nomadwoman

As the universe would have it, I was recently fortunate enough to run a trip through the Middle East – encompassing Egypt, Jordan, Syria & central to western Turkey. Not withstanding some fucking awful passengers and a bout of exhaustion, the experience was incredibly rewarding. ‘Blindly’ guiding twelve trekkers (some of whom were gems, I should add) insured a steady increase in heartbeat, eyes wide open, and some luxurious additions to a somewhat excessive scarf collection. --- With no shortage of inspiring experiences, I couldn’t help but indulge in arbitrary moments of devout reflection. Standing at the peak of Mt. Sinai, my imagination ran wild with the stories of antiquity: The Burning Bush, the 10 Commandments, and the incredible distances covered in legendary desert voyages. With all the scepticism and uncertainty in the world today, I couldn’t help but feel that Moses & JC’s journeys weren’t totally lost. Their determination for personal development & subsequent global trekking isn’t far-fetched from the aspirations of travellers today. We too hope to bridge cultures & spread love – preferably in AC internet cafés with an icy frappe & invariable use of Facebook. --- Travelling through the Holy Land also confirmed some (unsurprising) suspicions. Quite obvious is the disturbing imbalance of wealth – poor economies ensure limited incomes & basic living, whilst diplomats parade new cars, occupy grand residences…and no doubt have cable. Struggles for natural resources are also evident with few countries dominating energy sources - making neighbouring nations reliant & submissive…The disempowerment of women, and the widespread serving of bad coffee are also issues requiring imminent attention. --- Equally conspicuous in these parts is the plight of the pious – deem it noble or futile, it certainly appears to have its place in lands where the focus is often on survival. In places where basic commodities are precious, where futures are uncertain, and where security is commonly found in the predictability of day, it must be noted that a little faith can go a long way. With my own spiritual path still under construction, I rummaged around to identify my own beliefs in light of these new experiences. Success! The following is a list of recently unearthed convictions: I BELIEVE THAT YOU MUST HAVE FAITH (HF): • HF that the guy you have just spotted smoking & picking his nose in a kitchen is not the guy who will be hand-rolling the felafel kebap you have just ordered; • HF that the driver of your vehicle who continually swerves across the road, is doing so as part of a strategic, technical manoeuvre - not because he is intoxicated; • HF that when a teenage boy approaches you with a picture of a woman engaged in intercourse & demands, “fuck me. fuck me” – that his message was actually a polite, friendly welcome that somehow became lost in translation! ; • HF that a chat initiated by a middle-eastern man about the ‘behaviour’ of western women, may result in a civilised cultural exchange, rather than a heated discussion; • HF that the layer of skin removed by exfoliation at a Turkish Bath made-up part of your newly acquired tan, than an actual layer of filth you’ve been carrying around ; • HF that the stranger with whom you have decided to accept a ride with will actually take you to your destination – as promised – and will not rape/kill or sell you along the way; -- Other observations? I have no doubt that unbathed, grinning children are inherently gorgeous across the globe; and that whilst love may not ‘make the world go around’ - it certainly doesn’t hurt a country's population. --- Hope that you too are travelling well. Check out photos of the trip - 3 additional albums.  mwa mwa xx r