mindset

"It's a lifestyle. It's almost like another life in another world."

Traveling,

What a beautiful way to live.

Just think about it. Every day is a brand new day. You’re not in rush, you don’t even have schedules. You just… are.

Here’s a sunrise from Mount Batur, Bali.

When you’re on the road life flows so well. You see, experience, grow and learn. It’s the circle of life. It is exhausting, yes, but also very rewarding. Life rolls forward, like a wheel going down the hill, and you actually feel like living. It’s like a new world, a new life.

Traveling by yourself pushes you far out from your comfort zone, that’s for sure. It turns your life upside down, both, in a good and in a bad way. You will have to face reality in many ways, including challenges you’ve never even thought about before. Whether it was getting stuck at the Singapore border when your bus has brutally left you there and you have no money and no one speaks English, or when you’re deadly sure a boat you’re on will sink soon because of the massive waves. (Yes, been there.)

It’s not fun anymore, it’s facing the worst moments and worst fears in life and having to do it alone. But you learn to trust life and most importantly have faith in people. What ever happens, you will get back on your feet. Even though if you were by yourself, you will find a way. Besides, there’s always someone willing to help you. I’ve met the most friendliest and helpful people during my travels, whether it was a fellow backpacker or a local. It doesn’t matter, if they see someone in need, they will help. Countless number of stranger have helped me when I’ve needed it the most, and I am so grateful. One day, I will be in their position, helping someone else as well. 🙂 Just wait for it.

Our driver and my British friend in Lombok, Indonesia! Ah, the best driver in the world.

A local woman weaving in Bali, Indonesia. 🙂

You learn how to keep your head up no matter what happens. You become a real survivor. You become The Hero and The Ruler of your own life. You can do whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it. Just think about it, the freedom. There’s no one telling you what you can or cannot do, in fact, you can do anything! (at least try…)

You will learn so much about life, people, cultures and most importantly yourself. And when you go back home you will feel like another person from another planet… But we’ll get back to that very soon.

The best thing is that you will find yourself living the most incredible moments of your life. Those unforgettable moments when it’s actually hard to understand it’s your life you’re living right now. You are so in the moment it’s unreal, I’m sure you all know what I mean. 🙂 The best thing is that you’re most likely surrounded by people with the same mindset, and there you are, together, just chilling somewhere, watching the sun setting behind a canyon or moon rising over the sea. It’s almost like a dream, but it’s real! You create amazing memories with amazing people, your new friends from all around the world. You find yourself falling for strangers and life all around you. You enjoy life so much it hurts. There’s so much beauty around you it’s almost hard to comprehend. You really live fully. 🙂 You became fearless and face every day as a new adventure. Who will you meet? Where will you end up? Who knows! But you’re up for it!

@ Gili Trawagan, Lombok, Indonesia – The Sunset Beach

Traveling by yourself will enrich and rearrange your life, in a good way. Whatever happens, it will lead you forward to whatever it is that you’re seeking for. You know why? Because you will make it happen.

You learn how to go for the things you want in life. You learn to take chances, because in the end, that’s all you’ve done in the past months! Taking the chance when riding a scooter up a curvy mountain road in Northern Laos (where traffic rules are more like suggestions), or taking the chance when getting into a dodgy taxi (and getting scammed!), or just simply taking the chance when choosing blindly a meal from a menu that is completely in Vietnamese! You try, you go for it. You don’t think about losing. You’re curious! So what, if you will end up eating frog legs, haha. It doesn’t matter if it tastes like sh*t, it’s a great story!!

@ Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

Traveling is great. It’s challenging, but great. Just like coming home…

Coming home.

Silence. Everywhere. Not really quite sure what to think and how to act. It’s a culture shock, it’s a shock in every way. Suddenly you have only certain kind of people around you, no new acquaintances. No new travel mates from Canada, no new roommates from Germany. No hostel staff, no different languages. Only one language, one culture. One bed, one room, one kitchen. One house. One city. One country.

Home?

I came home about a month ago. I apologize my dear readers for not updating my blog in six months, but I just couldn’t. Backpacking in Asia did not go too well with writing a blog at the same time, at least not for me. But I’m here now! After 4,5 months in Southeast Asia and Indonesia I find myself back in my old room in Finland. Feelings very much confused, not sure what to think about home anymore. What is home? Who am I? Who was I before my travels?

What do I want now? Should I go or should I stay? What will make me happy?

I’ve read multiple articles and blog posts, and had multiple conversations about the same issues and feelings I’m experiencing. After traveling or being abroad for quite a while (one and a half years for me), It’s perfectly normal to feel like an alien in your old home. As strange as it sounds, nothing is the same for you anymore although everything is the same. You’ve changed, a lot. You don’t feel like home home. Home is not just a place anymore – it’s the people, it’s where the heart is. Thankfully, I have my people here around me, helping me a lot. Friends, family, people who actually matter.

But for me, home country is now more like another destination, except this time you know all the people and you’re familiar with the streets. You don’t really get lost anymore. You’re safe all the time. You don’t have to ask for help. You experience hardly any new things or meet new people. Nothing’s really happening.

For me it was a shock, a proper culture shock to return home. It was (and is, still) really difficult to adjust. But I know it will take time. And during that time I will use my blog to re-live my travels. I will write you my stories, tell you where I ended up and how, who I met and why. I will share you my photos of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. I will share you memories that are golden. Through my stories I can feel a bit more alive again and I remember how lucky I’ve been with my life. And I hope to inspire and encourage at least a few of you to go and explore as well. 🙂

Anyway, just enjoy the ride!

P.S. If you want to sing out, sing out! (Thank you, Cat.)

@ Flores, Indonesia