Is there such a thing as travel burnout?

Last December 2005, I started to feel this not so nice emotion of 'burnout' from traveling. For the first time after five years of wandering around the world, I suddenly feel like 'I don't want to go anywhere this year (meaning 2006)!' A scary and a saddening thought for someone whose soul thrives on visiting new places and in visiting friends from afar. Deep inside, this seed of 'tiredness' started to creep in and has managed to engulf my whole being such that whenever friends would ask me what are my travel plans this year, I don't know what to respond! As in, I feel speechless and suddenly disoriented, as if traveling is a far fetched idea to me. And for the life of me, I cannot explain why I am having this feeling and how long would this remain in me.

This of course has a bearing on this site. If I do not go anywhere this year, then I will not have new stories to share and new pictures to post. Isn't it sad? Especially as I seem to be getting better and better with taking pictures.

It is also sad because this year, a few close friends of mine have issued invitations to go and visit them. There is Helen in Perth. There is Arlene in Greece. There is Jeanette and Gabbie in London. There is Carmen in Sweden and or Barcelona. There is Malou who is giving birth to her first baby in March who now lives in Auckland, New Zealand. Then there are my friends in the US of A, like Rose who wants to see her in December, during winter time. Then there are those not-so-close friends but are equally nice to have invited me over to visit them in Netherlands.

What should I do? Is travel burnout something you can take a break from? Can I afford to miss out on this wonderful opportunities to see my friends and visit their new found homes? Until when is this feeling going to be with me? Is it something I can shake off with a drink? A herb perhaps?

I wish the universe is listening.......to take away this feeling......for I know this wandering soul still would like to continue its journey...to go to more new places, catch up with some friends and meet new ones along the way.....

And most importantly, to be able to have something to share here.....both in words and in pictures....

So to mother earth, listen to this soul's plea....please...