i really enjoy this thread - so many many things that make me smile to think about..
i want to add something to the list -

it just hits me sometimes when i am somewhere completely different how alike we all are - how every place i go seems to have the same "personality groups", if that makes any sense.. ie. the "show-off", the "macho guy", the "sensitive shy girl"... etc..
its just so funny/strange/wonderful/scary to see someone whose skin colour, clothing, height, body, facial features etc are so completely different in every possible way, yet they reminds me of my best friend, or my Dad or my landlord or that guy from grade school...

even all the socio-political stuff going on in these places i see that way sometimes - all centering around a few basic elements (though they may be shrouded in so many different layers).

i hope that makes sense ...

another thing to add -

another thing i have learned is that some of my ideals and principles from home don't make sense in other places. i have learned not to judge! very important lesson!!

Again I will add - great thread.

Even though it has already been said, it is worth repeating that a smile goes a long way and I am always amazed at how much we can deal with regardless of what is thown our way (and yes you will learn from your mistakes even if you repeat them

I am horrible at decision making--I can spend fifteen minutes trying to decide what shoes to wear--and traveling alone really helped me learn to make quick decisions!!!

I also learned to be even happier with myself.

nothing benefit my life like traveling taught...

I have seen interesting people and new perspective of life. I am not greedy, live life and feel happy with waht I have. Those are real values of traveling.

sometimes you have contact with unknown person and after few minutes you can talk like with an old friend! That is why I love traveling. Now I think I can go wherever I want alone without fear that I will be lonely. Traveling is always going together with making friendships.

Never daydream while crossing tramlines. Those 60ft 10 ton buggers creep up on you, y'know.

elv

- Parents (family) worry about you no matter where in the world you are, and there are some things that they are better off not knowing.
- You can meet people who you feel you have known forever, always get contact details, you never know when you will need accomodation, or just to catch up.
- Everyone has a story, listen, you may learn some interesting things.
- You find the most interesting things when you get lost.
- Agree, with trusting your instincts, they are usually pretty spot on.
- There is no wrong, just different.
- An open mind goes far.
- Always take your smile with you.

Haven't really learned much, as I pretty much already knew everything.

Heh

Ones mans familiar is another mans wonder...yeah definately so. Ahhh take me to New Zealand.

I was just looking at some old photos I'd taken on past trips, and something occurred to me... I've learned to be a bit more fearless when it comes to taking the pictures I want to take. Yes, I'm going to look like a tourist with a giant camera in front of my face... And if I would always see a "hole" in my photo album if I didn't take the picture, that would be a downer.

If you are in a sticky situation don't be scared then be scared later when clear thinging doesnt matter.

Panic can get you killed.

Then after it's all over enjoy the panic attack. The adrinaline rush is great.

Tolerance and knowledge. To listen to others and know that plenty of people know a whole lot more than you do.

A smile goes a long way towards making people feel comfortable.

I really love to learn what it is like in other countries-the lifestyle, weather, food, education to name a few.

But most of all travel makes me realise how little I know and how much I have to learn.


Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a sense of humour and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC

Smiles are the best!! Give it and you get more than that in return.

My first ever time to see Moslems at prayer was on the morning of Hari Raya (their special day - like christmas for Cristians). I went with friends. On the way out I stood to the side as one of them went to the loo. I kept a smile on my face as everyone filed past and within seconds everyone was shaking my hand and wishing me 'Selamat Hari Raya'. I must have shook over a hundred hands and it felt so good in my heart.

Hello Mim, sorry to sound pedantic,
but "Christmas" has a capital "C" and there is an "h" in Christians.

Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a smile on your face and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC.

Something that will stay with me till Im done for.
I have a very deep family rooting in Denmark, I stayed with relatives before I started my tour of europe. I stayed with them for 3 weeks or so. During that time my grandmother was very sick and we visited her in the hospital. While I was there seeing her the way she was, a women came to visit, an old friend of hers no less. I learned later that she was one of the few people that she helped save during the war. In meeting this person and shaking her hand, I didnt know any of this. I didnt even know she was a part of the resistance movement and ended up saving about 5 familys lives during the course of the war. I also didnt know during this time, she lost her highschool sweetheart to the war, and had felt depressed for the rest of her life because of it. I didnt know that upon visiting dauchouw concentration camp, I would see where his fate lead him too. And in that moment, I saw finnally, that in striving for something more than yourself, which allthough leads to risk and loss, the woman I shoke the hand of was the most livley of individuals, and something I wish I could be. To give even with risk, you do obtain something more for yourself and others that you could never see before. The kicker of this story is after my grandma was released from the hospital from a near death accident, she was shocked, depressed, but after it all, now lives to see another day with a new boyfriend of hers.

Also
- getting lost is awsome, I do it everyday now in the city of Houston
- your now a resource of knowledge to tell your friends bigotry and steriotypes are not true, or some are\
- You become lost when you travel, so you can find a new beggining to be found.