30th September 2021
When we left SA in March 2017, we started this blog for our loved ones, family and friends to follow and share our journey.
Over the past 4 years, being able to look back at our previous posts, we realize that this blog now means so much more to us.
Maybe one day, even the ground work for a book about our journey and experiences, but most definitely for a trip down memory lane. We will be able to sit together looking over all the fond memories of how our journey started and all the wonderful experiences we have shared along the way.
Someone once said, “Life is not about stuff to show but stories to tell”.
We want to be able to look back at all the cherished moments of our lives spent here in Siem Reap, Cambodia and all the adventures we have shared.
While sitting in bed with our morning coffee, we chat about which moments from the previous day meant something to us. This is our time to be present for each other and to remember all the little things that we are grateful and thankful for.
Sapphire is an early riser who brews fresh Cambodian ground coffee, every morning. His morning meditation ritual. So lucky me gets to wake up most mornings to the smell of freshly brewed coffee, lemongrass incense in the air and soft meditation music playing in the background. Our “peace” of heaven.
We are blessed with a vibrant, lush green hanging garden outside our bedroom window which Vichot (Pappa), lovingly tends to.
This beautiful hanging garden is not only there for our sensory pleasures but also to block the view of our bedroom window from the upstairs apartments next door, allowing us the privacy to be able to enjoy our morning coffee (and other pleasures), while looking out at the garden in our naturalist forms.
From the coziness of our bed we are greeted by the melodic sounds of chirping birds, the fluttering of butterflies between the plants and flowers and the occasional bird perching outside, peeking in to say “good morning”. We sometimes get to appreciate the artistic work of a garden snail, painting a path in the morning dew across our window pane.
Our window to the morning world outside, is such a blessing. These moments are so peaceful and such a beautiful way to start every day.
We often think back and recall busy, stressful mornings in SA, being jolted into reality by the morning alarm. Getting up in the dark to go through the usual Monday to Friday routine of getting ready for work and then having to brave the traffic etc. and we are reminded of how much our lives have changed.
This is the life we choose and the rewards far out weigh the sacrifices we have made. We live a simple, peaceful, safe and beautiful life here which we are very happy and grateful for each and every day.
So today, we would like to add a peaceful morning window to the world memory, to our Palm Tree Diaries.
