#bethejourney

[avisittoearth-blog]

A different type of bonding

"Beep beep!" a loud honk screamed for the 1000thnd time, followed by a sudden about- turn of the Tuk- Tuk and strong nausea from my part.

The other bus is roaring quickly past us, shortly before we arrive the curve bedded in the valleys of Northern Laos, leading me to squeeze my eyes shut.

"Well, that was lucky, we almost crashed" were my thoughts, disapproved by the frequent repetitions of the same procedure. This was rather the combination of pure driving skills and the driver´s confusion of the road with a rally than luck.

My plan was to go to Laos and teach Buddhist monks in English and here I was now, finding myself in a Tuk- Tuk with Keanu, one of the monks I am teaching, on a four hours ride through remote jungle villages followed by children running after us and screaming "Farang", the Lao description for white foreigners, while pointing at me. Keanu has asked me to accompany him to visit his family, which he has not seen since one year, as monks are not allowed to possess money, hence could not afford transportation.

 Feeling like the protagonist of someone else´s book, we arrived in a little village embedded in rice patties and surrounded by mango trees. Keanu directed me into a tiny house where people were kissing him and smiling at me welcomingly.

"They are very glad you are here, some of them never saw a foreign person, my aunt just walked seven hours from her village to see you", Keanu stated.

Big brown eyes staring at me with a combination of fascination and confusion while smiling confirmed just that.

Everyone sat around now in a circle and commodities, like money, sweets and more were passed around in order to sacrifice and generate luck for everyone participating in the ceremony. Carried by the positive attitude I found myself in front of a whole glass full of 80% rice liquor.

"To purify the soul" Keanu stated.

"Well, how could I say no to that" I responded, not adding "at 11 in the morning!!".

Needless to say that I was quite tipsy when a whole cooked chicken was passed around.

Everyone had to rip off and eat something. The person before me opened the mouth of the cooked chicken, pulled out its tongue and was eating it with pleasure.

"I am really sorry, I am sure this chicken must be delicious but I am vegetarian," I said, which was actually not just an excuse.

"No problem at all, so you can smell the chicken" Keanu assured me confidently.

Well, so I smelled the chicken and everyone seemed relieved.

[shewhowondersandrambles]

💜

rip

[ddw2017-blog]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sharon Stites (@sharonstites)

Only you can make it happen! #firststep #liveoutyourdreams #onlyyoucanmakeithappen #bethejourney

[mohitmgupta]

Ahhhhh..... The Goa life..... needs no words.... #Goa #ttot #GoaLife #India #IncredibleIndia #BeTheJourney #SpecialFriends #Friends #bosombuddies #JustBe #BeautifulLife #BeTheDifference #Travel #Travelgram #BurgerFactory Awesome @burgerfactorygoa (at Morjim Beach - Morjim Goa)

[justbegreenlove]

#bethejourney #bethechange #sparktheconversation #justbe (at Hopland, California)

[santarinitravel-blog]

Quote Of The Day. 

[viaggiatricedispersa]

Home, Sweet Home?

The only matter in loving to travel, is that after you have been away for a while, going back home your life seems so dull.

It's like days just go by without any meaning. In your mind you just go back and forth between memories from the past and hope for future travels.

Nothing in your current life seems to amaze you, entertain you or sometimes even interest you.

Did we change so much that we cannot enjoy what we enjoyed before? Have we had such amazing experiences, that make everything in comparison look so unappealing? Or is it we are just in the wrong state of mind?

We should try and keep up the enthusiasm we had when we were traveling,the same positive attitude, willingness to meet knew people, try new things. Our current life wouldn't be that dull anymore then.

So try that out and try to enjoy at the fullest what you have now...

at least until the next journey!

[iamlovereigns-blog]

#Oprah #Life #Live #Bethejourney #Ask #Believe #Receive

[lowkeysharp-blog]

Thank you to our beautiful friends @theindependants for featuring us on their blog! Check them out as they journey around the world connecting inspiring and creative people! ✌💚 #theindependants #lowkeysharp #LKSlifestyle #bethejourney #artists

[shewhowondersandrambles]

People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.

Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

[shewhowondersandrambles]

Our entire existence is an improvisation.

That’s What I Think

[shewhowondersandrambles]

Is there any advantage, whatsoever, in pursuing an endeavor that doesn’t feel good while you’re doing it?

Abraham

[shewhowondersandrambles]

…I believed I was a mom moving her children to California to begin a journey of healing. I did not know the extent of other travelers on that journey. I still may never know. But the goal is

the healing.

I’m not ashamed, but I’m not proud. Yet, neither can be allowed to impeded the joy. Because, there can be no healing without happiness. ✨🙏🏼✨

[mohitmgupta]

Avabai Petit was founded in 1913... The school began with 40 pupils. The school campus lies in the heart of the city in Bandra. The classes are spread across 7 acres of lush green land. Imagine that in the great metropolis of Mumbai.... I think for each of us our school times are a very special part of our lives.... my dearest friends are from my school days.... and I have a very special friend from my University days. #Mumbai #Bandra #MeTime #exploremore #experience #SchoolLife #India #BeingIndian #BeTheDifference #BeTheJourney #Exercise #Cycle #CyclingPhotos #CyclingDiaries (at Avabai Famji Petit School)

[mohitmgupta]

Sunset at Mumbai Harbour..... a very special experience.... #Relax #Holiday #Mumbai #IncredibleIndia #BeTheJourney #exploremore #India #BestFriends #BFF #UsTime (at Mumbai Harbour)

[mohitmgupta]

A must do when you visit Amritsar.... The Chana Aloo Puri at Kanha Sweets.... #Holiday #Amritsar #experience #exploremore #IncredibleIndia #BeTheJourney #Travel #TravelGram #India #ttot (at Kanha Sweets)