The decision on going travelling for a year is “like the one with having children – it is never a good time (to quit your job, move or whatever), but suddenly it can be too late.”
Last summer I was travelling around Myanmar and in Bagan I decided to enjoy the sunset at the temple. There I met an amazing couple, Kristina and Bjarte, who were at that time travelling the world. Open minded people find open minded people – we had a great conversation, exchanged e-mails and we are still in contact. Lately they, or better said he – Bjarte, started a great blog, how to live better and happier. You are invited to check it out on
http://rethinkingtruth.com/ . Because I was so impressed of them, I decided to introduce them to you. Kristina, Bjartes better half, was so kind to take her time and gave us some impressive answers.
Why did you decide to travel for a year?
Well, there were a number of reasons and on the other hand it was a bit of an impulse decision...
We were both working and living very hectic social lives, running from one thing to the next and at one point we just stopped and thought: What are we doing all this running for? Where are our lives really headed? When are we finally going to take the time to do all the things we dream about?
We realized that we had more questions than answers regarding our lives and just felt a really strong need to figure it all out. It just didn’t make sense to not take time off and go travelling to think and live. It is like having children (we imagine since we don’t have kids). It is never a good time (to quit your job, move or whatever), but suddenly it can be too late. That is not something we wanted to happen to us.
How do you prepare yourself for such a long trip?
Quite differently. Bjarte wanted to research EVERTHING and I was being a bit lazy really.
But I am glad we, or Bjarte, did the necessary preparation. I don’t think you need to do too much but figuring out the best travel insurance, get vaccinated, find the best bag, check out when the rainy seasons are etc.
What was the most: negative, happy, weird, crazy, awkward moment in that year?
There are so many impressions and memories that it is really hard to pick just one. And of course there are so many moments where you had to be there.
Negative: going 15 hour bus ride without a bathroom break... Yup, that sucks a lot.
Happy: Luckily, there were mostly happy moments. We really can’t choose one. It will not be fair to all of the amazing things we did, but we can give some examples: In awe of the mighty mountains of Peru, partying with our Brazilian friends, discovering the wildlife of Africa and, finding inner peace at Bali.
Weird: Getting compliments on our skin colour. That was strange.
Crazy: waking up with a tarantella in our bungalow. Bjarte squashed it with his shoe.
Awkward: Going to a local restaurant in Myanmar thinking we ordered beer but in fact ordering a meal consisting of 23 very, very strange dishes. Nobody wanted to eat the food, but the people kept starring at us (we were probably one of the few Europeans ever to arrive) so we had to eat some. We were never the same again. For the record: We usually got really good food in Myanmar.
How do you feel after this experience? Do you see certain things differently now (which)?
Our view of the world and how we live our lives are so different. We had high hope for the trip and that it would be cool, but the extreme difference it created in our lives are just amazing.
Now we have very little stress, spend more time on what matter the most to us, take care of our health and are just feeling happy every day. We are just so much more grateful for everything and that makes it so much easier to let go of the things that don’t really matter in the long run. I mean, when you see the degree of poverty some people live in or breathtaking nature that makes you feel so small, it makes you humble and gain a better perspective.
It was on our trip, having time to think and learn new stuff that Bjarte found his passion and got the time to start his blog
http://rethinkingtruth.com/ .
Would you do it again?
YES! It was our best decision yet. Maybe we won't go for a year, but there will be more travelling. Lately we have just focused on travelling a bit more in our everyday life, going away in the weekends or taking a bit longer vacations and stuff.
Do you have any tips for young travellers?
Yes - do it. As much as you can for as long as you can. But, be sure to make the most of it. That doesn’t mean that you have to plan everything or stress around. It means that you give yourself time to take it all in, talking to people, enjoying nature and just having time to yourself to reflect and think.
And do not over depend on Lonely Planet, it is great to use sometimes, but it is so much better to go you own way - you learn so much more!
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