Withdrawal.  Confessions of a travel junkie.  Hooked on nomadic exploration of this remarkable planet we share.  Hooked on the diversity and yet similarities of the endless cultures around the world.  Hooked on the genuine smiles and kindness between strangers.  Hooked on witnessing first hand, bizarre, exotic things of the unknown.  Hooked on the thrill of standing in awe before the many wonders of the world.  I wrote in 2018:

“Exhilarating!  It’s hard to describe the thrill of climbing into the King’s Chamber of the Great Pyramids of Egypt or trekking up to Everest Base Camp in Tibet and gazing on Mt. Everest looming above, or spotting the Treasury Al Khazneh after hiking into Petra, Jordan through the Siq Canyon.  I grew up reading about such epic adventures in National Geographic.  Soon I am transformed into a Tomb Raider or Indiana Jones or Mt. Everest climber, Beck, from “Into Thin Air”.  Pinch me.  I am here!  This elation recharges even the most weary traveler.”

As we sit in our 6^th month of lock down on the shores of beautiful, serene, Lake Toba, in remote Sumatra, we must first count our blessings.  We are happy and healthy, with no cases of Covid on Samosir Island.  Many people have had terrible results from this virus, and our hearts and prayers go out to them.  We are going through withdrawal and our travel itch is strong but now is not the time.  When?  Patience. 

Even with good communication with the outside world it is hard to sift through the lies.  What is really going on?  A total world lock down in 2 weeks.  Who would have guessed this possible in January?  The virus is real.  The treatment is in question.  Numbers and reporting are in question. Lies and more lies with no accountability.  People and institutions we have trusted for years have revealed ulterior motives.   Logic is out the window.  Divide and conquer.   We are faced with serious loss of personal freedom or even the choice over our own bodies.   We keep looking to our politicians and news media for the answers, while totally disregarding the many recent published scientific studies. We are faced with serious life threatening decisions about dangerous, mandatory, not properly tested vac*cines.  Or the efficacy of wearing masks.   Or the dangerous health effects being discovered from the 5*G grid irradiating our bodies, our homes, our children.    Why not allow people the choice to decide their treatment; conventional or alternative?  All we are saying is provide legitimate testing proving the safety of these things and then let people make their choice.   Vac*cines should be available but let people choose what’s right for their body.  People are either adamantly pro or con without proper information.  Depends which channel we listen to.  It’s like a bad Sci-Fi movie gone awry.  When humanity most needs to pull together, FEAR is tearing our world apart.  Fear is destroying our lives. Fear is tearing apart family and friends.  Don’t let Fear rule our lives!   Do your research.  Make your own decisions but do it soon.  Society as we know it and personal freedoms are being censored or lost daily.  It is up to you and I to have the courage to change the things we can.  As Martin Luther King Jr wrote, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.”  We each must ask ourselves what am I doing to help?  It’s now or never!! 

There are always 2 or more levels to every situation or problem.  The human story line playing out day to day.  And the energetic spiritual side.  Keep informed of what’s happening, on both sides of each issue.  Make informed decisions.  Do what you can.  Then let it go.  Allow your wisdom and intuition to take over.  Turn it over to the power that is greater than this chaos.  Keep your immune system strong.   Stay healthy.   Stay centered.  Let the positive inner strength, love and joy we each have, ooze out to those around us and over the world.  We are at a crossroads.  Time to awaken and weave a new tapestry for our future.  Herein lies the hope!

With this hope in mind we will continue to share the world with our readers; in the order traveled.  Our inaugural stop on our recent Around the World Adventure is Northern Thailand.

Excitement ran high as we left our ‘nest’ in Bali and were catapulted out into the wide world.  Our first stop was Phuket Island in Thailand.  Phuket is a well known destination in Thailand.  Phuket is famous for white sand beaches, vibrant nightlife, colorful night markets with tasty seafood and local specialties, a large white marble Big Buddha and of course scuba diving. In the Old Town, Thalang Road is lined with colorful 19th-century shop houses and Sino-Portuguese  or  Chinese baroque buildings.  

Due to its strategic location between India and China, Phuket became a significant port on the trading route between Asia and Europe from the 15th century onward. The Dutch, the British, and the French all did sizeable trade but it was the Portuguese whose contribution stands out.  Chinese immigrated here starting in the 15^th century.  Taking local wives they integrated into the Thai community.  These wealthy merchants left behind classy shop fronts that now make up the backdrop of Phuket’s famous Night Market.   Entertainment, food, produce, sweets; there is a treat waiting for everyone in the hustle and bustle of the market.

Our first time on Phuket, we stayed outside of town at a unique little marina, gateway to the gorgeous islands to the north.  We chose a boat and before we knew it we were on James Bond Island.  Landing in Phang Nga Bay, had us on the look out for 007 or “The Man With the Golden Gun”.   Maybe next time.

We go to Thailand to eat and the Thais turned our simple vegetarian buffet lunch into a sumptuous affair.  Love those fresh vegetables and spices!  On the return trip we kayaked into a hidden lagoon inside Hong Island.  Depending on the tide, you can sit upright and clear the low hanging stalactites in the cave or you may have to lay flat to avoid a total face makeover.  Maneuvering through the maze of dark caves all of a sudden ‘Voila’ you are transported to another world.  A hidden world inside an island,  completely hidden from the outside world except at low tide.  Mystical and stunning.

On to Chiang Mai we officially began our Victory Tour.  We have not seen many friends for over 10-18 years.  This trip is about exploring the world but also catching up with good friends and sharing time in ‘their lives’.  Victory Tour?  Victorious that we are all still alive and well.  Turned out it was a wise plan as 2 have become seriously ill and one passed since this trip.  Never put things off!  We visited our friend Stan in Chiang Mai and enjoyed meeting him several times to eat within the walls of old town.  Chiang Mai’s Night Market was an explosion of colors, tastes, and aromas.  We also enjoyed an orchid and butterfly farm.  What a thrill to see these beautiful flowers and butterflies up close!  The colors were stunning.

With Chiang Mai  as our base we explored the northern hills.  Elephants are native to this area, boasting many safaris and Elephant Camps.  Some are known for their kind treatment of these gentle giants, other camps are not.  Please choose wisely.   The day was full of learning more of our dear elephant friends.  We bathed them, had a ride through the jungle and across the river and even watched these intelligent beings paint pictures of Nature.   As we left we got a big good bye smooch, akin to being attacked by a rogue vacuum cleaner.  Memorable day; leaving with an even bigger  place in our hearts for these amazing animal friends.

A ride down a river on a bamboo raft and catching an ox cart up a mountain found us face to face with the beautiful, yet strange women of the ‘Long Neck Kayan or Karen’ ethnic hill-tribe.  Refugees from Burma these unique women start to have heavy brass rings put around their necks at age 5.  A ring is added every 2 years in a special ceremony, until the rings weigh close to 5kg!  It’s a sign of beauty and a means of protection against marauding tigers/demons/ and even men.  It’s also really heavy as I put the front of one on to have my picture taken, and was amazed at the weight.  Rather than making the neck longer, the heavy brass necklace weighs down the shoulders.  The rings can never be removed because the neck muscles have atrophied. One of those interesting yet bizarre customs in the Unknown!

We stopped off in Bangkok for a week.  Stayed in our usual ‘home away from home’ alley – Soi Rambuttri.  We love being in the thick of the local and traveler action – but on the quiet end of the alley.  For a treat we stayed for a few days along the main river in a skyscraper with a river view; the lap of luxury.  The toilet was like being in the cockpit of a plane; with all the options and buttons.  Music, heated seat, jet spray.  Wow!  We both played with it like kids.  “Did you fall in?”  Fun.  Which experience did we prefer?  Who can say?   Variety is a necessary element in life.  Embrace the diversity. 

And so it goes…………………………………..Next off to Central Vietnam.   As our world suffers under the weight of uncertainty and turmoil, remember to make informed decisions and have the courage to change the things that we can; for the sake of our children.  We can all make a difference in our own way.  Stay connected, stay strong and let our inherent internal strength and peace radiate to those around us with kindness.  Together we can do this.    Take care!  Keep in touch.