Traveling along the unbeaten path is often an appealing direction, although not always a destination.
The nature of a traveler is to search for an experience, loving each moment abroad from the tastes and sounds to the mysterious faces encountered by chance. Often these tales are shared on return with friends and family over long dinners and a bottle of encouraging red wine. I fell in love with so many moments while traveling and with a tall, dark, handsome man. The most fulfilling experiences seem to happen through the people you meet along the way. People of a nation bring to life the culture a traveler longs to discover. They are the face of a region, the music and arts are their creation, the food is their recipe and their laughter sets the tone.
One afternoon in India I met a very friendly local in the mountain town of Kodaikanal. The lady owned a small wooden home surrounded by a large garden full of fruit trees and vegetables. Her friendly face greeted me as I passed by and in a matter of moments I was invited into her home for a cup of chai. I had a pleasurable tour of the garden and shortly after I was asked to stay for dinner and given the task of making fresh mint chutney.
Keeping in touch with new friends is fun long after you’ve returned home, but also provides opportunities you may never have thought of before. Years ago when my travels took me to Amsterdam, I met a sweet girl from Germany who also had roots in Ireland. We had the fortunate chance to meet up in California and after five years of email and Facebook communication, we met up again in Dublin, where she now lives.
It’s a big world full of stories yet to be disclosed. As we traverse, friends we make along the way mix and mingle into our lives and sometimes with a bottle of red wine in hand and a few stories to tell!
Stay in Touch
It may seem obvious to some people, but for those less sure, there are a number of ways to keep in touch with new acquaintances after you return from your journey. All you need to do is take a few moments to prepare before you travel and you’re assured to have the means to keep in touch with new friends.
Here are a few ways I stay in touch with new friends and friends I’ve had for years.
- Log onto http://www.facebook.com/ and create a Facebook profile. - Facebook is a social network utility that connects people with friends and allows users to upload photos, share links and videos and learn more about the people they meet.
- Log onto http://www.myspace.com and create a MySpace profile. – MySpace is another social network utility that connects people with friends and also allows users to upload photos, share links and videos and learn more about the people they meet.
- Create a free online email address such as hotmail found at http://www.hotmail.com/ - This will not only allow you to easily keep in touch with new friends but also keep your friends and family up to date with what’s going on whilst you’re on your journey.
- Take a small address book or notepad to keep addresses of the locals you meet abroad. It is a real treat for them to receive a postcard or letter from you when you return home. Not every one has a computer!
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