How Travel Transforms People

When the Chief Financial Officer of Google, Patrick Pitchette, decided to quit his job he was on the highest peak in Africa- Mount Kilimanjaro. Patrick, along with his wife, decided to explore Africa, turn east to India, the Himalayas, Everest, Bali, the Great Barrier Reef... Antarctica. Period. And there it was, a hugely successful career came to a celebratory end.

Even the CEO of Google, Larry Page, remarked about Patrick's departure note, "A most unconventional leaving notice from a most unconventional CFO. Well worth reading." Patrick is not the first one to make a life changing decision in the midst of a journey. As it turns out some of the most extra-ordinary and inspiring stories begin on the road. Just look at these people for example.

1: Mother Teresa

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On her arrival in India, she was deeply disturbed by the poverty in Calcutta. She felt a "call within a call" on a train journey from Calcutta to Darjelling. "I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. To fail would have been to break the faith," Mother Teresa said. True to her word, she spent the rest of her life caring for people who suffered from HIV AIDS, leprosy, tuberculosis etcetera.

2: Che Guevara

Che Guevara, was a young doctor when he decided to travel to Latin America on a motorcycle. The deplorable condition and treatment of the poor made a deep impact on him. He dreamt of a Unified Latin America based on equality and people's will. Furthermore, he left his family and life of comfort to become a champion of the poor. His story inspired millions of people.

3: Beatles

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The Beatles came to Rishikesh (India) in search of spiritual enlightenment. The setting and tranquility of Rishikesh had a deep impact on them. They learnt about Transcendental Meditation and wrote many famous songs such as ‘Dear Prudence’, ‘Mother Nature’s Son,’ and ‘Sexy Sadie’ based based on their experiences in India.

4: Ernest Hemingway

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Hemingway was the writer among writers and the traveler among travelers. His travels (America, Italy, Paris, Cuba, and Spain), numerous love affairs and depression all gave his writing an edge. He was a fisherman, hunter, soldier, and ardent drinker who used his experiences to produces great pieces of writing.

5: Angelina Jolie

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Angelina Jolie's was exposed to humanitarian crisis in war-torn Cambodia while filming the Lara Croft series. The exposure sensitized her to the plight of refugees away from the media gaze. Something changed within her and she spent he next decade visiting 40 field missions like Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Darfur and Afghanistan in the capacity as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She continues to undertakes advocacy on the behalf of refugees, visit field missions and donate large sums of money for humanitarian work.

Their change in lifestyle changed the lives of millions of people around the world. Please share your thoughts and comments below.

Read more about Che Guevara's travel here 11 Quotes That Prove Che Guevara is the Greatest Travel Icon of All Time

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