Travel, as they say, is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer. It’s an investment not in material possessions but in experiences, memories, and stories that stay with us long after the suitcase has been unpacked. My years of travel have been a tapestry of adventures and misadventures, each journey etching a unique chapter in the story of my life. Yet, looking back, I find myself with a peculiar sense of regret—not about the places I’ve been, but about how I’ve captured those precious moments.
For years, I naively believed that a photo album was the ultimate way to preserve travel memories. A quick snap here, a posed group shot there, and voilà—the trip was seemingly immortalised. But as smartphones became ubiquitous, our approach shifted. We now amass thousands of digital photos that, as time passes, are lost in the abyss (or nebulous expanse) of the cloud or scattered across social media platforms. We trust these digital vaults implicitly, believing our memories are safe—until they’re not. It’s a harsh awakening when an account is compromised or a platform hits a wobbly, taking a year of carefully curated moments with it.
Have you ever noticed that something feels different when you look at printed photos versus huddling over someone else’s phone? The printed and currated form of a photo alblum is so much more accessable and inviting.
As time has passed, I’ve come to realise that those printed photos, while valuable, are but fragments of the full story. If I knew then what I know now, I would have captured those moments so much more richly—not just in pictures, but in words.
My father, an ever-dependable flight engineer with South African Airways for over three decades, deserves special mention. His dedication to the art of the perfect family holiday was nothing short of heroic. Whether we were soaring above the clouds to far-flung destinations or embarking on spontaneous road trips across the South African landscape, my father was the maestro of our adventures.
Even now, gathered around Mom’s delicious meals, we flip through those well-worn photo albums, recounting the highs and lows of our many journeys. But I can’t help but wonder how much richer these recollections could be if I had started chronicling our travels when they happened.
Photos can capture a moment, but they often miss the subtle textures that make travel so immersive:
Those are the memories that a camera can’t quite capture, but a well-placed word or two certainly could.
Take, for instance, our family road trips to parts unknown. Dad, ever the prepared aviator, insisted we pack overnight bags “just in case” as he navigated the open road with the same precision he applied to his flight manuals. Our photos show us standing at God’s Window, awestruck by the vast expanse of mountains. But they don’t capture the full story:
Or consider our misadventure in Taipei, Taiwan. Dad, usually our infallible navigator, finally admitted defeat after hours of aimless wandering – We ended up getting a taxi back to the hotel. The photos of the Slushi we got out of a vending machine that evening don’t tell you that this was the 90s, and who even knew you could get a Slushi out of a vending machine in those days? We lived in Africa; it was unheard of.
If I had known what I know now, I would have chronicled these stories in a travel journal, capturing the essence of each trip not just in images but in vibrant prose. I would have taken the time to document:
And, of course, I’d infuse it all with the wit and charm that comes naturally when you’ve grown up on the southern tip of Africa—because what’s a good story without a bit of dry humour and a cheeky aside or two?
To all those just embarking on their travel adventures—don’t just snap a picture and call it a day. Take a moment to write down the details, to capture the little things that make each trip uniquely yours. Trust me, when you look back years from now, you’ll be grateful for the effort. After all, while a picture may be worth a thousand words, sometimes it’s the words that truly bring the picture to life.
Keep an eye out—something exciting is on the horizon, a new way to capture these memories in ways you’ve never imagined. Stay tuned for a travel companion that will help you weave your adventures into stories you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Remember, every journey is a story waiting to be told (and relived through the retelling). Make sure you’re the one telling it.
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