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Published: August 19th 2013
Last rays of sunshine
Kubu island, BotswanaThe other day I heard someone say that conversation can be likened to a tree. You start a conversation and while you are talking about one thing a single word will change the conversation, in other words branch out, to another topic and so it continues. This got me thinking that travelling could definitely be compared to the life cycle of a tree.
Root or seed - The intended destination or journey is germinated in your brain and so the thought process is propagated until it eventually bears fruit. Whether it is an image, conversation or something you read, it sparks the idea of choosing that trip. The idea of a trip slowly starts unfolding, becoming a possibility and eventually a reality.
Trunk or main stem - I would like to call this the foundation and body of a trip - the planning, the finance, how you are going to go about it. What will you be looking for in this particular trip. It is what holds the whole trip together. Some people plan considerably and others go off on a whim, but both need at least some finance, some planning and some form of
transport, even if it is just your own two feet (those shoes will be mighty important then!)
Branches - After all the planning this is the bit where even after all your preparation, research and booking, things can change. This could be because you saw what you had planned previously wouldn't work or you picked up on something from someone or somewhere that it would be better or more interesting to choose another road, another town, other transport or other travel companions. Even an injury can cause you to branch out in a different direction. As a trunk can consist of different shapes lengths, thicknesses, gnarled or knobbly, so the trip can be different too. We are individuals, although in certain aspects similar, we enjoy different journeys and destinations. That is what makes each trip unique. Some people even choose to take that fork in a road that leads to something unknown.
Leaves - With it's various functions such as producing energy or food, respiration and storage of food for the tree, this can be likened to the interaction with the people, the location, the history, culture and cuisine. Your energy is found in
Flaming
Hunter valley, Australia what you take in while you are there, breathing in the sights and sounds literally and figuratively, using all your senses. This whole intricate process is stored in the recesses of your brain, to be shared with family, friends and strangers once you return from our trip or even while you are still on your journey of discovery.
Fruit - Harvesting takes place as far as I am concerned from the moment of propagation. That thrill of planning and anticipation is part of the whole process. I know I start benefiting from the planning stages until well into the future. The experiences, the stories, the photos and the souvenirs, they are all part of the fruit. The knowledge you gain seeing a new place and getting to know the people of that place or even fellow travellers, you are still reaping. Be it a small trinket or some large artefact that cost you the earth, but you just had to have to remind you of a place, those are all fruits of your trip.
Seed - Eventually a seed is produced after the fruit. Now the question is: will you propagate that seed again
Picnic spot Kgalagadi
Bringing a bit of relief from the sun in this arid landscape immediately or will you store it away to be used much later again! No matter what, that seed will stay there, waiting to germinate.
To commemorate all the trips I have done, my photos will be of the trees in some of the countries that I have visited. Some of them stand tall, others provide colour or shade, some struggle to survive and some have lost the fight for survival. Some are single, others in groups, just like we are when we travel. Each one in its own right has fought to withstand the elements to survive, just like we endure the differences to our own culture, country and climate but we usually choose to embrace those differences to experience more out of life, to enrich our lives and to convince others there is more to see other than just what is at your own back door.
Here's to all those 'trees' our there!
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vijju
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golden triangle india tour
thanks for such good information. for tree.