Jag bor i Kristianstad och läser i lokaltidningen idag om din föreläsning i Glimåkra. Byn ligger ju en bit härifrån och jag missade händelsen. Har sett ditt namn förut.

Du säger att du har “åtminstone en expedition till” kvar. Jag hoppas du kan ha åtminstone två – det finns en jag verkligen skulle vilja göra själv, men jag har nyss fyllt 73 och har andra faktorer som begränsar min rörelsefrihet, så det är inte realistiskt.

En expedition kan ju ha flera mål – det primära är väl själva upplevelsen. Det kan också vara att upptäcka något nytt och okänt, som t.ex. i det fantasiska TV-programmet i tre delar som nyligen gick om “Expedition Guyana”, en av de absolut bästa tv-serier jag sett. Eller kanske rentav att i bästa fall bekräfta existensen av något mytiskt och sägenomspunnet men omtvistat. Om existensen av detta något kunde bekräftas i det fall jag tänker på, så skulle det ha en enorm vetenskaplig betydelse.

Jag hoppas ha gjort dig en liten aning nyfiken, eller? Jag har två alternativ – antingen att här bifoga en massa länkar till diverse internetadresser och kopior av email. Men jag tänkte rentav ge dig servicen att skriva ut det viktigaste och skicka per snigelpost. Förutsatt att du kan tänkas vara såpass intresserad att du läser det? Då behöver jag din postadress, som jag inte hittar på din sajt.

Så jag hoppas läsa en rad från dig.

Själv är jag pensionär på onsdagarna, jobbar övriga dagar som läkare på psykiatriska kliniken vid sjukhuset här i stan. Liksom du har jag funderat mycket på “meningen med livet”. Det har lett till sökande och aktiviteter på olika områden. En del om det finns på http://www.nilsolof.se.

Vänliga hälsningar,
Nils-Olof Jacobson

Hope things are going well for you.
Have you regained your strength?
Or still searching which direction to take?
Let me tell you that you inspire lots of people,
your website is interesting and a wonderful meeting place.
Besides that I find it extremely important that you share
your experiences, the good AND the bad.
Because ups & downs is what life is about, and sharing the difficult moments
helps lots of others to deal with their own drawbacks.
So, thanks, pal.
And thumbs up for you. Arita

I realise that you are perhaps unaware of these developments, and know you have every respect for my expedition – but it is extremely important to make sure the facts are straight. Given that, despite being a woman, I walked over 6 times the distance Christian did (through 4 Saharan countries), I would not like it thought that my progress was hindered by my gender.

Not that I have the hump, ha ha…..:-)
Paula

This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title Explorer Mikael Strandberg ” Understanding the traditional …. Thanks for informative article…

I just wanted to share this phrase ( not exact), that I saw the other day when I walked into one of the offices at the college I graduated from: ” Winners are the people who might fail , but never quit” . Coming from me, I failed several times in pursue of completing my education and faced many obstacles , but because of my presistance and paitence, I finally graduated after 8 years of trying to do so. There is a phrase from the Qura’an that says( i.e. means):”you might hate something , but it might be good for you” So it might be good for you in the long run that you did not go on this expedition this year, and fate has something more great and special hidden for!

Good Luck Mikael, and never give up your enthusiam, rejuvinate and come back to Oman!

Yours,
Short Tempered Buddy

it has been a while since I found out your blog on the Internet….And
the article about more women in adventure was the one that got me.

Why I am writing…Because part of my life I dedicated to adventure. I
had spend a lot of time outdoor during my early 20-is and couple years
ago I decided to ride a bike from Slovenia to Beijing, China and back.
I had one rule – every single km on bike….. It was experience that
left a mark on me. And yeap being a woman was different. I paid the
price or still paying it while processing things that happened while
being on the bike.

And one of the hardest thing is being back. In society. I would like
to do more adventures, but I do not like to see that because of
adventures I am something more, super strong…. I am human. I am
woman. I cry and smile. (which I am learning again to use feelings in
everyday life…) At the moment I am in Georgia. And I meet some super
strong woman here. The system decided for them to make their life
harder, but they have the power and energy to fight back with
education, with gathering, supporting…. They are doing small step
but for sure they are doing them.

Go back to adventure thing. Personally I learnt a lot using nature or
traveling as best classroom for experiential learning, but I am not
saying it was hardest. For me it was and is the thing I love. It is
just different. But at the end of the day it is egoistic selfish act.
Because I dream I have to do it. I have to try it…..But for my
family, they do not understand but they have to except it…..And
beside it all, the question still remain now what is next?

There is one thing I had to do after I return back was read and read.
Because I had to many questions. I am still searching for the answer
and to find kind of balance in my life… There will be more traveling
in remote areas and harsh environment, but the “biggest” adventure is
to try to find couple people around myself who thinks similar and make
life better for few more. To be a positive role with what I am doing
in my everyday life. Adventures are part of it, but for sure it is not
all and there is no price tag on it.

Hope and wish my words makes sense. Would be more then glad if you
decide to share your opinion.

Wishing you all the best with future adventures as in everyday life as well,

Marija Kozin

Slovenia, but for now in Georgia

If expeditioning was easy, everyone would be doing it! Bad luck for having to step back from this great adventurous idea but I admire your graciousness in the face of such great disappointment.

Onwards! All the best,

Neil