Mindset for the wandering soul
Trip Start
Jul 11, 2008
1
37
Trip End
Nov 24, 2008
Belfast,
United Kingdom
Monday, July 14, 2008
Well for a first post I'm just going to address all the common questions I've been asked recently by people, hoping it will save me alittle bit of repetition. In these blogs I hope to give you an insight into the sight, sounds, inner thoughts and emotions of the solo traveler. Whether you yourself have traveled alone before, or thought about it, I hope this will give you an insider view and maybe something to relate to. This can only be my own personal account and experience.. and my journey will not end when I return back home and to work. So when I'm back and you ask me if I enjoyed my 'travels' please don't be surprised when I smile and remind you that the soles of these feet can never be worn through. We are all tourists, everywhere, and our journey doesn't end when we step off a plane onto home soil.
Why are you going?
Well there is no one answer. I always said I wanted to go traveling again. I always said I'd go back to South Africa (and this time maybe for good.) When I got back from SA last time in mid October 2004 I was lucky enough to land a job more or less straight away - one I stayed with. I found myself becoming a part of the daily grind of the 9 to 5 lifestyle on an endless treadmill which never slows down. I wanted off the treadmill for a while.
In late 2007 and into 2008 I had constant infections.. then in Febuary I got what was thought to be throat ulcers and was constantly hoarse with a sore throat. Countless trips to the doctor and endless supplies of antibiotics didn't help. The lymph node on the left side of my neck was growing.. over 2 months it had grown to over an inch in diameter and got very hard and immobile. I was sent to an ENT Consultant who did a needle biopsy.. then came the news of what it could be until finally the decision was made to have a total node removal for biopsy. I had an op on 28th April under general and had a week wait for the pathologists to determine what it was to decide my fate. On 7th May 2008 I got good news. It was negative for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Since then and during those few months of not knowing I've thought alot about what I want to achieve in my life and what is really important to me. I think I've become more patient, more humble and more appreciative of things in general - the results could have so easily gone the other way. I don't let the little things get to me as much. For another 'chance' I am very grateful.
Where are you going?
Well the general plan is South Africa and New Zealand. The flights will be booked in the next 48 hours and the dates for flying out and back will be shown in other entries.
Firstly, I'm taking some time to get better from the battering my health has taken this year. I'll be going to Bundoran to learn how to surf and do abit of climbing in the first weekend of August. I'll be planning my New Zealand tour up until I leave for SA too.. from past experience of Interrailing there can never be enough time to plan the perfect tour of anywhere! I would love to just rock up and wing it but the NZ part of my plan is only 3-4 weeks long so I'll have to plan it all and book the hostels before I go if I want to get around both North and South Island doing everything I want to.
What are you doing for so long in South Africa?
I'll be staying with Dani, a friend I met when I was out in Cape Town before. He is kindly putting me up for the whole time in exchange for money towards electric, food and bills. I'll pick up some shifts volunteering in SANCCOB which is the bird rehabilitation place I was in last time. I'm also hoping to get some volunteer work with the Sarah Fox Hospital which is home to terminally ill children in Cape Town. Their parents often live too far away for them to get to visit them regularly and they rely on volunteers to come in and help feed, wash and play with them.
Some time during my 2 months there Dani will be taking acouple of weeks off work and we'll be driving from CT to his home town of Bloemfontein. This is south-west of Jo'berg. From there we're also hoping to drive down to East London near Durban where his family farm is... then driving from there back to CT. It's a very long road trip! But it'll let me see all of SA and doing it by car means I'll see literally everything as we pass. Hoping I can also stop in the Transkei as well where Nelson Mandela grew up.
As for Victoria Falls, I really want to go very badly. The devil's swimming pool would be awesome, but unfortunately I'm not sure at the moment if it is safe to visit. I would be doing this trip solo which is fine but I have to consider the reality of how much danger I want to put myself in with the Zimbabwe situation at the minute. At the time of writing Victoris Falls is off.. but I hope that in September or October I may be able to go.. fingers crossed.
Contact? How to's and so on..
Ok, I have a list of people who want updates. Obvioulsy some wanting more details than others.. and I won't have access to internet while I'm away unless I use the internet cafes. Depending where I am they can get expensive. Generally, don't expect long replies, and in some cases, personal ones. I may only have time for group mails and a quick update on here.
I'll be using my old Vodacom SIM card from South Africa which I have from before but it's more for emergencies and the odd text home. So between 19th August and 9th October I will only be contactable for most by email. I don't know if I'm bringing a mobile with me to New Zealand yet as I haven't decided. If I do I am able to use my normal mobile number on Vodafone Passport (can't be used in SA.)
I do very much want to know what's going on back home, be it good or bad! Don't hold back in emails and even though I'm not physically close enough to actively do anything I will try my best to help from afar. Tell me about your weekends, your plans, holidays, whatever! Even if I don't have time for sending a personal reply I will read them. Means I know what I'm coming back to too : P
I'm not going to send updates constantly before going. This is just an insight into the what, whys and wheres. The next month is about organising my intentions and seeing friends and family as much as possible. My family are very important to me and some friends are like family (you know who you are) and for them the E.E. Cummings poem below is fitting for the time I'm away...
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Comments
Go for it!!!!
Hope the trip is everything you hope for + more. Have a great time. M x