Layers Uncovered

by Jasmin Barrett (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

I didn't expect to find Cayman Islands

Travel writing posse's the ability to transport it's readers from their present reality to a reality far beyond reach. Escorting them on a journey of exploration and wonder. Allowing the reader to experience life in new diverse ways through the lens of another. Gaining an appreciation for alternative cultures. A place is so many things after all and it's the people, the architecture, the sounds, the smells and tastes, that contribute to the experience. Hence why Layers Uncovered allows all of theses aspects to be relayed. Using a conversational tone that promotes self-reflection, prompting the reader to actively engage with the text but also with themselves. Layers Uncovered takes its readers on a journey of self-exploration and self-discovery. The scene is situated on a tropical island away from home to illustrate the concept of a young woman being forced into unfamiliar territory; internally she’s coming to terms with the realities of life and everything she once considered true being stripped away layer by layer, as a result this new revelation leads her on a 7 year journey to finding her innate purpose. Why the number 7? The number 7 has a supernatural significance, being the number of perfection. Playing with the idea that every season has it’s perfect timing and In the process of this newly found state of being, her moral disposition and core beliefs are being shattered, while new ones are being formed in order for her to reinvent her sense of self. However, Instead of using a personal lens to delve into the nuanced realities of daily life on her journey, the story is meant to explore and illustrate the human commonalities found among the different cultures she’ll encounter on her journey to self discovery. The main reveal is when she realises she has been living vicariously through the actions of others. She intentionally pursued interactions with individuals that helped her feel alive but lacked concrete foundation. For the 1st time she found herself living on her own terms giving life meaning. Her horizons were broadened through travel and her mind is now able to conceive what living looked like through her own authentic lens.