Blog 2

1.) I travel so I can be exposed to something different then what I see day to day.  I want to escape the day to day things that I do and expose myself to something different by witnessing different cultures and countries through traveling.  Much like Iyers quote, "we need sometimes, to escape into open solitudes, into aimlessness, into the moral holiday of running some pure hazard, in order to sharpen the edge of life, to taste hardship, and to be compelled to work desperately for a moment at not matter what."
2.) Iyer's quote about traveling in oder to see with new eyes explains that people travel not so they can just see the sights but to see the world through the eyes of someone living in the country that you are visiting.  So they can see how that country's culture and geography may change their outlook on life or certain aspects of life.  This may relate to me in that when I go to Australia I don't want to go and just see Australia's landmarks but take in the culture of the nation and witness life like the people who have lived there their entire lives.
3.) Iyer's quote, "What gives value to travel is fear." shows that the value of traveling is not to stay in a safety net and just watch the country you are visiting, but instead to put yourself out there and take risks so that you can really get the most out of your trip and so you can experience the challenge of trying to thrive in this new culture and environment that you have been placed in.   
4.)  I agree with Iyer's idea of a traveler being a carrier pigeon by bringing their culture to the place they are visiting as well as bringing the culture of the place they're visiting back with them and sharing it with the people of their home country.  By doing this it allows the two nations to form a bond.  It shows the people what others of a certain country are like and almost creates a sense of acceptance between the two opposite places.
5.) My favorite quote is, "We need sometimes, to escape into open solitudes, into aimlessness, into the moral holiday of running some pure hazard, in order to sharpen the edge of life, to taste hardship, and to be compelled to work desperately for a moment at no matter what."  I like this quote because this idea that you travel in order to escape ones day to day life and present challenges to overcome appeals to me in that it shows how by traveling you are putting yourself out there and hoping to bring adventure into your life.  To escape the day to day things you do in your life and try to overcome hardships you come to on your journey and enjoy yourself all the while.