Picture taken in 2010, on a dive excursion to the Similian Islands, Thailand.
in a sandy universe -
we climb whale skin rocks.
The wonder inspired by travel is as ancient as it is timeless. From the dawn of pre-history humankind has been a migratory species. Tribal societies followed seasonal journeys to reside in the places of most abundance, and in many instances climatic or environmental changes forced people to look further afield as a matter of survival.
In both examples, the human spirit of exploration was bolstered by very real concerns of survival beyond the sheer wonder of seeing a new place, or the comfort of finding bountiful resources. But I imagine that the wonder of travel that we feel today was only amplified in our ancestors by the practical concerns attached to their journey.
This wanderlust, and seeking for something better, has become deeply engraved in the collective unconscious, manifesting in modern times through the many people who embrace a nomadic lifestyle.
Some of my most cherished memories are of travel; sitting quietly on a newly discovered beach to greet the dawn, hustling my way through the heat of evening city streets in Chiang Mai, even that bubbling feeling when you first set out on a trip as the airplane takes off into the blue beyond, all of these things make up the journey, far greater in their whole than the destination.
“It is better to travel well than to arrive.”
― Buddah
These musings on travel seem essential to me right now as my chronic illness has hit a point where I'm barely able to complete the walk to do my weekly shopping, let alone take a thousand mile journey across the world.
Living the wonders of travel in memory is far better than forgetting them based on the bitterness borne of limitation. Hopefully, these blogs and haiku about my travels will provide the hope to forge on and find healing.
To read more about the aesthetics of true haiku, and the difference between haiku and senryu, please check out my post: Haiku Vs Senryu - The Aesthetics of Form
All images in this post are my own property. If you have enjoyed this Haiku, please check out my homepage @raj808 for similar content. Thank you.
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