Lethargy
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It’s not easy to write when you are going around the world (it’s taking more than 80 days). At the time I first announced my intentions to travel and keep the rantlust community updated on my adventures, I thought I’ll really stick to it. But there’s been too many ‘I’ll-blog-at-the-next-pit-stop’ promises to myself without much avail. Travelling is a draining activity especially if you are doing too much stuff. It’s been three months since I last wrote (about Tibet) and now Tibet is such a distant memory.
The Internet is everywhere I go and yet, I can’t bring myself to write. I am not even writing on my journal. And slowly over the months, I have attained this stage of travel nirvana where I don’t even see a lot of the touristy stuff. I just show up at places, meet some people (some fellow travelers, some locals) and just hang. Sip a coffee or chai here, sip a beer there, eat some noodle soup here, eat some Thai fish curry there. I sit and watch children play on the beach; young adults canoodle on park benches; Japanese tourists take pictures of me with whatever statue is behind me; get hit on by local men and touristy women. Life goes on. I occasionally pop into an Internet cafe to check on close friends and family and let them know I’m still in it. But even news has lost a lot of the meaning for me. I mean, what’s the point really? Unless you are on a world domination spree, why bother with what’s happening thousands of miles away? Give the conscience a break and be selfish… in your moment for a while. It feels good.
Random thoughts. Observing people and surroundings with nary a care in the world. Feeling good about humanity. Remembering how tough, interesting, life-changing and amazing the last few months of my life have been. Missing those close to me. Wishing I could get a hug.
I am now in a tiny cafe in Hobart, Tasmania. Beautiful weather. A few clouds in the sky, summer is approaching. I can see Sullivan’s Cove from where I sit. A beautiful woman with a Spanish accent sits by herself at a table nearby. Probably late 30s. She’s talking on a sleek looking phone (no, not the iPhone) to probably a jilted lover. She’s angry but the voice is soft but steady. On the only other table sits a young boy with headphones bigger than his head wrapped around. A girl sits opposite him bored and having a cake. He’s reading some thick tome. The waiter likes me. Keeps coming to my table to chit chat. I think I’ll indulge him. He’s cute. Pakistan and Darfur don’t interest me now. I am living in the here and now. And loving it.
Stop it! You are making me salivate.
Enjoyed the post. A budding Jack Kerouac? Glad to know you are alive - (I’m not kidding I just thought to myself yesterday - whatever happened to reneejo. Hope she isn’t dead).
So what’s the deal with a road trip and self discovery anyway? This topic was partly investigated on This American Life. ‘Act Two’ was pretty funny.
Kerouac–that’s funny. I was thinking the same thing. And did you say at some point that English is not your first language? Hope you overcome your lethargy and entertain us more with your (non)adventures.
No, is not funny. Why you crazy peoples comparing nice lady to evil crazy doctor who killed many peoples? Just because she travel not mean she want to kill old peoples.
When you coming Kazhakistan, indulgent ladies? I let you ride on my car. Maybe I even let you sit inside. If you really like crazy doctor, I may let you treat my wife, you know what i means (wink)
I’m not sure which I like more: Reneejo’s postcards from the edge, which routinely provide insight into numerous levels of her journey and her changing perspective; or Borat’s comments, which routinely provide insight into an entirely different perspective!
Stay safe out there.
Hey Reneejo, where to from Hobart? I live with the eternal hope that someone will drop by and visit the Pearl of the Pacific - Samoa.
Of late, I often think a lot about philosophy and spirituality. For a person who thought that he was born to be an engineer, that is a lot of change. Philosophy is about the meaning of life and spirituality is about growing and changing.
Now when I see a person going around the world, and say “Feeling good about humanity.” is the thing now from being just “touristy” in the beginning, I see a person getting spiritual and philosophical. My POV. For the first time in my life, I found my judgment on the definition on some social science questions(read philosophy and spirituality) getting right.
Hope you find the meaning, growth and change you sought.