Is this why we travel, to be surprised?

By travel I do not mean the shorthand of what passes as an industry of major sights, shopping and food. Where we are busy taking selfies and capturing images to prove that we have landed on that famous piece of land like everyone else.

I am referring to the moments that cannot be captured by a camera. Moments that occupy a forever space in our memories and hearts. The smile of a local passerby on the street, the blossoms that charm us, the coffee served with a warm hello; as if all of this is something new.

Colour of the sky during sunset and how it paints our imagination. The waves on the beach greeting us with a load roar. Barefoot on grass, taking a path through a field or a jungle — all of this is an archive of our journey. Fallen leaves, fragrance of fallen raindrops, clouds falling over the mountains and how they make us smile at their stunning art.

We as humans do not fall in such symmetry and grace. All this surprises us because it is not routine. A beautiful apple tree this year may not produce a single fruit next year and will still be as beautiful.