The Travelling Sisterhood


Celebrations for young novices on their way to the monastery in Ava, Myanmar

That feeling...
If you have been reading Collage of Life for a while now, you will know that we live a travelling life. Moving from country to country every so often and exploring as we go. Through all it's trials and tribulations...I enjoy it and am happy when others come along to say they share a similar passion. I photograph and write about my travels with the hope that one day I will inspire someone to take a journey...one that might enhance their life in some way. It doesn't have to be the big bang effect...it could be as small as having that feeling...that one you get when you are somewhere and you say 'this is it'..this is the moment I want to remember. Do you know that feeling? The one when you have connected in some way with your surroundings and it feels good...it feels inspiring..it makes you want to move mountains...or maybe not. Perhaps bringing home a pebble will do..it often does for me. But man oh man...what that pebble does for ones soul. That is the feeling I live for and when someone else feels the same...pure gold. With that, I thought of The Travelling Sisterhood.

If you are a man reading this, I don't mean to slight you, it is just that 'The Travelling Sisterhood' sounds so much better than 'The Travelling Manhood or The Travelling Hood...I think you catch my drift.

The Travelling Sisterhood...
In fact, I am thinking of four ladies in particular who are in the midst of an amazing journey at this very moment. En route for a three week trip through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam where they will eventually make their way to Ho Chi Minh City. The trip to Vietnam comes by way of a mention I made in a post a few months back about Jean Wethmar, a woman who organises Vietnam luxury tours for women at Cape Lux Travels. In fact, I met Jean via Mille at The Laurel Hedge. As the world turns, as it often does in the blogging world ...Linda at Lulu Musings followed along as well and decided it was her time to go on a little adventure of her own. She got three friends together, contacted Jean and they are now having the journey of a lifetime. The travelling sisterhood doing it's magic.


Linda (in grey) and her travelling companions in Bangkok

I am so excited for them all. I love that they decided to travel to Southeast Asia on their own. I love that they are experiencing this side of the world for the first time. I love that Linda is photographing and recording her journey. This journey will most definitely be one she will be speaking of with her grandchildren for years to come. My guess is that all of these lovely travelling ladies will inspire others to do the same. The Travelling Sisterhood will live on. If you would like to follow along on their journey, you can visit Linda here.  


A world class traveller...
I would like to mention my mother-in-law, Mrs. H Sr... who at 82 is the one of the most remarkable travellers I have ever met. She recently travelled with us to Burma/Myanmar...her second trip to the area. The last one was part of an archaeological tour two years ago. She has been a worldwide traveller for as long as I can remember. She travels solo and with friends, with a preference for museum and university tours. Like minds tend to find each other and she has had a ball. She told me her favourite travels have been to Myanmar, India, Iran and Tunisia. She is still keen to travel to Nepal and the Netherlands. She is talking about hanging up her passport in a few years time...something I can not imagine her ever doing. 

Mrs. H Sr...travels Inle Lake, Myanmar


As for me...
I am still at it, working through my Myanmar photos, taking inspiration from the travelling sisterhood and doing my thing. That is me..below, on the left, with our local Myanmar guide, Nyein Nyein Ei, who was fabulous. Mrs H. Sr took this photo, one of the very few that I have of myself for I seem to always be on the other end of the camera. I am wearing my usual travel gear along with my Aussie travel hat which has served me well. It is a sorry sight at the moment but not any sorrier than me in the sandals above. I look strange, I know. I am wearing my favourite Ecco sandals only because I got so tired of taking my shoes off and on for every stupa, temple, monastery, pagoda..that  I decided it was much easier to just velcro snap and go! You are going to get dirty regardless and that is my theory for all it is worth!  :)
Me (l) and Neigh Neigh Ei (r) in the Aulang Sitthou
area of Inle Lake, Myanmar


Journeywoman...
It is only fitting that would be members of the The Travelling Sisterhood know of Journeywoman.  It is an online travel resource just for women...a great place to start if you are contemplating a trip. Sometimes the best trips are when we step out of comfort zones and just go for it. There are plenty of women who have done just that at Journeywoman.





Armchair travellers...
For those of you who are armchair travellers...and I count myself as one of them too, here are a few good travelling tales... enjoy the journey! 


My travelling armchair


Until next time and at the rate I am going, it could be sooner than you think
(two posts in one week is a big event for me) I wish you well....

Jeanne xx

Contemplating another kind of journey...into the monastery as a novice monk. 


Comments

  1. Love hearing about the traveling sisterhood Jeanne, a wonderful post. Until few years ago I had mostly traveled with my family or for business so it was a wonderful pleasure to meet up with blogger friends and embark on a few Parisian adventures. I adored it and would jump into any trip with a group of women in two minutes flat. I would never say it was better than traveling with my guys but boy was it fun! Your photos are absolutely gorgeous Jeanne. xx

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    1. Thank you Sande...I think it would be a lot of fun travelling with you, especially when having clothes made in Vietnam. :) xx

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  2. BEAUTIFUL the TRAVELING SISTERHOOD!My passport was up for renewal and it arrived yesterday!Must be time to plan a trip!Where to go and what to see........you have given me food for thought!MERCI!
    XXX

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    1. I would say my timing is impeccable Contessa... :)

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  3. Oh Jeanne, I LOVE this post! I want to join the Sisterhood!!! You mother-in-law sounds like a special lady - may we all be taking adventures into our 80's as she is doing. Thanks for sharing EVERYTHING!! xoxox

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    1. Thank you Sandy...I consider anyone who follows along at Collage of Life part of the travelling sisterhood...I just need to work on what to call the men! My MIL is a formidable woman...she travels well! :)

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  4. That last photo is so breath-taking - so startingly different to anything I have ever seen. keep travelling Jeanne, and take us with . I love travels of all kinds, the armchair type and the real travels. I aM in awe of your mother in law. I hope that I will still be travelling at that age :)

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    1. Me too Loree which made me put more effort into the gym this week. She swears by her daily exercises, eating healthily and taking vitamins. I am taking notes.. :)

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  5. I saw your photos on Facebook and then flew over here to read about the Travelling Sisterhood. Mrs H Sr is an inspiration for all of us, as are the young women on their journeys. Love the colours of the celebrating novices. Take care. xo Carole

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    1. Thank you Carole...she is a wonder and an inspiration! xx

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  6. Hope to do some traveling with my best friend/might as well be my sister some day before we are too "little old" to be allowed out on our own. You will be my inspiration!

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    1. Just having the dream will keep you going Webb... xx

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  7. Aah Jeanne,. a breath of real good fresh air you are. Travelling Sisterhood post made me 'swell with pride' just to be part a small part of your magical life you are currently living in Saigon.
    Thank you for your very kind mention in this post.. indeed, we are connected, through the wonders of living in a time frame of blogging, and the internet, and the wonders of this travelling sisterhood that's bitten us both! And how honored I am to have this connection with you.
    I think often of a Girls Only trip I made through Rajasthan way back in 2007. This to me was my teething ring, my stepping stone, my Eureka! I have sampled the delights of sisterhood travelling, while witnessing the extreme poverty and the opulent wealth, the cruelty with the kind, the chaos of a Jaipur spice bazaar, against the symphony of blue and white, at Lake Pichola. The fun we girls had shopping, oh my gosh!
    But then I found that same Eureka on our first trip to South East Asia, Vietnam and Cambodia.. the tree lined boulevards, with their million of beep, beep moped squad..the breathtaking moments when your eyes first experience the Angkor Temples, but oh gosh, that heat I felt that day!
    Aah.. these few captured moment in my life immediately transport me back there in an instant.. but alas.. its your post and I've already taken up way too much space. Thanks Jeanne for being who you are, and what we're connected with.
    Ps.. the Travelling Sisterhood sounds like a good title for your book.

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    1. My pleasure Jean...I hope some more travelling ladies come your way via Collage of Life.. xx

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  8. My your sweet mom.in.law lead the way for all of us. What a gal.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

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  9. The Travelling Sisterhood... I'm in... :) Where re we going? xv

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  10. A lovely post. You are a wealth of information and discoveries. I think your MIL must be delighted to have you as her DIL with so much passion for travel in common.

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    1. Many thanks Victoria...I hope to bring you more! :) xx

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  11. The Club...great idea but a delicate mission too. Needs a lot of tolerance, deep friendship and a common spirit. Anyway I would be in and give myself a chance to
    experience traveling in a different way.

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    1. Rena...very wise words and so true. I think there needs to be a common spirit amongst travellers or else things can get tricky. You are quite the traveller yourself...I am sure you could offer lots of advice on that one! xx

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  12. A wonderful post - you had me captivated from start to finish! The first photo of the novices in their intricate and colourful dresses is breathtaking. I'm passionate about travel and know exactly what you mean about 'that feeling' and wanting to remember the moment forever. The Reclining Buddha in Bangkok had this effect on me but as you say it's often just the little things.
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you Miss B...I know what you mean about Reclining Buddha's. We saw one in Yangon, Myanmar and it took my breath away.. :) xx

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  13. Such a wonderful post Jeanne! You are right ....Myanmar is captivating...I am loving every photo!

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  14. The traveling Sisterhood is perfect name for us traveling women. Your MIL sounds like a hoot. More power to her. Love your photos! xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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    1. Thank you Peggy..my MIL is a lot of fun. Full of surprises. :) xx

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  15. Very inspiring post Jeanne. I was so delighted when I arrived home to receive your postcard. It really made me smile. The boys are so cute! I will place that at my desk at work so to remind me to always smile despite my challenges. I also love the monks as they remind me of calmness, serenity and humility. This post also made me excited about my trip to Asia this coming Fall. It's always fun to travel with a group of women. I hope Jeanne that we can still travel till our 80s like your Mother in law. Love your Myanmar pictures. Have a great weekend.

    P.S. I hope it will be alright if I post the postcard picture on my blog next week? Thanks again for sending me the postcard. Oh the stamp from Myanmar is so precious to me. :)


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    1. Thrilled that your PC made it to you Pamela and absolutely no problem at all to post it. I would be delighted if you did! xx

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  16. Oh this made me so happy that I don't even know how to respond! My heart is full. But you understand how I feel. I am a part of the Sisterhood and hope to be all of my days...how I would love to travel with you, what adventures we would have!

    And I loved to see YOU. Yes, of course practicality trumps fashion when temples are involved...Fetching hat though!

    Sending much Love from Provence,
    H
    PS. Your photography is so stunning, Jeanne. It just keeps getting better and better...

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    1. Thank you Heather!
      I feel a mighty big idea coming on...travelling sisters unite! xx

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  17. Hello Jeanne

    The colours and the enthusiasm of the young novices as they journey to the monastery is so beautifully shot. One of those perfect moments.

    Your armchair is magnificent and lovely to see where you ponder life.

    Travel is, without a doubt, the best education and in particular when small groups travel, such as the sisterhood of four.

    A brilliant post

    Helen xx

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    1. Thank you Helen...I hope one day that we have the chance to do that trip ourselves! :) xx

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  18. That is a cute name for your group ladies.
    And you lead a very exciting life... enjoy!

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    1. Thank you Ann...Linda and her friends are having quite an adventure! :)

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  19. From Jann...

    Wow, Jeanne. What beautiful beautiful photographs. Such colors. I too love your armchair, and would sit there happily for days on end sorting through photos after a trip. Mrs H is a huge inspiration to me!


    Best to you,
    jann
    baroquesicily.com

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    1. Many thanks for your lovely comment Jann. So sorry about the "Open ID"... it is so annoying when that happens. I turned it off recently because I was getting a deluge of Spam. I hope to one day get off the Blogger model and go to something a bit easier to manage. I enjoy reading your blog..I think I originally found you via Heather at Lost in Arles...a treasure ! Always nice to read fellow blogging expats... xx


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  20. Oh, that last photograph is scintillating! What a gorgeous girl and shot of her! I'll carry that image in my mind all day now :) thanks!

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  21. I enjoyed your post and the lovely photos
    glad to have found your blog
    Amalia from BYW

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Can I just say....that I so enjoy what YOU have to say. If you would like to write to me directly, I would love to hear from you... jeannecollageoflife@gmail.com

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