How to know yourself-57: Travelling

Starting Your Journey of Self-Discovery through Travel

When embarking on a journey of self-discovery, I mentioned that this is a broad and deep awareness. Being mindful of not just family, relationships, work, money, and physical activity, but also your relationship with travel can enrich your experiences, broaden your horizons, and even help you relax mentally.

So, let’s reflect on today’s travel-related questions:

• Where is the place you want to visit the most?
• In the past five years, how many places have you traveled to? Where were they?
• Among these places, what were the three most memorable activities and why did they leave such an impression on you?
• Which of these places would you like to visit again and why?
• When traveling somewhere new, what mindset do you go with? Do you have a spirit of adventure or a curiosity to discover?
• How do you feel when you arrive? Do you experience jet lag? Do you miss home?

In my twenties, I didn’t really think about questions like these. My goal was simply to travel as much as possible, to explore as many places as I could. On a typical trip, I would visit the main tourist spots, check out the nightlife if time allowed, visit museums if I had more time, and if I had even more time, I would try to enjoy the nature.

But now, after 26 countries and over 120 cities, along with dozens of towns and villages, I sometimes find myself wondering why I didn’t think about these questions earlier. Because the answers reveal what kind of traveler you truly are. What do you seek, where do you seek it, and why?

In my thirties, my focus shifted from visiting as many places as possible to experiencing the places I visited as deeply as I could. It began to feel more meaningful to spend my time living rather than simply passing through. When I travel now, I want to meet people, see how they live, and not remain just a spectator. I still maintain my rhythm of exploring from the city into nature, depending on time, but I dedicate more time to each place. Naturally, I learn more about the culture as well.

Even my approach to museums has changed. I used to read up and research thoroughly before visiting, eager to know what to expect. Now, I prefer to arrive with minimal expectations. I walk the streets aimlessly, and if something cultural piques my interest, I go into a museum or exhibition. Otherwise, I find that wandering the streets and sitting in cafes brings me more joy.

Another shift has been my appreciation for modern art. Though I don’t claim to fully understand art, modern art museums offer valuable insights into the minds of creative, unconventional locals today, rather than just historical facts one can read online. They reveal what’s happening now — just like local cafes, shops, and boutiques that resist globalized sameness, preserving the spirit of a place while telling stories from past to present.

Traveling has two essential meanings for me:

First, the sense of freedom.
Seeing that life continues beyond our personal boundaries, even in places where we might have had prejudices, helps us break down those barriers. We realize that people everywhere, in their own way, are not so different from us. This is liberating.

Second, the joy of discovery.
Discovering both the differences and the similarities, constantly learning, and accumulating a rich cultural awareness — from food and clothing to lifestyles — all contribute to broadening your perspective. You gain a better appreciation for what you have and see more clearly what can be changed or improved in your own life.

And there’s one more realization: despite all the differences, people are essentially the same. That’s the moment when your learned identities and prejudices begin to dissolve.

Personally, I’m not someone who misses home while traveling. Other than a few people and the conversations I enjoy, I rarely find myself wishing to return quickly. I don’t even particularly miss familiar foods.

But I know many people who seek familiarity everywhere they go, who miss home deeply, or struggle to live away from their homeland. Reflecting on the questions above can help you understand not only your travel preferences but also whether you could truly live in a different city, a different country, away from familiar people and places. It’s a meaningful step on the path to knowing yourself better.