constanttrek

Where it sits just now

July 3rd, 2008

Things have been ticking over quietly amidst the usual hubbub of pitching for more sponsorship and trying to iron out logistics.  The region of Algeria, Libya and Egypt remains uncertain – particularly Algeria, and my plans remain in flux as a result, although I feel quite certain that I will get back in one form or another.

I have been writing, and speaking, and planning, and enjoying all of those things.  Slow Journey South seems to be going well, although I don’t have sales figures for it.  Below are excerpts from some of the reviews that have come out:

Paula’s voice is a fresh and compelling one. She writes really well in this genre and is thoroughly inspirational—giving much in the way of personal learnings and insights about life. Slow Journey South will appeal to those that have an interest in travel stories, those that are interested
in walking and hiking and those that enjoy reading about Africa and the Camino Santiago. This is one of the finest examples of travel literature in a long time! – Angus and Robertson

Even if you can’t bear sand between your toes, you’ll enjoy this Slow Journey South. –Cairns entertainment review

Beautifully written, the book inspires setting a goal and seeing it through – The Weekly Times

Enthralling and absorbing…By the end, I was hungry for more – Sun Herald, Sydney

I feel a little sad that it is taking me so long to get the second book out; but it is a much more difficult one to write, and I find that I am editing myself a lot more than in the first.  I try not to avoid writing, but I do find myself escaping into the internet whenever I strike a difficult part of the walk!

I was watching a movie about Africa last night, and I suddenly felt a jolt of longing so hard it hurt; although I feel inestimably glad to be raised in such a prosperous country as Australia, there are times when I miss the crazy wildness of Africa, and just want to be back in the heat and freedom of it.  Others, I look around me at the comfort and calm, and feel passionately relieved that my life is so easy, with mates on the end of the phone and all life’s nice things on tap.  I know I will miss those things when I go back.

IT is hard sometimes to realise also that it is not necessarily just the journey that pulls me back, but also, now, the desire to finish what I started; this drives me just as much as the walk itself.  At some point it became a real goal in itself, to achieve the desert crossing, without missing a step; whether or not this is politically possible, I remain committed to achieving as much of that goal as I can.  It is almost a point of pride for me now.  I guess it just feels unfinished.

In some ways I wonder if this is why I find writing the second book so hard – the unfinished journey sits within like an undigested meal, leaving me uncomfortable and restless.

I just finished reading a book called The Islamist, a true account of a London raised Muslim who went from moderate to extremist, and then, via an intense and confronting journey, back to moderate, spiritual Islam again.  I was so absorbed by the book that I read it in one sitting, often crying.  It brought home to me with great impact how tragic it is that Islam is increasingly misunderstood not only by those who are not adherents, but, and even more dangerously, by those within it’s very folds.  If the voices of reason, of the true clerics and scholars of Islam, cannot be heard over the histrionics of the extremists and ignorant preachers of hatred, we shall all suffer the consequences – muslims included.  For  me this book was a direct portrayal of my own experiences of Islam in the desert and in the UK, and a wonderfully open exposure of the hypocrisy of the Saudi Arabian regime, which operates an oppressive, incredibly racist system in open defiance of international human rights – with Western co-operation and sanction.  Increasingly, I feel outraged and deeply concerned that the real sources of violent extremism are able to hide beneath Western ignorance and tolerance, and are aided by governments and individuals courted by Western governments.  Most of all, I feel terribly saddened that the quiet majority voice of humble, spiritual, moderate Islam is drowned out by these few loud and ill informed antagonists.

I hope so much that wisdom prevails.

OOps, look out for threats to my well being….

ha ha

cheers

Paula

Entry Filed under: trekking