Mind Travel; The Stuff of Dreams

The majority of us are bombarded by travel inspiration every day. Travelling vicariously is probably the most popular form of travel of all. We are exposed to television commercials, programmes and documentaries which can whisk us off to the most distant and exotic destinations at the flick of a switch. Epic movies can be cinematic events, circumnavigating the planet within the space of two hours or even orbiting our world and viewing it as a small blue-green marble.

Travelling vicariously through images

Fuelling the Wanderlust

Travel literature has been around longer than the term has been coined. The works of RS Stevenson or Mark Twain have inspired countless young imaginations to travel far beyond the confines of torch-lit bed linen tents. Milton has provided inspiration for many generations of travellers. Stunning coffee table books and travel publications provide still further fuel for armchair travellers. The internet is the latest source, viral social media and ‘smoasting’, blogs and commercial travel websites all sow the seeds of wanderlust.

Imaginative minds can travel anywhere

They are merely the sources of inspiration; the catalysts. A breath-taking image may provide the initial spark but imagination is required to go beyond the picture, to fill in the gaps that turn a fleeting glimpse into a dream destination. It is one resource available to all.

“Regardless of how far we travel, our imagination will always have travelled further”

Imagination is limitless, it can take us anywhere, far beyond the confines of our own situation or even planet. Even when only providing the most fleeting glimpse of a possible destination our mind is capable of taking us there. It is a powerful tool that uses fragments of existing knowledge, combining even memories buried deep within our subconscious to take us on an amazingly detailed journey.

Dreams of tropical luxury

It is timeless, there isn’t any reason a office worker with only two weeks holiday can’t take a six month sabbatical sailing to Tristan de Cunha within a single dream. We can travel with anybody; guys fancy an afternoon by a tropical lagoon with Halle Berry or ladies maybe sipping cocktails with Robert Pattinson poolside in Hawaii?

It is possible to even escape our personality; becoming James Bond, battling evil baddies, drinking Bollinger champagne and fornicating our way around the world in service of Queen and country. Hell we can even travel through time! It’s a little like the film “Total Recall” without the threat of being lobotomised.

Bucket-list Material

Many people now have bucket-lists, detailed goals and dreams they hope to fulfill before they reach their final resting place. It seems reasonable to assume that a number of destinations on most lists have been added without any real knowledge of the place. The initial spark of inspiration provided by a short article or single photograph but imagination requiring it to be added to the list.

Our imagination can take us anywhere, anytime and with anyone, it is without boundaries. It is possible to explore the bottom of the Mariana Trench or a Black Hole in space. Haven’t done this already… your imagination is selling you short!

The stuff of dreams

In dreams the realities of travel do not exist, everything is all plain sailing. Why waste time dreaming of the challenges that can be faced; obtaining visas, crossing difficult borders manned by officious and often corrupt guards? It seems unlikely we will dream of flight delays, visiting over-hyped tourist attractions, sleepless nights in noisy hostels, we will never be scammed and our money never lost or stolen. You do…. you worry too much, dreams should be idyllic!

Explorers of imagination

Dreams are available to all, it is a commodity everybody can afford. The circumstances of an individual will of course likely shape these dreams. A starving child in Somalia certainly dreams of a full belly and a homeless person in any of our great cities just wants to be able to dream in a warm place. Our imagination transports us beyond the confines of our personal situation. It maybe naive but hopefully even the most destitute may sometimes be afforded the luxury of dreaming on a grander scale.

Day dreamers are often a maligned species, they are somehow tainted and accused of never likely to achieve anything. Really? I submit that probably the greatest explorers, statesmen and entrepreneurs all started out as dreamers. Do not be afraid to dream, imagination is a a powerful tool, without it there would be little creativity in our world, it would be a dull place to hang out.

Roadtrip of your dreams

Getting Real

There is a downside; arriving at that dream destination full of anticipation, preconceptions can often lead to disappointment. Even paradise will rarely deliver if the bar is set too high. It maybe easier to say than achieve but attempt to temper the anticipation. Travel with an attitude for adventure and see the world through the eyes of a child. A sense of wonder makes every journey an adventure.

Our planet is shrinking, as technology proceeds in leaps and bounds, air travel has brought even the most remote location within reach of many. Travel to the polar regions has never been more popular, space travel will soon be possible, we can book rooms in hotels beneath the ocean or made of ice. I am grateful there are still places that will remain beyond our reach and are only possible through mind travel.

Having dreams is perfectly natural and should not be scorned, travelling vicariously through the experiences of others is the only option for some. It is healthy however to also have achievable dreams. The impossible maybe a pleasant distraction but for a truly fulfilling life we need to be able to reach out and occasionally touch our dreams.

“Reach for the moon, if you fail at least you’ll fall amongst the stars”