Hey. Welcome. This is the journal of Todd Harris. I record random thoughts here, mostly about traveling. I collect tidbits and misadventures in the mountains of the Western United States on Toddot.net. I blog about genomics, bioinformatics, and science policy on my professional blog.

Travel can be boring

March 22, 2007

Lots of the time, travel can be boring. I’m not talking about things like flight delays or interminable waits for buses that never arrive. Those things are part and parcel of any trip — so common that they can barely even be considered part of a travel experience.

Travel makes you experience every single minute. There is no overloaded agenda, no myriad of diversions and entertainment options within arm’s reach.

Each moment becomes perceptible and possibly even memorable. Maybe it’s because the unfamiliarity of things forces us to focus more on the tasks at hand and not on less immediate things.

And it’s at times when you’ve worn yourself out and have no energy left to explore that travel becomes boring. The idea of trying to find a suitable restaurant and stumble through ordering another meal turns your stomach. The thought of another museum, mosque, church, or cathedral makes your head pound. Sometimes riding a park bench in the sun (or even the rain) is about all you can muster.

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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

Abroad Reviewer November 5, 2008 at 1:00 am

Travel makes you experience every
single minute. There is no overloaded
agenda is journey follows

John Alex January 9, 2009 at 3:13 am

I can't agree more with this. Sometimes riding a park bench in the sun (or even the rain) is about all you can muster.

Portugal Holidays January 28, 2009 at 2:16 pm

Wonderful article, just added the site to my favorites. Thanks so much.

Allen Murer February 4, 2009 at 6:36 am

May be travel will boring for someone, but I always love to travel and I enjoyed every time when I traveled

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