Welcome to my online travel memoirs/blog – the Diary of an Aesthete – pictures, film, poetry and storytelling from my life travelling and living in various parts of the world. From London/England, I am an Art Restorer by trade, and my interests include history, culture, craft, archeology and the natural world. Please connect in the comment section below, or with the links at the bottom of this page, and find stories from my travels in the headings above. I’m so grateful for your visit!
– James
“The voice of God can be found amongst the highest mountains, and between the smallest grains of sand… if you only have the ears to hear it. The essence of a pilgrimage is to move, yet, at some point along the way, you realise you do not move at all ~ the pilgrimage moves you.”
I will be forever thankful to all those who have been a part of this journey, both on the road, and here, on this site… This is my Pilgrimage ~ my story of life, and the people and places which become a part of my story along the way.
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This pilgrimage has taught me many things. It has taught me to love more, to let go… to seek more, to forgive more… to move more… and most importantly how to be still (which is a constant battle). The greatest illusion of this world: that others are different from us.
“Know the world in yourself. Never look for yourself in the world, for this would be to project your illusion…”
– Ancient Egyptian Proverb
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“I have looked in many places, behind many doors, and into the eyes of many people. The only lasting thing I have found, of any value and perpetual comfort to my soul, is an undoubted belief in God. ” – 2019
Thank you for joining me!
I love to read and respond to your comments.
Follow the Journey
A bucketlist isn’t freedom for me. The ability to travel unhindered is not freedom to me. Living between boundaries of fear is not freedom for me. Freedom for me is beholding the night’s sky, walking barefoot at dawn, raising my hands in worship, chanting from the depths of my soul, the wind in my hair. Freedom for me is my undefinable, unbreakable belief in the Great Spirit of Life, in One Divine. No matter what happens, these things can never be taken from me.
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Thank you for the follow. You must be independently wealthy to have been to so many places around the world.
What an interesting read. God bless.
Hi Rebecca, you’re welcome. I am spiritually very wealthy indeed and yet materialistically probably just about as poor as it is possible to be. I have hardly any possessions, no permanent home or job, no spouse or children or educational commitments. All my spare money and time goes into my artistic life and philanthropy. I care to enrich my soul not my pockets. This, for me, is the true meaning of faith. I make a decision/put the relevant energy into my need for almost-constant travel, and God provides my means. It’s as simple as that. I give up control (never been in control anyway, really) and let the pieces fall where they may. Light always finds a way to shine through the darkness, and that is the art of going. Peace. Jx
Thank you for the follow. Shine on!
You are welcome, Ciaro. I relate so very much to your expression. Keep sharing. Jxx
Thank you for visiting and following Snowbird of Paradise. I look forward to reading more of your adventures.
You are more than welcome. Thank you for spreading gratitude on Diaryofanaesthete. Peace. Jx
Dear James,
I am so happy to have found your blog. Actually ’twas first you found me (I humbly thank you for the follow). I like to meet those souls cross my path and so it is my practice to pay a visit to each new friend. How blessed and inspired I am by your journey. Peace and love to you! -Kat
Indeed I did, Kat! Thank you for returning the favour. It’s a privilege to cross your path, and I feel honoured that you are inspired by my journey. Peace and love from the bottom of my heart. James X
Thank you for the follow! So very grateful and honored you would choose my blog to follow. Thanking my Lord for such a privilege. You’re blog is very interesting, artistic, and raw: I LOVE IT! If you ever have a need for prayer get in contact with me, I would be happy to commit to praying through those things for you.
I hope you’ll continue to enjoy your journey of life!!!
I’m honoured that you feel honoured (hope that makes sense to you) – I really am! I love all that you stand for, Ruth, and your passion for your faith is so inspiring. Thank you for sharing, and thank you for following my blog and writing such a beautiful testimony. I always need prayers and good will on my journey, which can sometimes be very difficult and heart-breaking. But if you want to pray for someone can you please pray for a boy called Desmond – pray that he is happy, and that he knows how much he is loved. That would mean more to mean that I can possibly say… God bless you. Thank you for sharing the light. James x
Life is a gift, and should never come with instructions. anticipation is limitation of expectations. Which only lead’s to failed goals.
Enjoyed the read!
Wise words indeed. Thank you! James.
I’ love it your photos!! Very interesting your blog….
Thank you!
Wow! Thank you for visiting. I would not have known about such an interesting soul had you not stopped by and kindly followed me. I shall follow you also. Lead on😊
You’re welcome. Thank you for returning the favour! I’m very complimented. JX
Excellently rendered to envelope the senses as if we were walking alongside you. Talented describes your writing style to a T. Many blessings and thank you for following!
I often get congratulated for my photos which I’m so grateful for, but to be congratulated on my writing style and the ‘rendering’ of my stories means even more, so thank you. I indeed put a lot of thought into bringing the reader into the dialogue of my journey, so to speak. It was one of my main ambitions when starting out. I’m so very glad it’s working for some people. Thank you again.
Many blessings to you my friend. May we both arrive at Valhalla’s might gates bearing smiles and joy. Peace
May we indeed. God bless X
Very interesting blog–and I appreciate your following mine.
Thank you! You’re very welcome.
Marvelous introduction, my friend. I see you as one who lives immersed in that wonderful sense of ‘being blessed…to be a blessing’ in the wide world. What a grand gift! May your journeys continue to enrich your heart and broaden the circle of friends who live in it.
Kathryn
Thank you, Kathryn. Beautifully put. The thought of being some kind of blessing is nothing short of highest honour. I simply hope to do the best I can with my vision of the world. Jx
It’s amazing how God will bring you something that will confirm all that’s in your heart. I was just getting ready to do a blog post about how on this current journey in my life, I will most likely have to travel alone. After reading just this introduction on your blog, I know that it will be okay. I’m ready… Thanks for following me! I’m looking foward to reading more of your adventurous and spiritual blog posts!
What a privilege to be used as a vessel of God’s message. Thank you for sharing that! I pray you continue to find hope and strength for your journey ahead. I’m sure it will be positive and life-changing. You, in return, have given me hope and strength. Thank you for the exchange. Jx
Wonderful blog and what an amazing life you have. Thanks a lot for visiting and following my blog!
My absolute pleasure, friend. Thank you for visiting mine. Ad Astra. Jx
Amen. Simply yet precious words. A beacon of beauty, love and humanity. Thank you for spilling out, onto the page, in writing and images, gems from your travels and life lessons. Gratitude for dropping by and joining my little blog-tribe – thereby introducing me to yours. Keep on shedding your light. Namaste.
It is great to meet another pilgrim on a healing journey! I’m so grateful for your gratitude, and so happy to shed light captured on my amazing travels and life journey. Here’s to joining forces. Namaste. JX
Impressive, keep sharing the light.
Thank you. Peace. J.
A very fascinating blog you got here! Happy to have connected… The second best thing to travelling yourself and experiencing things is often hearing passionate recounts of others own journeys and stories. Just so you know, you have the kind of life, everyone secretly yearns to have and you’re living it right now in this moment! Thanks for visiting my blog and the follow! 🙂
Thank you for the reminder! I am very blessed, indeed. So happy to have people like yourself coming along on my journey. Jx
i just read this and your journey sounds amazing i seek a simple life like you, exploring, doing everything i want, never have regret of what i didnt do.
I really hope, and I’m sure, you will achieve this. Have faith in your inner-self, go with your instincts, face your fears and hold your head high. The world is your oyster… Jx
Thank you for visiting and following my blog! I appreciate it very much. 🙂
You’re welcome X
Just one quick glance and I already know that your blog is a blast! What an amazing life you seem to have! It’s like you’re pursuing your dreams, which is something that many people cannot do because they’re not capable of overcoming their fear. I think I’ll spend a lot of time on your blog.
Thank you, Eric. Means a lot. Trying to overcome as many of my fears as I can.
Hi, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this article.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
Thank you!