How I Caught the Travel Bug
The title of this post is actually pretty misleading. Don't worry, it's not clickbait. It's just that I didn't catch the travel bug later in life like most people. I was born with it. You know how some diseases get transferred from mom to unborn baby? That's how I got the travel bug. I was a freaking fetus in the Himalaya and Boston. I was born with it. I grew up with it. It's part of my DNA. So this post isn't really about how I caught the travel bug. It's more about how it developed with me.
The first symptoms of the travel bug showed itself immediately after I was born: Instead of just lying still on one spot like newborns are supposed to do, I decided to crawl away and explore the great big world of my parents' bed.
From there on out it went pretty fast. I went abroad within weeks and flew to southern Europe within months. I was a bad ass travelling baby.
As I grew older, my parents and I went to the USA every summer. I learnt English there and eventually Marin County, just north of San Francisco, became my second home.
Marin County was home base, but from there we discovered the US. Every summer became one enormous road trip. I kept travel journals during those road trips. I had this obsession with maps and road sings. I always had to know what was around the corner. By the time I was eight, I'd seen the West Coast from San Diego to Seattle. I'd been to Mount Rushmore and the Florida Keys. I wasn't aware of my travel bug yet though. That awareness came three years later, when I left elementary school.
When my dad dropped a bunch of travel brochures in my lap I first noticed I wanted to travel more than the average kid. My parents helped me with this: the brochures were a preview of my graduation gift. At twelve years old I could decide where we'd spend the summer. I wanted to choose Thailand, because elephants and awesomeness. For some reason my mom talked me out of it though, so I picked Costa Rica instead. Travelling then became a reward for big accomplishments in my life. When I overcame my hyperventilation problems in 2012 I chose Australia. When I graduated high school in 2014 I chose Peru. Next summer, when I graduate college, I will be going to India. By myself, because you know, my wanderlust has outgrown that of my parents.
My parents have showed me the world and I'll always be grateful for that. But my travel bug has gotten out of hand. As you're reading this, I'll be discovering Edinburgh. This summer I'll see Finland, Thailand (finally, after all those years!), Laos and Cambodia. That won't be the end of it though. My travel bucket list is longer than I am and I'm more than ready to start crossing things off by myself!
22 Fellow Ramblers
I love this post! I too, as a 12 year old myself, always have places I want to visit and a very long mental list of holidays I will be taking one day. Thailand is amazing, we went last summer and it was definitely my favourite holiday so far! The beaches are simply stunning, and seeing elephants is so cool so if you do get to go, let me know:) Talking of travel, I'm actually going to California (and Las Vegas) very soon so I'm so excited!
ReplyDelete- www.whatlexieloves.blogspot.com
I'm really looking forward to Thailand. I think I saw you post about it, if I'm not mistaken? It's just one of those amazing places you'll remember for the rest of your life I think :)
DeleteI hope you enjoy California and Vegas! California is my second home :)
I used to maintain a travel journal too whenever my family and I used to go on trips. I'd write about the history of the place and how I felt going there.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you'll be in India, hopefully and if it's possible we'll be able to meet!
-Kathie K
Half A World Away
We're going for a trek to mountains care to join Kathie? Maybe you can be my accomplice pushing her off the cliff *evil laugh* :P
DeleteShubhaish, did you really have to hijack Kathie's comment with your evil plans? I don't want to be pushed off a cliff! I really wanted to come to India, but this changes everything
DeleteHaha! I'd love to join but not to push her off a cliff though :P
DeleteI get what you mean. We're totally not gonna throw her off the cliff *wink wink*
Delete*secretly prepares a totally fake alibi*
You keep coming up with all the evil plans, meanwhile, Envy and I will continue with the trek :P
DeleteYou two will have fun without me? T-T
DeleteWho's making real evil plans now? T-T
You guys are crazy, hahaha. I guess I'll do the trek with Kathie then :P
DeleteI love this post! I've been travelling since I was 4 years old and I love a new place to visit and look around in! Great post! xx
ReplyDeleteItsallzara.blogspot.co.uk
Thank you! So you've been travelling for a long time too, that's so cool!
DeleteWow, Envy! It really does sound like you were born to travel! Your childhood memories look incredible, it must be fantastic to look at a map and know you've already visited so many countries and experienced so many different cultures! Can't wait to hear about your trip to India!
ReplyDeleteAbbey 😘 www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk
If everything goes according to plan and I get to go to India next summer I'll probably be posting about it for months on end! I set myself a goal of visiting 45 countries before turning 25, so I can really own up to being 'born to travel', haha.
DeleteI also am obsessed with traveling. Although I haven't really gone many places I love different cultures and traveling kind of fascinates me.
ReplyDeleteNabila // Hot Town Cool Girl
Maybe you'll get to travel more when you get older. I only started seriously travelling the world when I turned 16 and had to turn 19 before I could travel whenever and wherever I wanted
DeleteEDINBURGH. Youuuuu lucky little...!
ReplyDeleteHah. Seriously though, I would LOVE to visit any place in Scotland. Or Ireland. Really anywhere in the British Isles. Pfft, what am I saying... I'd be happy visiting most anywhere in the world. I've not traveled much (Canada's about it, and even that was just a week or two in Niagara Falls. Oh but how wonderful that was.), but I hope to make it to a few more places one day. I'd especially love to see the less touristy parts, though it's all a good experience. That traveling baby picture is great lol.
(Also, it's been a long while since I've visited any of my blogging friends, I apologize - but your blog's design is fabulous!)
OMG Edinburgh, don't get me started on Edinburgh! It was so freaking amazing. I'd go anywhere in the world, but Scotland is now among my favorite places. Canada is awesome too, don't make it sound like it's not all that special ;)
DeleteI have Shubhaish to thank for that design btw :)
My travel bucket list is seriously long!! Got to start working my way through it... but earn the money first. :D xx
ReplyDeleteSophia x http://sophiawhitham.co.uk
It's too bad that travel is so expensive! Got to get working on those bucket lists :)
DeleteI understand this all too well! I can remember road tripping across Canada with my parents as a child, exploring each province, staying in new places, trying new things... My parents passed on the travel bug to me too!
ReplyDeleteBritt | http://alternativelyspeaking.ca/
It's so awesome when the travel bug is passed down like that. My parents took my on so many roadtrips, now I can't wait to go on one myself and actually drive the car for once.
DeleteI solemnly swear that I am up to no good! Wait, no, I mean: I solemnly swear that I will answer each and every comment ;)