GoRoundTheWorld.com - Round The World Travel

Benefits of RTW Travel

Why travel Round-The-World? There answer is, there are many reasons to do so:

To expand one’s knowledge about particular locations or subject matter. I had been interested in some historical religious festivals for quite some time. By traveling to places where the majority of people are members of the religions concerned, I grew to understand some of the more sublime aspects of each. This has proven to be extremely rewarding for me. The same can be said for many other types of subject matter - perhaps someone is interested in experiencing desert life, or perhaps someone would like to experience life where there are as yet no televisions or ATMs. No matter what the topic, there is no learning experience like living the subject matter first hand.

To learn about one’s self and about one’s own culture. When negotiating day-to-day living in a foreign environment, one becomes acutely aware of differences between the foreign culture where they are located and the culture where they are from. Those differences will highlight certain issues, and one will realize that their own culture may be superior in some respects, and inferior (perhaps far inferior!) in others. Such realizations may lead to fellings of pride, anxiety, triumph, or even shame. No matter what the feelings, though, by being aware of such differences, one can learn from those experiences and can incorporate that learning into their own way of living in the future.

To give one’s self a well-deserved break from daily living or work routines. Especially in the industrialized world, the routine of going to work at the same time each day, performing the same duties in the same way, and perhaps not even being able to see or understand the final product resulting from one’s efforts, may result in an almost imperceptible but nonetheless continual erosion of one’s happiness and job satisfaction. Taking a month or more to expand one’s thoughts and experiences to new horizons is not only invigorating, but perhaps good for one’s mental and physical health as well. Imagine having one suitcase, on rollers, with only yourself and no commitments for the foreseeable future. The world is your oyster! Now close your eyes, point in any direction, and go!

To learn about others already in one’s life. Many people have made friends with others from a variety of backgrounds - perhaps one has friends of Indian or Thai descent; perhaps others from Argentina, Mexico, or Turkey. By traveling extensively, one gains a deeper appreciation and understanding of friends and acquaintances who are from the destinations concerned. I have a good friend in New York who is originally from Mumbai. After spending two months in India, with some of that time in Mumbai, I can say that I have a deeper understanding of this friend and the issues he faced by moving to the U.S. I was even able to meet his parents and siblings. He and I would remain close friends with or without that extra bit of understanding I have of him; but, it has certainly enriched the friendship to a certain extent.

It is an opportunity to focus on body as well as mind. While traveling in unfamiliar places, it is just as easy to coach one’s mind and body into new and perhaps unfamiliar routines. Try reading different kinds of materials and doing so regularly. Focus on new physical routines which will develop strength, endurance, and spiritual balance for the long-run.

There are as many reasons to take an RTW journey as there are individual travelers. If you feel like you have the travel bug, the only way to find out why you will go on an RTW trip is to actually go on one.