shane & mary's adventures

shane & mary's adventures

The day after tomorrow we begin our next adventure. Normally I am off the wall excited when the time approaches. This year, however, I am feeling ........ well I'm not sure what I'm feeling. Last years experience (four months in Africa) was life changing. That sounds trite... trite but all too true! Overcome with emotion, it took a few months before I could speak freely about the people we met. It's easy to talk about the animals and the crazy bus rides..... however the people in Kenya (both up country and in the slums) taught me love, tenacity and real joy. To find joy in the poorest of conditions was humbling for me. I could go on and on about our rich society but this is another time. I am on the verge of another adventure. I suppose these conflicting emotions have their roots in past memories. When you open yourself to the needs of others you also open yourself to the pain of growing emotionally and spiritually.

Our new adventure. will begin in Burma........... My father was in Burma (Myanmar) during WW II. He spoke so often about the country and the people. Fascinated with the religion and culture of both Burma and India, my father used his R&R time to compile a book which was not only a remembrance for his fellow Squadron members but also an in depth study of the peoples of those regions. Here, over 60 years later, I find myself re-reading his book and planning for a month in Burma. There is still conflict in the area which has left me wondering if it is right to go at this time. What I read on web sites like Amnesty International had me second guessing this decision. It is, however, one of my father's dreams that Shane and I should visit his beloved Burma. Before he died we spoke of the possibility. In the 80's I travelled with my father and my youngest daughter to India. At that time we were not allowed to enter Burma as civil war was ongoing. Now, in relative calm, I will make my way to the areas Dad spoke about so often.

After a month in Burma we are planning to travel through Cambodia to Vietnam.... through Vietnam and across Laos to northern Thailand where we will work our way south to Bangkok. From Bangkok we will make a stop in Singapore to visit our friends and hug their twin girls... our little Chinese grand-daughters.

The bombing in Bangkok has put a damper on our enthusiasm ... but like Shane says "When a bomb goes off... security gets tighter and it is probably the safest time to go". I assure you that we don't go bar hopping and we stay away from crowds.

Keep us in your prayers for a safe and exciting three months in Asia.











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