“Hey! I know you!”
A shocking greeting came from a stranger somewhere on the Mongolian Steppe.
“Yeah. You were on my flight. I remember you because the flight attendant poured wine on your pants and spent like five minutes cleaning it up.”
Yes, indeed that happened.
Then there was another aviation-related incident when I was selected for extra screening at the gate in Seoul on my way to Alaska. The security guy checked my bag, found nothing, and then confidently commanded me to
“Remove your shorts.”
I was understandably shocked given that this request was made in the very public gate area. I simply said, “No.”
He gave me a funny look. And then said, less confidently,
“Oh! No! Shoes! Shoes! Please remove your shoes! Sorry.”
Now that I’ve been back for a couple of weeks, it’s these little vignettes that come to mind when I think about what I did last month.
I don’t remember the broad, sweeping experience as a whole “thing.” It’s not the 47,751 miles. Instead, I recall snippets. They’re like mental movies that play while I wait for a meeting or sit at a stoplight.
Travel is about so very much more than the trip itself.
It’s also about anticipating the experience and then reflecting on it for years afterward.
A memory is as much about the moment in which it’s made as it is about the lifetime spent remembering it. This doesn’t come at the expense of enjoying every moment, of course. Rather it makes life richer because of the broadened perspective that comes from travel.
I think travelers miss out on a lot when they don’t write down what they’ve done. Pictures are helpful, but — for me — words add context.
I’ll have a lifetime to look back at the memories I made last month and will be able to do so anytime simply by clicking over to this blog.
I say that in order to encourage you to make notes about your travels, too. These posts are triggers for me. I find so much pleasure in looking back at what I wrote years ago about some far-off place and reliving experiences that have long since faded from memory. Maybe you’d find the same thing if you do more than, say, snap a few photos.
Now, let me step off of my soapbox and say thank you for traveling along with me over the last month.
Stick around for the next 149 countries. If history is any indicator, there will be plenty of adventures to share along the way…
Thanks for sharing your adventures with us Jeb. I know I speak for a lot of people when I say we’re looking forward to seeing what you do next.
Thanks for reading along. I’ve got a few out-of-place destinations up my sleeve…
Made me smile reading this. This is always the experience of travelling I most savour, the small details of encounters with others; the embarrassed smile of the woman selling led flashing rings in Savannakhet, Laos as I returned and bought three more, the moment of final relief sat on the platform for Varanassi, after three days lost on the rural rail network in India (maybe that memory is more the woman opposite not waking me for the switch of trains!), or the family of fifteen visiting a relative herder on the Mongolian Steppe with me tagging along, all having to wash in the morning from a tiny, golden kettle outside his ger.
Fantastic “snapshot memories!”
Your enthousiasme is effervescent and intoxicating! I will probably never able to travel on anything but economy but, just like you, I love to fly! You are able to project how I would feel if I was traveling in business or first class. Thank you for that!
Can?t wait to see more of your posts.
p.s. you are very easy on the eye too!
Brings the viewing to another level of enjoyment.
Your enthousiasme is effervescent and intoxicating! I will probably never able to travel on anything but economy but, just like you, I love to fly! You are able to project how I would feel if I was traveling in business or first class. Thank you for that!
Can’t wait to see more of your posts.
p.s. you are very easy on the eye too!
Brings the viewing to another level of enjoyment.
It doesnt bother me if you do post it,but of all the so called vloggers,yours is the best one,you make it feel like I went with you,which would be nice by the way.others spend too much time doing a 360 degree view of the warm towel,too much time in the rest room or showing the tatoo between his shoulder and hand(didnt care for the shower scene, I recently spent time with you on your denali train trip. take care.
Hey Jeb:
Thanks for your videos. What are your airport stops for your RTW trip?
Atlanta- LAX-Sydney – ?????
What is the total length of the RTW trip.
Thanks and good luck.