Why do people travel?

Well, it is common knowledge that for quite a few people travelling is one of the requirements of their occupation. They are a motley company: business­men, politicians, scientists, doctors, actors, musicians and many-many others, who travel because they have to. They can hardly be called travelers in the prop­er sense of the word. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call them com­muters, i.e. people who regularly travel long distances to work. That's a joke, of course, because commuters travel to and from work every day and are not supposed to solve crucial problems, like politicians, for instance.

Another kind of travelers are those who are obsessed with "a restless urge for change of place". They are adventurers by nature. They seek challenge, and it turns up. Among them you will find mountaineers strug­gling to reach new peaks, divers exploring the seabed, lonely sailors, who cir­cumnavigate the globe to set a world record, and simply holidaymakers - tour­ists who are anxious to see the treasures of the world with their own eyes. The 21^st century has witnessed the emergence of quite a new kind of tourist, who is prepared to pay enormous fares for a chance to have a good look at our planet from a spaceship.

Some people travel for quite different purposes. They go on long journeys to distant countries to share their knowledge, skills, kindness and generosity with those who need help. They are reluctant to speak about their experiences and their contribution to the cause of charity. Writers, who travel to get im­pressions, meet new people and get inspiration for their creative activities are more outspoken.

This is what Somerset Maugham writes on the subject in two of his char­ming short stories:"I am of a roving disposition; but I travel not to see imposing monuments, which indeed somewhat bore me, nor beautiful scenery, of which I soon tire; I travel to see men. I avoid the great, I would not cross the road to meet a presi­dent or a king; I am content to know the writer in the pages of his book and the painter in his picture; but I have journeyed a thousand miles to see a missionary of whom I had heard a strange story and I have spent a fortnight in a vile hotel in order to improve my acquaintance with a marker."

by W. Somerset Maugham (In a Strange Land)

Vocabulary:

restless['rεstlis] - adj. беспокойный, неугомонный

urge[ɜ:ʤ] - n. потребность, желание

attribute['ətnbju:t] - n. свойство, отличительная черта

it is common knowledge - adv. общеизвестно

motley['mɔtli] -adj. разномастный, пестрый

appropriate[ə'prauprit] - adj. уместный, подходящий

seek[si:k] - vb. искать

diver['daivə] - n. ныряльщик

seabed['si:bed] - n. морское дно

circumnavigate[sə:kəm'naevigeit] - vb. совершать кругосветное морское путешествие

charity [∫'aeriti] – n. благотворительность (проверь транскрипцию)

inspiration[inspi'rei∫n] – n. вдохновение (неверная транскрипция)

outspoken[aut'spaukən] - adj. откровенный, открытый, разговорчивый

roving['rəuviη] - adj. кочевой

imposing[im'psuzin] - adj. производящий сильное впечатление, внушительный

content(with) [kɔn'tent] -adj. довольный, удовлетворенный

vile[vail] -adj. здесь: с дурной репутацией

acquaintance[ə'kweintəns] -adj. знакомый