Day 44 1/2 : At Halfway Point but Full of Yoho

Hi Friends.

We are officially at the halfway point of our journey - both time and location.  We have been traveling for 44 1/2 days and have the same number left before returning home.  It has gone faster than expected to date and we suspect that will just increase as the days remaining count down.  We have stayed in 8 countries and 16 cities. So far we have rode on 11 planes, 1 train, 1 cruise ship, 3 ferries and countless buses / taxis.  We are also at the furthest point away from home that we will travel on this journey.  We are 9,730 miles from home.  Wow - that one just freaked me out a bit :).

It's fair to say the experience so far has exceeded our expectations.  It has truly been a trip of a lifetime.  The places we have visited, the people we have met, the memories we have created - incredible.  And that gets back to the First Nations word we learned in Canada - Yoho which means "in awe and wonderment".  We said at the time that might be THE word for this trip and it seems to be holding true.  We can't wait to see what the second half holds.

It's funny - I was certainly naive when we started.  I thought there would be "best" experiences and places.  I planned on stack ranking the places we visited :). Ha.  What we have learned is that would be an impossible task.  Each place is the "best" of something.  It's been a great reminder that each place, and each person, is unique and special - and when you take the time - you can discover and truly appreciate their "best".

We have also been reminded of a few other things.  One is the absolutely stunning beauty of nature.  We need to appreciate it - breath it in - and take care of it.  No favorites, but a few highlights from the first half.

Another is the incredible beauty of the human soul.  For all our differences - looks, cultures, languages, traditions - we are connected and at our core have more in common than different.  It's easy to forget that - especially as we are facing our own challenges while living our lives.  That has been one of the best parts of traveling - meeting people from around the world, learning about them and recognizing our connections.  And we have learned that the universal language is smiling and laughter.  Amazing how many special moments and connections that start with a simple smile and sharing a laugh.

I loved a quote we saw when we first arrived at the Maldives - "We are all like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep".   So very true.  Here's just a few pictures of the friends who have helped make this trip so very special.

We also have been reminded of a favorite quote we have framed at home "You don't remember days, you remember moments".  It is absolutely true.  So make the most of each moment - live in it - take it all in.  Life goes by fast - the older you get the more you recognize it - and none of us knows how long we will get - so enjoy.  We were laughing at lunch about our most "adventurous" moments in each of the places we have visited - they are:

- Hiking in Canadian bear country without bear spray. (close second for me was the Glacier skywalk)

- Salmon fishing on a small boat in Alaska

- Eating pig's tail in Auckland

- Taking the subway by ourselves to and from the Robot Cabaret in Tokyo. (close second for Craig was the exotic food sampling in the food market)

- Crossing too many crazy streets and trying adventurous food on our Street Food Tour in Vietnam

- Traveling through Hong Kong during this pretty tense time and witnessing a "flash mob" at the airport - it was good when we realized it was small / staged but was tense for a few moments

- Watching sharks swim all around and under our villa in the Maldives (ok, the Maldives have been pretty tame for us - exactly what we wanted at this point!)

And, finally just like with this trip, it's not about the destination it's about the journey.  Wishing you all a journey filled with wonderful moments and much Yoho.

Enjoy the Ride!