I have no idea where this has come from, but it is here. I am writing this at the end of January 2026. So, you can see there is a vast timeframe that will have passed by the published time.
Some things are just supposed to be. Our minds are always in the know. Even when we are not. What’s it all about? Again, I currently have no idea.
Strange.
Is this that anticipation our ancestors had before they set out on their journey across the sea to a strange land that was described by a stranger?
Why did they believe?
What stories were they told?
Why did they trust a stranger?
We will never know. And, so it begins.
Chaos.
What chaos is about to unfold on this planet?
Be it man-made or by nature or is there something else that we don’t know, at this moment.
To me, society has become a strange mess. What others believe, just because others say so, seems to be crazy.
It’s not just in one place but everywhere…
Convergence.
I look at my convergence that occurred back in the early 1900s. I still wonder, the how, when, why stuff.
What made all my ancestors decide, out of all the places to settle in Australia, they would end-up selecting a place that may appear to be halfway from everywhere in Queensland?
Did they all just say one day: “And, so it begins.”
50 Years.
At this moment, this is all so weird. This post celebrates my 50 years of travel, way back on 11 June 1976 when it began. It is funny to think that when I was planning this first overseas journey people weren’t impressed. I’d say more negative. One question I still remember is, “What happens if you don’t like flying?” My response: “I can’t really jump out of the plane over the Pacific.”
And, so it begins.
No Prize.
Plans had been made to be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA on 4 July 2026, same as 50 years ago.
All plans changed dramatically back in November 2024.
I’ll let you guess why!
No prizes either…
And, so it begins.
Determination.
This writing was to be a 50th celebration of my travels.
With repeating part of that 1976 journey, but this isn’t happening as I said. Back in 1976, the joy of a childhood dream came true…
How it all fell into place is a story in itself. A lot can only go down as determination. The memories of that first trip will never fade. The places visited and the people I met.
Racism.
One of these stories was when I was sitting in a diner or was it a café across from the White House in Washington D.C. I was 19 and a single white male. I was on an adventure true to the words used here – Explore and Discover. Who would have known?
I began a conversation with the dark-skinned lady. I don’t recall any of the conversation. What I do remember were the white males present, staring at me as if I’d caused harm to their pet dog. I ignored it, but I could feel the tension. It wasn’t until years later it appeared that I was “breaking” some rule! How dare a white-skinned person chat with a dark-skinned person? Let alone, a female. And, so it begins… It’s never stopped…
An Identifier.
I have travelled the world extensively.
I have visited the USA, probably at least eight times.
It hasn’t been until recently that it dawned on me: the USA seems to be the only country that adds some identifier before American…
And, so it begins.
Respect.
My parents brought me up to respect anyone and everyone, no matter their colour, race or whatever.
It’s about respecting another human being.
People come into our lives and cross our paths – it’s just how it is. We learn from others. But it seems it has changed and not for the better.
And, so it begins.
Come & Go.
The hatred. The lies. And, the more lies. No one is any better than anyone else. Each of us is on a path – some good, some bad and some different.
We come to the planet to learn, explore and discover. We all leave this planet the same way. What you get from it all, who knows? Where you end up, who knows?
It’s about… And, so it begins.
You.
What is it that you want?
What is it that you think you need?
What is it about you that makes a difference?
Do you follow others or are you – YOU?
And, so it begins…
Explore and Discover.
Acknowledgements.
All photographs were created by ComfyUI using the text in the writing via Perplexity.
Ancestor Family 
When I wrote this, I didn’t even think about what the writing was saying. Even when I scheduled it, for this to appear the day after celebrating the beginning of my travels some 50 years ago. I can, even, remember what I did on the night of my arrival and the second day too. Also, where I went that first week-end with my American friends… Some words from that week-end still hit me as if it happened yesterday… “In all seriousness…” Three words… It even makes sense today…
Enjoy your journey, here. We never know when it will even but we do know all the people we have ever met or even come in contact with – just glances as our eyes meet… Explore and Discover.
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