I used to travel to see
World-famous sites, to be
Able to declare I had been
To a popular place, that I had seen
Natural wonders and renowned monuments
To “see” more of the world was the intent
Behind travel-that is what I thought
But of late, traveling more extensively has brought
A different perspective on travel for me
I no longer travel to “see” a place exclusively
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Let me elaborate- the best part of travel lies
Not in places, but its people, I’ve realized
That the stories the local people have to tell
Are the ones I want to listen to as well
I want to hear their history from their perspectives
I want to know how their lives have been lived
Through struggles and revolutions about which I might have read
In filtered and censored versions, I get to learn instead
How the common people view their governments and nations
What they take pride in, and what frustrates them is usually a revelation
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To experience breathtaking sights is an exciting part of the travel process
But to know a personal story from the place of travel, in my opinion, is priceless
Passion...unbridled 