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travel

03/20/2025By: icn
travel

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Traveling in the past was much more difficult than it is today due to the advancements in transportation and technology. People traveled on foot or by using animals such as horses, camels, donkeys, and mules, crossing deserts and seas, facing various dangers. They would run out of provisions (food and water), and their animals might die or become ill. During their travels, people could encounter difficult natural conditions such as sandstorms in the desert, high waves, and fast winds that could capsize their ships. They were also exposed to the dangers of predatory animals such as snakes and scorpions. Therefore, people in the past would spend a long time traveling, and their travels were often motivated by search for provisions, water, or warfare, i.e., necessity. Travel was rarely for pleasure or discovery. However, there are many travelers mentioned in history, including Ibn Battuta. Due to the extreme arduousness of travel, religion introduced special rulings and concessions for travel, such as combining and shortening prayers, or breaking the fast while traveling. Traveling has become easier now, and travelers can choose the means of transportation that suits them. Overland travelers may choose to travel by car, bus, or train, or they may choose to travel by air or sea on a sophisticated ship. Travel costs, as well as the level of luxury and safety of the trip, vary depending on the chosen means of transportation. However, premium means of travel naturally cost more. For example, airplanes offer several classes, including third, second, first, private, economy, business, and VIP. Each class has its own set of costs and privileges, and a person may choose the means of transportation based on the distance traveled. Of course, traveling to distant destinations requires flying, while domestic travel between cities and regions can be done by public transportation. There is no doubt that travel has significant benefits, despite its difficulties and hardships. It allows people to change their routine, replenish their energy, and improve their mental health. They can visit new places around the world, learn about different cultures and civilizations, and learn to accept others and interact with diverse personalities and religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Travel is a renewal of thought and energy and a refreshment of the soul and determination. The poet Abu Tammam says in this context: “A person’s long stay in a neighborhood is detrimental to his two brocades. So travel and you will be renewed, for I have seen the sun increase in love for people, that it is not eternal upon them.” [1] It is worth noting that in the last ten years the number of young people who want to travel has increased in the current era. With the presence of the Internet, they are aware of the existence of opportunities that suit them in other places in the world outside the borders of their limited geographical areas or their country. For example, a student can choose to study the specialization he wants at the university he wants after searching on the Internet. They study their study and travel costs, and consider the opportunity from several perspectives before making a decision. They can submit their application, book a hotel, rent a place to stay near the university, and book their flight tickets from the comfort of their home. The same applies to finding employment opportunities. With the increasing proportion of educated youth and the scarcity of job opportunities in their home countries, it has become possible to search for work abroad. In addition, other countries need to import labor to cover shortages in certain specialties, fill vacancies, and operate projects. Consequently, individuals can travel to find suitable work, and some may decide to settle down after travel was temporary. Many people resort to travel for tourism and recreation, and this has great importance and benefits for their psychological personality. They can get to know new places, people, and cultures, in addition to enjoying the opportunity to listen to new languages. Some people prefer visiting scenic natural places, contemplating nature and merging with it, achieving comfort and tranquility. They may prefer villages to cities, while others prefer visiting monuments or art museums. This is due to personal preference. The traveler contemplates the artworks produced by new cultures and observes the relics of different civilizations as if he or she were traveling through time, not just across geography. He or she experiences the human journey toward civilization and urbanity, and the extent of human development. He or she becomes more sensitive to beauty and art, which develops their artistic taste and changes the way society thinks and develops. The importance and benefits of travel are also evident in its ability to develop awareness of self and others, and awareness of the positives and negatives of each society, far removed from imaginary ideas. A country's culture can also be transferred to other countries, and vice versa. A person who has seen different worlds can contribute to conveying the image they saw back home and benefit from the experiences of others in various fields. Conclusion: Frequent travel spoils enjoyment. Despite its many benefits, travel also has some drawbacks. Frequent travel diminishes its value and enjoyment, as human beings are originally meant to reside, and travel is a temporary situation and a change in one's daily routine. If the opposite happens, travel loses its value and has a negative impact on the individual's personality. He becomes less connected to people and places and less aware of their value. He is thus unable to feel a sense of belonging, because belonging comes from spending a period of time in a specific place sufficient to form human relationships and long-term friendships.

* All articles published on this blog are sourced from various websites and are provided for informational purposes only. They should not be considered as confirmed studies or accurate information. Please verify the information independently before relying on it.

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