It’s all about the journey …

In going through all my photos to prepare my travel posts, I’m struck by the sense of what a great and adventurous journey life is. So, in a break from routine, I’m skipping my usual travel snapshot for today and looking at the overall idea of a journey. From a photographic perspective. But to start, let’s ask ourselves, what is a journey? The word journey is defined as follows:

noun

noun: journey; plural noun: journeys
  • an act of travelling from one place to another.
  • a long and often difficult process of personal change and development.
verb
verb: journey; 3rd person present: journeys; past tense: journeyed; past participle:journeyed; gerund or present participle: journeying
  • travel somewhere.

Looking at that definition, what springs to mind for me is that a journey, regardless of which meaning you look at, is about movement. Or more specifically forward movement. From the travel perspective, I see a journey as the act of heading somewhere. Moving someplace to explore, relax, learn and experience new things. From a personal growth perspective, I see that same concept of heading somewhere – to a new you – and given that I see personal change and development as the pursuit of improving ourselves, I’ll label it as forward movement. The internal journey isn’t something that lends itself to photography – it’s a deep, personal change that is felt rather than seen. Unless of course that journey is the physical transformation to a healthier, fitter you 🙂 But the travel side of a journey is visible – whether by foot, boat, road, air or any other weird and wonderful means of transportation – we can photograph our journey through the world. So, I want to share with you today my favourite photos of some of my journeys. But tell me – Do you have a favourite means of exploring? Was there a particular journey you took that you loved above all others? 

BY FOOT:

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Dune 45 – Sossusvlei, Namibia

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The boardwalk at Kommetjie, South Africa

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The Boomslang (tree top canopy walkway), Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in Cape Town
 

BY BOAT:

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Longtail boat to Railay Beach, Thailand

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Wooden boats on the Mekong River in Vietnam

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Yachts near Fethiye in Turkey
 

BY RAIL:

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Seeheim, Namibia

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The remains of the Burma-Thai railway – Hellfire Pass, Thailand
 

BY ROAD:

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Volendam, The Netherlands

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Middle of nowehere in Namibia

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Between reserves in Kruger – a lone hyena heading into the sunset
 

BY AIR:

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Large aircraft

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Small aircraft … this is the plane I took my first flying lesson in 🙂
 

OTHER:

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By Elephant – not something I would condone and fortunately a practice which many tour companies do not offer anymore. Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Songthaew in Thailand
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Dirt track … Klaserie private game reserve

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Motorcycles, bicycle or boat … which option do you pick for your next journey?

This post makes up part of my contribution to the A-Z Challenge for April 2016

Click here for a list and links to all my other challenge posts!

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40 thoughts on “It’s all about the journey …”

  1. Pingback: 2016 A-Z Challenge Posts – Ramblings of K

    1. Thanks, Pamela. You’re so right, there’s a lot you can miss if you’re travelling too quickly. I also find walking allows you the time to give proper consideration to getting your photos just right. Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your day 🙂

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  3. Great post!
    I read somewhere that people can not truly experience a place, unless walking around it properly. The reason is because human beings’ senses were not originally made for experiencing things at a fast pace, since walking is our “natural” speed, we need to maintain that low speed for our senses to be able to register all the details, smells, sights, and so on. Sounds logical to me, which is why I always walk everywhere. 🙂
    Beautiful photos!

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    1. Wow, I never considered it from that perspective. It makes complete sense to me. What a great explanation! And a great argument in favour of experiencing new places by foot.
      Thank you for the compliment and the thoughtful comment 🙂

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  5. Loved the way you linked travel with journey. Walking tops our list. It’s possible to discover hidden streets, secret restaurants, and understand how locals live. Maybe, even feel like one. The next best mode of transport is the subway. Great to observe people. And if we crave isolation, we rent a car. I don’t like sitting on animals – camels or elephants. Doesn’t seem natural to me.
    Truly enjoy reading your thoughts. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Cheryl. It seems walking is coming out as the firm favourite for people. It really is the best option to explore in detail.
      I tend to avoid subways and trains … I was in a horrific train crash many years ago. Two trains collided and derailed, people were killed and many injured. Perhaps understandably, I still have some issues will rail.
      I agree regarding riding animals though. And it’s good to see things changing and that “option” becoming less available.

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      2. I got away with only minor injuries, which was very lucky given where I was seated on my train. I’ve been thinking about writing a post about it actually, maybe after the A-Z challenge is finished. Or I suppose I could do it for the letter T, instead of the more general post on “Travel”. Something to think about …

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  10. Kim these pictures of different paths we can take are extraordinary. My favourite one funnily nought was picture 3. I tend to take the bath that has twists and bends. What you had to say about a journey being something about developing who you are as a person is spot on xx

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    1. Thanks so much, Daisy. I actually struggled with this one … Trying to marry up some of my favourite photos with the concept of a journey. I think part of the problem was that I associate the word “journey” more with its definition as a means of personal growth and change.
      I love your comment about the Boomslang (picture 3) and life’s twists and turns. In one sentence you’ve summed up exactly what I was trying to say! 😄 lol xxx

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  11. I love Orkney, the group of islands right at the tip of our country. My first trip there was memorable. A journey north, and a journey back in time. The Neolithic is my thing, and so I spent a long time visiting the ancient sites there. These islands are my kind of place-you will never see me sporting a sun tan!
    Speaking of a journey north-I had a poetry collection published in December called Heading North. Maybe a shameless plug, but that was a creative journey 🙂

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    1. Sounds like a whole bunch of journeys going on there, Andy. I’ve not visited Orkney but I’m aware of its history. Possibly a little chilly for my tastes, being so accustomed to sun and heat though! But the journey into the past is always fascinating.

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  12. Great post – a whole bunch of journeys.
    I’ve spent ages looking at the different people and creating their journeys in my head. Maybe I have a little creative writing inspiration! (Been a bit dry lately). Thank you!

    And thank you for the post – it was actually really thoughtful.

    And the Orkneys are awesome. Although cold. And wet. By, hey ho, what’s life without a little rain?

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    1. Oh I would love to read what you come up with if you write about the different journeys of everyone! What a great idea for a creative project!
      I’m glad you enjoyed the post! And you are right about the rain! A little rain never hurt anyone 🙂

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      1. I travelled when I was younger with my parents, but haven’t been able to travel for yours… Health reasons. I always thought I’d travel the world. I might do a post on travels though, nice idea 🙂 You could do one on personal places you’ve been to too. I love knowing about where people have been, because I feel like travelling is in my soul (though I haven’t left home/hospital for six years.. It’s still there, I hope.)

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      2. I think once travel is in your soul, it never leaves you. Even if you are no longer able to do it – the daydreams and the ability to imagine yourself somewhere else is always there. I can’t imagine what you must be going through to be in/out of hospital but I hope your prognosis is getting better. I look forward to seeing where your writing takes us next 🙂

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  13. Pingback: Nature at her best – Ramblings of K
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  15. Pingback: What can I write about that starts with T …? – Ramblings of K

    1. Haha! I found a few similarities when I was reading through your blog – this post and your G were one of them. Very uncanny indeed. I think we both hit on Nature for N as well. And your freedom post is not dissimilar to what I have coming up for Y. Great minds think alike 😉

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  17. Pingback: A-Z Challenge Reflections – Ramblings of K
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