Travellers for Life

I was surprised by an impromptu visit this long weekend. For 4 years now Misa and I have travelled different parts of the world. He stayed true to his wanderlust nature and came to the Caribbean to see me. It's amazing how travelling brings these wondrous souls into your life. I got to thinking about why these friendships are so special and why they're different to all the others.

When we travel are are truly alive. We become this new person, in this new place, with absolutely no limits.  The new adventure molds us into the person we are becoming, and its these friends that are right beside us. As we embark in the unfamiliar, we begin to rebuild ourselves and reset our minds. We find confidence in who we are and begin to see what is of most value to our lives. The people we meet in this present state get to know the REAL us. They have no preconceived ideas of our personality and there's a humbling feeling that comes with the knowledge that these new friends actually like everything about our present self (including all of our strange and weird traits).

The friends I have met in India and Indonesia will be the friends I travel with in the future. I want to share more experiences with them, experiences that can't be shared with just anyone. They are the ones I trust and I just know my trip will be better with them. What makes these people even special is they come from all walks of life, all with such different backgrounds and passions. I am not friends with them based on the normal system of selection, but on a much broader level. They are my friends because I can relate to them, because they know me.

That's how it should be. It shouldn't always be people who like the same music or lived in the same town as you growing up. These relationships are special because they offer you a chance to meet people you wouldn't have ever crossed paths otherwise.

The more I travel and interact with strangers the more I realise I have nothing to fear and everything to gain by opening up and sharing a moment of my life freely.

In four weeks I will be reconnecting with some of these souls and making more friendships. The 1st leg of my trip will be spent in Toronto where I will be at the shala from 7am to 5pm each day. I am excited to strengthen my practice with David. I really have noticed how strong and flexible my body has become. Starting off with a disability where even standing up was impossible led to shuffling along on crutches and eventually I became mesmerised with the Ashtanga practice. 

Asanas such as:

• Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana
• Ardha Bahdha Padmottonasana
• Ahrda Pada Padma Paschimottanasana
• ALL Marichyasanas
• Bhujapidasana
• Kurmasana
• Supta Kurmasana
• Garbha Pindasa
• Baddha konasana
• Sirsasana
• and Padmasana

In fact, 99% of them were difficult if not seemingly impossible for me. But with regular practice :) 'ALL IS COMING'.

After the physically challenging fortnight I will make my way to Varadero and then Havana where I'll relax for a couple days and soak up some Cuban culture before jetting off to see my 4th world wonder. Flying into Cancun I will make my way across the country intending to visit Holbox, San Miguel, Tulum, Merida, Chiapa, Oaxaca and finally Mexico City, where I will practice with the beautiful Rocio, another friend met travelling! Any further recommedations are more than welcome :-)

Upon returning to Cayman I'll complete the practice part of my open water PADI certification. Snorkeling with Misa this weekend highlighted what I am missing out on this beautiful island. 

Regrets

When I arrived in Cayman there was no way I was going to visit home during the Summer holidays. I had had enough of London and was onto pastures new. However, since June 2015 I have spent a total  of just 6 weeks in London. I'm starting to really miss home. Speaking to Joey on Skype last week I realised that there are some friends that can't be replaced, even if you are in paradise.

I'm missing my brother growing up. He'll be going to secondary school next year and I wont be there for that transition. I miss my dad, his stories of the 'Canaries', Elvis Costello, even how he managed to clean the septic tank???? Strange I know! Most of all I just miss his humour. I miss Les maitresses; The French girls were part of my family in London, together we had created something amazing at La Petite Ecole. A part of me feels I left the school too early. My dear friend Ericka is also leaving London this year to return with her daughter to Guadeloupe. Despite being in the Caribbean the unjust airfares mean that I wont get a chance to see her and welcome her back. I miss Sophie; turning on my phone to find emails and photo updates remind me I've not been there to support her during her pregnancy and of course I'll miss the birth.

Perhaps making the decision to skip going home this Summer was a bit hasty.

For now, you guys will have to: Skype more frequently, visit (Cayman is pretty cool) or hold out till July 2017 :)