Do you enjoy traveling?

Well, I do. And each time I feel like a little kid taking the bus for the first time on a family trip— electrified!

But the joys of traveling don’t stop to the preparation, the expectation and the going in general. What’s truly wonderful is the emotion triggered by the discovery of a new place, its exploration, the effort to learn and understand a new language, the taste of new food.

Among the things, even the hotels and farms you’ll come to use and visit will add up to the adventure.

I was in Malta in 2006 and I fell in love with the diversity that permeated the cities, so different than what I’m used to in Italy. I enjoyed hunting for similarities, too, because all human people share at least a few traits. The exploration was engaging.

If I were to travel to Japan, I’d be interested in seeing how much the Sheraton Universal Hotel differs from the Sheraton sites we have in Italy.

I’d love to taste the ramen they cook there and see how it differs from instant or restaurant ramens I’m used to eat here.

I’d go on visit at a temple just to perceive the atmosphere.

I’d visit all toy and anime shops I come across just to feel like a child again (did I tell you I’m an incurable kid-at-heart?).

This is the charm of traveling to me. It makes life sound like an entirely new adventure you ought to build from scratch.

Your mind becomes more flexible as you understand other people better. It’s difficult to widen your horizons when you stay all life in the same place. Traveling helps you grow— I’ve met wonderful people who taught me this before I experienced it myself.

And you? How do you perceive traveling in your life?   Please share. ^_^

Image credit: Trey Ratcliff @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95572727@N00/4848088053/

I was browsing through the pages of a Luxury car dealer of Baltimore, Priority1, and I realized I have NEVER posted anything about cars and driving since I got a license. Yes, perhaps I mentioned a car here and there, but I’ve never really worded out my experience and that’s a pity. I should make up for that– now. LOL.

When I started driving for the exam practice, I was scared of the car. Or more precisely, I was scared of myself driving a car. That’s because I knew my anxiety attacks and vertigo would make it all more troublesome, which realization made me even more anxious, and so on, until it became a vicious circle. It was really tough, but at the end of the road (LOL, pun) — and after two unsuccessful exam re-takes — I got my driving license; with a word from the examiner, “don’t be too cautious when you drive”. Heh. Easier said than done. Being cautious is the only thing that keeps my anxiety under control, but of course I couldn’t tell him about that.

So I got my driving license, and there are a few things that I learned that I’d like to share:

• - Buy used if you wish, or new from a cheaper dealer, but NEVER exchange safety for low price; I had my own share of experience for getting a very old car with a faulty brake and a still steering wheel.
• - Drive slowly when you feel dizzy, anxious (with tachycardia) or are hit by a migraine. If you feel sick, drive a bit more on the side of the road (so you won’t stand in the way and other drivers are free to surpass if they can/wish) and stop if you need. There’s no reason to risk your life — and others’ — out of stubbornness.
• - Don’t just think of yourself and how you drive when you’re on the road. Think of others, too. Try to put yourself in their shoes and anticipate them if your instinct says there’s danger in sight. Driving requires that you develop a sort of ‘sixth sense’ for danger, and it gets your survival instinct to grow to jungle level (LOL, I know it’s not the same thing, but that’s what happens in the subconscious).

Only three items. Yes. But trust me, they can help quite a lot, especially when you’re a very emotional personal like me.

Any tips you would add to that list? Or just share your experiences.

Image Ed Callow