Hi I'm Julie

Welcome to my blog. You are personally invited to join me on my journeys through India and Thailand. My Journey began in 2006 following a major life trauma. This made me realize just how short life can be and how we should grasp every moment as if it's our last because it just might be. So I gave up my 20+ yr job as a social worker, using the little money I had to travel. Many times in my life, people have said to me "I wish I could do what you did" Well YOU CAN! It really is simple if you don't want to look back on your life with regret later. Material things are temporary, to hold yourself back on account of them somehow seems foolish. So this is my journey, I hope you will feel inspired and motivated to follow your dreams!!!!! Maybe you can drop me a line when you do.

Ajhan Chen Theravada Buddhist Monk

So lets start in Thailand! Its 2006 and I recently watched a TV documentary called 'Kill or Cure' about a drug detox run by Buddhist monks & nuns. Working in the field of substance misuse I found this fascinating so off I went.........

Some of the men and women getting ready to do their daily detox ritual. This is the place where life really can be transformed but there is only one chance 
at Thamkrabok and nobody is readmitted.

This is where it all happens........The detox! No softly softly approach with anti depressants and nice spells in bed. Here at Thamkrabok people do their detox rituals followed by work in the monastery grounds to get the body chemicals flowing normally, herbal showers, meditation and a healthy diet.

Wonderful family photo on a market in Lop Buri not too far from Thamkrabok Monastery. I only went to buy a couple of keepsakes but ended up invited to a family meal followed by photo-shoot...... Fabulous!!!!

All this Thailand stuff has really given me the travel bug. Never having been abroad before, I've finally discovered how much I love flying. So here I am now planning a trip with my daughter, not to Thailand but......Incredible India.... Here's us sunbathing on a roof in New Delhi where everything is wild, wonderful & a work in progress!!

The beautiful Taj Mahal

My daughter Becky at the Taj entrance

When you go to India there are things you just have to see like the beautiful Taj Mahal in all her
glory!!!

Now on to Rishikesh at the foothills of the Himalaya. Rishikesh is also known as the Yoga Capital of the World. Here is where the River Ganga begins, where the Beatles met and studied with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and where the famous Laxman Jhula bridge stands proud overlooking this holy & mysterious city.

From Rishikesh it was on to Manali where I took a room in the Nyingma Buddhist Monastery. Manali has two main parts old &new but both are equally as beautiful with their stunning views, history, temples & monasteries. 

                                                              

Nullah North Rohtang Pass Manali

                                                                           

                                                                                                          Ladakhi Women WomenYak Riding in Old Manali  

                 Hindu Temple in Old Manali                                                                                                                                      

Nyingma Buddhist Monastery Minali