The two travel styles that I want to point out are spiritual travel and border crosser's. They both have similarities and they both have their differences. While Iyer is spiritual travel there are many border crosser's like Kapuscinski and Russel. Faithful travel will open the mind body and spirit while a border crosser might be more for the adrenalin junkies. I feel like people who want exciting travel will want to read about the border crosser's and the travel where they have gone to get a rush of adrenalin. Then the spiritual travelers want a more peaceful trip and relaxing trip to open their mind and get away for however long they want to.
Now some similarities is that people of spiritual travel are still crossing borders. Iyer still has to cross into a place that in unknown to him just like the border crosser's do. Then the border crosser's do get a spiritual aspect out of their trip as well because at some point they will take a rest and just ponder upon what they are actually doing. It might not be spiritual, but during spiritual travel you want your mind to relax and that is what the border crosser's are going to do when they take their break.
As I stated before the border crosser's and the spiritual travelers have to travel to somewhere unknown or somewhere they have only read about. They both get different experiences out of their trips, but they do go to a place with a goal in mind. Whatever their goal is they both want to achieve it. I believe that during travel you want to have goals set up for yourself so you are just not wandering around everywhere. Now there is another type of travel like that where you put the books down and just take a map and wander around. That type of travel is more of a spiritual aspect to me, but it is a little different. Each type of travel has similarities and differences.To me spiritual and border crosser's both cross a border and those travelers have goals in mind to complete. Their differences are getting excitement out of the trip like the border crosser's and opening your mind like the spiritual traveler.
Mike, I like how you broke down spiritual traveling as a peaceful, slow paced trip and border-crossing travel as an adrenaline trip. Also, I liked how you brought them together in the same manner and had the two types of travel switch roles. You brought up a good point that each traveler has a goal in mind. This can easily determine the type of travel he or she may endure. While traveling, I like to free my mind and relax (spiritually), but I also love excitement (border crossing). So if I were to take a trip, I am curious to see which side I would fall under.
ReplyDeleteI think your remarks about having a goal in mind are really interesting. While many of us travel for pleasure, we do so with a goal in mind, although I don't think travelers are necessary always conscious of it. For some, travel is a chance to relax or escape, while others seek adventure; regardless of the end goal, either spiritual or border crossing (although I agree these aren't always mutually exclusive), planning is a key element to taking the steps to accomplish it.
ReplyDeleteThe distinction between the two styles that you chose is intriguing! I love how you picked one style that focuses on the more mentally spiritual travel, and one style that captures your own physical interest of the literal crossing of the border. It is always interesting to read my classmates' blog entries because you can really tell what type of person they are. I mean that in the best possible way. I can tell that you are driven, know what you want, but you know how to take your time and enjoy your experiences. Keep pushing towards your goals, Michael!
ReplyDeleteMichael,
ReplyDeleteYour definition of faithful travel is a creative way to thing about it. Having the ability to open not only your mind but body and spirit as well can be difficult for some travelers. I like that you identify that even a spiritual crossing is still the act of crossing a border. I think sometimes as travelers we forget that we can cross more than one border in our journeys. It is also interesting that you think all travelers should have an end goal in mind. I don’t necessarily agree with this because sometimes its fun not to follow a set itinerary but I completely understand where you are coming from with that thought process.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI really like that you classified travel as faithful. This really stuck with me. I classified Iyer as an emotional traveler but reading your thoughts on being a faithful traveler, I see the connection! I think that the biggest effect that travel has on us can be found when we reflect. We can reflect spiritually, mental, and physically. I think that when we can look at where we have been and where we are going is when we can truly look at the benefits of becoming a traveler! nice job :)
I like the stance you took on this from the very start. I had never thought all that much about the spiritual side of these articles. The way you define “spiritual travel” is not quite what I was expecting when I started reading your journal, but I like the definition you worked with better than the one I first thought of. The one you work with is much more relatable to everyone. Fitting goals into your journal was a good idea. I know that when I go to a new place I have a few places I have to go see, but other than that I just walk around and see where I end up. Your last sentence really stuck out to me. I really like how you differentiated the two styles.
ReplyDeleteMike, I really like how you chose two types of travel that were completely opposite from one another. I feel like the people that follow the spiritual route will travel to the places they are comfortable with while the boarder crossers will be constantly moving around the globe to get their fix. It really does sound like two different lifestyles. However, they will each end up back at their homes afterward with great stories to tell of their experience.
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