Two Years Already?

Jerash, Jordan

Two years is quite a long time in a writer's world. In a few days it will be two years since this blog began. Bloggers tend to mark that sort of anniversary thing, taking ourselves seriously once a year ... if at all. Makes us feel efficient. Or anxious. Will I run out of camel stories before the next one rolls around?

One gets addicted to travel. Not of course to the dreary, practical details (weather forecasts ahead; packing to be hands-free; airport torments) but to the idea of being there, somewhere significant and wondrous, somewhere pulling seductively at your curiosity. What will I have in common with them? Are they much different from us?

Add in a family history addiction and target lands become obvious. Thankfully I have fulfilled most yearnings for the old family origins but it's difficult to decide between ancestors and other attractions. I have no connection to the stunning landscapes of Vietnam or the ancient people of Ethiopia and yet I long to see them.

Then again, my personal travel agenda looks for camel opportunities (oh really?) which further complicates travel decisions. After all, the budget is limited and the body declines. Cruising has become a (not entirely satisfactory) means of exploring new places; comfort becomes an unapologetic necessity at my age but day-long excursions are seldom quite enough.

Well, a few past favourites (actually, all from land trips):

Dutch camel - http://camelchaser.blogspot.com/2015/05/dutch-camel-love.html

Pushkar camel - http://camelchaser.blogspot.com/2014/08/pushkar-india-2008.html

Tozeur camel - http://camelchaser.blogspot.com/2015/10/tozeur-tunisia-2013.html

Shaolin camel - http://camelchaser.blogspot.com/2015/11/shaolin-china-2014.html

And the unforgettable camel show at the docks in Djibouti. Even a panoramic shot would not be wide enough to show the extent of the sheds and the liveliness of the young beauties.

Djibouti camels - http://camelchaser.blogspot.com/2014/04/djibouti-east-africa.html

My draw to a particular part of the world is clear, and is coming not just from the magnificent beasts I admire but also from the mysteries of the Rift Valley ― origins of mankind ― and monuments of age-old civilizations.

Since the earth will drastically change in the next few generations ― is changing now! already polar bears are swimming for their lives to find sanctuary ― I am grateful for whatever historical/archaeological bits I can still see. Regrets? Oh yes. Not going to Syria in 2007 before daesh(1) began destroying humanity's heritage! Not having the suppleness of a 30-year-old to undertake an extended camel safari!

Nonetheless, forging on. Estonia, you are still on my list! ☺

(1) See http://www.northeastern.edu/news/2015/11/3qs-what-using-the-name-daesh-rather-than-isis-or-isil-really-means/.

© 2016 Brenda Dougall Merriman