The world is the same size as it’s always been. Social media giving the impression that it’s smaller than it once was.
It’s possible to travel round the world in just over 48 hours by airplane. To truly know and feel it you have to get down and dirty and travel slowly. Slowly through the parts mass tourism doesn’t reach. It’s in these places that you connect with fellow humans and experience the richness of other cultures and ways of life. Travelling slowly, slowly on foot, slowly by bicycle, slowly by any means.
Exited, as ahead lay two weeks travelling slowly by boat and what ever we can find, hopping island by island east from Bali.
On the overnight cattle truck from London Heathrow. Packed in to the rear of the plane 10 abreast I spark up a conversation with the man sitting next to me. He tells me he’s off to Kathmandu and Everest base camp. And I tell him to look out for Jamie and malachai. Two brits who’ve cycled from London and are now on their way to Everest with their bicycles. We part him with messages of luck from me to Jamie and Malachai.
As we pass Singapore the seat belt lights come on and we are reminded of the power of the universe as we skirt a spectacular electrical storm beneath us lighting up the clouds with bright flashes.
Now in Bali having met up with Alice and Jonny, Juliet’s daughter and boyfriend, who’ve been travelling in New Zealand. Busy and hot. We’re looking forward to getting off and out east away into more remote places.
At breakfast this morning we learnt how to say thank you in Balinese. We have cash and a sim. We are good to go travelling slowly. Taking things day by day. Being curious about the people and culture as we go.
Alice and Jonny have been travelling now for nearly two years and are on a budget so for the next two weeks it’s £20 a day per person. It’s going to be interesting.
