Escape through travel works. Almost from the moment I boarded my flight, life in England became meaningless. Seat-belt signs lit up, problems switched off. Broken armrests took precedence over broken hearts. By the time the plane was airborne I'd forgotten England even existed.
The quote from Alex Garland's "The Beach" vividly illustrates the transformative power of travel. As the protagonist boards a flight, he experiences an immediate detachment from his life in England. The burdens and heartaches of his previous existence quickly fade into the background, overshadowed by the trivial discomforts of travel. In this moment, he is liberated from the weight of his problems, suggesting that travel can serve as an escape from...