The W0rld as Eye See It

Sujee / 29 / London, 🇬🇧. Currently travelling Mother Earth with my wife taking risks and living life ..

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"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." - Christopher McCandless aka Alexander Supertramp

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We stayed with our 8-year-old cousin Abish and his parents in Perth. He wrote this letter for us as we departed for Kuala Lumpur.

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A view without a room ..

Laying in our swags in pitch black surroundings in Uluru was an experience we are going to cherish forever. There was no roof barrier between our eyes and the night sky, no light pollution blocking a view that was nothing short of spectacular. The edge of the Milky Way was visible in all its glory, and the rest of the night sky scattered with more stars. We even made wishes on shooting stars! Awestruck by the sheer beauty of the 3D celestial view above, I couldn’t help but wish for this everyday. Then it occurred to me that God did intend each and every one of us earthlings to look above and realise what a beautiful infinity we are all part of, but us humans have denied ourselves this opportunity. It is a sad reality that there are now very few places left in the world where a night sky is something more than pitch black with only our glowing moon. Let’s hope one day the pollution we create does not block our view of our moon too.

Written by Jana.

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Adios Adelaide ..

It has been a while since I last wrote something. Quick update: after 3 months in Adelaide, we set off last week to embark upon the second stage of our adventure - exploring! First stop, Alice Springs en route to Uluru for a camping trip .. Adelaide was good to us, and it wasn't easy saying goodbye to her. We created a lot of memories there and met lovely people along the way. The Shri Ganesha Temple will also forever have a special place in my heart - it quickly became my sanctuary where I could go to to regain focus and clarity. A Temple where like minded people from all walks of life would come together fortnightly to spiritually grow together. We bid you farewell Adelaide, please retain your simplicity and beauty but continue to blossom. Hopefully, one day we will meet again ..

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"The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge."

Thomas Berger

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I recently stumbled upon ‘Tao Te Ching’ by Lao-Tzu. It’s a book that certainly stirs the soul, and illustrates the beauty of a simple being.

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Who am I? ..

We were at the Adelaide Oval last night, watching Australia take on India. Both sets of fans were wearing their colours, waving their flags, singing their anthems with such patriotism, pride and belonging. I sat amongst the crowd, feeling lost and alone. Who are my fellow countrymen? In my motherland I am a minority and in my adopted home I am an asylum seeker. I remember sitting on the train one day and I thought to myself; the descendants of the men who built the London Underground probably travel on it today - just imagine how proud they must feel. They have history, a connection, their ancestors walked on this patch of land - whereas mine didn't. My ancestors walked the soil of my motherland, but my connection to them, and to my history, was severed when I was 4 years old. Fleeing persecution, fearing for our lives, in search of a better future - we waved goodbye to our homes and scattered in all directions. Britain was my destination. She welcomed me with open arms. She cared for and nurtured me, educated and presented me with opportunities, she made me feel safe and secure. Nonetheless, I can't help but feel I lack a sense of belonging. Like an adopted child, looking at other children with their biological mothers. My adopted home has given me everything other than a link to its history and a way for me to trace my lineage. I will forever look at others waving flags of their motherland, the same flags their ancesters held, and wonder what it would be like to feel that connection.

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KFC T20 Intl Aus vs. Ind @ Adelaide Oval

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"I know that there is a reason for everything. Perhaps at the moment that an event occurs we have neither the insight nor the foresight to comprehend the reason, but with time and patience it will come to light."

Dr Brian L. Weiss ("Many Lives, Many Masters")

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My mantra for 2016.

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Happy New Year!

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The smaller things ..

Everyone knows how I feel about Australia so I decided to ask my wife to put into words how she's feeling, one month in .. The following is written by Jana. It's been a little over a month since we landed in Adelaide and needless to say, we are loving it! It sure is turning out to be the adventure we had hoped for. There is a lot we love about Adelaide; its people, the healthy lifestyle and the weather. We do miss home, of course, me more so than my husband. We miss our loved ones, and also the smaller things. To be specific - even though the weather is glorious, at times I do miss Winter and can't help but wish for it to be colder so that I can enjoy a nice cup of tea/coffee ..

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"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."

- Mark Twain

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The sacrificial dad ..

It may come as a surprise to those closest to me when I say I admire my appa. Appa had a good job back home in Sri Lanka, respected and well paid, but he left it all to bring my amma, brother and I to the UK. A Civil War had gripped our motherland. We arrived in the Winter of 91. From the day we landed on UK soil, appa has been working. He had to - debts to pay, rent, bills, a young family to support. He would go to work, just as we went to bed, making his way into town to wash dishes for a few pounds an hour. Back home, appa was an aircraft technician for the SL Army, something he is very proud of. He takes great care of his photo and log book which serves as a reminder of a job he loved, a time when life was simple and familiar. Amma told my wife that when I was born, appa was full of joy - he would try to be at home as much as possible. He would cycle at dawn to the local fish market to buy fresh sea food so that I would grow up to be strong and healthy. Whether it was a pound from the tooth fairy or presents from Santa Claus, appa strived to ensure my brother and I didn't feel left out. We never had much father-son time as he was always working, one of many sacrifices he had to make. I remember a time when he used to pick me up after he finished work, drive me to tuition, and wait in the car for an hour or two until I finished my lesson. He was committed to ensuring we received a good education. Appa has never shied away from working hard - he's 61 now but still works 6 days a week in a sandwich factory to make ends meet. Even though we have had some difficult moments over the past few years, and people see appa as nothing but an alchoholic, he is in fact an honest, hard-working, family man. I will forever be grateful for the sacrifices he has made to ensure his boys grew up in a safe and fair environment. He has also set a perfect example of working hard to achieve. Appa may not say he loves us but his actions speak volumes about what he feels for us.

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Building blocks of success ..

True success in life is; not letting it change you, not letting it make you forget those who helped you get there and certainly not becoming egotistical. It is easy to remember what our parents/siblings did for us, but it is more important not to forget what those individuals outside of our homes did for us. Be it friends, colleagues, uncles, aunts, cousins or even strangers - these are individuals who may have helped but did not have any obligation to do so. Once success meets ego, acts of kindness seem to become erasable, and even if remembered it appears to have a shelf life. As we climb the ladder of success why forget the first step or the hand that kept us in balance to take that step? Success is nothing but a Lego staircase we build and climb, no matter how tall it becomes, we should always remember that removing even one piece from where we started is nothing but self destruction ..

Written by Jana.

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Uplifting, soothing and sincere .. I always find solace in these words.

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Replace "what ifs" with "why nots" ..

What are risks? Who defines them? When we break out of the so called norms set out by society, we are deemed risk-takers. Fearing failure, we abandon our dreams as we go about ticking boxes on somebody else's agenda. The risks we take may well be a mistake but there will be something to learn, a new experience to gain and that will be far more rewarding than regrets and the feeling of "what if?". When our time comes to say bye to Mother Earth let's have no regrets and depart with a wealth of experiences; after all that's the only permanent wealth. Written by Jana.