Half Way Thru Our Trip

Half way thru our trip, wow how time flies, we have been away from home for seven months already.

Here are some of Chentys thoughts:

I feel like a computer with a full hard drive, time to store this one for a while and get a new one for the second part of the trip.  I love the adventure of never knowing where I’m going or what the day will bring, of the promise of meeting new people with all their generousity and hospitality, the constant amazement of how people the world over all want the same thing, to be happy.  People have gladly helped us with so many things – of course it always helps when we have big smiles on our faces and try to speak their language, they like that!  I like the awareness that because we are receiving so much we are also giving back too.

They say travelling changes you and you will never be the same, well Im beginning to believe that’s true, we are learning so much about the world its fascinating, I am surprised by my interest in it all, the culture, the religion and the politics, I never thought it would hold so much of my attention.

Most of all Im surprised at how at peace I feel in countries that still have so much turmoil, I see tanks, guns, soldiers and yet I don’t seem to be afraid, it’s a strange feeling, it’s like there used to be a part of me that would have been afraid but its somewhere in the distant past now, I still see and feel it way back there but it has no effect on me anymore.  I wonder that when I get home will it be like the soldiers who go to war, when they get home they have a hard time going back to the life they once had, will I feel the same, will my life hold enough to capture me or will I wonder again?

I have had time to witness myself without the distractions of my everyday life, what I have noticed about myself is that I’m not as adventurous as I thought I was and that’s ok, I like my comforts, I don’t like the desert, to me it feels exposed and I feel vulnerable out there, no-where to take shelter, I’m ok with this too.  What I miss is color, in the flowers in the buildings I like color and I need it in my life to make me feel happy.

I love meeting people and listening to them tell me about their culture and their country and their lives, this is really yummy moments for me, when I’m talking to people it feels like time has stopped. 

Sure there are times when I don’t understand why I’m feeling down but I’m ok with that too, if I was at home I would have solutions to help lift me up again but out here you just observe it and its interesting what you learn about yourself.  I love my honesty and how comfortable I am in it, even if I don’t understand it myself it’s fun to explore, I love that I’m vulnerable and always in new situations.

I love that Trevor and I feel like really good friends, on an adventure together, where neither of us have expectations of the other because we both agreed to come on this journey so it’s not like either one of us have to try to make the other “happy” or worry about their happiness, it’s like good friends, they are together because they enjoy each other’s company yet they are not responsible for each other’s happiness. (this may be hard for some to understand but when you do you will see what I mean).  To be able to explore our personalities and understand them from an onlookers point of view, it’s really very cool and we are lucky because some may never reach this place we have found.

I recently read, while researching our trip to Bhutan, this statement:

“We should not let our days pass by like the shadow of a cloud, leaving no trace behind..”

Indeed we are leaving our trace, the trace of Happiness, its as simple as that, happiness is contagious and this is the trace we hope to leave behind.

To all our family, friends and followers, thankyou, its fun having you along and stay tuned for the next 7 months and to our two kids, Phil and Jess remember what we said, "work is overrated, come travel".

We blog not only because it serves to remind us of the many experiences along the way but on a larger scale, it reminds us that we have roots, a native soil, places that we live with family and friends and real reasons to return home.

Chenty!

Getting Closer countdown to leaving

How lucky am I going around the world it is finally sinking in that this is a reality!
What a year its been now we get to pack a couple of t-shirts, a few skids and loads of electronic stuff to keep Trevor busy on our trip, me no room for books, just the ipod and my laptop for writing and I get to spend a year on the back literally watching the world go by one day at a time, talking about living in the present.

I hope to write on the blog with all the fantastic adventures we get up to for those of you who were privee to my Bali emails you will enjoy reading about the princess in me and how I cope with pilly sheets along the way!!

I have been busy readying all the financial stuff while we are away and taking care of the money details so hopefully Ive done that right and we will never get turned down at the bank machines or the visa cards, which im sure we will be visiting frequently.

This Eagle was sitting outside our kitchen window this morning, it makes me think of the book i just finished called Jumping Mouse about inner trust - where this mouse meets a series of animals, each one taking him further on his journey, he was told to jump as high as he could, suddenly the wind caught him and began to lift him higher and higher. "Do not be afraid", a voice said, "ride the wind, hang on to it, it will carry you .... TRUST". Our spirits take flight and soar far beyond the pages of this book to the heart of our own truth.It will indeed be a year full of wonderment!

Stay tuned for our final count down days.