For fifteen year old me, Bali was not a pleasant experience; it was hot, overwhelming and something I never wanted to experience again. Upon our return I vowed I would never return to the Isle of the Gods and for nearly two decades, I’ve avoided the place like the plague. 

 

But that concept of ‘wanderlust’ has a way of drawing our attention back to places we’ve previously avoided and opens our minds to giving them a second chance. 

 

So earlier this year, after a lastminute.com deal, I found myself back on a beach in Seminyak, taking in a beautiful sunset and questioning why I had refused to come back. For adult me, Bali was a place of tranquillity and rejuvenation; a island that had evolved from the one of my memories into a destination that I have now vowed to return to in the future. 

 

So why tell you this story…? 

 

Because it sums up why I travel. It is a way to experience a new culture, to bear witness the evolution of a country and to realise that there is a life beyond the four walls we call home. It is to meet new people and cultivate friendships that transcend international boundaries. To this day, my closest friends are not just those who I went to school with back in Tassie; they are people I have met through my time living and travelling abroad. They aren’t just acquaintances made in passing who you forget when you pass through immigration; they are family who remain with you for life.  

 

Whilst not as seasoned as some, I have done my share of seeing the world. From the bustling streets of Itaewon in Seoul, to the historic ruins of Rome; from the haunting shores of Gallipolli in Turkey to early twentieth century engineering marvel that is the Panama Canal, I have seen things I could have only imagined as a child. 

 

& what have I taken away from this?

 

An understanding of the beauty of this world, the depth of human innovation and ingenuity and an appreciation for every small thing that is bestowed upon us.  If you look at the larger picture, our global society shapes and moulds what we see before our very eyes and this in turn influences our experiences. 

 

We are still marvelling at the creations of the ancient Egyptians and puzzling over just how Stonehenge came to be. We see how a communist revolution in Cuba fifty years ago has created an island frozen in time and how a war in Vietnam brings an ancient civilisation into the path of modern warfare.    

 

This world, for all its beauty and ugliness, its perfections and flaws, truly it a marvellous creation. It is ours to explore at our leisure but it is also ours to preserve for those who come after us.