on leaving…..
As I am about to board my VERY VERY (did I mention very?) long flight to south america, I am struck by this transition. This feels big — both from the perspective that it is the half way point of my trip and that it is a big transition in location, and away from Asia.
By the way — did I mention that my flight is long? Yeah — almost 29 hours of flying time, plus just under a 3 hour layover. how is that for long?! I guess I am traveling half way around the world.
So, what is it about this part of the world that I have fallen in love with? I could say that it is the people (which is true) or the food (which is also true), but that is not the full story. In Nepal it was the moutains, along with the people. In India, it was the diversity, the food and the people. In Bangkok and Vietnam, it was how different it was (for me), and the food!
But, that isn’t all of it either. That doesn’t fully explain leaving part of my heart in India and Nepal. Maybe it was how hard you (sometimes) have to work in those places to get your big rewards. Or the contrast of worlds. Or the interplay of spirituality and every day life – and all the messiness that it brings. That there is this dicotomy between simplicity and complexity, and how nothing is one or the either. Maybe it is how much those two countries make me smile (and sometimes make my angry). Whatever it is, it is powerful.
So — away I go – off to another place, another world. Which, I am sure will be amazing and full of greatness — just as all of the world have proven to be for me. But, seeing as I am leaving part of myself here, I will just have to come back some time soon.
See you all in Buenos Aires!
