Somewhere on a bus ride to Phnom Penh

I really wish that we had been better recently at keeping up on our journals and this blog. My fear is that, in time, we will lose some memories forever having not recorded them along the way. But what to do? As traveling has become our life, when it ceases to be novel, it is simply where we are living at the moment and things like journal writing to someone who is not accustomed to it seem to fall by the wayside. It is only at certain moments that I truly feel compelled to write. It is at other times, as it has been the case for many entries in my journal, I write because I think I should. The result is an uninspiring observational account of what you see and do, nothing emotional, soulless, and really nothing different from what you could gather from a decent book or a few hours on Wikipedia. But the other day, as we rode through the Cambodian countryside I was paradoxically struck and awed by the normalcy of the situation. I, staring out the window across vast rice fields dotted with solitary palm trees, Grace quietly reading a book next to me as if all this was 'normal''. It is a vivid and lucid feeling that instantly brings forth the realization of the present moment, something I have ineloquently come to refer to as 'holy shit' moments. In talking with other travelers, it seems to be a common phenomenon.

I think about what will remain in memories of this trip. What will I have to say about our adventures? Strangely I feel at a loss for words even when trying to describe past countries gone by and strain to recall memorable events and stories that have happened along the way. I am sure that at one point, in one conversation or another, much will come flooding back and I truly look forward to what we will say.

In the moment it is tough to describe how we feel, how we are affected by something. However, removed from the situation I think that experiences congeal and we will begin to appreciate how this trip has affected us and shaped our views and perspective of the world. The same was true of my trip to Africa; it was only after I returned home did I begin to see how I had changed. I am very much anticipating this realization again. Time will tell, as it always does. The end is near; only 4 days until we are back in Canada and I just can't believe it!

*NEW PHOTOS

We have posted more photos of the India portion of our trip. Still more to come (we spent 2 months there and it is a massive place).

Please bear with us. If nothing else we promise to be a little more deligent about posting some more photos quickly. That being said, we will be home in less than a month so you may be seeing us in person before some more pics of us in India. For some of you that is still a good thing we hope.

Looking forward to catching up with everyone soon, and filling in the gaps that our blog has admittedly left.

Please enjoy the pics and get ready because we will be home soon!

Love Paul and Grace