My Christmas present to myself each year is to see how much air

Yes — that quote is correctly attributed to Pico Iyer, the British-born essayist and travel writer of Indian descent, known for his insightful reflections on travel, culture, and stillness.

“My Christmas present to myself each year is to see how much air travel can open up the world and take me to places as far from sheltered California and Japan as possible.”
— Pico Iyer

Context and Background

Pico Iyer shared this reflection in his writings and interviews about travel and discovery, describing how he treats travel not as escapism but as a form of personal renewal and learning. Having spent much of his life between California and Japan — two places he often describes as peaceful and insulated — Iyer uses travel as a means to confront the unfamiliar, broaden perspective, and reconnect with the rawness of the wider world.

This statement embodies Iyer’s lifelong philosophy: that travel is both an external and internal journey, expanding not just one’s geography but one’s understanding of humanity.

Interpretation

• “My Christmas present to myself” — travel is framed not as luxury, but as a gift of experience and perspective.

• “Air travel can open up the world” — acknowledges the miracle of modern mobility, allowing people to transcend boundaries of culture and comfort.

• “As far from sheltered California and Japan as possible” — expresses a desire to step outside familiarity, to challenge the comforts of stable, predictable environments.

Summary

This quote captures Pico Iyer’s essence as a traveler-philosopher: he sees movement not as tourism, but as an act of curiosity and humility. For him, each journey is a renewal of wonder — a deliberate push beyond the familiar edges of one’s world to encounter the vastness and diversity of human life.