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Gamecock
Joined: 26 Nov 2003
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 Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject: Anyone travel weary? |
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Is anyone tired of traveling? I've always been an avid traveler and it has been one of my great passions in life. Ive been to over 50 countries and have hooked up a great gig at a public school with heaps of vacation time. But now I'm finding I'm weary of traveling. When I see what airline tickets cost to go ANYWHERE out of Korea, my enthusiasm dips and it just doesn't seem worth it. Is there something wrong with me? Have I fallen into burn-out?
Anyone else in a similar situation? |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject: My take |
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I've been to all the lower-48 states in the US, been over most of Mexico, and have seen Ontario and British Columbia. I've spent a month in Rome and a week in Istanbul. I've lived in Thailand, and I've gone to Cambodia and Laos. I've lived here for a while.
I figured out early on that people are the same everywhere underneath it all. There are good and there are bad anywhere you go. The novelty of meeting new folks has worn off, as has seeing new places. When there's nothing new under the sun, one will feel like there's no place like home, sure. I don't regret traveling and doing what I've done in the past, hell no. I just can't seem to get that worked up over going to new places now.
I guess all that's left for me is Antarctica or outer space. McMurdo station, make room for one more. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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I had a 4-week vacation this summer & stayed put in Sokcho -- it was delightful. Played tourist in my own town, hosted some guests, & enjoyed the comfort & conveniences of my own home at the end of the day.
I wouldnt say I'm done with travel -- I've maxed out passports with some fairly exotic stamps over the years -- but it was nice to break free from feeling compelled to go elsewhere. |
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Faunaki
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:09 am Post subject: |
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Yah, I'm totally weary and it's quite shocking really because I thought I'd always want to travel but last time I went - the Philippines - it was just boring and annoying.
I think my problem might be that I always travel to 3rd world countries and also I have a house to pay for now. Honestly the hotel packages in Seoul look better than anywhere else cause I know what I'm getting into, I don't gotta take a plane, boat, taxi, bike whatever for 10 hours, I won't get diarrhea or bed bugs, I don't have to deal with people trying to rip me off or steal, I can speak the language, blah blah lbaah...... |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:20 am Post subject: |
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I never get tired of planning trips and travels. But when I'm on the trip or travel, I sometimes long for being back in my own home again 
I guess I just like looking forward to both...  |
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soviet_man
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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Price fatigue I can understand. Travel fatigue I cannot!
I was thinking of going to Positano, Italy this year. But I am scared off by the obsene prices both to get there and to stay there. |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject: No joke. |
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Italy. Now there's a place I could go back to. It'd be cool to walk from the toe all the way to the Alps. I could be a little like this guy:
www.wwwalk.org |
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seoulteacher
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:28 am Post subject: Re: Anyone travel weary? |
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| Gamecock wrote: |
Is anyone tired of traveling? I've always been an avid traveler and it has been one of my great passions in life. Ive been to over 50 countries and have hooked up a great gig at a public school with heaps of vacation time. But now I'm finding I'm weary of traveling. When I see what airline tickets cost to go ANYWHERE out of Korea, my enthusiasm dips and it just doesn't seem worth it. Is there something wrong with me? Have I fallen into burn-out?
Anyone else in a similar situation? |
You`ve got me thinking of two things:
1
Just yesterday I went back to a local thrift shop to copy this quote for my landlord, who`s said more than once that he`s quite happy to not travel anymore (*):
Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.
- Saint Augustine
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/saint_augustine.html
And...
2
I met a friend (RIP), who was born in Africa, 20 years ago in Alberta, when we both taught at a community college there. Then ten years ago, after he & I had gone our seperate ways worldwide, he visited me in Victoria with his family, and told me then that he didn`t really need to travel anymore to see the world, that he`d seen enough of it (by then he was working in marketing for an airline out of Dubai. And no, he was still full of life - and did actually continue to travel, giving his wife and young family the excitement of travel).
I feel kinda the same way now, after a lot of traveling, and after working (mostly teaching) in Canada, UK, Caribbean (2 islands), UAE, Cyprus (TRNC), and South Korea. Now I`m really looking forward to settling down, a hammock in the backyard, with some tomato plants and a shade tree or two - tho it might be a while yet! And the trees might be maple or mango, depending on location... 
(*) = It needs be said that we are in beautiful Victoria, BC, Canada - and if ever you decide to travel no more, this is a place eminently suited to staying put. |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:22 am Post subject: BC would be cool |
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| seoulteacher wrote: |
.........
(*) = It needs be said that we are in beautiful Victoria, BC, Canada - and if ever you decide to travel no more, this is a place eminently suited to staying put. |
BC would be nice. I'm partial to Kimberly, myself. |
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rayjoy
Joined: 19 Jan 2008
Location: Dynamic Busan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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I never seem to want to be where I am at the moment... I live to travel but when I'm travelling it gets old fast. Then I get home and start dreaming of new places to go.
Cities are getting old. I want to see scenery. Does that mean I am old? |
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ReillyGA
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm dreding anyy sort of jet lag. It can suck. |
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seoulteacher
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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| rayjoy wrote: |
I never seem to want to be where I am at the moment... I live to travel but when I'm travelling it gets old fast. Then I get home and start dreaming of new places to go.
Cities are getting old. I want to see scenery. Does that mean I am old? |
HaHaHaHa, I know the feeling!
Perhaps, rayjoy, we need invest in a virtual reality enterprise:
``Step inside folks, we`ll take you wherever you want to go...Egypt, Machu Pichu, Tahiti, the Great Barrier Reef...and all before dinner time...and you`ll get back here rested and without jet lag and without having to squeeze in to one of those airline economy seats...`` 
PS: I have a US friend who taught ESL in Japan for a decade WITHOUT leaving the country: he was saving towards a specific financial goal (which he met). A guy like that - and anyone who is finding that air fares are getting way too high - would be game for a virtual reality travel environment... |
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seoulteacher
Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: BC would be cool |
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| Tobias wrote: |
| BC would be nice. I'm partial to Kimberly, myself. |
Yeah, BC`s the nicest part of The Great White North, IMHO
...and Victoria`s the jewel in BC`s crown
(But, then, I`ve never been to Kimberly  ) |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:35 am Post subject: |
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| seoulteacher wrote: |
| Step inside folks, we`ll take you wherever you want to go...Egypt, Machu Pichu, Tahiti, the Great Barrier Reef...and all before dinner time...and you`ll get back here rested and without jet lag and without having to squeeze in to one of those airline economy seats... |
In my experience the magic of certain destinations is directly proportional to the hardships endured getting there. I think most seasoned travellers would agree with that.
Re: Victoria. A gem of a city for sure, with many charms. I called it home for 30 years & raised my family there. But there came a time I needed to move on & I doubt I'd ever go back there to live again.
I'm taken with the challenges & surprises of living in Sokcho (coming up 10 years now). A hidden treasure in its own right. |
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