The Adventurer

For the last few weeks I've struggled so desperately to continue this blog. My thoughts empty, my words gone, and a nothingness descended. This week someone I hardly know sent me an email containing the following ...

There once was an adventurer who lived in a land others only heard about….it was called the land of Beauty and Colour. It was an enchanting and desireable place created by the paintbrush of his eyes. This adventurer would take obscure and forgotten things from the neighboring land of Grey and give them new meaning and vibrant life. Wherever he went, joy followed like gentle music dancing along with his every step. He would occassionally leave the land of Beauty and Colour to visit the citizens of the land of Grey. With his paintbrush he would encourage them and tell them of his homeland and other lands that they too could create and go to. He would share pictures of his places and inspire the lonely and hurting. The adventurer’s name was Kindness and in the language of the land of Grey he was called Malc.

I was so touched by the beauty of those words and reading them helped my inner self to return.

Dangers & Annoyances

Dont you just love the way the travel guides have a section called Dangers & Annoyances, and even more so, how you are drawn to those pages. So then what can I expect ...

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunami's, landslides, muggings, snatch robberies, scams, drugs, packs of wild dogs, altitude sickness, yellow fever, and even the plague ... to name but a few.

I am so relieved ... not a snake in sight. I HATE snakes !!!!!!!!!

Getting Organised

The last week has been very difficult with so much to do and a rollercoaster of emotion but one thing I learnt from my Mum was the need to plan, prepare and to get as much as possible done in advance. First of all I indugled in some retail therapy buying myself a new backpack, and a new sleeping bag. I've also started to plan what I will, and more importantly wont be taking. I'm planning on no more than 15k weight wise and given the extremes of temperature they'll be no room for luxuries.

I've also booked an appointment at the travel clinic to get any necessary jabs. Always makes me smile when the nurses say "come in and drop your trousers", and to think they get paid for it lol.

Next on the list is to work out how much money I'll need, and what currency but that can wait for a few weeks yet. In the meantime I'll be reading Lonely Planet and getting hyped up on the places I want to see.