The Summary Of My Travels

Well 2 years ago to the day I flew into Delhi to start my big trip and what a 2 years it has been. Since I got home people keep asking me what my favourite experience/country is, have I changed? Honestly I don't have an answer to these questions.

I love every one of the 21 countries I visited for different reasons:-

• The scenery - New Zealand, Argentina, Vietnam, Nepal
• The people - Laos, Nepal, Cambodia, Brazil, Malaysia
• The food - Mexico, India,Canada (home cooking)
• The friends/family I caught up with - Canada, Australia, Caribbean, USA, Malaysia, Mexico
• The beaches - Caribbean, Mexico, Australia, Vietnam.
• The culture - the chaos and individuality of India, modesty & simplicity of Laos, Cambodia and Nepal, the passion of South America.

I don't think I have made any life changing discoveries on my travels - well not that I know of so far. I am sure that I will take a lot from the things I have seen and done but how they effect/change me in the long term I will just have to wait and see. But for now I am feeling more positive and balanced about life and hope to just take it as it comes a bit more than I did before.

I've had great experiences which I will remember forever and here's a list of some of the highlights and reasons I have loved my travels:-

• visiting some of the places that I have wanted to get to for a long time - and some others that I hadn't even heard of!!
• meeting some great people, some of whom I am sure will be friends for years to come.
• not planning everything in advance, i.e. getting up and deciding will I stay another day or not, was very liberating.
• trekking in the Himalayas, North Argentina and New Zealand.
• getting way outwith my comfort zones.
• having no idea where I was going and ending up in random places away from the main tourist areas and getting strange but welcoming looks from the locals.
• the hospitality and kindness shown by people - a lot of whom have so much less than I do.
• learning to dive which opened up a whole new world to me - I love the underwater life.
• white water rafting, canyoning, sand boarding, kayaking, snorkeling, tubing, cycling, caving and of course my Hot Air Balloon ride.
• arguing with the Vietnamese Police and winning!!
• having a bath with an elephant.
• getting chased by a one horned Rhino (whilst in a jeep!) and a sea lion on the beach!
• cheeky monkeys stealing things.
• seeing a wild Tiger.
• swimming with Dolphins
• all the other wildlife I saw - Kangaroos, Koala Bears, Snakes, Spiders, Parrots, Otters, Capybara, Penguins, Seals, Sea Lions, Elks,Tarantulas, Caymen, Whales, Huge Storks, Eagles, Sloth Bears, Iguana's, Dingo's, Armadillo's and sure there are lots more that I can't think of at the moment!
• sitting under clear starry skies with no artificial light - particularly in Australia and Nepal.
• seeing some of the great works of art and treasures in various museums and art galleries.
• travelling between beautiful beaches, remote villages, huge developed cities, the desert, mountains, lakes, oceans and jungles.
• experiencing different cultures and ways of life.
• reading lots and lots on all my long journeys including quite a few books I wouldn't have picked up if it had not been for the lack of choice.
• interesting and amusing conversations in languages I don't speak or understand.
• bartering - love and hate it!!
• visiting ancient ruins, temples, forts and enjoying the architecture in cities.
• getting bit by a fish whilst trying to take a photo whilst diving!
• the sunshine and getting soaked in the monsoons
• what would be considered unpolitically correct if not racist attitudes of many countries
• towns with no maps and getting lost but always getting where I needed to go in the end somehow!!
• photographing - those who have known me longer know there is normally a camera not far away but I have loved having the time to practice and play with taking photographs over my trip - and in case your wondering I think I must have over 120,000 photo's - but don't worry I will never ask you over to look at them!!
• various modes of transport - buses, trains (particularly in countries like India!), planes, boats, mopeds, motorbikes, cycles, elephants, tractors, horse, trucks, cars, walking and not to forget 'The Beast' - my friends Silke's camper that we toured around New Zealand in.

For every country/activity I ticked of my 'To Do/Visit' list I added another 3 on and moved the others to my 'To Do/Visit Again' list!!!

I also get asked a lot if I had any bad/scary experiences and there were a couple - getting my camera stolen in Cambodia (mainly due to the lost photo's), wallet and passport in New York and getting followed home one night in Australia and there were a few irritating experiences with attempts at conning money in Asia. But this really isn't that bad for spending 22 months abroad, especially considering the things I did and countries I visited, and any of these things are as likely to have happened if I had stayed at home. I didn't once take ill or have to see a doctor and only have to restock my First Aid kit as everything is now out of date!!

Of course I can't do this update without mentioning my three adorable travel companions who were my lucky mascots and provided much entertainment to me and others as they posed in ridiculous positions to get their photographs taken:-

Ryan the Tiger who started the journey with me and lasted all the way to Hanoi in Vietnam where he decided to go exploring on his own.

Chom Poo Moo who joined me in Thailand and helped me make lots of new friends but loved life so much in Brazil she opted to stay there.

Oslo Feliz my Happy Bear who accompanied me from Paraguay all the way home and looks forward to some further travels in the near future.

So there you have it my big trip is over but I am not sad that it has finished as I have had such a great time there is no reason to feel bad about returning home rather I am thinking about it as moving onto the next stage. Yes I have a some reservations about being home and going back to work - who wouldn't - but over the next few months I will focus on improving my fitness, getting up to date with work and sorting my house. After that I have a few options for some new projects that I might undertake and of course some holiday destinations!!

I would just like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement during my travels, this trip has certainly allowed me to see that I have some great people in my life and that is one of the main reasons I am back in Scotland. For those who have followed my blog I hope you have enjoyed it and that maybe one or two of you will get some inspiration to visit somewhere you might not have thought of before.

Here's a final reminder of all the countries I have been to and a little bit of the variety of experiences I love so much:-

India

Nepal

Laos

Cambodia

Vietnam

Thailand

Malaysia

Singapore

Australia

New Zealand

Saba (Dutch Island in The Caribbean)

Anguilla (also in The Caribbean)

Virgin Gorda one of the British Virgin Islands

Guyana

Brazil

Paraguay

Uruguay

Argentina

Mexico

Canada

USA

As my friend Amy said to me the other day maybe there will be another blog to come called 'What Jackie Did Next' - you never know.........

But for now I will sign this off as my last update and if your here in Scotland hopefully I will be seeing some more of you now I am home and if you are somewhere else in the world remember there is a bed waiting for you in Kilmarnock if you want to come for a visit.

Luv

Jack xxx