Why We Run

There are some universally acknowledged truths about travel.  All backpacks inherited from parents will fall apart the first time you go to repack them, that creepy guy from your first hostel is always going to have the same schedule planned as you do and all in-flight meals will be about as palatable as laminate floorboards (yes, Qantas, you get to claim exception from this rule). One truth that is perhaps more meaningful, if not a little spiritual, is that all, all travelers -no matter what they claim- are running away from something. Really.

This isn't some self justifying, generic commentary provided by jealous relatives. It's fact. It can be as simple as running away from boredom and monotony or as fear driven as running from an ex lover or a horrendously painful breakup. We run from childhood, adulthood, and the urge to settle down. We run from graduations, family homes, real careers and choices that actually require us to risk failure for once. Whether we acknowledge it or not, there's always a reason, there's always a motivation, there's always something to fear in slowing down. Staying still.

But regardless of what we think, our true motivations do not invalidate our choice to travel. To run. Our minds know exactly what it is we're not ready to face. To travel is to build up a resistance, an immunity. Fleeing takes us out of the path of one challenge and throws us directly in the path of other, greater ones. By facing and defeating these challenges we're building up the strength and knowledge we need to go back and face that first demon we left behind. That whole "life experience" thing old folks talk about isn't as pointless as they make it sound, you know.

So my advice to all of you is to run. Run as fast and as far as you can. Run to discover as much as to escape and don't stop until you've reached some magical and enlightening place where everything makes sense again. I hear it's wonderful there.

  

Songs to run away with:

Architecture in Helsinki - Desert Island

Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

Metronomy - The Look

The Head and The Heart - Lost in My Mind

Gotye - Heart's a Mess

The Maccabees - Mary

Universal Hostel Soundtrack

One thing you notice very quickly when travelling is that there seems to be a single mix tape that gets passed around all the hostels. I thought I was imagining things at first but apparently; there really is one! Three of the hostels I've stayed in in Argentina (my current country of residence) have been associated with Hostel Inn. It was whilst I was staying at the second one that I began to notice that breakfast was always accompanied by the same backing music. Showers were the same. Don't get me started on the “party mix” that played after 10pm. Once I reached the third one, I was curious enough to ask the staff. And that's when I was let in on the big conspiracy.

They really are playing the same mixes! They have an easy listening mix, a local mix, a pop mix, and their mix mix for every day use. I knew it!

So here are some tracks to get used to if you're planning on travelling anytime soon. I heard each of these a minimum of nine or ten times in each hostel and I'm still not sick of them! I'm not sure if that says something about the music or me.

Santeria - Sublime

San Francisco - Scott McKenzie (hated it to start with, but it's become a bit of an anthem)

Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz

Your Woman - White Town

In This World - Moby

Home - Edward Sharpe (this one's getting iffy- might not be able to handle another dozen plays)

And as an extra special bonus, here are some of the songs I am sick of:

E.T - Katy Perry

Born this Way - Lady Gaga

Party Anthem - LMFAO

Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

Pursuit of Happiness - Kid Cudi (and I really used to like this song)