The Ordinary Becomes Extraordinary When Travelling

Most of us spend many hours of planning to make our travels memorable. Travelling is after all a treat that usually does not happen every day so we want it to be special and fulfilling. That is why we pack our daily travel schedules to the brim, not wanting to miss anything, and we set our minds to try everything—from thrilling rides and unique adventures to exotic food and strange worlds. We list many exciting things to do, often straight from our fantasies and dreams, and promise ourselves the time of our lives. We go the extra lengths in ensuring that every moment counts, or that we need to have a photo in just about every corner we go (I’m so guilty of this haha).

The goal is to make the trip exceptional, the best so far. It is a holiday that should stand out from the rest of the days in the calendar. The trip should be extraordinary, as travels ought to be, we say. There are times, however, when by some unplanned twist or streak of fate, we end up doing just the opposite—the ordinary—and surprise ourselves at how we deliciously relish and even welcome them when travelling.

These are items that we barely notice in our everyday lives, more so during the special days when we roam the world. In our minds, these things are so ordinary they should not have a place in our extraordinary itineraries. Yet sometimes, these seemingly dreary routines prove to be priceless gems during our travels, even becoming one of the highlights of our journeys.

So common are they that we usually fail to take note of the pleasure they bring to us, travelling or not. Take for instance the long walks that we often dislike doing on our ordinary days yet oddly enjoy when we travel to other places since walking our way around is one of the best ways to explore a locale. Or how about the wonderment we feel by looking at the sunset at the ocean’s horizon while blissfully sitting on a beach somewhere; it is the same sun that sets outside our office window on a regular day, isn’t it? And then there’s the sunrise. Almost always, we try to start our day early when we are travelling, to cover more ground, so to speak. That’s fortunate because watching the sun slowly rising and showering colors in the sky, whether on top of a mountain, from the window of a plane, or wherever we are, is always magical. I myself have waited for the sunrise quite a few times at home, with hot coffee and pandesal (or toast) to boot, and the anticipation is the same as doing it elsewhere.

It maybe true that we hardly take pleasure in the ordinary. Our routines, the daily grind of things, the world's rhythm, regular conversations--these are customary. But they are also an integral part of our being. They make up our comfort zone, which consciously or not, we take with us where ever we go, our travels included. So even if we plan and enjoy doing uncharacteristic, invigorating and daring actions when we travel, we also take comfort, and happiness that is reassuringly familiar, when we engage in these so-called typical, ordinary things. That makes them extraordinary, too. 

And when we think about it, what is ordinary to us is actually extraordinary to those who in turn visit our hometown or country, and vice versa. Travelling then allows us to become witness to both the ordinary and extraordinary, ours and those of others', and to find out that the difference between the two is quite insignificant.

What is important is how we value not just the grand and big items on our travels but also the simple and mundane but no less satisfying events. That and discovering what is extraordinary in these ordinary moments when we resume our regular lives. Becoming less neglectful of the joys that we can get from our everyday experiences will bring more enjoyment and satisfaction to us, whether we are far and away or just comfortably nestling in our cocoons.

Here are some of the ordinary things that I found extraordinary on my travels. Care to tell me about yours? J

Ordinary in Extraordinary/Extraordinary in Ordinary: Watching sunset (above, Boracay, Philippines) and waiting for the sunrise (below, at the author's home in Manila, Philippines) 

Finding a comfortable seat in the middle of nowhere to witness extraordinary sights from ordinary characters: Shown here are the locals of Hanoi, Vietnam occupying the whole periphery of Hoan Kiem Lake as they do their early morning fitness regimen of aerobics, badminton, tai chi, meditation, and dancing as a community, complete with blasting music and government propaganda from a public address system.

Many of us who are working in the city find the towering buildings and skyscrapers as ordinary. But take a closer look and find yourself marveling at the extraordinary architecture and story behind these landscapes. (Singapore)

Forget fancy dining for snacks. Eating ordinary ice cream while on the move is extraordinarily filling both for the body and the senses! (Hanoi, Vietnam)

Sometimes you need to step back and just sit still to see beyond the ordinary moments. One of the most extraordinary nooks I found in my travels was this balcony of a coffee house in Hanoi, Vietnam, wherein through its clear glass walls, I saw time and the world (or at least that part of the world hehe), passed by.    

Looking at ordinary signs, maps, landmarks—if you are like me, you will find doing this extraordinary, and more so when travelling. Let the strange names of foreign streets roll off your tongue :) (Happily perusing a travel guide in Shanghai, China)

Ordinary walks lead to extraordinary paths (At a park in Singapore)

The list goes on. Kite flying, running barefoot, feeling the sand or grass on our toes, stealing a kiss on a moonlit night, thanking the heavens, catching up with friends from other places, falling in love, dreaming—with eyes open. :-)