"Led by Destiny" kinga_freespirit's Profile

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In Burkina Faso I bought a white camel...

My Africa

I'm travelling, hitchhiking around Africa now.
New continent, new adventures... Africa is amazing and each new day brings new surprises.

You can travel virtually with me by signing up to my mailing list at: www.kingafreespirit.pl

Hitchhike the World

www.hitchhiketheworld.com

I recently came back from a hitchhiking journey around the world. When my partner and me landed in New York with two backpacks, six hundred dollars, few plans and lots of dreams - we knew one thing - we wanted to see the world. At that time we had no idea the journey would take us... five years.

Few plans and lots of dreams

www.ledbydestiny.com

The world is big and fascinating. And we have decided to see it.
“Just like that? Where did you get the idea from?” people ask us.
I never really thought about it. I guess – right, just like that. Though maybe it helped that I got the travel bug from my parents. When I was one they took me on a journey around Poland – by hitchhiking! I had to wait for my own expeditions for a while, but when I started – it was hard to stop. I hitchhiked around entire Europe, often taking part as a volunteer at international workcamps. Having graduated from Foreign Languages Teacher Training College, when I wasn’t limited by short vacation, I set off on a longer adventure – a solo eight month overland journey – through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan to India and Nepal.
And later… I met Chopin. At that time each of us was dreaming of another great journey. I wanted to circle the Earth in a bicycle Peace Ride. Chopin, having completed his civil service, was thinking of just walking, without any plan, stopping here and there to work for a while, and go on. Destiny, however, had a different plan for us. We were meant to do it together.
One way ticket, two backpacks, a close to six hundred dollars (all our savings), few plans and lots of dreams – that’s what we had when we landed in New York. It was Wednesday, October 7th, 1998. We knew one thing – we wanted to see the world. The whole world!
How to do it almost with no money? How to do it to best get to know the people and cultures of the countries along our way? Of course – by hitchhiking!
We didn’t plan the detailed route – we just chose the general direction. We didn’t study guidebooks – people who picked us up, people we met along a mountain path, or a map we accidentally came across – these were our guides. We just let the events happen and the road lead us through new places, countries and adventures. Thumbing a ride with destiny… We didn’t expect it would take us… five years.
During those five years, I was keeping a diary, day by day filling new pages of thick notebooks with tiny handwriting. I scribbled leaning against my backpack waiting for a ride in the middle of a dusty Paraguayan wasteland, I wrote on board the boat sailing the Amazon River; or surrounded by a curious crowd of barefoot children in a Laotian village. Whenever there was a chance, I typed it into a computer, and Chopin archived on our website. Now I have managed to share the most interesting fragments of the diary together with the best of the photographs in one book.
You’re invited for a journey – first with us, and then – following your own dreams.

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This is an introduction from my recently published book "Led by Destiny"

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. .

And here are my two recent road trips, connected to VT! Both with Brad Brown.
The albums are hosted on Imagestation - if you're not a member use our login: 'autostopem' and password: '123'

Romania to Verona

another little road trip

Intro Updated May 18, 2006
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Personal Pages (5)

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Comments (253)

JackM2006 May 4, 2012 at 1:37 PM Report Abuse

You've been gone for some time now but your encounters that you shared with the world lessens my pessimistic views of the human nature. Continue to rest in peace Kinga.
Daja123 Apr 9, 2012 at 11:35 PM Report Abuse

Kinga, life is really like a travel - although interesting and great, it still brings the less shiny moments with it. I am happy I met you. Be with us on our journeys! I miss you....
Jenniflower Apr 11, 2011 at 12:43 PM Report Abuse

You have touched more people than you might have ever realised. Thank you for the pleasure and honour of knowing you. Especially missing you on your birthday. Jen xxxx
planxty Mar 1, 2011 at 4:05 AM Report Abuse

This page is still an inspiration. Rest easy, Kinga.
kymbanm Jun 5, 2010 at 1:38 PM Report Abuse

Missing you and trying to chanel your bravery ...
matcrazy1 Dec 23, 2009 at 6:29 PM Report Abuse

God Bless you Kinga! We will light a Christmas candle for you today! See you again in the Heaven! We can't say anything more now... :-( both matcrazies.
Senoritasmile Sep 9, 2009 at 3:14 AM Report Abuse

Today, your name and your face unexpectedly popped into my mind - at first I wondered why - now I am sure it was a reminder to bravely follow dreams whatever the perceived obstacles. Your legacy is infinite xxx
Boniunia Sep 5, 2009 at 4:42 AM Report Abuse

Missing you dear Kinga....
tzuki Apr 14, 2009 at 2:25 PM Report Abuse

In the blessing of Kinga, world miss you a lot! Happy birthday and happy memories. Love, tzuki
glabah Feb 9, 2009 at 8:05 AM Report Abuse

DennyP said it best, but now you get to explore all those places you never had a chance to see before. What an inspiration.