Travel stripped away my assumptions and revealed a pattern: humanity shares an ancient instinct to protect what is precious from unseen harm. From Igbo traditions to Hebrew scripture, from Indian weddings to Mediterranean amulets, the symbols differ but the message is the same, attention is powerful, envy is real, and vulnerability invites both love and hostility.
I was explaining my journey through India when someone confidently told me Varanasi was satanic, dirty, dark, and full of floating corpses.
I listened quietly. I had been there. He had not.
What struck me most wasn’t the accusation, but the fear behind it. We visit Roman ruins soaked in pagan blood, name our planets after ancient gods, celebrate Halloween without question, yet struggle to respectfully observe another religion’s sacred space.
Standing by the Ganges River, watching life and death coexist with reverence, stripped away my fear. It reminded me that faith is not threatened by understanding, and that open-mindedness is one of the greatest gifts travel can offer.
Laos completely surprised me, a landlocked gem of Southeast Asia filled with mountains, turquoise waterfalls, peaceful spirituality, and vibrant culture. From swimming in the Kuang Si Falls to joining the sacred Tak Bat ceremony at dawn, climbing the Nam Xay viewpoint, cruising the Mekong, exploring animist traditions, and surviving the great train-ticket drama, every moment was an unexpected adventure. Affordable, lush, gentle, and deeply cultural, Laos made one of the strongest impressions on my Southeast Asia tour, and I know I’ll be back.
Myanmar wasn’t originally on my Southeast Asia itinerary, but curiosity and a friend’s invitation led me there. Between golden pagodas, red betel-stained smiles, and the gentle kindness of its people, Yangon revealed a side of beauty few travelers get to see. From the glittering Shwedagon Pagoda to circular train rides through rice fields, I discovered a country scarred by history yet rich in spirit, flavour, and grace.
I watched the expat life first through childhood eyes, polished women throwing lavish parties, multilingual kids, and a lifestyle that felt beautifully out of reach. But as I grew older, I saw the cracks beneath the glamour. Affairs, loneliness, secret vasectomies, and the quiet desperation of trailing spouses began to surface. Expat life was beautiful, yes, but also chaotic, and sometimes painfully complicated. What I didn’t know then was how those early glimpses would help me navigate the journey when I eventually became an expat myself…
Sri Lanka surprised me in the best ways. From the misty train rides through tea country to cooking with locals in a tiny village near Sigiriya, it was a journey full of warmth, discovery, and unexpected flavors. Traveling with five kids (and our Sri Lankan nanny who reunited with her family after two years!) made it even more special and sometimes an extreme sport. What I found most unforgettable wasn’t just the beauty of the landscapes or the spice-laden meals, but the kindness and hospitality of the people. Sri Lanka touched my heart, and I know I’ll be back.
I knew I’d love Jordan, but nothing prepared me for just how deeply it would move me. From the rose-red wonder of Petra to the sacred silence of the Jordan River, every step felt like walking through history. I floated in the Dead Sea, climbed desert rocks in Wadi Rum, stood where Moses once stood, and laughed with strangers who became friends. Jordan wasn’t just a destination, it was a spiritual, cultural, and emotional experience that left an imprint on my heart. After visiting 54 countries, Jordan now ranks in my top three. Here’s why…
What began as a simple plan to visit Jordan turned into one of the most epic and soul-shifting journeys of my life.
I landed in Syria, crossed into Jordan, and then walked through the ancient streets of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho, names I’ve known all my life through Scripture. I prayed at the Western Wall, wept in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, walked the Via Dolorosa, and stood in the place where Jesus was born.
In those moments, songs burst from my lips, prayers welled up unprompted, and every stone beneath my feet whispered sacred stories. This wasn’t just travel, it was pilgrimage.
I came seeking history. I found presence. I came as a visitor. I left as a witness.
Chidumaga, I never walk alone.
I’ve crossed many borders, but land crossings have a special kind of chaos, equal parts bureaucracy, culture shock, and sometimes comedy. From paying “virgin passport” fees in West Africa to having my underwear shaken out at a Gambian checkpoint, I’ve learned that no two land borders are ever the same. Whether it’s hungry kids stuck in a car between Qatar and Saudi, or flexing through a gate with “European” Arabs suddenly fluent in Arabic, every crossing teaches patience, and sometimes, pure surrender. This is the story of how I’ve survived them all… and why I still trust God for grace at every gate.
There are countries I’ll visit to check off a list, and then there are countries that stir something deeper in me. Syria was one of those. I walked through the pages of history, stepped into sacred stories, and felt both heartbreak and beauty in every stone. This wasn’t just travel, it was a pilgrimage. And not for one moment did I feel unsafe.
