“Life isn’t made up of atoms, it’s made up of stories.” These were the words my summer camp counselor told us at sleep-away camp (during a get-lost hike).

To this day, this quote has resonated and forever imprinted on me.

Why does one travel? To escape, sheer curiosity, for  adventure? In truth my passion for traveling is fueled by so many interests. The reasons are so expansive, I find it challenging to pinpoint just one.  

Shopping, I will sheepishly admit, is one of my favorite parts about traveling to a foreign city. Researching shops or districts unique to a certain locale, then spending a day roaming the streets and browsing the boutiques is one of my favorite pastimes. I love finding that coveted accessory, piece of clothing or trinket that is one of a kind. I know no one else will have back home.

More importantly, it facilitates an elevated means of connecting with and supporting the community you’re visiting. Even as a tourist, I can play a meaningful role in the overall community. My apartment is filled with home goods from around the world, so that each time I look at it I’m reminded of that trip. I fill Moorish pottery heads from the Amalfi coast with fresh flowers and crushed blue velvet and gold pillows brighten my couch. Framed photos of my safari in Tanzania hang on my walls next to a photograph I purchased to raise money for the Australian wildfires, by one of my favorite photographers Greg Nagel, which I first saw hanging at the Slow in Canngu, Bali.  

In Paris, for example, shopping is an opportunity to practice my French and engage in conversation as it’s easier to do then with a stranger in a restaurant. While the culinary scene is  always an important feature of any trip and an easy insight to another culture, for me wine is an education best learnt by trying.

I grew up outside of Napa, where I would visit wineries with my family for special occasions. I love going to dinner and trying new wines from the region. The more vintages and varietals I taste, the better my knowledge and palate become. To this day, wine-tasting in Bordeaux and Sicily are on my bucket list of must-to trips. 

Traveling is like chasing a story, each adventure continues to enrich my life and provide more perspective and knowledge that further embroiders my identity. I find that people tend to be more open and inviting when traveling, then they are back home. I am a social person who loves making new friends, and the opportunity to do that in a different environment tends to lend itself to more meaningful connections. I firmly believe your life is only enriched by the people you interact with and with whom you surround yourself. 

There’s a luxury in the ability to gain temporary insight into a new culture, which further heightens one’s curiosity for a deeper understanding of the countries and places one visits.  Each trip one takes offers a break from routine and a sense of adventure. From the pre-trip planning process to navigating a new city, nothing can compare with the rush of adrenaline one gets as they head to the airport for check-in, unsure of what lies ahead. 

In the end, the stories you collect along the way, from your tropical breakfast next to monkeys or dinner at local family restaurant, are the sacred moments you will treasure and can later share among friends. Traveling is really a drug, the more you see, the more your thirst develops. Hence, I’m always #chasingstories.

 | Originally from Berekley, California | Currently in London, United Kingdom (via New York) |

| www.instagram.com/annanorab |