Things we have learned

Kygerstan
24th July 2006 – Karakol
Just before we left the UK in May, we spent a week on a Dutch bargemoored near Bedford where we discovered a church that was pastored by John Bunyon, the author of The Pilgrim's Progress. The small reformationist church was austerely plain except for a series of twelve stained glass windows depicting aspects of Christian's progress during his journey. It made us wonder what adventures lay ahead for us on our Journey. Fortunately there's nothing too profound to report at this stage but one of two mundane lessons we have learned are;

• A traveller is neither a tourist nor a holiday maker.

• Other people's cultures and customs are not there to make me feel comfortable but to make them feel comfortable.

• Poverty is not defined by a deficit in the things we don't have, but by dissatisfaction with the things we do have.

• Don't camp in grassy feilds - they are a haven for millions of insects, bugs and biting things.

• All people are the same irrespective of race colour or creed - "If you cut us do not bleed?" Shakespeare's Shylock, Merchant of Venice.

• An adventure is not an adventure at the time, just pain and discomfort recalled at some later time from the comfort of home.

Soon we begin our journey through China and the Tibetan plateau to Everest Base Camp (5200 mtrs) where minus 15 degress with fierce wind and altitude sickness await us. Yippee! So I'm sure we'll have learned some more lessons by the time we get to Nepal.