Things I forgot (subject to change/additions):
You know the piles of sticks these beautiful little women carry on their heads? I asked one lady if I could carry and bundle and get a photo but she said No. The caretaker of the palace where I was standing came running up and explained that it would be too dangerous – each bundles weights up to 40 kg!!! And they make it look so easy …
Monkeys are really bad-tempered!
Accidents. People keep asking me about accidents. There was only one serious accident – on the very last day. One lovely lady caught the edge of a stone with her bike, fell awkwardly and smashed her elbow. She was flown home straight after being x-rayed. I think she needs a pin in her shoulder but I don’t know the facts. Either way, I wish you all the best, Andrea. Really, really bad luck.
Vimal – you’re a star! What would we have done without you?
Jane - many, many thanks for putting up with me throughout.
Terry, Dawn and Alison - thanks for the hysterical conversations - the laughter kept me warm (and, I was going to say, sane, but I'm sure there are some who'd dispute that!)
MY FAVOURITE QUOTES FROM THE TRIP:
"Look's just like Rutland!" (??)
"It's just like Lanzarote!" (love that)
and my personal favourite:
"Can't wait to get back to the UK for a proper curry!" (Jane - that made me laugh loads)
3 comments:
Hi Amanda
great blog, bit disappointed at some of the comments. Need to put you straight on the celebratory meal. We did get a table and save seats for all of our group, but it was taken over by the 'golden girls' who also had a row with Stef Bell about her pinching 'their' saved seats, as a result it was difficult to keep the group together. There were also another couple of ladies who wanted to sit with their new found friends,_us) and again it was difficult to say they couldn't. With 84 ladies many of them who didn't know anyone prior to the ride,new friendship were made, and it would have been impossible to keep it exclusive, and wasn't really what it was about.
Hi Amanda
It was so interesting to read your take on the trip - we all have such different experiences.
Group dynamics are difficult and they keep shifting. The set up for the meal certainly wasn't deliberate but I know how you felt as I had felt the same way earlier in the week. We all learn from our mistakes and I am very sorry if anything I did or didn't do upset you. You are definitely high on my list of favourite people so maybe we can make up for it at our reunion in the New Year!
Hi Jane, Ann ... Thanks for commenting. Yes, I absolutely agree new friends were made and others consolidated - one of the best parts of the trip! I obviously came across more 'resentful' than I really was - I was disappointed and I suppose doubly so because it was the final night (not to mention exhausted and ready to go home so maybe wasn't thinking straight, either). Writing it down helped me get my head straight - and I chose not to change it because I think my reactions 'at the time' are more indicative of the emotions that were running high at that time. I certainly don't think any less of ANYBODY - unless, perhaps, of myself. How could I? We've all just completed the most amazing journey - filled with highs and lows. For me, my mealtime reactions are a good indication of how the little things can be blown out of proportion and take over from the BIG things that should have been top of the list. In retrospect, and speaking from my psychologist's side - this is far more a comment of 'me' rather than a comment on any of 'you'. It merely shows how warped and turned around my perspective was at that stage of the trip. My blog is not an attack or a judgment on anybody - it's my way of reflecting on every aspect that was important to me - be that right or wrong.
And you're absolutely right - exclusivity would have been WRONG and not at all what it was about.
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