A trip usually starts with a destination in mind.

In Vietnam, my favourite kind of trip happens not by taking the plane or car, but by riding a motorcycle on the road.

Bike road trip also often has a destination, but the main purpose of these trips is not so much to reach the destination, but rather to enjoy the journey along the way.

On my recent trip to Lac Duong, Lam Dong, I set off in the late afternoon. I was headed to a beautiful chalet in the mountain, 2,000M in altitude. Because of the tardy departure, the way there was rather a race against the dusk, as the mountainous roads in the dark can be quite dangerous in Vietnam. The driving really required my intense focus. Sure, there were several sights along the way that were truly awestruck and made me gasp, but I couldn’t afford to stop to take these breathtaking scenery in fully, as I was afraid I won’t reach the destination before the dusk.

After spending a night in the middle of the most beautiful mountain, the next morning I set off early to come back down the same road I drove. It was only a 1-night trip to get the freshest air in my lung.. The way back was very leisurely and I had no time pressures. It means I didn’t have to speed or to constantly seek the next opportunity to pass a slow moving trucks in front. As you can imagine, the same road on the way back was many times more beautiful than the way up there, as enjoying it was one of the main purposes of the trip and I set very clear intention to do so as I set off. The 2-hour drive back was magnificently satisfying and I felt completely recharged by what this trip had bestowed on me.

This got me thinking, “Isn’t the life similar?”

We set many goals and targets as days pass by. Our goals are important, but if you are engrossed in it too much, it can narrow-sights us and we don’t get to enjoy the journey getting there.

Sometimes the journey to reach these goals can be more meaningful, and it might even bring you a bigger joy than reaching the destination. Besides the joy of the journey, there also are the experience and the growth. These two things can only happen in the process, not at the destination.

Many bikers already know the joy, happiness, and meaning of the journey on the road. Sometimes one may never reach the planned destination but instead take spontaneous detours to find new destinations. And there is nothing wrong with the detours, as long as the journey itself is still exciting enough!

In the same way, in this journey of my life, regardless of how many times the destination changes, I will try to recognize the true value of the journey and the process, deliberately enjoying them with gratitude, no matter where I may end up in destination. This is a way of life, experience, and growing opportunities for us all.