Now that my journey is coming to an end (well let's call it "Indefinite break" since the real journey never ends) I felt the importance of a few closing lines to this blog besides my usual corny photo comments.
I don't mean to sum up the trip with words because that would clearly be an impossible undertake, but try to transfer a few thougth-bubbles onto this page that has been lingering around my head lately.
Well over ten months passed since my locomotive slowly rolled out of the Keleti train station in Budapest.
Looking out of the carriage window I was trying not to think of the monstrosity of what was laying ahead of me. Previous travels have taught me only too well not to have any expectations or preconceptions about the places to be explored.
So there I was heading towards the Romanian border and way beyond with the fearless and Innocent curiosity of a newborn baby.
Open
The events that followed my departure up to today where so varied, rich and intense, that trying to take it all in doubtlessly became my biggest task.
And so I did my best to be as open as possible and to suck it all up without making too many judgements arising from my preconditioned Hungarian mind.
The paths we choose
I came across a large variety of different races each with distinctively unique facial structures. Individuals with different behavioural patterns depending on their social and economic position.
I have witnessed extreme poverty to the point of starvation, side by side with wealth and abundance on an unimaginable scale.
I've met countless people who didn't have too much to put on the dinner table, yet their moderate life-style, good family values and strong faith kept them in top health and happiness.
And I've seen those who made gods of their own passions, wickedness leading them further and further away from their true selves slowly poisoning their bodies and souls.
Bismillah
I was a bystander at religious ceremonies that have been carried out much the same way as three thousand years before.
I also spoke countless people who are true followers of a religion that in our society is being handled at least with suspicion if not fear. Profound and honest conversations with these fine individuals reassured me in my earlier convictions that the true essence of their faith (when it's not being misinterpreted for whatever reason) is all about love, compassion and understanding.
Contemporary colonizers
Large percentage of the western tourist that crossed my path where quite insensitive, at times even arrogant towards local people and their culture, displaying a makeshift superiority based on god knows what kind of beliefs.
I think their behaviour mainly springs from bottomless confusion, frustrations and fears that they bring along from their own societies. Or just mere ignorance.
Of course I have met plenty of beautiful travelers who's kindness and sensible behaviour was second to none, opening the doors and hearts of the locals.
Keepers of the insights
Lots of us traveling to the east are in search of spiritual awakening, looking for wise sages and gurus that going to open our eyes, clear our clouded vision and show us the key to real happiness.
I have met countless sadhus, babas and all sorts of holy man but the real gurus I've found where all under ten years of age.
Yes indeed the thousands of children I've met (some of whom so poor that they never gone to school or held a book) where the real teachers.
Even if unknowingly, but they managed to remain to be open channels between us and the divine realms displaying supreme understanding.
In the arms of Pachamama
Of course all of these mentioned above are just a few human aspects of the journey which is a small slice of the cake.
Besides all this there is (the rest of) nature, the land with all it's other species, it's lowlands, hills and mighty mountains, seas and rivers, scorching deserts and lush rain forests and everything in between.
I have seen mother nature manifesting in so many different forms, stimulating my senses to the fullest.
She invited me in, gave me shelter and protection, than trow me out again back into big cities.
Her beauty and grace brought tears of happiness into my eyes and at times her merciless fury took my foolish pride away.
Harm or harmony
It was also interesting to see the different kinds of relationships people established with their natural surroundings.
There where people who tried to conquer and master the land only to find themselves helpless and frustrated like someone who is banging his head against a concrete wall.
And then there where those who recognized the superiority of nature and treated her with full respect and humble servitude. These are the ones that nature embraces and sustains with her abundance.
The Italian job
There where plenty of friends old and new who shared parts of the experience with me, some of them sticking around for a few days, others for weeks.
I would like to thank all these people to add more colours to the colourful and more magic to the magical.
But above all I am deeply indebted to Gabrielle Stassi, a young Italian who accompanied me throughout most of the journey sharing countless moments of happiness, frustration, hope and despair.
I could not have wished for a better companion. He flawlessly filled the position of a partner, friend, travel agent, personal photographer (without his skillful camerawork this blog would not exist) and at times even acted as my second mother ( very strange mother 'though :-))
Grazzie mille Ga'!
So long
Well as they say there is a time for everything. And now I feel like it's time for me to glide back into the family nest and clean the dust of the road off my feathers.
Just so I can fly out again and pay yet another visit to the cuckoo's nest :-))
Keep it real, much love : Pako
