I know that I said my last blog would be my last, however I couldnt really help myself, and i have a heap of time to kill. As i sat thisafternoon watching the sun slowly set over the Adriatic I couldnt help but think back on all the things that i have done and experienced since i left home almost 4 months ago to the day.
Although 4 months doesn't really sound like much, thinking back to that cold rainy monday morning in sydney when i flew out, and it feels like a life time ago. Standing in line to check into the flight that i had waited years for, planning what i wanted to do, saving as best as i possibly could and dreaming of what it would all be like, i had no idea what lay ahead of me.
Its a struggle to try and remember everything that i have done. Biking through paddeyfields in rural thailand, vodka tasting in moscow, waking up to snowfalls in sarajevo, tubing all day and into the night in Vang Vieng, firing an AK47 in Saigon, missing my flight in Hong Kong, horseriding and nearly burning down a ger in mongolia, drinking vodka with mongolians and passing out on the train in siberia, standing in the rain for 3 hours in shanghai, spending a weekend with a Thai hill tribe, bathing in beautiful thermal turkish baths in Budapest, riding the party bus to Kho Chang, getting lost on scooters somewhere in rural Lao, birthday parties and happy pizza in Shianoukville, exploring the sex shops of Hamburg, hiking in the Tatras, sending kids running and screaming with my evil puppet at Makhampom, walking through bombed out buildings at night in Mostar and waking up on my birthday with very little memory. Its certainly been a busy 4 months.
Along with the hundreds of photos and a few odd souveneris I now have heaps of new and interesting friends, and an ever growing list of places I still want to go, and places I want to go back to.
Its hard to say where my favourite place is, as everywhere is so different and interesting in some way (except bratislava.) Highlights would definatley be the time spent at Chiang Dao with Makhampom and working with the hill tribes, the sheer beauty and relaxation of Lao, visiting the orphanage and school in Khampom Cham Cambodia, experiencing life and meeting the locals on the Trans Siberian and experiencing Bosnia. If I had to pick one favourite destination, I would pick 2. Lao and Bosnia. I have been just blown away by bosnia (no pun intended) and wish that I could have stayed there longer than only 4 nights. I hope to perhaps return there later this year, as Haris the hostel owner has promised to take me sking if I do. There is such a perculiar charm to the country that i have not experienced anywhere else. Standing on the terrace of the hostel at sunset, with a view over the entire city as the call to prayer sounded all around was a pretty amazing sight. Then to wake up to snow the next day, eat chapati and listen to bosnian hip-hop was really fun. Driving around and seeing the odd combination of deserted buildings, new office towers and apartments that had been patched up with whatever materials could be found was very eye opening. Also to see the graveyards all throughout the city, filled with clean white gravestones, all bearing the same years of death (92 - 95) was quite moving.
Part of me just wants to keep on going. Keep moving on and experiencing new countries and meeting new people, not wanting to stop now, not knowing when I can start again. However the rest of me is just in dire need of a break. To properly unpack my bag and to not have to move on every few days, carrying my life on my back. I dont know how some people can do it non stop for 12 months or more.
