heyhey...
this is slightly dodgy and half-baked, but never mind that
basically what geok-lin lim is saying is that searching for the genii loci, the spirit of place, is typically human, and that any physical journey we embark on is prompted by the unconscious desire/need for the inner journey.
the inner journey she's talking about is like an unconscious pilgrimage, which is in her opinion the purest form of travel. the destination has the potential to restore, inspire, give a sense of awe, rejuvinate, reconcile, and save. a physical journey may result in the traveller being intellectually extended by the genii loci of their destination (the local deity who lives in the place)
i hope that was remotely helpful, i'm off to do some comparing between the town where time stands still and the goonies... should be fun!