Because

I love being on cars, buses, trains, and air planes.  I love the feeling of being mobile, of being in translation; the feeling of going somewhere, anywhere .  It doesn't matter if there exists a language barrier, or if the place is slightly dangerous - so long as it is new to me.  I love going on adventures, and experiencing things first hand - for pictures can never satiate this lust.  I love the feeling of immersion, of being part of something completely alien to me - even if it is only temporary.  I love seeing and learning how different cultures do the most normal things.


Isn't it amusing how Americans have a great penchant for small talk? Book store aisles, side walk benches, coffee shop lines...the American next to you would ask how you're doing or talk to you about the weather.  The Brits, on the other hand, are less friendly but are infinitely more polite. Even when they're pissed off, they're polite. Even their signs are polite! Remain on your lane vis-a-vis No swerving. Dispose cigarette behinds in rubbish bins vis-a-vis Don't litter.  


Germany is beer land. France is wine land. Scotland is whisky land; whisky at 9 am, unbelievable! 


People ask me why I went to the top of the Empire State in New York, or the Hollywood sign in LA, or the Eiffel in Paris (may Starbucks dun, winner), or Petrin Hill in Prague (yep the one in the Kundera book), or Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh.


They ask me what the big deal about Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam is (super depressing pota), or what's so cool about the United Nations (hellooo watch The Interpreter...super astig), or what the hell did I go to Liverpool for (BEATLES!) 


Isn't it absurd to line up for four hours at the Louvre just to see one painting (the Mona Lisa), or to venture to Versailles just to see if the Hall of Mirrors in King Louie's palace that my history prof was talking about is real and really spectacular? (it is). 


I've been asked why I 'wasted' so much money watching Les Miserables and Jersey Boys in London, or the Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia in New York. 


Why? And I answer, "Because." 


I wish I was a good writer who could describe with flowery words all these wonderful places; places with years and years and years of history, places of cultures lost; places where great heroes lived and died; places that inspired novelists and poets and painters; places where these renowned novelists, poets, and painters actually made their masterpieces; places where the masterpieces are displayed and preserved; places we only read of or are only told of.   I cannot even think of a single word to describe the feeling of actually being able to go. So for the lack of better term, I'll just say it's surreal.