Turning Point

I guess people eventually always come to a point where they decide once and for all what they're going to do. Sometimes earlier sometimes later. It always helps to do it earlier, so you've time to prepare, but sometimes circumstances are that not everyone can make a decision so early. And sometimes its better to make a decision later, leaving yourself with more options.

I guess there's no one correct way really. We can just make our decisions and be certain that they were the right ones. Cause everything happens for a reason.

Nepal was my turning point. Before this it was still a maybe thing, but Nepal sort of decided it for me.

And to think, I was debating with myself whether or not to go cause I was afraid of presenting in front of such an intimidating audience! Sometimes if you want to do something, and the only thing holding you back is fear and lack of confidence and you recognise that, then that should be even more proof to you that you should do it. Thats what I think. I'm ever so glad that I did. This has proven to be one of the best trips I've had in my life so far.

It was one of those weeks you wish wouldn't end.... Started with a two day conference at the Himalaya Hotel and the Yala Maya Kendra restaurant in Kathmandu. Man was I nervous. Never had the opportunity to present in front of an international audience before. And on top of that my presentation was rather puny compared to the others. Felt slightly out of my league in there. I was glad to have a support team there beside me though, to keep up the stream of assurances that it would be fine. Bless them. Dr R, Dr S, Dr C and Dr A, you guys rock:)

In the end I thought, the hell with it, I'm here, I've practised, there's no turning back now, so I should stop worrying about it. And that settled the jitters. Somewhat. Lol. In the end I managed to get through pretty well I think. I still feel my presentation was a bit juvenile. But no matter. Hopefully I'll get a chance to present there again, this time with something more significant.

Our Nepalese hosts were ever so wonderful in planning this whole thing, including lunches and dinners and post conference excursions. And thats not considering the fact that this was all held during the Diwali week. Exceptional hosts and every one in the conference came away very pleased I think.

Some highlights of the week:

Enjoying Nepalese/Indian food, especially the Nan, which is so soft and has a slight sweetish taste to it there, Masala tea, and momo, which is a type of dumpling. Although I must say my stomach has been unsettled for the past week, starting from the moment I stepped onto that plane to come home. Not sure why.

Finding my way from my hotel to the place the conference was held. I love the feeling of walking in a city so different from your own and absorbing everything. In this case the walk was a bit 'smokier' than usual, with all the stuff in the air. Kathmandu's air is really quite unhealthy. You can see some of the locals wearing face masks walking about town. No wonder I didn't meet a single tourist on those first two days as I made my one hour trek to the conference. Nonetheless, I did enjoy my little walks. Being in a foreign city makes you feel as if you're on an adventure and who knows what new and exciting thing could be just around the corner? Well. Actually we could very well do that in our own country too and I'm just romanticising things. Or perhaps thats the whole point of travelling to a foreign country sometimes.

The 2 hour long ride atop this enormous female elephant, seeing the forest and watching the sun set over it, being able to touch the treetops without any difficulty, seeing rhinos in the wild and looking across at this beautiful evening time vista of elephants in the wide meandering river, with a forest stretching out into the distance with the sky so big overhead... Ok now I realise I'm quite inadequate when describing scenery. Must work on that if I'm ever going to write my book one day.

The one hour morning flight to see the Himalayas. Will ever be grateful to someone for that. We each got our own window seat, and at first there wasn't much to see... Until we ascended above the layer of smog that covers Kathmandu, into literally, the realm of the gods. Everything was bright and crisp and the snow capped peaks looked so surreal. I'm going to stop trying to describe them cause I couldn't possibly do them justice at this point. Suffice to say, when each one of us emerged after spending a precious minute in the cockpit, where the windows are much much much bigger (not that we hate the pilots for that, they do have to fly the plane), every single person had this enormous smile on faces. It ended way too soon, and then we descended back into smog and the realm of men again.

Walking down the streets with my companions and coming across this young couple, about 13/14 years old, practising their Bollywood inspired moves for a Diwali performance that night. It was off the road and we only happened upon it after hearing music and going to investigate. They had gathered quite an audience of mostly young kids and teenagers, and were quite pleased that we had stopped by to watch I think, cause after about ten minutes they started pulling out benches and urging us to sit on them. The boy was probably slightly discomfited by the foreign attention, but the girl... Phew the girl was a fiery one. Flashing eyes and full of confidence in every move and all that. Made one speculate as to what kind of woman she would turn out to be. The dancing was very well done and very infectious and energetic, worthy (in my opinion) of being in a Bollywood movie. Then after that two younger kids did a performance, and then two girls did another... Wished I could have stayed longer, but I sensed my companions were getting a bit bored. Wonder when I'll have a chance to dance again though!

And last but definitely not least, meeting and talking (and most times just listening in on conversations) with people from all over Asia. It made me really realise how much more is out there, how much more there is to learn, and how much more there is to be inspired by. Vets who work with wildlife are just the coolest!

So I've figured out that I need to spend some time abroad, working and training. I guess the travelling bug has bitten me. Over the past few months, I have been ever so lucky to have travelled to 4 very different countries. And I have loved this feeling of being inspired and being in close proximity to inspiring people. People who have very different motivations in life and where there's a different sort of energy afoot. Its kind of addictive. So if it takes passing a RCVS exam to get where I want, I'm prepared to do whatever it takes.

To be honest I feel slightly guilty in deciding to leave my family and my home... But I'll be back someday. And when I get there, if I get there.... They can always come visit right?