Travel Theme: Bountiful

Two weeks ago I wrote a post under the Travel Theme Strong about my daughter and our travels the past year. I think it’s so appropriate and timely that I get to follow through with this weeks travel theme Bountiful!

Why?

Because we are overflowing with gratitude, love, richness and blessings received from all across the globe, from people near and far, from friends, family and strangers alike and we are thankful for having Shama home with us today 🙂

I write this travel post in gratitude of the people we have come across our journeys. So as not to make this into a long essay (!) I write specifically about the generous, kind and loving people we met in America back in April and the rich and meaningful experiences we had with them. 79 faces, beautiful places, 3 weeks in California, Boston, Maine, and Pennsylvania.

In California, the moment I had been waiting for in 7 years, to see members of my closest family whom I spent my childhood with. My cousin sisters and their parents. They saw my children for the first time, and I used to babysit them when they were babies! Truly memorable moments in Los Angeles, hiking, feasting and beach time with such wonderful people 🙂

Again from Ashique’s side, meeting close family, really special people, who also met our kids for the first time. One of his Uncles organized a party in our honour, people even came to visit from Colorado and Arizona! The children hit it off instantly and once again a great feeling seeing the next generation gel so well!

The memorable drive from Morro Bay to San Francisco, rich in wildlife, scenery and redwoods!

Our time in Bodoinham, Maine, meeting some very special friends. We had the priviledge of meeting them and becoming life friends with while they were based in Bangladesh for work. Reliving the fun times we had in Bangladesh, remembering my mom, remembering our wedding river cruise at the Sunderban National Park, talking and laughing over lunch and dinner about their adventures in Bangladesh. Not to mention how beautiful Maine was, once again rich in wildlife and natural landscape!

At the Poconos, we were a large group of 30 people, childhood friends for 20+ year, all with children of our own, enjoying the joys of seeing the next generation together and feasting on abundance of Bengali food!

And last but not least, time with my sister, nephew and niece and my bestest of friends, who travelled far and wide to be with me in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (and yes, we went to a village called Intercourse) – all the way from Florida, Georgia, Maryland and Long Island. We are blessed and truly grateful 🙂

To us travel is so much about the people we meet, both old and new. I didn’t want to diverge into the rich experiences we had in meeting new folks, will have to save that for another travel theme 🙂

In the meantime, we are grateful to have our lives enriched by our travel experiences and the bountiful of memories, adventures and people who have come into our lives.

To be rich in admiration and free from envy, to rejoice greatly in the good of others, to love with such generosity of heart that your love is still a dear possession in absence or unkindness these are the gifts which money cannot buy – Robert Louis Stevenson

This post was written as part of The weekly postcard from Travel Notes and Beyond