8 billion people on the plant, ‘what’s the chances’
In a world that is tinkering on a population size of 8 billion, the fact you spend time with someone from the other side of the world, in a region of the world you are both unfamiliar with, at the exact same time, can feel like a chance encounter, a chance to connect and learn from each other. I always seize that opportunity, as I’m not sure anything is really by chance.
As I tip-toed over the border into Tajikistan, one of the five ‘Stan’ countries, I was walking side by side with Gerry from my tour.
So, who is Gerry?
Gerry is a 75-year-old Aussie, whose family emigrated from Morecambe, England when he was a small kid. A retired lecturer from Adelaide, specialising in 21st-century history. Completely ecstatic to be exploring a region of the world that feels like an enigma. As we walked through the neutral zone between the Uzbekistan and Tajikistan borders, I took the opportunity to 'interview' Gerry as he was about to step into his 120th country. Definitely, a moment to ponder on, to celebrate.
None of us that do this traveling malarkey take it for granted and I wanted to capture his thoughts on his latest achievement. We've shared many wee chats on this trip, and I wanted to encapsulate his reflections, as that is how you learn from those that have walked before you. Here's a snapshot:
1. Seize the opportunity as there may not be another chance
We both booked this bucket list trip in 2019 when you could visit the '5 Stans'. Due to the pandemic, and its increasingly restricted regime, Turkmenistan is now completely closed, even to its own citizens. Gerry was given the option to wait in the hope Turkmenistan will open back up again to reignite the ultimate tour to all 5 Stans, or visit the 4 stan countries that are open – they themselves home to some incredible gems.
He explained, in a matter-of-fact kind of way, that after waiting for over 2 years, he wasn't waiting anymore. Or put simply, ‘Seize the day as there may not be another shot’.
I would completely agree.
Sometimes we wait for the right time, or the right conditions before we take the leap. Or we assume there will be another chance and optimistically slot it into our future, a future that isn’t guaranteed. If Gerry waited for Turkmenistan to reopen, he would have potentially ended up missing out on the real prize - the experiences waiting for us in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
2. Embrace the culture of the country you are traveling
If you want it to be like home, stay home. What a statement from Gerry, and so true.
The number of people who place expectations on a country and then feel let down as the country doesn't live up to their, unmet, expectation is more common than you would think. Spoiler, the country can never live up to your expectations, as they are not real. Gerry expressed, “If you want your trip to feel like Australia, stay in Australia”.
When you truly travel with no expectations and an open mind, curious about what is waiting for you, you end up having the most exhilarating experience. Every day immersed in the local culture, ready for all your senses to be awakened. That is why we travel far and wide, to be taken on a journey through lands that were once a mere dot on a map. Now their lives, and history, connected to ours.
3. Things happen. You'll figure it out.
Gerry defiantly expressed, as all avid travelers believe, “There is always a solution”. He went on to outline that you will always figure it out, and make it through the obstacle but need to be flexible as the outcome could be different. As that is travel life, we flow with whatever situation we find ourselves in.
As we headed out for dinner in Bukhara, the central focal point on the Silk Road that runs through Uzbekistan, Gerry seemed a little giddy. That day we travelled, all day, across the desert, following the route along the river Oxon, once taken by Alexander the Great, from Macedon. As we walked towards our dinner spot he proclaimed, “I can’t quite believe I am here. I remember reading about these places when I was a young boy. And now we are here. I’ve waited a long time to experience this part of the world.”
I agreed and explained whenever possible I give myself a ‘you are actually here’ pinch to solidify the enormity of where I am, which at times feels super normal.
I resonated so much with Gerry. His positive outlook in life, his thirst for new experiences, and an awareness that our time here is limited. This echoed out as he told me a tale over breakfast one day. He candidly explained how he experienced a minor heart attack while playing croquet, of all the sports – that is Gerry, always bringing perspective to life. He now takes medication, hits the gym daily and limits the sugary treats to prolong his life. Noting that while on this trip, he had let the sugary treats be enjoyed. ‘Here, here!’ Most people would use a minor heart attack as a, completely rational, reason to slow down and experience life from an armchair. Not Gerry. He’s adapted, and life, with all its riches, continues.
One of my favourite chats centered on the Tech classes, where Gerry was a ‘mature’ student, provided by Adelaide Council to educate the aging population in all things digital from excel worksheets to social media. When I asked if they were actually called ‘Old and Dumb’, a label that caught my attention, he chuckled wildly, before explaining, that was his catchphrase for them.
I probed further to understand what topics were covered, or what he learned. He quickly replied, ‘How to screenshot?’. I nodded, fully aware in my own life how popular a screenshot was, in fact, a regular occurrence, especially when travelling. I joked we would need to jump on Instagram and ‘go live’ to his followers. He shrugged, before explaining that he hadn’t yet been shown how to use Instagram and was waiting for the day to create his very first Tiktok. I was sure he would create a viral video, simply labelled ‘Old and Dumb’.
Later in the trip I shared how my eVisa application for Tajikistan was declined, three times. I remember it was a clunky online process. When I asked how he managed to complete the process, he smiled as he answered, “I took it to the old and dumb class. It took the teacher an hour to complete so there was no chance of me completing it.”
And thanks to the old and dumb class, Gerry tiptoed into Tajikistan, with his visa printed, ready to learn and experience a new country.
He truly was a breath of fresh air, with an understanding that time is very, very, precious.
He would highlight that 75 year olds back home in Australia are waiting to die. That isn’t the life for him, as while he still can, he travels far and wide.
Before he joined the Central Asia trip in the Uzbeki capital, Tashkent, he travelled through Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Turkey completely solo. Any raised eye brows towards his endeavours would be met with “And why not?”.
He’s already to leap into some new travel experiences in 2023, and has his name on the waiting list for the West Africa tour offered by the same tour company we used to traverse the 4 Stans.
Although many in Adelaide may be unfamiliar with the Stans, Gerry shares back his trips through his academic community. And already has a date booked in. Each evening he writes up a travel diary with snippets from the days tour, scribbled onto a piece of paper. His reflections and moments captured, ready to be transposed into diary form. Soon to be shared back. To educate, inspire and excite.
As we said a final goodbye on our last night he shared one final thought, ‘May you achieve your dreams’.
And with that, it’s time to start planning my own 2023 travel plans.
Gerry, a true inspiration to keep travelling, keep that fire lit inside, and share back.
“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” – Sir Isaac Newton