Novaturient (adjective) Origin: German | nO·va·’tUr·E·ent A desire to alter your life; The feeling that pushes you to travel
“The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton
By deciding to alter my life and travel, I have been exposed to so many wonderful people, places, experiences, foods, drinks, ideas, visions, smells, sensations, and a never-ending supply of learning opportunities. Each of these experiences have increased my desire to alter my life and travel more. Some of my favorite or most memorable experiences:
1. Living and teaching in Seoul, South Korea. It was hard for me to limit it to just these photos. In three years, I must have lived through 50 life times. I went there in 2007 with my youngest daughter. She stayed a year then moved back to the U.S. at which time my oldest daughter came to visit me and ended up staying a year. Between traveling through Korea, volunteering at orphanages and soup kitchens, participating in theater, stand up, movie making, reiki, tea ceremonies, and on the list goes. The most memorable experience of my life. One day I will go back.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your Balance you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein
“Plunge boldly into the thick of life, and seize it where you will, it is always interesting.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou
2. Venezuela. 2010 – 2012. friends, food, festivities, hikes, rafting, paragliding, sky-diving, animal safaris. My oldest daughter, her husband and my grand-daughter lived with me for about 8 months. This was another of my favorite locations and times. I can’t describe how sad I was to leave Venezuela. I am fortunate to be in contact with so many of my colleagues and friends from this time period. One day, I dream we will meet again.
3. Cambodia – 2009 – This trip will also stay forever in my heart. It was my first solo trip. No kids, no friends, no knowledge of what I would get myself into. I ate fried frogs, dried out grasshoppers, visited temples, made folks smile, folks made me smile. I randomly ran into a couple of friends that I had known from Korea but also made so many more friends. Visited a floating village and heard the stories of children who were the only source of income for their families. An incredible place. I have been back two times since 2009, more as a typical tourist doing more typical touristy things. Nothing will ever compare to that first time. It was a magical place.
“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” – Anita Desai
4. Nepal – 2013-2015 – This was a uniquely different time of travel. Kathmandu was amazing and wonderful and full of temples, and crowded and dirty. I went on hikes and hashes weekly. The food was ok, my colleagues were great. I had friends from all over come and visit me. The most outstanding experience though was going through an actual earthquake. I think what I learned most in Nepal was how resilient the Nepalese people were. Not a single colleague missed a day of work after the earthquake. Despite their homes being destroyed. Despite their families living in tents outside of their home. I will never forget that experience. I think I also learned a little more how resilient I was. How being in a situation that has devastated an entire country can change your life. Seems like an obvious thing to say, but sometimes I will go back and look at photos or watch a CCTV clip from that time and just be in awe. I also learned that it is unlikely i will ever again ride an elephant.
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain
“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta
Obviously I have been in many more places and have thousands upon thousands of examples of the things I have done and what I have learned and how I have grown. All I know is that this adventure I have been living will likely never end. I may retire from my work/travel life. But travel will be something that I will never retire from. it’s something that is in my blood and in my soul. It is actually this journaling began.. and it is likely how this journal will end.
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag
“Adventure is worthwhile.” – Aesop
“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin
Traveling souls: Sheree; Coreen; wanderingcanadians; tempranillo; albatz; dewetswild; woollymuses; carol; stephen; awara; Leane
rfljenksy - Practicing Simplicity 