Monday, August 23, 2010

Why Travel?


Lee Abbamonte is hands down the most well-traveled person I've come across in my social network. Lee aims to become the youngest person to travel to every country in the world. He's 31 now and has less than 7 years go make the "youngest person" record.

His count so far?
272 countries visited

Lee in Kenya, Bhutan, and Iran
What's left?
Only 48 countries

Herewith, ruminations on "Why Travel?" from Lee:

Travel opens your eyes and your mind to a whole new world.

Travel enables you to see the world through other peoples eyes and from other points of view.

Travel increases your awareness of other cultures and people.

Travel makes you smarter.

Travel is the best education you can receive.

Travel enables you to speak intelligently on a variety of global topics.

Travel shows you how global policy effects different countries and different types of people.

Travel brings you to places you’ve only dreamed about seeing.

Travel shows you landscapes you never thought were possible.

Travel shows you what real beauty is.

Travel shows you that everything is beautiful in its own way.

Travel makes books and television come to life

Travel makes adventures happen everyday.

Travel makes dreams come true.

Travel gives you a sense of enormous accomplishment.

Travel gives you something to look forward to to.

Travel gives you options.

Travel is a lifetime journey that is never the same twice.

Travel makes the big world small.

Travel humbles you.

Travel puts things into perspective.

Travel shows you what poor is.

Travel shows you how unfair this world can be.

Travel shows you people overcoming the longest odds to live their life to the fullest.

Travel shows you triumphs of the human spirit.

Travel teaches you how to say “Cheers” in 30 different languages.

Travel teaches you the International language of beer.

Travel teaches you to appreciate wine and the beauty of vineyards.

Travel teaches you to try new things.

Travel makes you yearn to do new things.

Travel teaches you the difference between a traveler and a tourist.

Travel teaches you to become a traveler and not just a tourist.



2 comments:

  1. He seems to have visited more countries than there is in the world. He's doing well!!
    I would love to be up there with him.
    The 207 club is the supposed every country club as that's all the regions and colonies who have Olympic recognition.
    192 is the UN number with 61 colonies (like US Guam), 6 disputed territories (like Gaza/Western Sahara) and the Vatican, Kosovo, Transdenista and Taiwan. So 262 maybe.
    Hope you are having great time. Sorry to be pedantic. Its late, have flight to catch in morning and can't sleep.
    Looks like you are having great adventure. Lee is right about the other things he says tho.
    Tom
    xx

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  2. Hey Kate, we still need to grab that coffee/drink sometime. Although I see you have discovered my friend Lee's blog. He takes travel to another level!

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