September, as usual, was a wild and crazy month and, as usual, I mean that in the best way possible. Not only did my big summer tour of Europe come to a bittersweet end, but I made an equally bittersweet return to the country that arguably started it all, Thailand (a big Sawatdee from Koh Tao, by the way!).
I can’t say I’ve got anything more figured out than the previous month as far as the big life picture is concerned, but I’m feeling pretty good about where things are and where they’re going. Sometimes I wonder how much of this contentedness is just a result of getting older and growing more comfortable in my own skin and how much of it is actually warranted by progress…and then I remember how fortunate I am to have made it this far at all and just go back to being content 😉
So, let’s get right down to it, shall we?
In September of 2015…
My first Eurotrip came to an end
I kicked off the month in a big way, landing in Scandinavia for the very first time and completing my 30 before 30 goal–Sweden was the 30th foreign country I’d traveled to and I did it all before turning 30! It was an exciting moment, and getting to know Stockholm over the next 8 days was just as thrilling.
Though much of my time was spent slaving away on a bunch of new projects, I did find a few spare moments to explore this beautiful archipelago. I visited Gamla Stan, or the old town, and wandered around The Royal Palace. I got to spend an afternoon exploring Skansen, an open-air museum and zoo located on the island of Djurgården where I ate the most delicious waffle of my life and watched brown bears make out like inexperienced teenagers. I sampled traditional Swedish fare like uhhh obviously Swedish meatballs (and ohmygod were they delicious–served with lingonberries and mashed potatoes, I was in heaven!) and learned the precise opening hours of the local Systembolaget (that’s the government-owned liquor store chain, aka the only way to drink affordably in Sweden).
The best thing about my time in Stockholm was that it wasn’t hurried or jam-packed with tourist activities. The majority of my time was simply spent being a normal human being–working, running errands, watching movies, cooking, drinking wine–and man, did that feel good for a change.
I made an emotional return to the land of smiles
On the flight from Stockholm to Bangkok, I was feeling a wide array of emotions (FYI, in such a state, it’s probably best to avoid watching sad movies on a 10-hour flight–there aren’t many places to hide your sobbing). My excitement to return to Thailand for the first time since leaving in 2013 (not to mention the reunion with one of my best friends from home) was tempered by the heartache of leaving Europe. I knew this return wasn’t going to be anything like the last time for so many different reasons, and I’d begun to feel perfectly at home in Europe. At times, I questioned whether returning was the right decision.
I wish I could tell you that as soon as I stepped off that plane into Suvarnabhumi Airport or that as soon as I took my first bite of delicious Thai food all my worries and insecurities melted away, but–they didn’t.
The best part of being back in Thailand, by leaps and bounds, has been the opportunity to spend time with my girl Addy (the dive instructor I’m always talking about). Outside of our time together I’ve either been working, I’ve been sick, or I’ve just been too hot to move.
There have been a lot of highs and lows during my time here on Koh Tao when I was really expecting a lot more highs (highs include eating allll the Thai food and hanging out with Addy’s fun dive friends; lows include some unexpected island drama and being too ill to do anything for a week). To say that I’m disappointed would be a gross exaggeration–that’s not what I’m trying to convey here at all. It’s just different, I guess, and one of the things Addy and I have both realized we need to work on is throwing expectations out the window, because we often seem to be setting ourselves up for a fall.
In any case, my other Koh Tao buddy just made her big return as well and we reunited last night for the first time in over two years (you might be familiar with this one) so the next few days are sure to be a hoot, I’ve finally got a plan to hit up the island’s best dive site this Saturday, and I’m finally on an upswing health-wise. Hooray!
A few other exciting Thailand tidbits: I’m finally registered for the TBEX conference and a pre-BEX tour which is all happening mid-October, but in just four short days I’m heading to a different blogger meetup that I planned much more recently, the Travel Blogger Retreat hosted by TravelDave.co.uk! It’s a week of workshops, seminars and working sessions mixed in with some Thai-style relaxation and entertainment on the island of Koh Phangan. It’ll be far more intimate than TBEX with just over 30 bloggers in attendance (as opposed to the hundreds that will be in Bangkok) and a great way to network and learn from one another. I’m already familiar with a handful of people who will be there and the rest I’ll be able to get to know well in a week’s time. I’m mostly looking forward to dominating the beach volleyball court and the free hotel breakfasts…but don’t tell anyone! 😉
For once, plans actually worked out the way I thought they would
Guys, THIS IS CRAZY! Remember when I told you my tentative plans for the end of the year a few months back? Well you obviously already know I’m in Thailand, but there was one other plan I mentioned that I really wasn’t so sure was actually going to fall into place, and that was a family (or at least mother-daughter) get-together in Hawaii.
SPOILER ALERT–IT’S HAPPENING!
I’ll be flying out of Bangkok on November 3rd en route to Kahului, Maui, where I’ll be meeting my dear mother as she flies from Seattle. We’ll be spending the better part of the month in Kihei on the island’s western shore where we’ve got a shared family condo. I can’t even tell you how excited I am for this trip–I haven’t been back to this property since I was 15 years old! I’ve always loved Maui and will hopefully be able to explore new corners of the island this time around, all while having a perfectly peaceful environment in which to work in between adventures. With any luck, my two brothers will be able to join us for part of our stay as well.
And as for after Maui? I’ll admit, this next part even I didn’t really see coming…I’ll be joining my mom on her flight back to Seattle. Yup–I’m officially headed stateside! Mainland stateside!
When I realized I didn’t really want to come back to Southeast Asia, my only other feasible option seemed to be making a pit stop at home to regroup (I’m not quite ready to dive into East Asia). And seeing as I haven’t been in Washington for Thanksgiving in something like four years, I thought it was about that time.
Though there’s nothing set in stone yet for December some ideas are in the works, and I’m pretty much deadset on spending Christmas someplace snowy and magical (sorry, Washington, but that ain’t you) and as you know, I’ve got my heart set on returning to Europe. Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of 2015!
And now a few fun extras…
My Most Popular Blog Posts
How to Meet People as a Solo Traveler When You’re Not Staying in a Hostel
Chiang Mai vs. Medellin: What Digital Nomads are Saying
My Best Instagrams
You guys are either suckers for classic Thai sunset shots or poetic travel quotes…I can’t decide. Maybe it’s a lethal combination?
A Few Things I’m Loving
Encircled – Versatile women’s clothing designed to help you travel lighter, made from eco-conscious fabrics and materials, sewn by fairly-paid local employees? A company after my own heart! They’re also my newest generous sponsor this month so check out their link in my sidebar and show them some love! The Chrysalis Cardi (which you can wear 8 ways!) is on my Christmas list for sure.
10 Tips for Traveling Solo – Not that I need many pointers anymore, but I thought this post had some interesting ideas and number 7, in particular, stood out to me: Choose to enjoy the wait. Travel can often seem like an endless waiting game, but if you’re actively engaged in something–anything!–then waiting is just another wonderful part of the journey.
Elle’s 10 Best Winter Travel Spots – I want to be someplace whimsical this Christmas in a bad way and when my wandering eye keeps landing on lists like this, can you blame me?!
Happy October! Onward and upward!
