Tag Archives: Travel

Day 2805: 14 Places on my Travel Bucket List

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

 

It’s 12 : 52 PM on day 2805 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, help a very special someone, spend time outside – ever since i’ve recovered from surgery on every sunny morning I go out stare at the sky and think how wonderful it is to be alive it’s true what they say you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone (or thankfully in my case only almost gone) – have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised $14 469 only $4 281 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

 

Yesterday thinking back to days leading up my recent surgery and knowing that although I was proud of who I was and the way I chose to live that far I regretted not travelling more I decided to make a list of all the places I want to visit before my 35th birthday (8 years from now) I don’t know who will come with me or where I’m going to find the money but I’m going to makes it happen I want to have the full human experience i want to die with memories not unrealized dreams. Take a look at the list of places I want to visit.

14 Places on my Travel Bucket List

1.Paris
2.London
3. Rome
4. Kenya
5. Rwanda
6.Switzerland
7. Sweden
8.Netherlands
9. Denmark
10.Australia
11. Spain
12. Greece
13. LA
14. New York
(Note: Unless absolutely necessary I will not visit the U.S. until Donald Trump is no longer President he is the antithesis of everything I aspire to and hold dear).

Day 2804: One day it will be my turn

One day it will be my turn – that’s what I know.

 

It’s 12 : 42 PM on day 2804 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend time outside, have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised $14 469 only $4 281 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

This morning my mom called from India to say after she comes back at the end of the month she’s going to India again in August to attend my cousin’s wedding I’m glad I wasn’t on the phone because I wouldn’t know what to say I can’t exactly tell her not to go because I don’t want anyone to feel tethered to me or my wheelchair (that is my burden and blessing and I will bear it with grace and dignity) and I can’t exactly tell her I’m fine if she goes because my dad is a guy and he can’t help me with some stuff and the sisi (our helper) can’t stay over because she has kids so basically mom can’t go wherever whenever but I will never tell her that because I don’t want her to wake up one day resenting me for all the things she didn’t do. One day I won’t be the person left behind for others to look after I will travel the world and meet new people too (I just know it in the deepest part of me I don’t know how I know I just know) I’m determined not to be limited to these four walls I deserve the full human experience and I’m going to fight for it. One day it will finally be my turn.

Day 1940: Observations of India

“India is a curious place that still preserves the past, religions, and its history. No matter how modern India becomes, it is still very much an old country.” – Anita Desai

 

It’s 11: 05 AM on day 1940 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read 2 Corinthians 6 and learn one new thing – Despite its name, Worcestershire sauce was originally an Indian recipe, brought back to Britain by Lord Marcus Sandys, ex-Governor of Bengal. One day in 1835, Sandys appeared in a prospering chemist’s emporium in Worcestershire, England, and asked the chemist to create a batch of sauce from his recipe.

 

A month ago my family and I went to India I saw and experienced so many things there that I felt compelled to write them down. Take a look:

Observations of India

  • Cash is king (as we were leaving the airport upon our arrival the security guard was arguing with my uncle over a few cents)
  • India is becoming more open-minded and accepting with each passing day (when I went to India in 2011 everywhere I went people stared at me blatantly but this time around people hardly paid any attention to me it was awesome)
  • Some Indians are super nice (one afternoon we were outside a restaurant and a autorickshaw driver put my wheelchair in the boot for us while my sister was putting me in the car after which without a word he came to the passenger side of the car, kissed my hand and left I will never forget him)
  • The people I’ve seen in India have no regard for road rules (because the roads are narrow and people are impatient they do some crazy things to get where they need to go like U-turns in the middle of the road and swerving into different lanes ….travelling on Indian roads is SCARY)
  • It takes forever to get anywhere in India (we went to visit family friends one day and no joke it took us 4 hours to travel 40 kilometres I could not believe it)
  • It always hot (it wasn’t even summer while we were there but the moment we stepped outside we were boiling)
  • The people I’ve seen in India have no regard for the environment (people eat in the car then throw the packets outside the window)
  • India embraces all religions (I saw a church directly opposite a mosque it was a sight to behold)
  • India is designed for the able-bodied (most places you go to in Kerala have stairs and no lifts [simple things like going to restaurants and the movies were the hardest for me because we had to check beforehand if the places were wheelchair accessible])

 

Day 1932: Missed flight and meeting my hero Catherine Constantinides

Things have a way of working out –that’s what I keep realizing.

 

It’s 5: 00 PM on day 1836 of my journey towards independence traveled from  Johannesburg to our hometown – they were some almost major hiccups with our re-booked domestic flight but we dealt with it  and got home in the end all’s well that ends well 🙂 – had lunch at my uncle’s and spent time with the cousins.

 

Yesterday our connecting flight to our hometown got moved up and as a result we had to stay the night in Johannesburg which worked out for me because I got to meet my hero without a cape, Catherine Constantinides, in the flesh (I’ve been tweeting with her forever) she is an epic human being whose outer beauty only pales in comparison to her inner beauty and humility I so admire and love her…I’m a fangirl now and forevermore.

Day 1931: Heading Home

Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

 

It’s 3: 31 AM on day 1835 of my journey towards independence and day 27 of our India trip 2015 at the airport (heading to South Africa).

 

This morning we’ll be travelling back to South Africa can’t wait to be home and see my family over there.

Day 1926: Age and Growing in Grace

With age we grow in grace– that’s what I keep realizing.

 

It’s 8:  48 AM on day 1830 of my journey towards independence and day 22 of our India trip 2015 prayed and read 1 Corinthians 11.

 

Yesterday we went to Bhima Jewellery people were staring at me like I was going to disappear and I didn’t mind at all I even introduced myself to this little girl who seemed to be fascinated by me with age I think I’ve grown in grace and learned not to take things so personally.

Day 1925: India and open-mindedness

India has become more open-minded in the last four years – that’s what I’ve noticed.

 

It’s 9:  58 AM on day 1829 of my journey towards independence and day 21 of our India trip 2015 prayed, read 1 Corinthians 10, had breakfast and learned one new thing – Irascible [i·ras·ci·ble] adj. Characterized by or arising from anger. (of a person) Easily made angry. “He was always irascible and quick to get into a fight.”

 

Yesterday my family and I went to watch a Malayalam movie at the movie theatre the staff was very helpful and the other movie-goers barely noticed me I loved it I felt like a normal human being I’m so glad that India and Kerala in particular is becoming more accepting of the differently-abled.

Day 1922: The Kind Autorickshaw Driver

The smallest acts of kindness take up the biggest space in one’s heart – that’s what I keep realizing.

It’s 1 :  49 PM on day 1826 of my journey towards independence and day 18 of our India trip traveled 3 hours from my dad’s house back to my uncle’s and had a fantastic vegetarian lunch at Rasam .

Two days ago outside of Shines – a restaurant – an autorickshaw driver saw my sister carry me from my wheelchair into the front seat of our car and he took it upon himself to load my wheelchair into our boot which would have been a kind gesture in itself but he went further by coming over to the front passenger side of the vehicle and folding his hands together in Namaste as if to show his respect for me I was so touched I didn’t know what to say.

Day 1921: The fantastic uncle Rajiv and family

People who’ve been though a lot have a lot of compassion and love – that’s what I know.

It’s 6 :  55 PM on day 1825 of my journey towards independence and day 17 of our India trip continued reading School of Greatness by Lewis Howes – it’s a great book I’m enjoying it so far –  went to Perumala – visited Saint Gregorios’s tomb and bed (it’s a place of pilgrimage and a very holy place) – had lunch at Hotel Raj – best butterchicken curry ever – and visited some of dad’s family

A few days ago I met uncle Rajiv – my dad’s cousin (I think) – uncle Rajiv brother’s nicknamed Big Son (in Malayalam)  is unable to walk because he had Polio and we were told that his sister-in-law is also  slightly intellectually disabled I felt that family’s compassion for me as soon as I entered their house I felt like they valued me as a human being it was really something.

 

 

Day 1916: Men and Women

It’s true what they say men are from Mars and women are from Venus – that’s what I learned today.

 

It’s 4 :  18 PM on day 1826 of my journey towards independence and day 12 of our India trip 2015 went shopping at Parthas, had lunch at the Indian Coffee House and went to visit my godparents

 

Today my sister and I went to Parthas – a clothing store – with my dad, brother and cousin the guys bought their stuff and couldn’t wait to get out while us girls took our sweet time picking the clothes we wanted to buy it was interest to note the contrast.