Once again it’s the time of year when you can’t miss all the “2015 in retrospect” posts. Even Facebook is constantly nagging me to share my highlights of the last twelve months with everyone. Unfortunately I don’t post nearly enough selfies for Facebook to create a noteworthy recollection of enviable experiences. Neither are my attempts on travel photography on a level with all the creative photographers out there. A “Best Photos of the Year” post was therefore out of the question and I had to come up with something else. So I present you my lessons of 2015 in other people’s wise words:
The boat sails by, the shore remains.
During our trip to Kerala Backwaters in January we learned first-hand that it’s sometimes better to stay on the shore and watch boats sailing by than to board an expensive houseboat and follow the crowds just because this is what people do.
Abroad to see wonders the traveller goes, and neglects the fine things which lie under his nose.
I admit to succumb to the temptation of travelling to far away places more often than not, leaving me no time to explore our home country. But this year we decided to spend more time discovering what’s right in our backyard for reasons that need no explaining.
The chicken that crows the loudest does not always give the biggest eggs
We finally ticked Amsterdam off our bucket list. But the long expected visit left a lot to be desired. Speaking in allegories, Amsterdam for me was an annoyingly loud chicken compared to its cool little brother Utrecht and here’s 5 reasons why.
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
The next photo could be a showcase of endless possibilities that nature offers to aspiring photographers. If only I was willing to haul my tripod with me at all times. Instead it’s just an example of a missed opportunity and I hope it teaches me a lesson to better prepare next time.
After rain comes sunshine.
Like all proverbs, you shouldn’t take this one literally. The rain may come in form of a heavy summer downpour right in the moment when you were supposed to start your romantic weekend in a comfy tent. And once it stops it may long be night so you’re left with a humid bed and (thankfully) starlit sky to compensate for it.
Without bread and wine even love will pine.
Let alone me. So finally buying a real picnic bag equipped with proper wine glasses was one of the best decisions of this year. Now it’s likely to accompany us everywhere we go. After all, it’s always picnic time somewhere in the world.
What is true by lamplight is not always true by sunlight.
If this view represents the New Orleans that you know then you don’t know the true New Orleans at all. This year once again we learned that if we limited our visit to the popular French Quarter we would miss on some of the best things this city has to offer. Another important revelation of this year was that we were finally able to admit to ourselves that our second visit was probably not the last one.
He who travels a lot becomes wise; he who is wise stays at home.
No matter how much I love travelling, sometimes our home awards us with the best views. This doesn’t mean that I’m ready to cut my globetrotting in the near future, only that I can also enjoy nice days at home while planning our next trip. Because ultimately, “travel broadens the mind” and that will remain my motto in 2016.
TravelSehnsucht 