From time to time, we glance over a few of our entries from this trip. Maybe it’s just me, but I really don’t want this journey to sound as if it’s the “Brady’s Global Adventures” rather than the everyday happenings of two average backpackers experiencing the world.
We still maintain that we’re having the time of our lives, but from time to time, traveling loses its luster, if even for a moment.
As I hung my head over the toilet yesterday for the 5th time of the morning, whole-heartedly regretting the previous night’s meal and wondering which mouthful was to blame, I thought it was high time to mention the other half of what this adventure has held for us…both the major and minor downfalls.
We write about the beautiful oceans, lakes and seas; we don’t mention the constant cold showers or the endless hunt for bottled water. We describe cultures’ beautifully coloured garmets; we omit how maddening it can be to circulate the 3 or 4 t-shirts for over 70 days. We touch on a few of the great people we’ve met, or the exhilarating feeling of being amidst the crowds of busy marketplaces; we overlook the rarity of even 30-minutes of personal space for weeks on end.
Even as I write this I have a twinge of guilt as I hear my grandpa’s words, “look upon the donut, and not upon the hole” in my mind. But I think that half of what makes this such a valuable experience isn’t just seeing the beauty and bliss of the world around us; it’s also just experiencing life and what it throws our way. And it has thrown a lot our way. We’ve watched a man, who moments before was sitting next to us on the plane, lie motionless on the asphalt at Cairo’s airport having suffered a heart attack. We’ve witnessed a motor cycle accident occur metres away from where we were standing on the streets of Paris. We’ve had to call the police after someone was attacked in the marketplace of Jerusalem. And we’ve seen poverty beyond comprehension.
Those times aren’t fun, but they do remind us of how unjustified we are to complain over our minuscule discomforts. They also help to maintain perspective. There is a lot of suffering out there—be it in far off corners of the world, or in our own backyards with friends and family.
As we hear and read stories from many of you back home, we know that there’s some really tough times going on for you. And so, we want you to know that we’re thinking of you, and praying for you.
And so, I think it's fitting to borrow the sign off method of a great blogger we know…
3 Things We’re Thankful For:
1) This trip, and all that it has entailed (the perfect time of life, the resources, the itinerary, the experiences, the people we’ve seen along the way, each other, etc.)
2) People praying for us...thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
3) Cambodia…4 days from now we’ll reach our final destination for this journey. We’re so looking forward to settling down for a few months with those children.
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