HOME IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU TRAVEL
‘The ideal is to feel at home anywhere and everywhere’
Geoff Dyer
The word ‘home’ brings back so many wonderful memories of childhood, good times, best friends, family and much more and travel is my way of getting to grips with other locales, visiting wonderful places and learning about the many cultures in opposite corners of the world. However, it’s only recently that I have discovered that home can actually be anywhere in the world because no matter where you are, travel will always remind you of home. My fixed abode and home for me is a city in the East Midlands called Leicester.
Here is where home is for me…
Home is where the locals are like family
From the first moment you meet them, they take you in and treat you like their own. No matter what their social standing, life situation or mood, their smiles, open hearts, trust, generosity and love for a stranger win you over. You’ve known them for days but you feel like you’re at home with your nearest and dearest. Leaving them is always an uncontrolled tearful affair!
This place for me is Lombok, Indonesia
Here are some of the things the locals in Lombok recommended for us…
Home is where the food is like a family banquet
Learning to cook away from home is a gift from the people of that land. Their passion and desire to spread their recipes around the world is truly inspirational. Throughout the lesson their intensity of their culinary preparation takes me back to those long summers learning to cook with my Nani in a small sweltering kitchen in Devon and the glances of encouragement to keep you focussed
This place for me is Hua Hin, Thailand
There’s more on Blue Lotus Hua Hin plant-based cookery below…
Home is where the smell of incense signifies temples
Temples at streets sides, rainbow coloured bunches of flowers and the haze waft of Jasmin incense is synonymous to the bells of your local temple. Gathering with family, being blessed by the priest and then walking around to contemplate spiritually whilst leaving donations at the feet of Hindu deities. A ritual that never leaves your memory even in the most uncultured of locales.
This place for me is Bali, Indonesia
Home is where the traditional dress is a gleaming treat for the eyes
Much like the Indian culture, dressing up in traditional clothing to go to weddings, family functions and the temple is a very elaborate and technicolour affair. Outfits are often tailored individually to ensure a perfect fit. The draping of a saree and dupatta, finding matching accessories like bangles is a whole artistry ritual in itself. Rows upon rows of tailors with the opportunities to have any couture design tailored to your specification is a total luxury by diligent seamstresses whilst you breath in the coastal sea air.
This place for me is Hoi An, Vietnam
There’s lots more in my Vietnam Cultural Itinerary, if you fancy a read…
Home is where the coffee smells like Sunday mornings
Coffee is one of my only vices (the other is to follow…) and spending time in a coffee shop with an Espresso, a book and some fine chat is one of life’s simple pleasures. But it’s also a pleasure that I’ve enjoyed almost everyday in one of the world’s most sustainably diverse eco-systems. Sipping on a coffee grown, roasted and prepared minutes away from the field it started life as a small seed.
This place for me is Arenal, Costa Rica
Home is where cocktails bring you together
Onto my other vice, cocktails but Negron’s in Particular. At home there is only one bar tender who shares my palette for this fine after dark slow moment-to-be savoured kind of tipple. Drinks, lots of laughter and friends. However, there is just one very special place to me in the whole wide world that can ever match and on occasions beat this. Yes, it’s the home of the Negroni and I spend a lot of time there…
This place for me is Florence, Italy
If you ever need any inspo on wining and ding in Florence, have a peruse below…
Home is where the street art is a reminder of your cool hood
A city across the pond that we call the Atlantic, one of brotherly love, a fine foodie culture but also with a past that now encourages it’s residents from all cultures and walks of life to integrate by means of art. The gargantuan murals bring back thoughts of these on a much smaller scale right outside my doorstep, a free space of art, expression and a way to bring the community together.
This place for me is Philadelphia, USA
Read all about my Mural Mile tour in Philly below…
Home is where the Saturday morning markets smell of local aromas
Markets are a melting pot of cultural flavours, artefacts and colours and so many resonate around the globe. A place full of families shopping for daily essentials, overwhelms with childhood memories of Saturday morning trips to purchase groceries and maybe even a sweet or savoury trip before you take the bus home.
This place for me is Antigua, Guatemala
You can read more about colonial Antigua below…
Home is where the medieval streets resonate with history
The jewel of the Baltics, a country taunted by ex-soviet rule with the most stunning medieval streets and architecture. The old city reminds you of being in a fairytale and walking the old cobblestones streets at home, looking up at Kind Richard’s medieval scenes. There are so many more similarities in the world than you think.
This place for me is Tallinn, Estonia
There’s lots more medieval sights n Tallinn below…
Home is where different cultures live in harmony
I’ve encountered many cultures on my travels but one place always stands out for me in the form of a concrete jungle metropolis with a beautiful blend of complimenting and yes contrasting faces, food and personalities. Almost a home away from a home on the streets living in one of the most diverse cities out of the capital.
This place for me is New York, USA
So now you see that whatever part of the world I’m in, home is never to far away. It really is possible to feel at home anywhere and everywhere.
Tell me in the comments below, what travel and home means to you? Do you miss home when you’re away and do certain things remind you of home?
À bientôt
Emma Boatman
I love this take on the theme – home is definitely where family is…and I love that you’ve added coffee in there too!
Bejal
Emma BoatmanThanks Emma! Aww yes, home is always with family and you know me, have to include coffee in everything! Lol. B x
Binny
I absolutely adore your take on this! You’ve got me re-thinking it in your way! Also the last point is ever so important, especially now! Thanks for a fab read xx
Bejal
BinnyThanks so much Binny! Oh yes it’s really sad but a harsh reality. Thanks so much for reading and glad you enjoyed it B xx
Coralie
What a lovely post Be! I really enjoyed reading this. You touched on many points dear to my heart here, but I’d have to swap the coffee for tea ???? xx
Bejal
CoralieThanks so much Coralie! I’m so glad you enjoyed the read and I hear you with the tea! Hope you’re really well and safe B xx
Kerry LifeandLoves
Ahhh I agree with so much of this. Weirdly, when you was saying the intro to Bali, I just knew you were talking about Bali. I have such a huge connection to that place. It is probably the place I would call my spiritual home! Lovely post x
Bejal
Kerry LifeandLovesYes that’s right Kerry, Bali is a very spiritual place and I can understand why you can resonate with it. Thanks so much for reading B x
Harinder
A great read. Lots of points that you make resonate so well with me.
Thanks for your posts I always enjoy reading them, they bring a smile to my face. 🙂
Bejal
HarinderOh thanks so much lovely for supporting me and reading my posts. I’m so glad you find them enjoyable and they make you smile because for me that’s the ultimate compliment. B xxx
Tanja
I completely agree with you! my spiritual home is London, my food/familiarity/ease home is Italy:)
Bejal
TanjaHey Tanja! Aww fantastic, it’s nice we share a similarity there. There is definitely something about Italy and food! x
Jan (@chimptrips)
Hi, A lovely post with so many places I’d love to visit. It reminds me that I had quite a few dresses designed for me in Hoi An, though I am sure I wouldn’t fit in any of them now!
Bejal
Jan (@chimptrips)Hi Jan, thanks so much for stopping by. To be honest my dresses I had made there don’t fit me either. Think it was teh healthy eating when I was there but now I’m back on the naughty stuff!! B xx
Simply Rasha
Love this Be – and is it weird to say that this blog felt very ‘home-y’? It’s made me miss travelling even more!
Bejal
Simply RashaThanks Rasha, so glad you enjoyed it. Oh I can understand that and I know what you mean about travelling too!
Emmalene Fletcher
Love your link between home and travel – its wonderful when travel can remind you of home, and vice versa! And I share your wonderful memories of Costa Rica’s coffee, Florence cocktails and New York street art – thank you for taking me back there x
Bejal
Emmalene FletcherThanks Em! It’s really great and so lovely that these places remind you of your travels too! Thanks so much for reading B x
aeparker81
I have a similar fondness for Tallinn too, it really was a kind place to visit and survived a horrid time. I didn’t see Florence as a cocktail place – maybe we can visit one day!
Bejal
aeparker81Yes Tallinn mutual love!! Ohh I visit Flroence every year and it’s the home of the Negroni! Never had one better anywhere else! Thanks for reading B x
scottcaneat
All of these are making me itch to travel again…
Bejal
scottcaneatI know what you mean. I can’t wait till it’s safe to do so either!
Catherine
Absolutely love this, Be! You’ve been to so many incredible places!
C x
Bejal
CatherineThanks so much Catherine! So glad you enjoyed the read! B xx
Emma @ Adventures of a London Kiwi
Loving these multifaceted slivers of home!
Bejal
Emma @ Adventures of a London KiwiThanks Emma! Really do have memories of home from all over x