The strike in Nepal caused a power cut across the country and the shut down of most businesses, leaving tourists to flounce around trying to work out what the best thing to do was. There was no way I was going to miss my flight and lucky enough, Annie, the German woman I had allied with was catching a plane the same day as me so we decided we would make it there together.
The streets were eerily quiet first thing in Kathmandu and then during breakfast, we heard the marching and shouting of the demonstrators. They want their murdered congressman to be declared a martyr. It was advised that we head to the airport as early as possible; tourists were gathering in the centre of Thamel as there were organised tourist buses, escorted by the police that were carrying people to 'safety'. We didn't get on the first one and we waited an hour before we finally made it onto one. It was every man for himself and manners were put to one side in order to get myself and my suitcase in. Some people gave up and walked to the airport.
The nice Indian gentleman who sat next to me closed the curtain over the bus window beside me, advising very delicately that I don't watch what was going on outside. Much like the journey back from Chitwan, I just held on tight and waited until we were at our destination, I wouldn't relax until we were there. Annie and I parked ourselves on a piece of grass across from Departures by the parking lot and people watched the long hours away...Human Rights, Red Cross and UN vehicles all zoomed their way out of the car park and into town. And when Gulf Air's tail was in the air, I smiled and closed my eyes, I was at peace.
Naturally, I felt different when landing in Heathrow the next morning. England looked strange but yet the same; nothing had changed but for the first time I could confirm that I in fact had. Finding a place again in the city that I was born and raised in seems tricky now, I think we've let each other go. So as tired as I was, I was still in traveller mode, ready for Lyon the next day.
Cuter and more realaxed than Paris, Lyon is the ideal city to soak up the French culture in. Rich in history and laced with gourmet favourites, I very much enjoyed my few days there. Indulgence was the theme and I oohed and ahhhed everytime I walked past a Patisserie, Boulangerie or a Chocolaterie - sampling pretty much everything that flirted with me through the windows. Croissants, Brioche, Galette, Chocolat Chaud...I had it all. My tummy was happy and so was I...Loic was beaming the whole time, he too was happy to back in his home city.
I was too shy to practice my French whilst on native land but I'm getting better and better at understanding the language - I am definitely going to keep learning. It's in my blood you see and had I had a little more enthusiasm for it at school, I'd probably be a lot more conversational. But it didn't stop me from getting right into the swing of things there. The weather wasn't too dissimilar from that in the UK and the Christmas spirit was ever present but there was something a little bit more magical about the place that refreshed me.
My big trip seems quite distant in my memory now, although those experiences and stories are fully intergrated in me, I'm looking forward now and not so much at the past which is usually the habit. I did enough reflecting while on the plane home from Nepal and I finally feel free. Even checking the bank and organising my bills isn't frustrating me like it used to - London, you won't get me down this time. I'm moving on...and my travels are not over yet. I've got the bug now and it's probably here to stay. Forever an explorer, I've unlocked parts of me I was too afraid to release and now there is no turning back.
I look up at the grey cloud outside as I sit here typing my last 'travel blog', thinking about the year of 2011 that I'm shedding like dead skin and I've got the keys in my hand to open the door of 2012. So let's get closure on this...
Thank you all for staying tuned as I went on my journey, it's been a pleasure to share. Even as I read this back from the beginning way back in September, I see my own progress and I'm elated at what I achieved and I regret absolutely nothing.
I look forward to seeing you all again and I hope that you'll follow me on my main blog which I'll be switching back to very soon:
www.underaweepingwillow.blogspot.com
Happy New Year everyone, I hope you're all on a new journey of your own.
Namaste.
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