Don't I get homesick?

I have been asked by several people how I manage travelling by myself for so long. Don’t I get homesick? They are intrigued that a woman ‘of my age’ could set out on her own for eight months, and cannot imagine themselves doing it. 

As you know, my journey is taking such a long time because of the fact I cannot fly and Australia is so far away from everywhere. So this is my one chance to see so many places I previously could only dream of. Journeys of the mind are great, but how much greater it is to experience different cultures at first hand and walk such different roads, as it were, if only for a short while. 

Of course it would have been great to have family members and friends join me for all or for different parts of my journey, and share all the exciting places and experiences with them. No-one I know, however, amongst my family and friends could spare eight months or even one month to do so. 

I have lived on my own for over twenty years, so in fact travelling on my own brings me into more frequent contact with people and a greater sense of companionship than living at home. I have met some wonderful people on my journey, who may not have reached out to me in the same kind and thoughtful way if I were travelling with a companion. 

All those new friendships I have made on my journey, some of which I believe and certainly hope will endure, have not happened entirely by chance, however. While I have learned to be content with my own company - one has to when one lives alone - when I am on a ship I have ensured that I go to the dining room each evening and share the day’s experiences with the people allocated to that table with me. It gives you a kind of ‘home base’. We usually end up ‘solving the problems of the world' as well. I have simply loved all the delightful, lively conversations we have had - the humour and the different perspectives and stories of people from different countries. 

On the Queen Mary 2, some of us went to the ‘show’ together afterwards, or even a movie, and sometimes for coffee or lunch, which further shared time was extra special. Unfortunately, since then, on the other ships the shows have been far too loud and too ordinary for that. I just don’t go to them.   

On top of that I love meeting and chatting with people, so wherever I go I automatically start chatting. That can involve chance conversations at breakfast, on trains, on a shore excursion, and so on.

Then of course I am in constant contact with family and friends at home, thanks to all the technology we all now have at our disposal, even though it has driven me mad at times. 

So while others see me as alone, I do not feel alone at all. Having said, that, I do miss my family and friends, and am really, really looking forward to seeing them again. I just avoid dwelling too much on how much I miss them, as it would undermine my spirits and the joy I feel going to new places almost every day. 

In terms of adventures, this is a unique once-in-a-lifetime adventure, but it by no means is the only adventure I have had. I have travelled around remote areas of Australia on two long journeys which each took several weeks, travelled the length and width of Australia by train more than once, cruised right around Australia and visited New Zealand and South Pacific Islands a couple of times. (When I return home I will continue my blog telling you about these wonderful places.)  And before my ear specialist stopped me from flying, I had already travelled in Germany, the US and Bali. 

As well, and this no doubt will surprise those of you who have not known me for long, as a science writer I have had unbelievable adventures of a different kind. I have zoomed around a maze of tunnels a kilometre below the ground in a silver-zinc mine, gone down many other mines, driven around a massive open-cut copper mine and an iron mine, driven across the coal at a open-cut coal mine, clambered over many industrial sites and power stations, including climbing down into the ‘bowels’ of a hydroelectric power station, visited many water treatment and sewage treatment plants, and visited wind farms and solar farms. At each place I have chatted with the engineers and other experts involved. This has all been to conduct first-hand research for my books. 

So all-in-all, this trip is just the icing on the cake to all the other adventures I have had. 

I encourage everyone to go on your own magical journeys too. That is what life is about! A journey and an adventure. And never let your age define or limit you. I don’t! 

There are a lot of exciting worlds out there! Which is no doubt the message the creator of this work on my present ship was trying to convey.