Time to reflect
Settling back into ‘normal life’ has been as difficult as I expected it to be. Towards the end of my trip I started to think about what returning to the UK would be like and, although there were some things I looked forward to, the thought was scary.
For a start I didn’t have a job to go back to. I knew I’d have to look for one, which is always a pain, but even more so for me because web design jobs aren’t exactly 10 a penny around here. The most sobering thing is the slowing down of my pace of life. I’m sure some people thought I was just relaxing on beaches for five months, but in fact I was always up to something, always had somewhere to go next, always had plans to make. There was also the prospect of not knowing what to expect every day, or who I’d meet. I’m afraid coming back to the ‘real world’ makes me realise how predictable it is.
It’s been great meeting back up with family and friends. The question everyone seems to ask me is Where was your favourite place? and that’s actually the most difficult one to answer. In Thailand I had some amazing experiences round the River Kwai and Erawan Falls, and meeting up with Chris for the full moon party and learning to scuba dive was unreal. Australia was a non-stop laugh up the east coast, I’ve got memories of Fraser Island, scuba diving on the Barrier Reef and sailing through the Whitsundays that will stay with me forever. And in New Zealand I met an abundance of people who became really good mates as we toured through the beautiful South Island and onto the North with the Kiwi Experience. I suppose if I was made to choose between them I’d have to go for Thailand because as well as the fun times it had the most interesting culture to observe.
As good as it’s been catching up with everyone, after a couple of weeks I find myself wanting to hit the road again. I thought going away for five months would get that travelling ambition out of my system. In reality it has only planted a deeper seed. I found that the more of the world I got to see, the more of it I realised was still to see. I’d talk to people who were heading on to Fiji, the Cook Islands, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, the Americas or Africa, and I’d think I’d love to go there. If you’re reading this whilst considering travelling yourself, please, please just do it. Life’s too short to worry about what-if’s. Be aware though that travelling isn’t all smooth sailing. There will be some hard times and some testing times but they only serve to increase your accomplishment of the whole experience. In fact, if I’d have known beforehand about all the bad things that happened in those five months, it would almost certainly have persuaded me not to take the plunge. Yet all the good times I had so far outweighed the bad that I wouldn’t consider changing my decision for anything.
Now, of course, I have to get used to normal life again. Travelling around the world is all well and good but you can’t possibly sustain that kind of living on a long-term basis. Or can you?
Your comments
Im sharing your pain bud !!
Hey, you can sustain that sort of life easily enough but you just gotta keep picking up cash in hand work as you travel round to keep the funding available. Either that or win the lottery!
I know exactly how you feel, Mr T. I arrived back to the UK having spent 10 months in Florida. It was my first time back. Traveling certainly teaches one more about life and being.
:)
Where am I?
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