The Beginning
Ah, the sunny, care-free life on a non-parent, non-homeowner, unemployed twenty-something. What better time to take a six month camping trip through one of the toughest regions to travel in the world? So I booked a ticket, spent a lot of time questioning my decision, and prepared to explore West Africa.
Sitting in a dusty corner of the airport waiting to board the plane to London, my mind reeled with doubts and fears. I was leaving a place I would always think more of as "comfort" than "home", not for the first time, but for the first long time. While I was thrilled by the thought of seeing iconic African wildlife, I'd only embark on safaris near the very end of my adventure. What of the rest of it? I wanted to challenge myself and—hopefully—deepen my understanding of the world, of humanity, and, unavoidably, of myself.
I never thought I would become a traveler, but that was in the before-time, in the long-ago...
Should I describe it all in detail? Focus my attention on the various ecosystems I encountered? Or tell of the increasingly complex turmoil that haunted me, both internally and interpersonally, along the 4380hr, 16 000km journey?
Here goes.
Sitting in a dusty corner of the airport waiting to board the plane to London, my mind reeled with doubts and fears. I was leaving a place I would always think more of as "comfort" than "home", not for the first time, but for the first long time. While I was thrilled by the thought of seeing iconic African wildlife, I'd only embark on safaris near the very end of my adventure. What of the rest of it? I wanted to challenge myself and—hopefully—deepen my understanding of the world, of humanity, and, unavoidably, of myself.
I never thought I would become a traveler, but that was in the before-time, in the long-ago...
Should I describe it all in detail? Focus my attention on the various ecosystems I encountered? Or tell of the increasingly complex turmoil that haunted me, both internally and interpersonally, along the 4380hr, 16 000km journey?
Here goes.