The Travelling Sisterhood

Celebrations for young novices on their way to the monastery in Ava, Myanmar

That feeling...
If you have been reading Collage of Life for a while now, you will know that we live a travelling life. Moving from country to country every so often and exploring as we go. Through all it's trials and tribulations...I enjoy it and am happy when others come along to say they share a similar passion. I photograph and write about my travels with the hope that one day I will inspire someone to take a journey...one that might enhance their life in some way. It doesn't have to be the big bang effect...it could be as small as having that feeling...that one you get when you are somewhere and you say 'this is it'..this is the moment I want to remember. Do you know that feeling? The one when you have connected in some way with your surroundings and it feels good...it feels inspiring..it makes you want to move mountains...or maybe not. Perhaps bringing home a pebble will do..it often does for me. But man oh man...what that pebble does for ones soul. That is the feeling I live for and when someone else feels the same...pure gold. With that, I thought of The Travelling Sisterhood.

If you are a man reading this, I don't mean to slight you, it is just that 'The Travelling Sisterhood' sounds so much better than 'The Travelling Manhood or The Travelling Hood...I think you catch my drift.

The Travelling Sisterhood...
In fact, I am thinking of four ladies in particular who are in the midst of an amazing journey at this very moment. En route for a three week trip through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam where they will eventually make their way to Ho Chi Minh City. The trip to Vietnam comes by way of a mention I made in a post a few months back about Jean Wethmar, a woman who organises Vietnam luxury tours for women at Cape Lux Travels. In fact, I met Jean via Mille at The Laurel Hedge. As the world turns, as it often does in the blogging world ...Linda at Lulu Musings followed along as well and decided it was her time to go on a little adventure of her own. She got three friends together, contacted Jean and they are now having the journey of a lifetime. The travelling sisterhood doing it's magic.

Linda (in grey) and her travelling companions in Bangkok

I am so excited for them all. I love that they decided to travel to Southeast Asia on their own. I love that they are experiencing this side of the world for the first time. I love that Linda is photographing and recording her journey. This journey will most definitely be one she will be speaking of with her grandchildren for years to come. My guess is that all of these lovely travelling ladies will inspire others to do the same. The Travelling Sisterhood will live on. If you would like to follow along on their journey, you can visit Linda here.  

A world class traveller...

I would like to mention my mother-in-law, Mrs. H Sr... who at 82 is the one of the most remarkable travellers I have ever met. She recently travelled with us to Burma/Myanmar...her second trip to the area. The last one was part of an archaeological tour two years ago. She has been a worldwide traveller for as long as I can remember. She travels solo and with friends, with a preference for museum and university tours. Like minds tend to find each other and she has had a ball. She told me her favourite travels have been to Myanmar, India, Iran and Tunisia. She is still keen to travel to Nepal and the Netherlands. She is talking about hanging up her passport in a few years time...something I can not imagine her ever doing. 

Mrs. H Sr...travels Inle Lake, Myanmar

As for me...

I am still at it, working through my Myanmar photos, taking inspiration from the travelling sisterhood and doing my thing. That is me..below, on the left, with our local Myanmar guide, Nyein Nyein Ei, who was fabulous. Mrs H. Sr took this photo, one of the very few that I have of myself for I seem to always be on the other end of the camera. I am wearing my usual travel gear along with my Aussie travel hat which has served me well. It is a sorry sight at the moment but not any sorrier than me in the sandals above. I look strange, I know. I am wearing my favourite Ecco sandals only because I got so tired of taking my shoes off and on for every stupa, temple, monastery, pagoda..that  I decided it was much easier to just velcro snap and go! You are going to get dirty regardless and that is my theory for all it is worth!  :)

Me (l) and Neigh Neigh Ei (r) in the Aulang Sitthou
area of Inle Lake, Myanmar

Journeywoman...

It is only fitting that would be members of the The Travelling Sisterhood know of Journeywoman.  It is an online travel resource just for women...a great place to start if you are contemplating a trip. Sometimes the best trips are when we step out of comfort zones and just go for it. There are plenty of women who have done just that at Journeywoman.

Armchair travellers...

For those of you who are armchair travellers...and I count myself as one of them too, here are a few good travelling tales... enjoy the journey! 

My travelling armchair

Until next time and at the rate I am going, it could be sooner than you think

(two posts in one week is a big event for me) I wish you well....

Jeanne xx

Contemplating another kind of journey...into the monastery as a novice monk.