Long Way Round all over again

I've finally purchased the DVD version of this great TV series. For those who don't know what this is, it's about two guys (Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman) who decided to ride motorcycles from London, going east until they reach New York (yes, the long way round).

They had to cross a lot of hurdles, but at the same time met a lot of people. Met mafias in Ukraine, policemen and media in Kazakhstan, absence of roads in Mongolia, bears and raging rivers in Eastern Russia. When they finally got to the continental United States, they were kind of sad that the journey is about to end. Then Ewan summed the purpose of their journey poignantly:

He hopes that people who have been wanting to travel but is stopped by the what if's and the might be's, would be inspired by this. And realize that the what if's and might be's are the ones that make the travel memorable and worthwhile.

I couldn't stop crying when he said this. They have been through a lot, and have been through very low lows and very high highs. And yet, there was something ultimately freeing about it. They expressed a freedom that is immensely satisfying. When they nearing New York, they were actually talking about not showing up and just driving back to the west and do the journey all over again. Of course, they were just kidding, but they were also half-serious.

In the end, the country that gave them the most trouble, Mongolia, was, according to them the best country they went through, and they were glad they didn't bail out when the going went really tough.

I'm so grateful they made this series. I paid close to 2.5x the regular price for this DVD, but I wouldn't mind paying more than 10x or even 100x knowing how much gratifying watching it. It made me realize how beautiful the world is, and how, in the end we are all the same.

I'll be planning my own trip soon. I have an idea where to go. I just have to realize the what if's and the migh be's are the best thing that can happen along the way...