A Bend in the Road

Three and half years ago, my coworkers and I were in the process of moving office locations. It was just down the road to our newly renovated building and I spent several late nights there with my supervisor, trying to quickly pull things together. I was headed out of town shortly thereafter, so was attempting to get everything in place before I left. Our new office had two large windows that displayed the end of our international airport's runway and in the farther distance the Alaska Range. Several nights I had watched the sun set behind those mountains, casting its last rays across the snow-capped tops. One evening, I stood at those windows watching the runway activity and admiring the magnificent mountains. My mind kept drifting to my upcoming trip; I had my first few flights planned and purchased, but much was still to be decided. I knew what countries I wanted to travel to, but the dates of travel and length of stays were not finalized. It was the trip I had dreamed of for years, yet there was that sense of unknown and maybe a little bit of anxiety. It was what I wanted to do, but was I making the right decisions? 

My supervisor, who is also a dear friend, reassured me that all would be well. Change and the unknown is always a bit frightening in life, but we both knew I wasn't traveling by myself. My God is ever before me and with me every step of the way. He loves me beyond comprehension, so no matter what I would face, I would have Him to be my Guide, Comfort and Giver of peace. 

Looking back at that trip three years ago, I am glad I didn't know all I would face during those six months in Asia that night at the window. I'm sure I would have shrank back from the thought of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual battles I would experience. Yet, during each of those trying moments, my confidence in God never shook. I may have struggled inside and wondered how I would get through, but I always knew God was with me and some days that was THE ONLY thing that got me through another day. 

Why am I reliving those fears from three and half years ago? Well, I am about to embark on another lengthy journey and to be honest, I'm just a tad nervous. The past couple years I've spent the majority of my time at home, working and attending school. I took time away from traveling to focus on finishing my Bachelor's degree, and I don't regret it. But traveling is in my blood and I knew it wouldn't be long before I headed out into the world's arena once again. So many people tell me that I'm brave to go to all these countries by myself, but if they could only see the inward trepidation I so effectively mask. I can't stop traveling, but it doesn't mean I'm fearless. 

And I am not just referring to the physical things I endure in random countries. Each one of my trips has changed and grown me in more ways that I can count. When I first left home, I was a young 19 year old girl who had more dreams and ideas than sense. Each year has brought another level of learning, especially that of trusting God. Trusting Him with my life, my family, my heart, my friends, my safety and so much more. As painful as some of my memories are, I would not trade any experience, for in each one I learned more about myself and more about the abundant grace and peace my Saviour gives. 

Yet, once again, I am facing the unknown and its both exhilarating and daunting. At the risk of sounding like Anne of Green Gables, there is a bend in the road and I can't see around the corner. Right before leaving on this trip, I quit my job of many years (though I've quit before, but this one feels more final) and with school finished, I don't have much tying me back home. After this trip ends, I do not know what I will do next. Oh, I have ideas, always do, but nothing is for sure.

But the excitement far outweighs the nervousness! The next four months will be one of adventure. I will see old friends, visit beloved familiar places, meet new people and explore strange places, all the while watching God move in my heart and those around me. I am greatly looking forward to it. 

I'm trusting God in my life and circumstances. Yours may be vastly different than mine, but are you trusting God regardless? 

Travel Meme

Well, my friend Jen tagged me to do this travel meme and I figured, why not!? I love talking about traveling, so doesn't take much to get me going... Enjoy.
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• The A to Z Travel Meme was created by Julie Fox.  You can find the original post here.

A: Age you started travelling?

Well, my first real trip was at 13 years of age, my family went to Kotzebue, AK for 3 weeks. Then at 14, we began traveling the Western side of the USA several months of the year. But my own personal travels began when I was 19, when I went to Arctic Canada for a winter.

B: Best beer you’ve had and where?

I don't drink. How about best baked good or something.... well, that would be too hard to choose, so let's just skip it.

C: Cuisine (favourite)

ooh... I'd have to say right now, it's Greek or Mediterranean- love me some kebabs, or donairs, or whatever else you want to call them.

D: Destinations, favourite, least favourite and why

Choosing a favorite destination is like choosing a favorite star in the sky, nigh unto impossible... a few of my favorites- countries would be Mongolia (cause its one of the first places I lived internationally, love the wilderness and barren land and the amazing people) and Lithuania (cause of the rich history, unique language, friends I've made and they love basketball) :) Cities would be Kashgar (such an interesting blend of modern and ancient all in one location) and Vancouver, BC (it has mountains and ocean all together, what more could you want?)

Least favorite? I don't like to say I don't like a place cause there is always something about everywhere that is unique and interesting. Guess I would have to say Beijing and parts of India, though I would go back to both places.

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”

A completely black night with no manmade lights in sight, where the world becomes an ocean of starlight, complete with billions upon billions of tiny stars stretching from horizon to horizon. Unreal. So close that you can almost reach out and grab one!

And then walking on the Great Wall of China (past the restored area) on a semi clear day, when you can see the far distant hills dotted with watchtowers and know that where you are standing, others have walked- a couple thousand years ago!

F: Favourite mode of transportation

Sometimes plane, sometimes car. Depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing.

G: Greatest feeling while travelling

Stepping onto an airplane, knowing you are headed thousands miles away, to an strange and unknown place, where you discover culture, places, history and make remarkable memories. 

H: Hottest place

Fiji Islands - HOT and HUMID! this Alaskan girl didn't think she would survive!

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where

Flying on Emirates Air from Dubai to Seattle. Long flight, but the flight crew was great. I think I spent half my time in the back galley with the flight attendants. Even got cheesecake from first class. Also, Sri Lanka Airlines had great service. On both though, I think I got preferential treatment cause I was friendly... haha always make friends with the flight attendants!

J: Journey that took the longest

I've been on several long ones.... when you come from Alaska, you can just tag on about 5-7 hours more than if you were flying directly from the Lower 48. Probably my longest has been about 40 years to Mongolia. Though if you count the time I was stranded in Beijing for 2 days because of a missed flight, then that would be the longest, at about 3 days.

K: Keepsake from your travels

Memories. I have other things I've bought over the years, but memories are precious and can never be taken away. :)

L: Let-down sight, why and where

Taj Mahal, Agra, India - well, it was supposed to be a 9 hour train ride from where I was staying, turned out to be 19 hours on a train. By the time we got to town, it was too late to go, so we went the next morning, but it was closed (always closed on Fridays). So we went to the park across the river where you could see the backside of the Taj, but it was so incredibly polluted. Pictures were a disappointment.

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel

wow, hard to pinpoint a time. Maybe the first winter I spent in Mongolia... we went to Beijing for a week and there was so much to see and do. I had always known there are amazing places around the world, but I actually got to see some in person and not just in someone else's picture. Walking on the Great Wall, I knew I wanted to see other amazing things, both natural and manmade, in other countries.

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in

Radisson Hotel in Kaunas, Lithuania. I don't stay in hotels very often overseas, but that trip was part of group travel/event, so accommodations were chosen for us. Very nice place!

O: Obsession—what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while travelling?

mountains, clouds, basically nature. But people too. Anything that I want to remember. :) 

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where?

Uh, dunno. I almost filled one passport and just got a new one a couple years ago, with 52 pages instead of 24. Not everyone stamped my passport and some countries I've been to more than once. Currently, I've been to 18 countries and 43 states. 

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where

Maybe the three Buddhist temples in UB, Mongolia. I'd say there were more on the creepy side, than simply quirky.

R: Recommended sight, event or experience

Great Wall of China, Broadway show, eating authentic ethnic food

S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while travelling

mmm hard to say, I like eating the ethnic food, so am willing to pay for that. If it's a really great historical place, I don't mind paying to go inside. Other than that, I'm pretty tight with my money.

T: Touristy thing you’ve done

uh, stop to take pictures of moose on the side of the road in Alaska. haha I had friends visiting and they wanted to stop and take pictures. I wanted to keep on driving.

U: Unforgettable travel memory

Too many to recount. Ask me in person sometime and I'll choose one.

V: Visas, how many and for where?

I love traveling to countries where I don't require a visa as a US citizen. I think I've applied for 3 different Chinese visas and 2 Indian visas over the years. The rest I've been able to get when I arrived in country.

W: Wine, best glass of wine while travelling and where?

Again, I don't drink alcholic beverages... but if we are talking wine, as in fruit juice, it would definitely be freshly squeezed pomegranate juice on the street in Kashgar. So strong, sour and powerful! It was only a small glass full, but it was enough. And after we drank, we watched as they took our glasses back, set them back on the table and promptly refilled them for the next customer.... guess a little germs don't hurt? ;)

X: eXcellent view and from where?

So many amazing views! Sunrises and sunsets on the barren rolling hills of Outer Mongolia, the coast of Iceland... but one of the most spectacular was driving through the Canadian Arctic in the peak of Autumn. The mountains were ablaze in color and it went on for miles and miles. Then driving home 2 weeks later, I watched as the sun set on my right hand, casting it's last light on the mountains, coloring the freshly snow-covered peaks with golds, oranges and pinks. Indescribable.

Y: Years spent travelling?

Going on 11 years, though I didn't go out of the country every year during the past decade.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where?

Don't think I've been to a real sporting event outside the country. NHL Blackhawks game was pretty cool, but the next hockey game will be better! When I was in Lithuania walking around town, there was a street 3x3 basketball tournament going on; that was pretty cool. Everyone there loves basketball and I watched a couple really good games.

Trapline Beauty

Last week I fulfilled a long time wish to accompany my father on his trapline. Previously, it never worked out with my work/school schedule. So, I determined after I finished school back in December, I would make it happen sometime this winter before the season is over. 

We hit the trail Friday once the sun came up and away we went- into a Winter Wonderland. It was a bit overcast, but very light, making it truly a silvery fairyland. Many times the trail narrowed to a single track, fully lined with frosted crystal willows or spruce trees. It was amazing to behold and I was ever reminded of my Creator and his stupendous designs. Both days on the trail were filled with glorious beauty. 

The trapline provides ample opportunity to think. Being on a snowmachine for 3-4 hours at a time leaves a lot of time to think, pray and reflect. And of course, there is no cell phone reception. It was refreshing to disengage from the fast-paced world for a couple days. 

And we did get a few animals. Which is what we wanted, after all it is a trapline. :) We didn't have any big animals, but it was still exciting to see our catch. After 20+ years of trapping, I've finally saw what my dad did for all those years. It's hard work, not a job for the faint of heart. It was 15-20 degrees above zero this trip, but even at those warm temps, you get cold after hours, upon hours outside in the elements. And he's gone out many times at sub-zero temps, even 40 below at times.