Bye, Bye Big Adventure?

Well I’m on the plane home to London and what awaits me I really don’t know. The reality of life will no doubt be masked by the mayhem of the Olympics which I am so delighted to be attending (with Tor to the Trampolining…yes it is an Olympic sport!). But the truth of the matter is - What next?

Tribulations like sorting out a phone number, all my travel insurance claims, a tax rebate and well when that runs out a job. But right now my greatest joy is heading home to the flat in East London mere minutes from the Olympic action and catching up with family and friends. I have loved the contact from friends and family over the past year, and Tom & Vicky’s blog comments, without which I wouldn’t have survived the lonely days of solo travel. So readers take a bow, You have encouraged me on and this is your raucous cheer “HOORAH” from high in the air over….Kuwait I believe.

I have been enjoying writing this blog and for the coming weeks I have a number of posts which need to be polished and posted from the Sense of India, Chandigarh, Agra Revisted, Slumming it and Hello Mumbai Bye Bye Bombay. Not to mention the Myanmar one I was meant to write many months before – I’ve almost been savouring it till the end as it really was the most amazing country of my entire year. I will keep you posted with plenty of photos and stories from my Olympic experience, as the Big Adventure was tailored to take this very local event in to account. So it’s not quite Bye Bye Big Adventure blogging just yet….If my year of travel has shown, Life itself is the Big Adventure so I doubt it ever will.

Comments

My My Myanmar

I have been touched, pinched, squeezed and had my back rubbed as I was sick. Myanmar is one phenomenal place which I have so much hope for. Hope for democracy, hope for development and hope for conservation, all in a gradual process without losing its authenticity. I have felt safe, with my large amounts of cash (remember no ATM’s so budgeting became a real past time of all travellers not just the “budget” ones) and in pilgrimaging crowds, in villages and on rickety hill top roads, travelling solo or in a crowd. Not once did I fear for my personal safety or that of my belongings. I had to stop myself on the first day from being so travel weary and closed. I had to trust. I had to open up and Myanmar may well have taught me one of my greatest lessons on my Big Adventure. captive in Myanmar There were moments of democratic desire, like an aged village monk carrying a bamboo log who stopped me to ask “Do you know Aung San?” to which I replied quietly knowing it was a very c

2022 Challenge - Te Araroa trail

Catching up on this blog after a 4 year hiatus. I arrived back in New Zealand in 2015 fresh off a Rugby World Cup final win and with excitement to settle in my homeland. Life in Auckland has been consumed by working in Consulting and home ownership, spending time with family and friends and enjoying the gifts the New Zealand has to offer. I've observed I have a pattern of 4 year cycles. There was Valencia in 2007, then the Big Adventure in 2011, Moving home in 2015, and In 2019/2020 I renovated my house and it wasn't quite the challenge that scratched the adventure itch enough. The pandemic has challenged us all and after long periods of isolation, working at home, lockdowns and the heartbreaking reality that motherhood might not be my path in life and with new found reduced restrictions something had to change After winter beached on the couch I have decided to see my own country Aotearoa New Zelaand. This October I will be taking on the Te Araroa Trail, 3,000km walk from C

Life and Death on the Holy Ganges

Varanasi, the city of death pyres and the holy Ganga waters. A place I have always wanted to see and experience. Alas at 5.30am after a long night travelling in Indian class for less than a pound had me dusty and tired. The plateau of Indias Northern Utter Pradesh is definitely not a hospitable place for those coming from the mountain air. During my stay we topped the mercury at 47C so you can appreciate the desire to utilise the cool mornings and tranquil evenings is the best time to see the city. I did stay out till noon on the corker day and still Life continued. Much like Jerusalem parts of Varanasi is off bounds to non-Hindus so I saved myself for rejection and more temples on my visit. This may seem a bit defeatist but honestly after 6 months in Asia I feel temples are sadly becoming same same – so much so the sanctity of a Christian Church seems like a home calling when I see one…who would have ever thought! Varanasi is not a place to come if you don’t like walking on

Jo Herrings Adventures

Search This Blog