Completed my Camino Frances on 17 June 2019

Mak Wei Seng said:

On the 17th June, I stepped on the plaza in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela after walking 800km. It’s my way of celebrating my semi-centennial this year.

Over the 5 weeks, I’ve the great pleasure to get acquainted with many wonderful people (from more than 30 countries); I believe some of these friendships will last for a long time.

In the Camino:

1. I realised I can live with so little. I practically walked the Camino with only 3 sets of clothes (I reckoned I could even live with 2 sets). What I needed were all in my backpack.
2. I learnt to appreciate the little pleasures in life eg hot showers, taking off my shoes at the rest points, lying on a clean bed.
3. If I focussed on the bright sides of things, everything would turn out well and fine. Conversely, I could sulk about the symphony of snores when I tried to sleep, the long queue to use the bathroom or the same monotonous pilgrims’ menu, I would have been a grouchy pilgrim.
4. I witnessed grit and determination. I’ve seen a lady with blisters practically on every toe of her feet but still managed to walked to Santiago. Many who complained about sores and pains, but still wake up the next morning and ready to walk.
5. I experienced the pleasure of simplicity - I woke up, walked, ate breakfast, walked again, ate lunch, napped, ate dinner and slept. With lots of socialising, interactions and beer/wine in between. And the cycle repeats.
6. I saw Camino angels everywhere - who selflessly extended help to fellow pilgrims. From helping to prick the blisters, to offering a suffering pilgrim a knee brace, helping to carry another pilgrim’s backpack. The list goes on...
7. We are all the same but different. We walked the same path and have Santiago as our destination (Finisterre for some). But we do it for our own reasons and we walked at our own pace and rested at different bars even though we might end up in the same Albergue for the night.

I’m sure some of these can be applied to my daily life.

I’ve put together a video of my Camino Frances - SJPP to Santiago.

Camino de Santiago - May 2019

Enjoy

Click to expand...

Mak Wei Seng said:

On the 17th June, I stepped on the plaza in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela after walking 800km. It’s my way of celebrating my semi-centennial this year.

Over the 5 weeks, I’ve the great pleasure to get acquainted with many wonderful people (from more than 30 countries); I believe some of these friendships will last for a long time.

In the Camino:

1. I realised I can live with so little. I practically walked the Camino with only 3 sets of clothes (I reckoned I could even live with 2 sets). What I needed were all in my backpack.
2. I learnt to appreciate the little pleasures in life eg hot showers, taking off my shoes at the rest points, lying on a clean bed.
3. If I focussed on the bright sides of things, everything would turn out well and fine. Conversely, I could sulk about the symphony of snores when I tried to sleep, the long queue to use the bathroom or the same monotonous pilgrims’ menu, I would have been a grouchy pilgrim.
4. I witnessed grit and determination. I’ve seen a lady with blisters practically on every toe of her feet but still managed to walked to Santiago. Many who complained about sores and pains, but still wake up the next morning and ready to walk.
5. I experienced the pleasure of simplicity - I woke up, walked, ate breakfast, walked again, ate lunch, napped, ate dinner and slept. With lots of socialising, interactions and beer/wine in between. And the cycle repeats.
6. I saw Camino angels everywhere - who selflessly extended help to fellow pilgrims. From helping to prick the blisters, to offering a suffering pilgrim a knee brace, helping to carry another pilgrim’s backpack. The list goes on...
7. We are all the same but different. We walked the same path and have Santiago as our destination (Finisterre for some). But we do it for our own reasons and we walked at our own pace and rested at different bars even though we might end up in the same Albergue for the night.

I’m sure some of these can be applied to my daily life.

I’ve put together a video of my Camino Frances - SJPP to Santiago.

Camino de Santiago - May 2019

Enjoy

Click to expand...

t2andreo said:

See you next time. You WILL be back.

Click to expand...

Mak Wei Seng said:

On the 17th June, I stepped on the plaza in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela after walking 800km. It’s my way of celebrating my semi-centennial this year.

Over the 5 weeks, I’ve the great pleasure to get acquainted with many wonderful people (from more than 30 countries); I believe some of these friendships will last for a long time.

In the Camino:

1. I realised I can live with so little. I practically walked the Camino with only 3 sets of clothes (I reckoned I could even live with 2 sets). What I needed were all in my backpack.
2. I learnt to appreciate the little pleasures in life eg hot showers, taking off my shoes at the rest points, lying on a clean bed.
3. If I focussed on the bright sides of things, everything would turn out well and fine. Conversely, I could sulk about the symphony of snores when I tried to sleep, the long queue to use the bathroom or the same monotonous pilgrims’ menu, I would have been a grouchy pilgrim.
4. I witnessed grit and determination. I’ve seen a lady with blisters practically on every toe of her feet but still managed to walked to Santiago. Many who complained about sores and pains, but still wake up the next morning and ready to walk.
5. I experienced the pleasure of simplicity - I woke up, walked, ate breakfast, walked again, ate lunch, napped, ate dinner and slept. With lots of socialising, interactions and beer/wine in between. And the cycle repeats.
6. I saw Camino angels everywhere - who selflessly extended help to fellow pilgrims. From helping to prick the blisters, to offering a suffering pilgrim a knee brace, helping to carry another pilgrim’s backpack. The list goes on...
7. We are all the same but different. We walked the same path and have Santiago as our destination (Finisterre for some). But we do it for our own reasons and we walked at our own pace and rested at different bars even though we might end up in the same Albergue for the night.

I’m sure some of these can be applied to my daily life.

I’ve put together a video of my Camino Frances - SJPP to Santiago.

Camino de Santiago - May 2019

Enjoy

Click to expand...

Mak Wei Seng said:

On the 17th June, I stepped on the plaza in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela after walking 800km. It’s my way of celebrating my semi-centennial this year.

Over the 5 weeks, I’ve the great pleasure to get acquainted with many wonderful people (from more than 30 countries); I believe some of these friendships will last for a long time.

In the Camino:

1. I realised I can live with so little. I practically walked the Camino with only 3 sets of clothes (I reckoned I could even live with 2 sets). What I needed were all in my backpack.
2. I learnt to appreciate the little pleasures in life eg hot showers, taking off my shoes at the rest points, lying on a clean bed.
3. If I focussed on the bright sides of things, everything would turn out well and fine. Conversely, I could sulk about the symphony of snores when I tried to sleep, the long queue to use the bathroom or the same monotonous pilgrims’ menu, I would have been a grouchy pilgrim.
4. I witnessed grit and determination. I’ve seen a lady with blisters practically on every toe of her feet but still managed to walked to Santiago. Many who complained about sores and pains, but still wake up the next morning and ready to walk.
5. I experienced the pleasure of simplicity - I woke up, walked, ate breakfast, walked again, ate lunch, napped, ate dinner and slept. With lots of socialising, interactions and beer/wine in between. And the cycle repeats.
6. I saw Camino angels everywhere - who selflessly extended help to fellow pilgrims. From helping to prick the blisters, to offering a suffering pilgrim a knee brace, helping to carry another pilgrim’s backpack. The list goes on...
7. We are all the same but different. We walked the same path and have Santiago as our destination (Finisterre for some). But we do it for our own reasons and we walked at our own pace and rested at different bars even though we might end up in the same Albergue for the night.

I’m sure some of these can be applied to my daily life.

I’ve put together a video of my Camino Frances - SJPP to Santiago.

Camino de Santiago - May 2019

Enjoy

Click to expand...

MarkyD said:

That green bridge over the railway approaching Astorga. I remember laughing so much at the irony of it.
Well done for completing your Camino during a period of contrasting weather throughout May and June in Spain. (I live here in Madrid, so my thoughts often go to those on The Way)
Thanks for the video upload, it shows in a short time the iconic places, the sense of community and the majestic simplicity of this epic journey.

Click to expand...

Mak Wei Seng said:

On the 17th June, I stepped on the plaza in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela after walking 800km. It’s my way of celebrating my semi-centennial this year.

Over the 5 weeks, I’ve the great pleasure to get acquainted with many wonderful people (from more than 30 countries); I believe some of these friendships will last for a long time.

In the Camino:

1. I realised I can live with so little. I practically walked the Camino with only 3 sets of clothes (I reckoned I could even live with 2 sets). What I needed were all in my backpack.
2. I learnt to appreciate the little pleasures in life eg hot showers, taking off my shoes at the rest points, lying on a clean bed.
3. If I focussed on the bright sides of things, everything would turn out well and fine. Conversely, I could sulk about the symphony of snores when I tried to sleep, the long queue to use the bathroom or the same monotonous pilgrims’ menu, I would have been a grouchy pilgrim.
4. I witnessed grit and determination. I’ve seen a lady with blisters practically on every toe of her feet but still managed to walked to Santiago. Many who complained about sores and pains, but still wake up the next morning and ready to walk.
5. I experienced the pleasure of simplicity - I woke up, walked, ate breakfast, walked again, ate lunch, napped, ate dinner and slept. With lots of socialising, interactions and beer/wine in between. And the cycle repeats.
6. I saw Camino angels everywhere - who selflessly extended help to fellow pilgrims. From helping to prick the blisters, to offering a suffering pilgrim a knee brace, helping to carry another pilgrim’s backpack. The list goes on...
7. We are all the same but different. We walked the same path and have Santiago as our destination (Finisterre for some). But we do it for our own reasons and we walked at our own pace and rested at different bars even though we might end up in the same Albergue for the night.

I’m sure some of these can be applied to my daily life.

I’ve put together a video of my Camino Frances - SJPP to Santiago.

Camino de Santiago - May 2019

Enjoy

Click to expand...