5 Inspiring Travel Pics

Photo: Liam Moloney 

Nothing like recharching your batteries with a bit of travel. Could be for a week, a month or just a weekend. But there's something about removing yourself from your usual surroundings and diving into the unknown, going for the road less travelled. In a big city, this could even be a trip across town into 'burbs that you've never been to before.

Photo: Mr. iMaax 

Travel is all about movement and sometimes we have to remind ourselves to keep moving, to charge ahead, to explore, discover, leave our comfort zone and enter the unknown. Speed is not always essential but it sure is fascinating. For example seen in this motion-blurred photo of a Berlin train.

Photo: Mike Behnken 

But regardless of speed and distance, each journey begins with the first step. Often, this is memorable and can be frightening too. There's this scene in the first part of The Lord of the Rings when Sam Ganges, upon setting out with Frodo, suddenly stops when they're still in the Shire and says: 'If I take one more step, this will be the furthest I've ever been away from home.'  Little did he know what adventures would await him (and how much walking and little food) but for this home-bound little hobbit, this first step must have been the hardest because it meant moving out of familiar surroundings and out of his comfort zone.

Photo: kokorowashinjin 

How many times  do we sit back in our comfortable chair, too tired, scared or simply lazy to embark on a new adventure? After a while, we may feel like we're stuck in the same rut, doing the same things week after week until the next travel provides us with new input, a new way to see the world like through this beautiful old church window.

Photo: Frank Kovalchek 

And sometimes, we do the opposite, keep running from something, visiting one exotic place after the other to keep our mind off what's bothering us at home when we should just relax and reflect for some time. These travertine terraces in Pamukkale, Turkey seem the perfect place to do so. What's your favorite place to unwind?

Why Food Is So Comforting

Photo: debaird
Hm - Swedish almond cake and strawberries

The other day, while I was watching my recently adopted pup suckling my arm, it dawned on me why food for us is related to comfort and feeling good. It all has to do with our first food and where we get it from.

Think about it, why would a baby dog suck a human's arm when there's no nutrition to be had? And he does that regardless if he has a full tummy or an empty one, well knowing that it's not the milk he's after.

Photo: Robin Taylor
The first meals are the best

It's the sucking reflex of course that all young mammals (including human babies) are born with. Have to be born with or else they would die because they wouldn't be able to suck milk from their moms (or a bottle for that matter). But other than the milk, it's also the physical closeness to the mother (or whoever the caregiver is), the feeling of comfort and of being safe that nourishes any young critter.

Photo: Jing a Ling

Mac and cheese and espresso? - Sure!

Watching my dog got me thinking (once again) of how amazing nature is when it comes to breastfeeding. Not only is what the mother eats converted into the most delicious, healthy, nutritious and tasty first food (i.e. slightly sweetish milk) but it is also "hidden" in a spot that guarantees the closest contact with the source and some cuddles and hugs in the process.

Photo: Liz Lawley

So many yummy choices! 

My little dog's mother died when he and his six siblings were just three weeks old, yet that was enough time to instill in him the value of and search for that feeling of comfort. So he had no problems accepting a human as his mom and finding a spot similar to his mother's warm belly that gave him a similar safe feeling. Aw!

Photo: Arnold Gatilao

Nothing says 'I love you' like a homemade cake

And all of us carry memories of that feeling of being held and comforted, maybe after a bath, while being fed. That feeling that everything is perfect and all right and at the same time, yummy food is being provided. So no wonder that we associate food we really like with comfort or that we use food to get comfort - when we're stressed out, sad or plain wiped out from a long day.

Photo: Tom Ventura

A post about comfort food wouldn't be complete without pizza!

I've searched flickr for what others have labeled comfort food and dug up some tasty dishes. What's your favorite comfort food? And do you still have memories of being fed and comforted as a baby? My daughter certainly does and she treasures them.