The journey continues…

Even though I’m home for 3 weeks now, the journey continues…my personal journey to be exact. But I’m still reminiscing about my travels. Friends & family ask me the following question all the time: “What’s the most beautiful you have seen/done on this trip around the world?”

Honestly…I still don’t know. I loved being on my own in San Francisco, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and exploring the city by (cable) car. I also loved walking through Hollywood and visiting the Walk of Fame. Fiji was another, I hope a once in a lifetime, experience. Due cyclone Winston I wasn’t able to enjoy the islands to the max. After one night I got stuck on the mainland… So I was relieved when I could go to Sydney after a week of, well…doing nothing. I enjoyed the good weather and the great city. Japan was so beautiful in its own way. The culture, the food, the people! Also I enjoyed my short trip to Shanghai. I was impressed by the skyline. Sri Lanka…no words can describe that adventure. I got the chance to live with my family for almost 2 months and experienced daily life in Sri Lanka. I think that’s worth the most. I learned a lot about myself and the Sri Lankan life.

I can share one experience with you…it’s about what I find a beautiful gesture! It left me speechless…So I stayed with family and their neighbors had several cows. One day one of them died. Then all the men from the neighborhood gathered together and started digging a giant grave to bury the cow. Just think about that for a moment…

So now that I’m back in the Netherlands I have to make up my mind. What do I want in life? Being alone and on my own gave me the chance to think a lot. I had so many ideas when I was away. Travelling opens up your mind…I started to dream again, something I wasn’t able to for a long time. I have to keep that state of mind and start to act on it. I’m already busy with that and it’s a lot of soul-searching and thinking about what I want for myself in the future. I think listening to my heart is going to be very important…

From busy Osaka to soothing Koyasan

Arriving in Osaka, Japan was a big change in weather. From almost 30 degrees Celsius in Sydney to 12 degrees in Osaka. My biggest adventure in this city was to get to my hotel from the international airport. I asked how to buy a ticket and which trains I had to get on to get there. Suprisingly it all went well. I had to pay attention after I left my final station but I made it in one piece!

That evening I met my travel mates and the next day we were heading to Koyasan…where it was snowing and freezing! We stayed with monks and the food they served was so delicious. And I really stepped out of my comfort zone there by taking a bath..in a shared bathroom for women. I thought..well..it’s all part of the experience! I faced the fear and it turned out alright.

Koyasan is the capital of a Japanese movement of Buddhism, so I visited a lot of temples as well.