I'm going to start wrapping things up now. I leave Placencia for Belize City and then up to Cancun for my flight home in a few days, but we've done the whole chicken bus thing, I've gushed enough about Belize, and I'm sure everyone is beginning to get tired of my endless travel rambles by now. So let's call it a day while I've still (in the words of Def Leppard) got something to say ...it's better to burn out, than fade away.
I always wanted to travel, and I've done a fair amount of it so far. ...And hopefully I've got a fair amount left in me yet. But as I've already said, this is likely to be my last backpacking extravaganza.
I conceived this trip with a few things in mind. I wanted to fill in a few knowledge gaps around this part of the world, and come back to Belize on a budget one last time. But the truth is, this trip has been about something much more personal and difficult to define, but I've managed to identify at least three reasons that I can share:
1/ I am now careening towards 50 at what seems like warp speed. That uncomfortable truth has given me some pause for thought this year and this trip has in effect been a massive 'FUCK OFF' to whoever invented the business of ageing.
Why should teenagers have all the fun? Who said you have to stop having adventures the minute you look in the mirror and discover a grey hair? What's the problem with discovering more about yourself and the world you live in the middle section of your life?
2/ I've already said there aren't that many people doing what I've been doing at the age I'm doing it. Sure, silver foxes still travel, but carrying your life on your back and hitchhiking through the jungle isn't the norm. Being chauffeured in air-conditioned comfort to your next 5* hotel is a little more common. So while I've been seeing new things and experiencing new stuff, I've also been sticking two fingers up at those who conform to the notion that immersive independent travel is a young mans game.
3/ Most of all I've been proving to myself that even though I now seem to have more hair growing out of my nose than on my head these days, I'm still very capable, determined, adventurous, open to new ideas and I'm sure as fuckity fuck not going to let anyone tell me I can't do stuff just because I'm 48.
I don't want to get too poncey about it, but as far as backpacking is concerned, I've done what I've wanted to do. I've discovered what I wanted to discover, I've sought out and met the challenges that I've set myself head on. I've had my right of passage, probably a lot later in life than I ought to have done, but at least I've done it. And many people don't get this far. I feel privileged, and enriched, and now satiated. I certainly don't know everything, but I now know enough about myself to be a better me. And quite honestly, I feel pretty ok about it all. I suspect my travels ongoing will be a little less 'slummy' and a shade more 'conventional'.
This is my last standard post for this blog but I've done a special bonus entry to close affairs formally for this trip and blogging in general.
Oh just fuck off! I've got two legs and a bag of attitude which has proven more than adequate for a sedate romp around Central America thank you so very much indeed,
I always wanted to travel, and I've done a fair amount of it so far. ...And hopefully I've got a fair amount left in me yet. But as I've already said, this is likely to be my last backpacking extravaganza.
I conceived this trip with a few things in mind. I wanted to fill in a few knowledge gaps around this part of the world, and come back to Belize on a budget one last time. But the truth is, this trip has been about something much more personal and difficult to define, but I've managed to identify at least three reasons that I can share:
1/ I am now careening towards 50 at what seems like warp speed. That uncomfortable truth has given me some pause for thought this year and this trip has in effect been a massive 'FUCK OFF' to whoever invented the business of ageing.
Why should teenagers have all the fun? Who said you have to stop having adventures the minute you look in the mirror and discover a grey hair? What's the problem with discovering more about yourself and the world you live in the middle section of your life?
2/ I've already said there aren't that many people doing what I've been doing at the age I'm doing it. Sure, silver foxes still travel, but carrying your life on your back and hitchhiking through the jungle isn't the norm. Being chauffeured in air-conditioned comfort to your next 5* hotel is a little more common. So while I've been seeing new things and experiencing new stuff, I've also been sticking two fingers up at those who conform to the notion that immersive independent travel is a young mans game.
3/ Most of all I've been proving to myself that even though I now seem to have more hair growing out of my nose than on my head these days, I'm still very capable, determined, adventurous, open to new ideas and I'm sure as fuckity fuck not going to let anyone tell me I can't do stuff just because I'm 48.
I don't want to get too poncey about it, but as far as backpacking is concerned, I've done what I've wanted to do. I've discovered what I wanted to discover, I've sought out and met the challenges that I've set myself head on. I've had my right of passage, probably a lot later in life than I ought to have done, but at least I've done it. And many people don't get this far. I feel privileged, and enriched, and now satiated. I certainly don't know everything, but I now know enough about myself to be a better me. And quite honestly, I feel pretty ok about it all. I suspect my travels ongoing will be a little less 'slummy' and a shade more 'conventional'.
This is my last standard post for this blog but I've done a special bonus entry to close affairs formally for this trip and blogging in general.
Oh just fuck off! I've got two legs and a bag of attitude which has proven more than adequate for a sedate romp around Central America thank you so very much indeed,
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