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VirtualTourist Member leigh767


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leigh767   
It doesn't matter where you go or what you do; what truly matters is deciding to get onboard.


Real Name:
Lives In: Ithaca, US
Birth Date: July 6
Member Since: May 23, 2005
Last Login: May 03, 2008   03:39 UTC
Member's Time: May 17, 2008   13:26 EDT
VT Rank: 1338
Deals Rank: 303
External Page:leigh787.deviantart.com/
Travel Interests: Cruise, Historical Trip, Cycling, Beach/Ocean/Sea, Architecture



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Cairo, EG  25  41
Marrakesh, MA  12  30
London, UK  20  20
Oaxaca de Juárez, MX  12  17
Edinburgh, UK  6  19
Athens, GR  13  11
Hong Kong  14  9
Florence, IT  6  16
Cancún, MX  10  8
» more...
 

Page Views: 5,864            

[volare] across a star-strewn indigo sky

by leigh767 - last update: Jan 21, 2008

23 countries... and still in search for Shangri-La

Silk Road, China


People travel for many different reasons: some to confirm the sights they have seen in books, others travel to challenge their existing beliefs about the world; others travel to forget, and still others travel to remember. Some travel to feel connected with the world, while others travel to affirm their own existence.

No matter how much I travel and how much I see and hear, after bearing witness to the glorious beauty of the oceans, skies, deserts, forests and ruins of the world, perhaps the main reason why I travel is for the stories.

The master waver in Oaxaca may have a very different story to tell from the one that the young child in Lijiang has to share. But stories, like birds, all have a soul of their own and long to be freed. Stories are happiest when their songs are spread to the furthest corner of the earth, when their tunes fall on a new pair of eager ears.

And when you have exhausted the trail of your travels, and have seen all the dunes and valleys of the world, perhaps it is time to sit down by a stranger's side and hear the story that we each have to offer to the world.


MAJOR UPDATES

Mexico 2007-2008 tour:
Travelled through Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Cristobal, Palenque, and Cancun during a 3 week long trip in Mexico. Some amazing sights, but even more amazing people. Take a peek:

My Teotihuacan Page
My Oaxaca Page
My San Cristobal Page
My Palenque Page
My Cancun Page

Cycle the Nile Expedition 2006:
Thanks to a travel grant, a group of friends and I cycled down the Nile this summer to raise funds for cancer research. Yes, I know "summer" "cycling" and "Nile" don't always go hand in hand, and technically we just did the Egypt portion of the river (1300+km). Still, it was amazing beyond all measure.

HERE's the result!

Updated Travel Page with new tips and pics: London, England.

DO WE DARE TO FACE IT?:
Amid all our happy travels, I think we need to take some time out to put things into perspective. Some footage from Uganda taken by a group of people of my age. It is funny and sad all at once. Above all, it is real. Please, give it a chance-- a moment of your time is all I ask--

Invisible Children video clip
Taken at one of the many lakes.

Jiuzhaigou, Si Chuan

They call it THE most beautiful place in China. It's not hard to see why.

For more shots of this area by another person, check out this guy's works.

VT Page

The Maldives-- Heaven on Earth

The only proper sunset I ever saw while there (rai

Guangzhou, China

A typical street scene.

Seoul

A rare (for me, at least!) architectural shot.
Taken inside the Old Town Hall

Prague, Czech Republic

That touristy place with the beautiful soul of an ancient man...

VT Page

Oxford, England

The City of Dreaming Spires

The spectacle that comes once a day, always.

Firenze

Once in a blue moon, there comes a sunset so stupendous in its fading glory that it silences everything else. The bustling of the world around you peels away and there's nothing save you and those fiery hues of transient red.

I saw one such sunset in Florence of Italy.

* * * * *
Countries thus far:

Australia
Belgium
China
Czech Republic
Denmark
Egypt
France
Great Britain
Greece
Hong Kong
Italy
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Mexico
Morocco
Nicaragua
Singapore
South Korea
Thailand
The Maldives
The Netherlands
United States of America

Miscellaneous interests:
Flying at night, when the stars are not above you but around you
Reading a good book atop the Acropolis, the testament to our common history of triumph and defeat
The thick aroma of coffee, enjoyed in good company

leigh767's Albums
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
So. The beauty pageant.- 1
That Jinxed Trip- 1
Moments of Gold- 1

Comments for leigh767
scottishvisitor Sun Feb 3, 2008 12:14 UTC
 Hello there & thanks for your lovely comment on my home village :) I could not imagine living anywhere else! I see from your page you have been to lovely Rosslyn!
suvanki Mon Jan 28, 2008 20:11 UTC
 Hi! I'm fine thanks - counting the weeks til my Iran trip! I'll check Your Mexico trip out - Bet You had a great time! Best Wishes, Sue x
apekovic Mon Jan 14, 2008 19:37 UTC
 Dear leigh767, realy nice pages (spec. photos) from you! Greetings from Belgrade, Serbia.
melosh Fri Nov 9, 2007 13:04 UTC
 Great photos and I love the style and content of your prose. I know it can be hard to fit in your travel stories, but keep it up. Pictures and travel stories enrich each other. Thanks
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