It is astounding how you can cross man-made border lines and see a physical change in the landscape, it’s almost as if the earth is in acquiescence (writes Antony Hayes). The realms in which we all comfortably belong will change as we pass through the invisible barriers in space that divide giants. The monstrous historical tales of nationalities and how in one way or another we all interconnect become apparent as we dive deeper into foreign territory. We recognise what we see and we can relate to it, but it still leaves an odd taste when mixed with the food you are used to digesting. In essence humanity as a whole can all be taught and raised the same but it is the earth that decides what language we speak and what culture we are meant to adhere to.

Once when looking out of my window at a tree in the garden I couldn’t help but have a philosophical moment and saw in the tree a symbol of the world as we know it. The tree grows wiser with the seasons and gives its creatures (leaves) life and death. In death the leaves return to the ground and thus helping to refuel the cycle we all adhere to. That is the way it works and you can twist that any way you want to fit in with your own beliefs. I know my science however so keep on reading. You may be asking what this has to do with travelling and I will tell you - everything.

Unless you are an unfortunate businessman living out of hotels and journeying from office to office, we all like the idea of travelling. Travelling on our own terms anyway, because when that happens we travel for our own good. We do it to grow and feel and learn and for that reason there is no better way to learn about yourself and thus become who you naturally are. When you become an adult in most cases you are on your own. You no longer have someone to teach and lecture you in the ways of the world. What you do learn on your own however is that you have a new teacher – Life.

In my eyes these elements are one and the same, whether it is Life, Earth or Nature herself. It is there, you can feel it when you close your eyes and ask a question. It is there to punish you severely when you make a mistake but it is also there to embrace you when you begin to understand. It offers you those special moments of clarity when it all just makes sense, but these moments are short lived, because just when you think you know what it is all about, the lesson changes and you are faced with the reality that you do in fact know nothing at all. It’s elusive! What you begin to understand however is that no matter how much you may excel at your chosen path, you need to have at least a basic understanding of all others to achieve any form of enlightenment. Which does not contradict the fact that ignorance can be bliss.

The Earth is like a textbook on anything and everything you want to know. Each country is a chapter, each state is a topic and each letter is a creature (I say creature because I much prefer animals to humans, we are all one and the same). You can analyse and experience every part of it and that is how you learn. If you stay in one place you will never reach your potential, you will never be as great or as wise as you can be. You need to get out there and touch it, you need to feel and breathe it because when you are there and it reaches across the chasm that lies in front of all of us, grabs your shoulder and gently shares its existence with you - then you feel blessed.

When I begin to doubt such things and feel that I don’t have the ability to travel or my mind refuses to open, I like to take a walk outside on a star-filled night and take a look up. The power of creation that made all of us and every atom is out there. I am not necessarily talking about God, in fact you can call it what you want. But it is out there and it knows, and we have all forgotten about it.

About the author

Antony Hayes is a British/South African freelance journalist who currently resides in Norway with his fiancée.  He says: "I have learnt that there is no better way to find fuel for writing than travelling, and hope to get back out there soon. My definition of life is similar to that of experience, and when I experience life I like to write about it and share my perspective with the world."

www.antony-hayes.com