Comments on: Travel Broadens the Mind? I beg to differ

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:18:34 +0000

Nicely summed up – very pithy quote Jason. Thanks for sharing.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 09:23:42 +0000

Andy, there’s a great quote from Thomas Fuller (English Glergyman) from the 1600′s and goes like this ‘if an ass goes traveling, he’ll not come home a horse’

I say no more………..

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:26:47 +0000

Thank you Stephen, and an interesting paradox as highlighted by the quote. On the one hand we learn so much from the world (providing our minds are open to learning in the first place) and on the other we no longer have that innocent and wild imagination, untouched by real experience of what the far-off parts of the world look like.

By: Stephen Chapman

Stephen Chapman — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:34:43 +0000

I think that travel does indeed broaden the mind. Once you begin to travel it’s like opening a pandora’s box… there’s always more, always another place to see. Having personal encounters with all that lies beyond our shores, and learning more about all the opportunities and diversity that exists is what broadens the mind in one sense. Yet removing the mysticism and unknown nature of far off lands and cultures certainly disables our limitless ability to imagine the world.

I like this quote from Paul Theroux: “Extensive traveling induces a feeling of encapsulation, and travel, so broadening at first, contracts the mind.”

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:41:36 +0000

Thanks for the comment Garrett. Yes, I wonder if colonialism worked precisely because the cogs in the machine felt that they were working for a greater good, even when their direct actions were so clearly wrong.
Street food is a whole new subject! It has without doubt provided our best, and at other times our worst, eating experiences. But it is nearly always memorable.

By: Garrett

Garrett — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:00:05 +0000

I’ve often thought of the irony of the British culture – so seemingly destructive in their colonial endeavors, but seemingly focused on building organized societies.

There are hundreds of small decisions that go into setting your self up to experience, ranging from making the decision to stay in a hostel and not the RITZ to forcing yourself to eat that street food that you’re just not quite sure about, but everyone else is eating.

Great article and I appreciate the honesty of perspective.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:02:31 +0000

Thanks Caitlin, yes the British deadpan humour can be a source of much confusion, although in this case the woman was absolutely serious and her behaviour after that incident confirmed this. She showed a complete lack of tact throughout the trip and made a string of racially unacceptable remarks without any awareness of offence caused.

Interesting to compare the colonial behaviours. As an Aussie have you made it to Port Arthur in Tasmania? I was absolutely horrified to hear what the Brits got up to there with some of the prisoners, let alone the Tasmanian aboriginees (hunted to extinction). Also in India a visit to Amritsar where the British killed 2,000 unarmed people in an unprovoked premeditated massacre. As a Brit myself I try to remain objective but I do think our history is as dark as any of the other colonial powers. Interesting debate though and thanks for your comments.

By: Caitlin @ Roaming Tales

Caitlin @ Roaming Tales — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:25:06 +0000

I’m going to give that woman the benefit of the doubt and presume that she did say it with irony. British people have a very dry sense of humour and are great for deadpan delivery.

Aside from that, there is a small grain of truth in what she says. I don’t condone imperialism or colonialism for a moment, but the British were generally not quite as heinous as the Spanish or many other European colonial powers. Imagine living in the Belgian Congo under King Leopold or working in the Bolivian silver mines under the Spanish? All imperialism is bad but that doesn’t mean there aren’t nuances within it.

By: Melissa Shales

Melissa Shales — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:30:16 +0000

I do agree that travel on its own isn’t enough to broaden the mind – it is all about how you travel. Without the possibility of travel, peoples of the world wouldn’t meet. I wouldn’t have spent a day with the two young Turkish students from a religious university who had never before talked to a Westerner about the issues that divide us. What they had been told about the sons (or daughters) of Satan and what I had read about them were of course all grossly exaggerated – we had a great day out while they showed me the local sights and there was a small chink in the war of terror by the end of the day. And for every idiot who can look at Mt Kilimanjaro and think they’ve got better in Florida (one of my favourite fellow travellers) there are others who look at it and see the miracle of nature that puts snow and elephants and glorious scenery into one place and thank whoever allowed them to get there to see it.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:32:15 +0000

Thanks Lotay. Fascinating reading!