Some girls go shopping

It’s been a long time since I put pen to paper and shared something with my friends. So after arriving home at 9.00pm after two magic days on the road, here goes. It’s going to be short and sweet cause I’m tired. But I hope it encourages you, no matter where you live, to get out and explore the countryside, and yourself!

Touch down

Skidding across the tarmac I was welcomed to Bangkok by more than 100 pictures of King Bhumibol.

Having reigned since June 9, 1946, Bhumibol Adulyadej, translating as “strength of the land, incomparable power” is the world’s longest-serving current head of state and the longest-serving monarch in Thai’s history. Long Live the King is imprinted on every airport entrance (if you’ve been to Bangkok airport, you would know that this translates to a lot) and stories of the royal family headline each of the papers and airline magazines.

New eyes

Firstly, thank you for the emails asking how I am? I have been off the grid for a while, but now in Vientiane for a few more days, so making the most of internet (is that a good or bad thing) and the croissants. Thank goodness for the French. There have been plenty of journeys that I do not have the time to share on this blog, but rest assured, every experience I have had, and person who has inspired me: their stories will be shared and you will have the opportunity to be a part of the journey. So stay tuned.

After a long day with meetings from 9am until 6pm, I took myself down to the Mekong and ordered a large beer Lao with some morning glory, shrimp and sticky rice, and still came out with change from $4. I thought I deserved it. The rat, pig’s ear and wasp pupa, compliments of my northern Lao experience, although tasty, won’t be joined by any other local delicacies between now and my departure.

Don´t do this at home #2

After five months of not getting outside much, my skin is a little pale. This is deemed to be quite beautiful, with many of the Khmer women spending their hard earned dollars on whitening creams and gels. But beauty in Cambodia has gone to a whole new level. Highly toxic chemicals are being spread onto the skin, resulting in massive blisters. Like the bud of a lotus, the loose skin is peeled off removing the top dark layers, and uncovering the beauty hidden within. The pressure we women face to be beautiful to find a husband – I think Ill stay single.

Don´t do this at home #1

Never hop into a taxi when the driver is sitting on the lap of a passenger. Its a good indication the rest of the vehicle will be a little crowded.

Men in uniforms

What is it with me and men in uniform? First it was the immigration officer at Dhaka airport. Now it is my travelling companion who just happens to be a policeman returning to work after a few days visiting his family.

Vanna doesnt speak much English, but excitedly whips out his Khmer-English dictionary when he finds out I am single. So we chat via translations for most of our journey. From Phnom Penh to Sisophon near the Thai border, Vanna travels the seven hour journey every second week to his job at the local police station. His mum and dad own the Casanova tailor shop in Phnom Penh, so I may pick up a few things on my return now we are about to get married – I think the tailor shop was named after him.

Dhaka deluge

Asalam walekum (hello). Welcome to Dhaka city. You are lucky to have chosen today for your city tour, as we have a three day holiday, so the traffic is not so bad and many people are sleeping as they were up last night feasting with friends and family for Shabe-e-barat. It is one of our main muslim festivals when we believe god comes a little closer to earth and will listen to our prayers. Perhaps he heard mine as I have a good customer today – life is a little difficult for a rickshaw wallah: there are over 600 000 of us in the city and the government has banned us from working in many areas of the city. So I am glad you have chosen to take your journey with me.

Wanted: One husband.

¨Where are you going?¨

¨What is your father´s name?¨

¨What is your occupation?¨

¨Tina Louise Jensen. Born 13 June 1971.¨ (read out very loudly)

¨Are you married?¨

¨Would you like to be?¨ (glistening smile bigger than all of Bangla´s waterways in the rainy season)

Experience A to Z

It’s been a while. There’s been illness. Isolation from the world. Time for reflection. Realisations. Acceptance. Personal challenges. Soul searching.

Tomorrow commences August 2008. In eight days, I will commence the second part of a personal journey that will take me from the inner, to five countries in south-east Asia. In eight days, the realisation of a dream takes me away from my computer where I have been glued for the past few weeks, and into the future. A future filled with passion, compassion, excitement, the realisation of dreams and self.

On my birthday this year, I gave myself the greatest gift. Registration of an Australian company that is dedicated to unsung visionaries who create change around the globe. Someone once said to me that a mind once stretched by a new idea will never regain its original dimension. Over the past six months, mine has been stretched to new extremes, and I will be forever changed.

Dust mask tears

As I sat writing a few emails, I couldn’t help but notice the young girl next to me was hiding behind her dust mask, with tears almost as heavy as yesterday’s rain, running down her cheeks.