As I stood at the edge of the railings looking out from the balcony of my uncle's opulent mansion, deep within me was this feeling of envy of the life he had been privileged to lead at such a young age. Uncle Eke wasn't yet in his late forties yet he had his extensive travels documented in a catalog of photographs. He had toured the world.
I had spent the last couple of hours looking at them and trying to imagine myself in every of the exotic location he had visited. And the cool thing was that he had the same taste in countries just as I do. Mere looking at his pictures, I could almost picture myself in each country, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin and hearing the hustle and bustle of each city. It was as if I was there, standing in the middle of the crowd, taking in the sights and sounds of a place I had only ever seen in pictures.
Ever since I was a child, and up till now I have grown to adulthood, I have always been fascinated by the idea of touring the world. My love for travel has always been with me for as long as I could remember. Just the idea of discovering new cultures, meeting new people of different races, and experiencing different ways of life has always intrigued me. Although I had not yet traveled beyond my country's borders, I have spent several hours of my spare time reading travel blogs, watching travel documentaries, and googling every country that had in one way or the other piqued my interest.
But you just can't get what you wish for. Notwithstanding, I still have the strong desire to explore new places and it burns hard within me like a mighty fire. I just can't wait to take on the footsteps of my uncle.
I smiled as I thought of my first destination which would be the great UAE. I just can't wait to see the world's deepest swimming pool or the moon shaped house, the underwater shopping mall and courts and so much more. Next stop Maldives or Seychelles, I think I'm having a hard time choosing between these two which I should visit first, then Prague to Egypt I really need to see the pyramids and a whole lot of other historical destinations of the world.
Lost in my daydream, I didn't realize when I was joined by my younger brother, who seemed to share the same aspirations with me.
I looked at him and he gradually gave a smile "How would you like to see the world, just like Uncle," he said, with an air of excitement.
I smiled back at him, tapped his shoulder and replied, "I can't wait , bro, I just can't wait."
My uncle's catalog of photographs was a particular source of inspiration for me. His travels had taken him to some of the most beautiful and historic places in the world. From the United Arab Emirates to Seychelles, from Prague to Singapore, he had explored every corner of the globe, and his photographs captured the essence of each place perfectly.
My uncle's travels had given him a wealth of knowledge and experience that he was always eager to share. Whenever he returned from a trip, he would regale us with stories of his adventures, and I would listen in awe, captivated by every word. His tales of hiking through rugged terrain, exploring ancient ruins, and sampling exotic cuisine only fueled my wanderlust further.
But despite my desire to travel, the reality was that I had yet to leave my home country. Finances were tight, and the prospect of saving up enough money to fund a trip abroad seemed daunting. Nonetheless, I refused to let this deter me. I was determined to explore the world, no matter what it took.
As I looked out from the balcony, lost in thought, my younger brother joined me. His eyes were bright with excitement, and I could tell that he shared my passion for travel.
"I can't wait to see the world," he said, his voice filled with wonder.
I smiled at him and replied, "Me too, bro, me too."
We stood there on the balcony, staring at the world beyond. The world is waiting for us, and we are ready to explore it, one destination at a time. Might not be now but soon.