Wine – Luck Party

I met a Chinese girl, she was the first Chinese backpacker I met on this trip. Her name is Wing, a pretty girl from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. I was surprised because she’s just started travelling in Europe last year. Now she was brave to quit her job and she has been travelling for two and half months. She’s just sold her laptop and planned to go to Pakistan and the middle-east.

She told me a very moving story about a courageous Japanese girl, Makiko. We both loved Japanese travellers so much, because they are polite, brave and principled. In the last twenty years, the young Japanese travellers have changed the mind of people in the world. Why can’t our young Chinese?

I love the life on the road…

Sometimes, travelling is like a walk in paradise, you will see the best landscape on the journey. You will get the help and the love from everyone and everywhere.

Sometimes, travelling is like a romantic story. You will meet a lover by chance who will wait for you somewhere and someday.

Sometime, travelling is like the act of charity. You bring the hope to the local people. You help them and they help you too.

Sometimes, travelling is like a war. You have to defend for yourself and your belongings. You will be tired, exhausted, lonely, weak and miss your family. But you will be stronger and prouder of yourself.

Travelling is like a poem, you use your own print to fill in every word and every sentence in the poem, fill in your emotion, your story and your entire life…

我遇到了一位美丽的女孩，她是我此行中遇到的第一位中国旅行者。她的名字叫Wing，来自杭州。我非常惊讶且敬佩是因为她去年刚开始在欧洲短期旅行，今年就勇敢地辞职并且已经旅行了两个半月的时间。她刚在Jasailmer城外卖掉沉重的手提电脑，准备去巴基斯坦和中东国家。

她告诉我一个很感人的、勇敢的日本女孩的故事（Makiko目前在南美，她的旅行近一年）。我们俩都非常喜爱日本的年轻旅行者，因为他们有良好的教养、勇往直前的精神和处事极为有原则。年轻的日本旅行者在过去的二三十年间改变了世界对他们的看法。为什么我们中国年轻的一代不能？

在路上的日子……

有时，旅行像在天堂散步。你总是处处获得爱与微笑、食物与帮助。因为年轻与勇气，你能很艰苦地涉入深山险境，你能看到这世间最美丽的风景、一瞬间。在那一刻，无数的旅行者来自世界的每个角落（甚至持着拐杖、轮椅和婴儿车），他们就站在你的身旁。你们的微笑与言谈，就像一出生就认识的单纯的孩子。

有时，旅行像一段浪漫的故事，你的情人会在某天某地等着你的出现。你们的邂逅、月夜，是如此的动人。

有时，旅行就像是一次慈善的行为，你把你的劳动所得带到世界各角落，你给当地人带来希望，你帮助了他们同时他们也在帮助你。

有时，旅行就像是一场战争，你必须捍卫自己和随行物品。你会孤独、精疲力竭、软弱、想念你的家人，但你永不会放弃。旅行会让你更坚强，越来越为自己而骄傲。

旅行是一门哲学，能让你把这个世界看得更全面、更清晰，懂得去思考在国家及传统教育中永远不会教你去思考的问题。

旅行，就像一首诗歌，由你用自己的脚印去填写每一字每一句，填写你的情感、故事、整个生命……

Judie
In Jasailmer, on the desert
在沙漠夜里的日记

This was a really early morning. I heard the sound of drums from somewhere when I was dreaming. I tried to remember the same sound from the past. That was seven years ago, when I trekked in Himalayas in the north west of Nepal. One night, I heard the same sound of drums in the valley. The kind of sound was rare illusive.

I was thinking of the movie “Seven years in Tibet” which is my favorite movie. Almost every trip, I meet people who ask me about the “Tibet” affair. For example, seven years ago in Nepal, a Spanish man asked me to talk about “Tibet”. This trip, a young dauntless U.S. guy asked me the same question. He said, “Do you think the Tibetans are happy?” I answered, “I am on the Tibetan side. They are unhappy for the politics and the government, but they have religion and belief that let them keep a pure and kind heart. As you are an American young man, you may also be unhappy because of the president and the government, right?”

I love the area of Himalayas, Tibet, India and Nepal. The people are very peaceful and pure. They enjoy the poor and simple lifestyle, and the smile always shows on their face. Their eyes are pure and sincere.

Compared with the people of the city, they have “Everything”; house, car, marriage, family and wealth. But they are always unhappy and do not have a smiling face…

I asked a lady in Jodhpur, why is the city blue? She said, “The city is not blue, but the sun of the sky made the wall blue.”

Judie

In Fort, Jodhpur

Mehrangarh Fort: In 1459 Rao Jodha laid the foundation of what was destined to become one of the mightiest forts of all time; Mehrangarh, citadel of the sun.

Omkareshwar, it is a very good place to hide yourself. You couldn’t find it on the map indeed. Like Jeanmi, who is a musician from Quebec. He’s been hiding himself in Omkareshwar for ten days.

I was totally lost in this mini Varanasi when I arrived in Omkareshwar. Hundred thousands people flooding into this small Island for a Holy Festival. They used the speaker for praying all day and all night. Particularly at night time, the lovely local people played five Bollywood movies and used five loud speakers in the valley. I couldn’t sleep for two nights although I put the ear plugs in my ears.

So that I was a little bit sleepless and I met a couple, Sean and Aki, who are artists, American and Japanese. They described how much they loved Rajasthan and stayed there for five weeks. They met me every morning when I was having my breakfast, and talked about Rajasthan for two hours.

I totally loved them! I bought the train ticket to Jodhpur, Rajastah. (Eventually, I gave up trying to find Jeanmi…let him continue to hide himself for six months here.) I love the life on the road, because you’ve never know what will happen tomorrow and who you will meet tomorrow.

I talked with lots of Indians on this trip. They are government officers, taxi drivers, farmers, freelances and employees of foreign companies, etc. China and India have lots of things in common. At first, our population is huge. The second, our environmental pollution is really serious (Global warming and lack of water). The third, the position of women is still low. (Now it is rising, because more and more women are working and getting economic independence.)

Otherwise, both governments are developing tourism strongly. They respect the foreigners very much and protect us. Most Indians are very friendly and love to help foreigners. One big difference is religion…

Judie
On the road

Please visit Jeanmi’s website and listen to his music…
http://jeanmichelrenaud.com/

The weather is very comfortable in Mumbai today. I am sitting in a Parci area of Colaba. Nearby are group of elder ladies and I am listening to them talking. I think I can understand them because they are speaking in English sometimes.

(The Cusrow is a Parci community. They resided originally Iran one thousand three hundred years ago. An elder told me.)

I came to Mumbai for Bollywood. I did not enjoy the Indian movies when I was a kid. But since my senior classmate, Liu Yun showed me some new Bollywood movies this year, I changed my mind.

The unknown photographer and the unknown extra actress have some things in common. At first, they have to wake up early at 5 or 6 am. The second, they need much patience. And third, they both get low pay.

I woke up at 5.20am yesterday morning and walked around the street in Colaba. In a moment, I’ve got a job as an extra in Bollywood. But in fact, the film belongs to a New York film company. It’s about a love story, so I joined the wedding shoot with a group of foreign travellers.

The director, Jimmy said “Your guys look fabulous!! Listen, here is not in India, it’s in U.S., you are in Central Park in NYC…” Our handsome first actor is Jesse Metcalfe. He acted in the TV show ‘Desperate Housewives’. Someone said if the first actress was sick today then I could play her role instead. “Are you serious?” I said.

It was a very good experience for the whole day. But it needs the patience of a saint to be an extra. Now I understand that to be an actor is one of the most difficult jobs in the world.

Judie in Mumbai

My new companion, Dana is from Switzerland. She’s married early and has two daughters, 21 and 23 years old. She has been travelling in the southern India for four months, alone. Her husband is very caring and supports her all the time…

I heard 5,000 Israelis are in GOA. I couldn’t believe that. But It’s true, the young Isreal men are very fun. Most of them stayed more than one month, in the beaches of Southern India. I met a young Israeli boy who is only 17 years old and has travelled around our loverly earth twice. Dana said the young Isrealis are bored of the war and are escaping to all over the world. They’re no choice.

I am lucky, because all local people said I am a first chinese on this beach. I stayed here for five days and haven’t see any Japanese and Korean.

A lot of western people would like to travel when they are in college or graduated from high school. They stay overseas for more than 6 months or one year. They can learn more as a backpacker on the road. Then they will return to school and choose the subjects they really like.

It’s very important to follow your heart, you can choose your favorite subjects and career, your can choose the one your like, your can choose the place your would like to stay, longer or shorter, and lifestyle.

I am reading <Walden> by Henry David Thoreau. I learnt a lot from Henry. Henry philosophy’s “everyone has the new life, everyone should create a new road. We shouldn’t follow our precursor print. If the precursor say something you shouldn’t do, maybe you should try to do. Because the past activity belongs to antiquity, so our new activity is suit to the modern time”. I agreed his viewpoint by 90%.

Your life belongs to you, and not to anyone else. It doesn’t belong to the material world…

Anyway, I will finish this book and wait for Voila and her boyfriend.
Judie on the Road

At last, I found a nice place where I am the only Chinese girl. It’s not easy in this world.

I am now sitting in Kashi, a quiet gallery cafe house, listening to pleasant jazz and drinking Indian Chai…

I met an Italian Lady and an Australian girl last week. We took the same flight, same taxi and stayed in the same hotel. The nice Italian lady, Viola, worked in NGO for many years. Viola’s waiting for her singapore malay boyfriend here. Then they will go to the beach in GoA.

I met a couple from Sweden who brought their daughter (5 years old) and their lovely son (1 year old) on the road. They will travel in Asia for one year. HOW Cool! That’s not bad to work for a year and travel another year. Their daughter said she was UNHAPPY to travel with her parents because she only wants to sit down and have a cold drink at that time (It is her third trip with her parents, she’s no choice…like her brother). The 1 year old son didn’t know much and slept on his mother’s bosom.

I was taking my breakfast with two nice UK guys in Elite House…Woh! I’ve just been writing about them, and they’ve just come into Kashi accidentally.

How nice in India! How nice people here! How nice in Kashi. I do nothing, except reading and gazing…I hope my professor won’t be angry with me because I’ve left my thesis and come here to daze.

The sun is going down. I will leave for GOA tonight. I would like to find a nice beach for my parents, my brother and his girlfriend for the next trip.

I would like to stay here more than 40~45 days, as long as possible, if I can.

Judie
on the Road

Most people earn money to buy a house, car and to look after their family, or advance their material life. My friends asked me, “Why did you spend most of your time and money on traveling and writing?” I said because it is my passion!

In the view of the Eastern people, I knew I am an unusual lady, because I walk towards an unusual destination. But, perhaps I am a person who really knows what I want to do. I’m not comfortable living an ordinary life… In fact, I feel very rare, I am lonely in the city.

I feel happy in nature, in the mountains and in the ocean. I love to travel around that makes me feel close to nature. I love to write, that makes me feel close to my soul. I can find myself back on the road and I feel I really exist in my words.

Of this last thing I am very sure, I am happy to live this lifestyle.

Judie in India

Nov~Dec 2007

孤独的行星

大多数人们庸碌于世，都是为了不断改善物质生活，为了更大的房子、更好的车子、更舒适的生活环境和让儿女们接受更好的教育。朋友们都问我：“为何你要把大部分时间、精力和金钱投入于旅行和写作？” 因为我更注重精神生活，而非物质生活。

在传统东方人的眼里，我是一位不寻常的女子，追寻一条不寻常的路。但也许，我是一位真正知道自己想要什么、并勇敢去追求的人……我选择了一条自己儿时就梦想去完成的路且一直坚持，而不是传统和社会规则指引人们“应该”去走的路、“应该”去完成那些所谓的“社会形式”。

事实上，许多时候的我是孤独的。但是我十分享受于这样的孤独，用自己的视角去看待社会及周遭。只有回归大自然的怀中，在海洋与高山之间，我才能感受到那种快乐。所以，我热爱旅行，那让我更接近大自然。我热爱在路上单纯且快乐的生活，那让我回归童真。我更热爱写作，因为在字句之间能感受到自己的存在，也让我进入灵魂的深处。

最后，让自己很肯定的是，这样的生活方式让我很快乐……感谢我母亲的支持，因为她也能感受到这样的快乐，那是她一生所无法实现的梦想之路。

朱迪
于印度
2007年11月至12月

（有一部英文科教片谈到：那些喜欢跳伞的人，在跳伞的时候体内能分泌一种让他们产生快感的化学物质，这类人喜欢冒险，可以通过把生命放置于一个危险的境地而产生快感。而我每次到达一个陌生地域的时候，也有一种强烈的、潜在的兴奋感，也许这就是人体中某种化学物质在分泌的缘故。）

有一只孔雀对自己漂亮的外表，感到十分骄傲。它觉得自己很不平凡，不应该到处辛苦找寻食物。

有一天，它来到一所大房子的旁边，看见一个笼子。笼里关着一只金丝雀。金丝雀在笼里吃喝玩乐，显得快乐自在。孔雀看了非常羡慕，认为老天爷太偏心，不让它过好日子。

于是，这只孔雀为了追求安乐的生活，决定走进大房子，屋主看见了，立刻捉住它，把它关在大铁笼里，供人欣赏。

从此，这只孔雀再也不用为找寻食物而辛苦了。可是这时候，它才真正体会到自由的可贵，可惜后悔已经来不及了！

今天给学生上课时读到这样一篇短文，沉思了许久。的确，自由比一切更可贵！想把短文送给我身边的几位女友。希望她们有一日能找回自己的幸福。

In Bordeaux, France
By Judie    (Slide)

摄于法国波尔多酒乡（反转片）

di Roberto Gaudioso

II.

–Te le ricordi le lucciole?
in quella via buia ad Ischia
il mare si fracassava spesso
su quelle rocce alte la nostra villa
–te lo ricordi il buio
con le lucciole? le rincorrevi
ed io scappavo, avevi anche tu
una lanterna come i pescatori
di notte al di là delle rocce
verso la villa lontano
guardavamo in mare le lampare
il vento soffiava dal boschetto sui nostri capelli
–e sentivamo perderci
dopo cena in silenzio
le lucciole sul balcone
erano nostre.

他是我遇到的第一位意大利诗人，深沉、内敛、富有男子魅力。很喜欢他为我翻译的英文诗句部分……

In August, my friend, Alan Hamson, came to visit me in Singapore. He introduced Facebook to me. At the time I did not look at it to closely, I was worried I would spend a lot of time on this website. Time is really rare and important for me, for studying and reading. This Monday, when I met my student’s parents in the supermarket, they recommended Facebook to me again. So I decided to create my account in Facebook.

Suddenly, I realized it is totally cool! I am able to contact a lot of old friends around the world, like Odile, Loïc, Bradford, Etienne, Cristobal, Gauthier…etc. I lost their news for a while. It means I can now contact most of my friends who I met on the Road (my trip) a few years ago. It is so exciting!! And the point is my friends can contact each other. They will know me more and I will know them more. That means we can connect the World.

Judie
3 Oct, 2007