But not all travel is geared toward such pleasurable pastimes. Many, many more people travel for business or work reasons. The added bonus or surprise perk of such travel really enhances life! Those often spontaneous moments and their memories may remain more fixed for longer in one’s ‘memory files’ than all the photos of the holiday fun.
On such a business/work trip to Philadelphia in the United States, years ago, I was accompanying a mother with her nine-year-old brain-injured child, to the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential of Doctor Glen Doman. At that time I was working as a physiotherapist at a school for brain-injured children in the South of Johannesburg.
The human brain and all its workings have always fascinated me (I also worked at Weskoppies, a mental hospital, in Pretoria).
On this trip to the USA, we landed at Kennedy Airport in New York to catch a connecting flight to Philly (as the air hostesses called Philadelphia). It remains in my memory as one of the nicest flights of my life (and I was lucky to have had many, many…). This small, cosy aircraft, instead of taking a direct inland route, veered off to the North, slowly flying low over Long Island, and we could easily gawk at the quaint icing sugar triple storeyed Victorian houses and the modern stretched-out luxury mansions of the rich and famous; their weekend and holiday ‘pads’ in Martha’s Vineyard (think the Kennedys, designer Donna Karan, actress Catherine Hepburn loved to unwind there, where former US President Bill Clinton spent holidays and recently also President Barak Obama and his family).
A further bonus of this unforgettable and mind-changing trip: apart from the overwhelming and revolutionary methods of treatment and lectures I was invited to, I had lengthy and in-depth discussions by Dr Doman and his highly qualified team about brain injury! Another bonus was a Sunday bus tour through Philadelphia. This historic city was founded in 1682 and was the temporary capital of the USA while Washington DC was under construction. It was instrumental during the American Revolution and I felt part of its history when I reverently touched the famous Liberty Bell (do watch the wonderful film, starring Nicolas Cage, National Treasure).
Bonus, upon bonus awaited in this city of art and culture (the largest exhibition of Rodin sculptures outside of Paris! More outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city! One of the largest collections of art in its museum… and… and…).
Once, my husband had to go to Tokyo (from Hong Kong) as part of his job. His added bonus was a magical visit to Mount Fuji!
Our daughter-in-law is a gynaecologist. Every two or three years she attends international medical seminars in different countries. With each trip there is the added bonus of sightseeing. In that way, Budapest, Barcelona, Edinburgh and Djakarta afforded cultural enrichment. I shared her amazement a while ago, as we also had the joy of standing next to the landmark twin Petronas Towers in Djakarta, Malaysia. Still glistening wet at dusk, we stood in awe as the first faerie lights in blue, pink and white started to glow, strung over dark green trees on the pavement close by. Magical bonus!
It therefore pains me when a businessman from Johannesburg visits Knysna twice a year, catching an early flight from OR Tambo Airport in the morning and landing in Knysna at about 10.30. After his business he leaves at about 15.30 to be back home again that evening. Never does he stay over, even for one night, to experience Knysna’s magic.
This quaint town attracts millions from all over the world each year to savour what is on offer (naturally!). And yet, this man does not claim/ experience an added bonus.
Shame…
BY ADRIANA COETZEE
