TRAVEL ADDICTS: Why & How

Just like a heroin addict's "one extra hit", I sometimes find myself tossing on the floor in variations of the fetal position, aching for that one additional trip. Ah, just give me India into my left arm there. Oh, yeah. How about some Cambodia action? A dash of Hungary would be great, too.

Working in different places and experiencing the world through travel, like for many of you other addicts, is a vocation in itself. Exploring can be your salary, your SUV, your picket fence, your trophy husband. Even if you've decided to make do in one place, you can still be mentally addicted.

Why travel?
I realize no magical answer lies in buying a plane ticket and staying in a few random guesthouses, but I also realize you can't simply assume what is out there by media alone. The feeling you get inside your heart when you see the temples in Thailand, witness the hardiness of people in Africa or smell the inside of the Sistine Chapel is something you can't get from your television set. Well, at least right now.

I really wanna travel, but I can't afford it
It's actually been a long time since I've set foot on foreign ground, due to dwindling funds and a thing called life that gets in the way. If you have the time and you're under 30, you can always go work abroad and make cash for travelling. See the Work and Volunteer Abroad section for more information.

Some of you are plain, flat broke. Remember that you don't need a plane ticket and you don't need to give up your job to discover the world. Your fancy explorer's hat works fine in your own neighbourhood; frankly, there's just as much to discover about your own community. Join a meet-up group, attend lectures, visit your local museums, go out and take pictures.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

I want to, but I'm scared
Three key things:

• The future and the unknown is never as bad as you think it will be
• There are zillions of opportunities out there when you return
• Don't kid yourself into thinking you're the first one who has ever picked up and left the country.

Oh, and by the way, nothing is permanent.

Will the locals accept me?
I'm not going to kid you: not everyone will bow down at your feet just because you're a westerner, despite your iPod and Joe Boxer undergarments. Some places are openly xenophobic, and anyone who's a little different will draw some attention.

Lifestyles that are acceptable in your country may not be fashionable or even legal in your destination of choice. Though it may be tempting to stand up and fight, just remember where you are: you're the visitor and the people who oppose whatever you do may be quick to pounce. Use your best judgment, folks, and be there to learn from them, not convert them to your way of life.

I am physically challenged
Most countries in the developed world are growing sensitive to the needs of travellers with disabilities, but as with even advanced countries, a lot of things are overlooked.

You can start with our precious Canadian government, which provides you with information locally and organizations that cater to Canadian travellers with disabilities.

Government of Canada - Access to Travel

Endeavour Safaris

I'm a vegetarian
Travelling as a vegetarian can be mighty difficult in countries where the locals quite enjoy ripping into their daily slabs of meat.

Even intrepid traveller Ian Wright, host of Pilot Guides, has to sacrifice his vegetarian lifestyle for his travelling gig, suckling a little bit of the animal somethings when required. Still, it can be done if you stick with the raw goods and bring a lot of your own food.

There's just a possibility that you may offend your generous hosts... in which case, you may just have to revert to childhood tactics and "drop" things under the table. Where's Fido when you need him?

Check out a thorough listing of resources at bootsnall.com.