After the journey, there is life!

[VNwalking]

We talk here a lot about preparing for the Camino--some of us for years. Now in the midst of jet-lagged integration, I find it curious thst we don't talk so much about the days and weeks after we've finished and left Santiago. Integration is an 'interesting' process, quite rich in its own way. And no less challenging than walking the distance.

Frankly, my email inbox is a harder thing to deal with than anything the Camino could throw at me!

Oh for the simplicity of just getting up and getting out the door...but remembering how to surf the waves of life's complexities without losing the presence of mind from the Camino seems like the next part of the pilgrimage. And no less important!

Comments? Reflections? Wit and wisdom?

 

[Mark Lee]

I didn't find much integration in order after I finished my first Camino. Sure, it sucked that it came to an end, but that was inevitable of course. It's not like it was a tour in combat, or something like that. I did miss the simplicity it makes life become. I think that simplicity is a favorite thing of a lot of people who walk the Camino.
I flew from Santiago to Paris, and from there to Dubai and caught a flight to SE Asia and spent the next month or so roaming about Cambodia and Thailand. Put quite a dent in the Asian stock of Tiger and Ankor beer.

 

[Jacobus]

Hardest for me to deal with is the relative disinterest in my accomplishment. Perhaps it is because my level of involvement is so extreme that I expect others to share in it to a certain degree.
That could also explain why we stay so close to our Camino families, this forum and frequently return for another Camino fix!

 

[CaminoDebrita]

I didn't find much integration in order after I finished my first Camino. Sure, it sucked that it came to an end, but that was inevitable of course. It's not like it was a tour in combat, or something like that. I did miss the simplicity it makes life become. I think that simplicity is a favorite thing of a lot of people who walk the Camino.
I flew from Santiago to Paris, and from there to Dubai and caught a flight to SE Asia and spent the next month or so roaming about Cambodia and Thailand. Put quite a dent in the Asian stock of Tiger and Ankor beer.

Mark Lee: I lived in Cambodia for many years. Did you hang out in P Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville? All of the above?

 

[Mark Lee]

Mark Lee: I lived in Cambodia for many years. Did you hang out in P Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville? All of the above?

Just Siem Reap and saw (like a good tourist ha ha) the temples, market and such, but didn't get a chance to hit the other cities. Ran out of time unfortunately. I did like Siem Reap though. Thought it was very mellow and stayed in a nice little villa style hotel for very cheap.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

Just Siem Reap and saw (like a good tourist ha ha) the temples, market and such, but didn't get a chance to hit the other cities. Ran out of time unfortunately. I did like Siem Reap though. Thought it was very mellow and stayed in a nice little villa style hotel for very cheap.

Mark:
I lived in Cambodia from 1994 through 2000. My ex and I established a publishing company there, and he's still there. I'm not, of course

I lived in Sihanoukville, on the beach, for about a year, then P Penh. I was in three different villas while there--well, four if you count the one I was in for two months during the two-day war. I will always have some love in my heart for Cambodia. So many stories. Tragedy. Love. Fear. Fear and loathing in Cambodia...

 

[Mark Lee]

Mark:
I lived in Cambodia from 1994 through 2000. My ex and I established a publishing company there, and he's still there. I'm not, of course

I lived in Sihanoukville, on the beach, for about a year, then P Penh. I was in three different villas while there--well, four if you count the one I was in for two months during the two-day war. I will always have some love in my heart for Cambodia. So many stories. Tragedy. Love. Fear. Fear and loathing in Cambodia...

Well, Siem Reap is quite the tourist destination now. Quite busy, but honestly not overwhelming.
That part of the world is a really cool place to travel around, and inexpensive. Great deals on hotels and short flights from city to city.

 

[CaminoDebrita]

Well, Siem Reap is quite the tourist destination now. Quite busy, but honestly not overwhelming.
That part of the world is a really cool place to travel around, and inexpensive. Great deals on hotels and short flights from city to city.

One time I was in Angkor Wat all alone. It was a dark afternoon and the monsoon rains moved in. As it was early in the year, it was what the Khmer consider the cold season--their winter. I was actually quite chilly. I was also barefoot inside the temple. Seriously, no one else in the whole temple. I could see a few monks across the way walking through the trees. The inside stone slabs were cool and nice on the foot. Most of us just walked around barefoot when we were inside Angkor Wat. It smelled like bat dung, of course. The rain was sideways. Nothing was roped off; there was not a tour bus of people with cameras. Just me at Angkor Wat.

 

[VNwalking]

Hmm...
I was thinking bills, job, reconnecting with family and cyberspace.
Siam Reap is still not so far from the Camino. ;-)

 

[Luka]

Interesting question. I think the hardest part is to let the Camino spirit stay in some way when back in the office. Next to 'simple life', I also miss being outside (whatever the weather) every day.

(Well hypothetically then, my 1800 kms Camino is 9 sleeps away...)

 

[pilgrim b]

Viranani you have touched an interesting part of the continuation of your camino those feelings you may have, too many possessions, you are too busy, you may feel you want to live life at a slower pace enjoying life each moment. The list probably goes on and on so solutions might be to declutter your home spend less time shopping for what you really don't need. Maybe priorities your spare time first then what you really want to do with your life, the Camino road seems to never end in Spain or anywhere else in the world for that matter. Oh and pilgrim always be grateful! Maybe not everybody's list but I know it is mine and some of my camino friends.
Luka mine is 33 sleeps Buen Camino pilgrim.

 

[Al the optimist]

Where are you starting from pilgrimb? I hope to be at Zariquiegui 27th May and walking short distances.

 

[CaminoCruiser]

I'm almost at the end of my pilgrimage now and in a lot of ways I'm very happy about that. I have spent the last week and a bit being very teary and missing my family. These low feelings are probably exacerbated by the fact that I'm walking for my late father who died ten years ago. He was born and raised near Burgos. I still haven't really dealt with his passing properly and I'm sure this isn't helping. Sorry for being a bit maudlin!

I have enjoyed the walk immensely though. I love the Galician countryside, its probably my favorite part of the whole walk apart from SJP to Roncesvalles.

If I come back I will probably walk a much less-commercialised trail.

 

[VNwalking]

Buen Camino to you both, PilgrimB and Al!
PilgrimB, LOL! I'm a Buddhist nun, so I live a pretty simple life that I am very happy with. It has its challenges and complications but shopping and too much stuff are not what makes this time so interesting.
Mostly I miss the time outside and life lived at a walking pace. And space from the Internet and expectation/demands of instant and constant contact...which mostly I'm able to mitigate, but there are still many balls to juggle. Really the lesson here has just been to remember to be OK and compassionate about dropping them!
And gratitude....Oh my, yes! You're right on with that.........

 

[KimJ]

Buen Camino to you both, PilgrimB and Al!
PilgrimB, LOL! I'm a Buddhist nun, so I live a pretty simple life that I am very happy with. It has its challenges and complications but shopping and too much stuff are not what makes this time so interesting.
Mostly I miss the time outside and life lived at a walking pace. And space from the Internet and expectation/demands of instant and constant contact...which mostly I'm able to mitigate, but there are still many balls to juggle. Really the lesson here has just been to remember to be OK and compassionate about dropping them!
And gratitude....Oh my, yes! You're right on with that.........

Thank you so much Viranani for your inquiry and sharing your experience of returning home.
It has been exactly one month since I returned from the Camino. My particular situation and reason for walking the Camino was to give myself space and time to process the end of a 14 year relationship. The interesting thing was only a small part of my experience was grieving and the rest was being captivated by many sweet caring encounters with other pilgrims, albergue hosts or locals in town. I felt my hurting heart expand with the incredible generosity of those around me that I felt it so life and humanity affirming (of course, generally speaking, not ever single human being). So perhaps what one is coming home to also has it's unique integration process like my own has been. There is a certain spirit of love I feel that I am carrying with me which continues my heart opening and life affirming experience I had had on the Camino.
I miss, I think, mostly the sense of community on the Camino.

 

[VNwalking]

Beautiful, Kim! It's impossible to forget the experience of being part of a large and constantly moving family, and the care and kindness of strangers. The Camino can bring out the best in us...a goodness that feels the essence of who we really are, never mind that other things obscure it from time to time. (It's the same here on the forum, too...it's the virtual equivalent, which is one reason why it's so darn addicting! )