Global Explorers Blog 
Reflective Temporal Travel
Unfortunately, the year 2015 is close upon us, and while we have been graced with both Pepsi Max and Nike MAGs (although, not self-lacing, sadly), we still haven’t seen the release of “Jaws 19,” Mattel hover boards, or flying cars, not to mention the construction of a fully loaded DeLorean time machine. Fret not, my friends, we don’t need Doc Brown’s marvelous time traveling contraption to actually travel through time; there’re other ways to do so (and they don’t involve run-ins with Morlocks, either). You’re probably thinking you just missed the news on Twitter that someone invented a time machine, but alas, no, that is not the case.
Rather, I’m talking about a simple temporal experience you can have while traveling. Yes, not only can you travel geographically on a spatial level, but you can also travel temporally as well. What’s exciting about this is that you don’t even have to travel to far off places like Khartoum; you can do this while you visit relatives in a nearby city, or neighboring state. It really just involves a state of mind, one that acknowledges and understands the past, an understanding which spans both the good and the bad of history.
When we travel, we often get caught up in the excitement that new places, peoples, and experiences offer us. There are many sites and sounds and a plethora of activities and places you want to see. Travel, as an action and an experience, has also been highly commodified around the world as the growth of tourism has exploded during the past few decades. Such commodification produces many pros and cons, but they also tend to create a sense of urgency amongst us as travelers. There’s only a set time frame to visit a museum, you can only go on the beach Tuesday afternoon, the train ride takes too long, and you’ll miss your next bus, so you have to skip the train, etc. But even if you’re pressed for time, or are on a short travel experience, it is not only possible, but necessary, that you take a small amount of your time for reflective purposes.
Share on Facebook Post to Twitter Posted by Raphael Ruiz · May 8, 2012
What’s YOUR Everest?
My Everest is the gym.
Let me explain. I’ve lived in Colorado for almost three years and I love to hike (at a peaceful stroll), but I have yet to attempt a 14er. The state has an impressive 53 mountains that are 14,000 feet or higher, and a couple weeks ago I decided to climb the highest – Mt. Elbert at 14,440 ft. Which means I am now actually working out at the gym and using equipment that almost everyone else has seemed to know about for years: the Bosu ball, the elliptical, the dreaded StairMaster …
The world of working out is a completely foreign one to me. In fact, it’s actually a lot like traveling to a new place. I feel awkward at first. I’m convinced everyone is watching me. I don’t understand the language (however, reps, sets, inclines, levels, and circuit are words I am incorporating into my fitness vocabulary). I make mistakes. But slowly, I learn the athletic club etiquette and I feel a little less like an outsider. I realize that the people tend to be friendly and eager to help. As it turns out, it’s not that scary.
So, why did I decide to climb Mt. Elbert? What on earth motivated me to make a commitment that would require regular training at the gym despite my last 10 years of reluctance?
