Maps
Posted by Cottontimer on 22 Mar 2006 | Tagged as: Thoughts
Which would you prefer?
- To have a map but no destination.
-or-
- To have a destination but no map.
Over the years of traveling and living in different countries, I’ve come to realize that having a map doesn’t necessarily make getting around any easier. That’s not because I’m incapable of reading a map, but because most maps don’t come marked with information that’s particularly useful for everyday life. Knowing the roads and streets, parks, and major landmarks doesn’t help with finding places to get something yummy to eat, buy affordable household appliances, dry clean and mend suits, complete a Thunderbirds toy collection, or dress in the latest fashion.
Maps show me where I am right this minute; it’s reassuring to know I’m not lost. But maps don’t tell me anything about where I’m going or where I should go. To really get anywhere, sometimes you just have to keep going without precise directions. Maps aren’t as important as doing your research, keeping your eyes open, and asking anyone and everyone for help. And a lot of times, it takes guts to try new paths that might not even have made it onto the map.
So for me, I’d rather figure out my destination first even if I’m not sure how to get there yet.
Related Posts:
Eye Catching...
Please Turn Left Into The Ditch...
If your comment doesn't show up immediately, it's probably in moderation. I will approve it as soon as I can! Thanks for your patience.
The latter, most certainly. I can always find my way to a destination. It’s the journey though that matters and if you already know how it’s going to play out, why bother?
mdmhvonpa: Well put!
this is a very interesting question. hehe.
i would prefer to know my destination first because i want to know what i’m getting myself into. if i happen to get lost, i’ll just ask someone for directions.
but anyway, i also think this is very much due to the way i was brought up. i remember being told horror stories when i was young of what would happen if i got lost. so everytime i lost my mother, i would cry. hehe. i am not the only one though. when i went to hong kong last summer, i saw a young boy on the escalator crying because he lost his mother.
i don’t know how american kids react when they get lost, but i know this is a natural response amongst singaporeans (and i guess hk-ers too).
Any time I’ve been lost (make that EVERY time) I’ve just kept walking until I found a bus-stop with a map. This has worked in Paris, London, Amsterdam and all French cities. This doesn’t work in Taipei or Beijing, where bus-stop signs are reduced to a bundle of cryptic characters in a straight line (or worse, an S-shape) and therefore of no use when trying to find one’s way.
I’m afraid I’ll play it safe. If I have a map and no destination, then I can just choose one on that map and go there. Without a map, I can walk around in circles for hours. I got lost in Islington on my first night in London… that was embarrassing enough for me, thank you.
laurina: I think there’s a bit of a difference between being lost or getting separated from someone. Having confidence in your ability to find your way will probably alleviate a lot of the worry in the former situation.
Rosie: Bus stops and Tube stations are both great places to orientate oneself. We did both today!