The concept of travelling with a purpose is not new today. Many people who hold corporate jobs or full-time professions have been taking their annual leave or sabbatical leave to get away to a country for a vacation while serving as a volunteer in the local community. I know of a medical doctor who uses his annual vacation from the hospital to provide free medical aid to the poor. He has done this in six continents of the world including Antarctica and still continues to do this on an annual basis. My hairstylist, who constantly travels around the world following his celebrity clients, is finally getting tired of the travels and wants to travel differently. Travelling with a purpose is always our topic of conversation whenever he's cutting my hair.
Why do people want to travel differently these days? Because it takes you to places a travel agent won't take you and the local tourism board doesn't promote the place either; because it leads you to meet the local people whom you would otherwise not have the chance to do so; because it gives you a different experience that a tour package can't offer you. Most importantly, it enriches your life and makes you realize that the world is not just about you. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
I recently took a trip of that nature to Kalimantan, Indonesia. It was an orphanage in West Kalimantan that I volunteered at. My friend works at the Malaysian office of the agency that supports the orphanage work. Because I'm a Christian and I hold certain principles and values in life, it was much easier to travel with a supporting agency that shares the same values as mine.
More about the trip in my next post...
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