It’s been an unbelievable 300 days since I left home. So much has happened: I’ve filled many pages of my passport with stamps from various countries; I’ve met so many new people, some of which I am fortunate to be really good friends with; I’ve done so many things I never saw myself doing and I’ve redefined what “life” is to me at this point in time.

Coincidentally on my 300th day, I find myself at the same place I was just a mere 3 weeks into my trip: at my great uncle’s home in Vientiane, Laos. I am sleeping in the same room, eating the same food, carrying the same bag yet with a much different collection of items. My phone and laptop connected to the WIFI seamlessly; the password hasn’t changed.  The dogs seem to have forgotten me, but I haven’t paid too much attention to them this time around.

Being here on my 300th day and right before I embark on yet a new stage in my life (more on that later), I can’t help but think of some things.

What has changed?

At the beginning I was a much different traveller. I categorized myself as a “budget backpacker” – I stayed in hostels that had to be $10 a night or less – $15 at the most in certain places (the extra $5 made me cringe). I ate delicious and cheap street food. I roamed markets when I couldn’t buy much (my bag is only 60L and shoot me if it ever came to maximum capacity — it did in NZ and my back paid for it). And I always chose the cheapest method of transport.

I revelled in SE Asia as the ultimate destination for young people; new travellers.

Now, while that still holds truth, things have changed for me.

While this region of the world will always be the place that jumpstarted my love of travelling, where I had incredible travel experiences, and most importantly, where my family is from and the place of my motherland, I can safely say at this point of my travels and life, I am done with SE Asia. I love her, I still do. But collectively I have spent 5+ months combined of the last 3 years of my life in SE Asia, so now I am moving on. I think it took me coming back to this part of the world after spending 5.5 months in the southern hemisphere – namely New Zealand, Fiji and Australia – to realize that.

I still have family here, I still enjoy being in certain parts of this region and damnit the food is really good. However it has run its course for me. I know that I can easily come back at any time, but for now, I must part ways.

What has travel brought out in me?

This can be a long answer but I’ll save that for another juicy post.

In short: my independence, self-sufficiency and self-reliance. Yes all those things are related and yes I believe I was all of those things before. But being on my own, calling my own shots and navigating my way physically, mentally and emotionally through the last 10 months has not only made me more independent, more self-sufficient and more self-reliant, it has also infused all these traits into my personality so much that I cannot for a moment NOT be these things. I mean, if you had the pleasure of knowing me before I embarked on this adventure, I think you would say I was all of those things (at least I hope you would). But I feel now, more than ever, that these changes have become a part of me forever.

What has stayed the same?

My love for this planet and the people in it. There are so many beautiful places to be seen and experienced and so many new friendships to be formed. I’ve had great connections with people who just graduated high school, twenty-somethings, thirty-somethings; people who are my parents’ age, school-aged kids in host families I’ve stayed with, people old enough to be my grandparents. The human connection knows no boundaries unless you let it.

My desire to keep exploring and discovering has not changed, but with that said…

How do you feel?

To be completely, completely honest… I am very tired. I love the travel lifestyle but it does get to you. I’ve had a few moments where I was able to unpack my bag for a bit, knowing I was staying in one place for at least two weeks. This happened mainly in Australia, and it made a huge difference. But I knew after those couple of weeks, I had to get going. So with this…

What’s next?

I applied and was granted a Working Holiday Visa for Australia. I am super excited to be settling down in Melbourne, one of my favourite cities in the world, for awhile. How long? Well the visa is good for one year, renewable for a second year if I worked on a farm for at least 88 days, but for now I will take it as it goes. I am definitely itching to visit home soon (actually a big part of me regrets coming back to Asia and instead should have visited home, but oh well) so that is something I’m looking at in the next few months. But for now, I really can’t wait to unpack my stuff, settle down in one place and start working in pretty much the only place that captured me enough to stay. If anyone of you are visiting Melbourne in the near future, hit me up!

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Once again, thank you all for your love and support. More to come!