Epilogue

“Not all those who wander are lost.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien

Thursday, March 5th 2009

From the depths of the Bolivian jungle to the roof of the Andes it was one hell of a ride. When I set out I thought that I'll have enough after about 3-4 months, I end up traveling for more than half a year and still wanting more. But after returning from the Aconcagua summit it was the right time to get back home, I was tired and it started to get harder and harder to find places that will take my breath away. So I took the bus back from Mendoza to Santiago and boarded a flight to Israel after resting a few days in the familiar settings of Hostel de Sammy. I had an easy flight and an easy landing back home where everything stayed the way I left it in the end of August. I plugged in back into western lifestyle and the phone started ringing with calls from friends and relatives all wanting to know "How was it?". I guess they all wanted to see me put on a dreamy face and say it was "amazing..." with the final g trailing off into a significant silence... but unfortunately it's not that easy...

If you read this blog than you know that it contains dozens of pages which are just the tip of the iceberg, how can I summarize 6 months into one word or even one sentence? It was not a vacation, it was a journey, one that required a lot of determination and perseverance but was also awe filling and inspiring. It was full of great moments too many to list here, but also of trying times in long bus rides, moving around all the time and the discomforts of the road. Backpacking is hard work, carrying your home on your back and relaying on your wits to get around always adjusting to new environments. It's life back to the basics and I wouldn't want it any other way - it's the experience of living on the road and the people I met along the way that will stay with me longer than any lagoon or snowy peak. I didn't went "looking for myself" since I didn't feel lost before (or now), but I did learn new things about myself along the way and I guess that the experience has changed me - even if the change is subtle. I wore out my shoes, radically improved my physical fitness but more importantly I earned a new perspective on life.

So how was it you ask?
amazing...