update
Hello from Lisbon! I landed back here seven days ago after spending 2.5 weeks in wonderful Vietnam.
OurWander Across Vietnamtour was a huge success. We had such a great group of travelers and we took them all over the country on this unique adventure. It’s almost impossible to remember everything we did! I think the sheer variety of transportation methods we used - minibuses, 1960s vintage jeeps, motorbikes, a rowboat ferry, electric trams, SUVs, cyclos, a luxury junk boat and airplanes - sums up the diversity of this trip!
After the tour, I flew back to Lisbon and now here I am…
If you’ve ever been curious about what goes on in the mind of someone that's been traveling non-stop for 23 years, here’s a taste:
Upon arrival in Lisbon, I walked into my apartment and immediately felt at ease. It truly felt great to be ‘home’. I relaxed on the sofa, unpacked my luggage, made a cup of coffee and enjoyed the feeling of coming back to a familiar, comfortable place. That evening I slept for a solid 10 hours and woke up feeling like I had never left.
Then I got out of bed.
It was cold in the apartment. It was raining outside. I didn’t feel like exercising or meditating or writing, let alone working or going outside.
I started to miss the tropical weather of Vietnam…and the deliciously fresh food. Then flashes of the white sands ofAn Bang Beachnear Hoi An appeared before my eyes. The lush jungle, the stunning views out over the mountains and rice terraces…now all I had was a view of dark clouds, with a cold draft coming from that same window. There certainly was no beach, my refrigerator was empty and even with the heat on full blast, I needed to wear several layers of clothes.
‘Why am I in Lisbon?’ my mind starts to ask.
‘I love tropical places so why am I not in a tropical place?’ my mind continues questioning itself.
And so it begins.
I love Lisbon. But now I’m sitting there wondering if this city is for me. Why am I not on a Thai Island or inTroix au Biches, Mauritiusor strolling the Malecon of Puerta Vallarta?
Am I even a city person? After all, I always feel more relaxed and comfortable while in a beach town. A walk along white sand, right next to clear blue waters, has proven time and time again to be the most beneficial therapy session I could ever experience.
Of course, being in a proper city offers culture and activities, a wider range of nearly everything…including community, food and fun. But do I need that wide range of everything?
I’m quite a simple person and enjoy living a relaxed, low-key day to day life. I’m happy with fresh food, the beach and a few good people to talk to.
So there I sat in my apartment for a couple of days, slowly trying to adjust to a place that suddenly didn’t feel right. In the back of my head, I knew very well that this chaotic thought process is a familiar part of this lifestyle I’ve chosen. When you spend 20+ years not being attached to anything, well, you’re not going to be attached to anything.
It was a long first few days back in Lisbon. After doubling up on the blankets, getting some work done, ordering food from the supermarket and meditating for 5 minutes in the morning, I felt like my routine was still far, far away.
Then, when the rain finally died down, I put on my winter jacket and my winter hat and I braved the cold and wind of Lisbon. I went for a stroll, shivering, struggling, still questioning every decision.
But then I popped into a cafe and instantly enjoyed the vibe of so many different nationalities coming together in one place. I walked through a favorite park of mine and, even in the cold, felt the nature around me quickly change my mood. And then I continued over to theCalouste Gulbenkian Museumwhere I wandered for a couple of hours, taking in the massive collection of beautiful art all around me.
Then I returned home, ordered some Middle Eastern food and read for a while.
Lisbon isn’t so bad after all. Just think…soon the weather will be warm and sunny and the atmosphere will be incredibly positive, with so many activities to choose from, beaches nearby and so many people to hang out with!
There you go. That’s how it works. Complete chaos, all the time.
And even though - one week after returning - I've re-adjusted back to Lisbon, I’m still unbelievably excited about my upcoming trip to Sao Tome in 10 days!
