Unplug The Routine Let's Go! What Are Inside The Jar Of The Vacation Memory?

I couldn’t agree more that the happiness part of the vacation happens when you start planning or anticipating a great time ahead, aren’t you?  Summer vacation had become a routine for my family. The journey can be heaven, or it can be hell. Nevertheless, few things in life that will impact you as much as traveling will.  It’s better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books. On the other hands, travel miles but learning nothing, then you are just a postman (proverb).  The adventure is out there. How will traveling impact your life?

1. You Always Have Funny Stories To Tell

Riding the hot air balloon to take a glance at the stunning view of the magnificent landscape in Luxor is never short of amazing. My hubby, John, asked the pilot:
John: "Why did all those hot air balloons not fly in the same directions?"
Pilot: "It is normal.  The balloon flight path is depending on the wind condition and pilot control."
John: "Had accident occurred before?"
Pilot: "Yes, sometimes accident did happen. I think this time is ok."
John: "How long have you been working for piloting the balloon?"
Pilot: "Oh, me? I learned the skill of piloting and practice 5 times. And then I can do the job.”
John: "Do you need to get a license to do this job?"
Pilot: "Yes, I used three hours and then I was able to get the license."

The balloon was not moving stable and the pilot seemed unsure where the balloon could be landed.  All passengers grasped the basket tightly and prayed for a safe landing.  The balloon was finally landing on the sugar cane field which was not in the planned location. They stayed on the ground for half hour waiting for the crew to collect the passengers and equipment.

And there were many more stories from the traveling experience...

2. Who is your companion?

Ever wonder you would feel boring on a cruise?  If you are traveling by plane, you only have to endure for hours.  And the cruise trip is talking about staying on a ship for weeks.  The key is who is your companion.  Last year I asked my mom to join our family vacation trip on a cruise. When she was young, she never had the time and money to travel.  I couldn’t agree more to believe that “the greatest tragedy of the family is the unlived lives of the parents” (Carl Gustav Jung).   I enjoy the time to talk about life with my mom on the ship deck at 2 am.

3. Leave yourself some times to be silly, to laugh

Every trip is meant to be an Easter egg-riddled journey for the kids. The children are having so much fun when they are playing around.  A child can laugh 500 times per day! Ever wonder why the children laugh much more often than adults do.  We don't need to be serious all the time, leave ourselves some time for pure silliness, like a child.  Maybe everyone has a child heart, whether you are six or sixty years old.

4. Keep a pen and a handy notebook

Every trip is once in a lifetime journey. You may have a chance to visit the same place in some other days. But what you feel the moment right now would never be the same in another time on another day. I have a habit to keep a pen and a notebook (hard copy) handy so that the best of those feeling made it to paper all the way along the journey. You would feel more in control and is missing less.

5. Selfie is not that important

People say that if you don’t like selfie, it’s a sign that you’re old.  It is common for the kids to get hooked to post the stunning photos on Facebook to win thousands of “like” as if they had made a remarkable achievement. Well, yes, I saw numerous spectacular selfies were impressive, but the cost is high if they persuade this interest to the stupid behavior.  During my summer vacation in two years before, I had joined a boating activity with the kids. A young girl tourist enjoyed selfie all the time focus on the phone camera rather than the dangerous environment. BAM! She had overturned, her head crashed with hard stone, dreadful scarp face was the result.

6. Amazing exotic food

Traveling allows you to understand the other culture and make new friends. What is the topic you would like to talk with a stranger? I love to talk about eating and food.  Exotic food culture is fascinating:

• Kaiseki is one of my favorite cuisine in Kyoto. It used the best of the seasonal ingredients. The chef applied his culinary skills and techniques to cook the food not only for people to eat and present the food seem like an artistic masterpiece.
  

• Do you want to try the most disgusting type of cheese in England? CASU MARZU is a kind of rotten cheese allow flies to lay eggs inside of it and the maggots are still moving when you are eating the cheese.  I prefer Stilton instead.  Casu Marzu? No, thanks.
  

• I enjoy eating the street food on the go like the locals. There must be some eats that caught your eyes and delight your picky tongue. The mini donut is one of my favorite street food in Turkey.
  

7. Switch off from work

You were not able to enjoy the vacation if your hubby did not remember to switch off from his office work. I told him what was the meaning of the family vacation if he spent most of his time checking and replying emails. Many people get an incomplete concept to think that if you want a career, you have to sacrifice your family life. If you want a family life, you have to sacrifice your career. How come your time is an accounting of minutes? Your time is a measure of commitment, concern, and efficiency. Not everything is a zero-sum game.  Most people you encounter are just visitors. The family is for life.

8. Get Over Anxiety

For some people, they are not able to get over the anxiety from non-refundable fares, tight schedule, security issues, natural disasters or any other inconvenience things that may happen on vacation.  It did happen when you asked a cab driver for the places of best theaters or restaurants, but he brought you to the crappy place that is far from your expectation. It's not a big deal.  Vacations are meant for enjoyment.  We should spend the time to unwind and relax.  It is true "there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing" (Alfred Wainwright).

Don’t talk about going to Borneo. Book a ticket, get a visa, pack a bag, and it just happens (Alex Garland)

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