wanderlust

{image at 1, 2, 3}

wan·der·lust\wɒndəˌlʌst\-noun; a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

I have several wanderlists (see here). Quite often, I don't realize I've been to places or done things I've wanted to do until I go back and revisit my wanderlist. One ambition I fulfilled is 'overcome snorkeling fears and explore the Great Barrier Reef'. After last summer, I fell in love with the ocean. I scuba dived in the Great Barrier Reef and never knew I would do such great things. Thereafter, I wanted to snorkel as much as I could and I wanted to take scuba diving lessons (now adding to my wanderlist). Traveling to Cairns opened up the oceans of possibilities for me, a desire to explore vast oceans. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I was in Paris at La Défense, in the midst of early Monday morning traffic. People were rushing from one end to another, some stopped by the Pomme de Pain boulangerie, click-clack heels echoing, stores beginning to open and I was sad to leave. All of the sudden, I had this train of thought enter my mind. I thought about the word 'wanderlust'. What does wanderlust mean? A desire to travel the world. There I was immersed in the discourse of a French pool. In all honesty, I occasionally curse the tower of Babel, but this time instead I loved every moment of hearing français being spoken. It's been two years and more since I dived deep in French. I still remember a lot and I miss taking French from Madame Collmar. I want to go back and study French. Traveling brings about such desires, such as jumping into oceans and learning French. I dream of being there again, a school of fish swimming around me and sitting in a cafe eating crêpes, macarons, flan and paninis. There is a desire to travel, but also a desire that comes with traveling. After all, what is the purpose of traveling if there are no desires after the traveling process? What is the word after wanderlust? Or am I describing a feeling for which there are no words? I'll keep searching. For now, I am boundlessly grateful for the opportunities to travel and this wonderful world I live in.

Around the World

all photos via tumblr

The other day I updated my Where I've Been map. I've been lucky and blessed to have visited 10% of the world. Even though I've traveled to 30 countries, oddly enough I still feel as though I haven't seen or been to many parts of the world. It's a small world and yet, the earth is large and relatively unexplored. There's just so much to see and one day I want to see it all. As I was looking at a world map, I mused over all the places I want to go next. I've made a short wanderlust list which begins with snowboarding in different countries and continues with seeing more of Australia and New Zealand, going on an actual safari, teaching English in Asia, brave a rainforest, Galapagos Island and Tibet. The list goes on and on.

There's many things I love about traveling. I love taking pictures, seeing different sights, experiencing new things, tasting new foods, listening and learning, meeting new people and much more.

Traveling is life speaking to me. If I could, I would be a nomad, seeking the unknown and getting lost in happy places. There's truth in saying it's a wonderful world.

The places I want to go: Antarctica and the rest of the world.

A Self-Portrait

I've got my bags packed or unpacked.

It depends if you're looking from a half empty, half full perspective.

I'm always traveling from one place to another.

Weekends and holidays.

I'm hardly ever home.

And then I thought how I truly live my life out of one bag.

It's scary how that happens, but that's how I lived this summer.

My clothes were always in a suitcase from one continent to another.

The life of a globe trotter.

There's nothing I would change.

And there's no where I'd rather be than traveling,

seeing the world and being my nomadic self.

Discovering far away places, my dreams

learning, loving and living life.

This is me.