It started intentionally with no plan and “no plan” was the best possible plan I could have had. It was the journey that mattered in the end.
But now, after many months of solo journeying, I have reached another fork in the road and this wanderer is returning to the country that will always be home.
Through Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, Spain, France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro, my wanderings have led to experiences that filled me with awe, surprise, learning, delight, wonder, chaos, laughter, tears and self-discovery.
Today was my last day in Montenegro and as one of the last before returning home, it was a day of mixed emotions. But I spent it well. Driving through the incredible Lake Skadar National Park, along narrow backroads, was special. Even more special was stopping at a roadside stall, chatting to the owner for ages, tasting fresh, ripe figs, picking grapes straight from the vine, 'sipping' his wares, meeting his 86 year old father and other friends who drove by and being made to feel so welcome and at home in their country. That's why I travel.
Pictures and words can only ever capture the essence of an experience - it is the memories of the people that have stuck with me over the years - much more than the sights themselves. This trip has given me the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and family across the globe and for that I will always be grateful.
As for my new friends, there is a special bond that only a travel experience together can bring, so thank you for being part of those moments.
I have delighted in sharing the journey through my images and blog. This blog has been my constant companion and is now part of who I am. So it might not be as regular from now on, or be from destinations as exotic, but I will continue to share it, if only for me. The Wandering Hart journey will never be over while there is something different or interesting to observe about life and locations.
Thank you for joining me on an unforgettable ride.
"Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
