Transformative Travel

In my broken Thai, I pointed toward the water and looked at the boatman. “Bua?” I asked. "Bua" means lotus in Thai. I tried to mimic the local accent and used a hand gesture, hoping he would understand and take me to see the flowers. He nodded and smiled, mumbled a string of words that I could not understand, and steered the boat into the open water, still shrouded in morning fog. The boat slowly pierced through the dissipating mist, eerily silent, like something out of a sci-fi movie. Before us, a sea of pink lotuses started to unfold, bit by bit, like a watercolor painting coming to life with each brushstroke. It was surreal, almost like a dream, yet it was real. My jaw dropped in awe when the scene finally unfolded in its entirety.

Travel is more than just movement—it’s a gateway to self-discovery and connection. For men of color, stepping into new environments can mean reclaiming narratives, rediscovering roots, and nurturing bonds with community and nature. From cultural immersion to outdoor adventures and wellness retreats, these experiences foster healing, empowerment, and personal growth.

I, of course, was not the first to immortalize travel experiences in poetic form. According to The Cambridge History of Travel Writing, poetry is “inseparable from the experience and discursive fabric of travel.” Some of our most ancient texts, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and Homer’s Odyssey are, in effect, “travel poems”—though they may be of imagined journeys and quests. 

Transformational travel has been one of the biggest travel trends in recent years. Put simply, transformational travel is taking trips with the specific intent to experience something life changing in order to learn and grow as a person.

Leaving Canada for a three-week cultural adventure in China, I become infected with the travel bug that now fuels my future.

The greatest gift that travel affords us is the power to transform our lives. Travel is like an elixir for the soul. A single trip can change your life by giving you the space to embark on an inner journey towards personal growth and self-reflection.

Remember when the world was forced to take a pause a few year back? During that time (and beyond) left most people responsibly stuck at home, abiding by travel restrictions and doing their part not to spread the virus. That brought many challenges in the mental health realm that prompted us to realize just how important travel is for our well-being. It all came with a fair share of benefits, teaching us to become a little more comfortable with our me-time, find creative ways to stay busy, or have to dig deeper to stay positive.  I have to confess, I was one of the irresponsible ones. I left my home in Canada to live in Cape Town for six months. 

I first became interested in Pakistan when I was 9 years old. At the time, I was completely fascinated by all things South Asia.

Author James Whittaker joins World Footprints with inspiring lessons from transformational thinker Napoleon Hill that is based on his 1908 conversation with billionaire industrialist Andrew Carnegie. These conversations are annotated and edited by James Hill in his new book Andrew Carnegie’s Mental Dynamite: How to Unlock The Awesome Power of You.

Our plans of chasing our bucket list across the world in 2020 have been replaced by cancellations, quarantines, and an uncertain future. Many countries still have a ban on non-essential travel, and others have opened borders under strict restrictions. It's safe to say that we travel lovers have had to do some pivoting.

The travel world has changed significantly in the last 10 years with the rise if responsible and increased international tourism. Today, people are more concerned than ever with green travel and the increase in carbon offsets for hotels with doing away with miniatures bottles and flying. There are many social media influencers talking about various locations to reduce over-tourism in the more popular destinations.

The island of St. Maarten (Sint Maarten) is the common denominator in the stories of two different families whose lives were changed when they landed on the Caribbean island.  Join us to hear why St. Maarten was the backdrop to their positive life transformations. First, we’ll speak to Erik and Emily Orton about their decision to spend a year at sea with their five children.  The family of seven spent a year sailing from St. Maarten to New York.  The lessons they learned and the adventures they experienced are described in their book, Seven at Sea: Why a New York City Family Cast Off Convention For A Life-Changing Year On A Sailboat.  In their book, Erik and Emily remind us that we have the ability to customize our lives, regardless of our perceived constraints. Then, we’ll introduce travel writer Breana Johnson who lived as an American expat on the island [...]