favorite - Sichuan dishes from the dining room to some of the Chinese village on the way to the Forbidden City. It was cheap, easy and incredibly delicious.

5. You do not look back and do not ask "What if?"

Life is too short, and in the end the only "thing" that will stay with me - it adventures and memories. I do not want to put off what can be done today, this month or this year. I do not want to look back and regret that did not go back and then did something else.

Frankly, I doubt that it will take sometime. I will always have a desire to pack their bags and go to some new exotic place. I do not think it's right or not for your life. But to do so, how you feel - the best solution. Because we do not know what awaits us tomorrow.