Exploring Crannies

I have always been bad at directions. In fact, I highly doubt that I have any sense of direction at all. I have been living in the city for all my life and even after twenty years, I still have not figured out the names of the streets. I am more of a landmark kind of person. Anyway, most people would probably think that having no sense of direction must be awfully hard. Admittedly, at times, it could prove to be quite a hassle, especially if you are running late on a very important appointment. But I don’t really think it is much of a hassle. You see, I love getting lost. Yes, you read that right. I like getting lost. I treat it as an adventure. It is through the process of getting lost in alleyways that I get to explore every nook and cranny of the city. And it is through this process that I find interesting places that I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered had I stuck to my daily, boring route. I once read a book that said when you embark on a journey, do not consult the map. Taken literally, not bringing a map may be a bad thing. But what the author of the book really meant was that if you want to really experience the place and explore it, it can best be done without a rigid schedule. It is quite a logical advice, really. Delays inevitably happen. And with a strict schedule, you'll end up frustrated and disappointed because the schedule was not followed. If that happens, it leaves you with the opposite effect seeing as trips are supposed to be fun. Speaking of maps though, I have recently become fascinated with Google maps. Like I said, I have an awful sense of direction. And as much as I like getting lost and discovering a new corner of the city, there are simply instances when the nature of my appointment is urgent. Lucky for me, there is Google maps to the rescue. There are times that I ask directions for fun like asking for directions from Canada to Japan or from Australia to Italy. The directions are often reliable. There are, however, moments when the directions given are actually quite funny. I forgot what direction I was asking for but there was a part that said I should kayak through the Pacific Ocean. I was laughing so hard upon reading that part.