I woke up this morning realising that we covered more kilometres during our 8-week traverse of China, in 2014, than during the last 12 months in Southeast Asia. The thought made me smile.
Travel. It’s bloody brilliant no matter how far you get or how fast you move.
Yep, we’re still here. Still in Malaysia, about to celebrate our 6th month in the country. It’s ridiculous, I know. Surely we should be on the other side of the planet by now, you say? Yes, maybe…but what’s the rush?
Australia is just around the corner, even though, in all honesty, it has been just around the corner for about 18 months now. Friends have suggested that perhaps we are subconsciously delaying our arrival in Oz because it will mark the ‘end of our journey’, but trust us when I tell you: we ain’t all that deep. Not really.
What many see as our ‘journey’ we see as a simple phase in our travelling life. Nothing will end once we get to Australia, it will only begin. Maybe we’ll stay a while, maybe we’ll continue on. Perhaps we’ll park up the bikes and get a camper or – if my lurve has his way – we’ll find a rickety old boat, do it up and sail to Alaska.
That’s his latest idea.
Last time he came up with ‘idea’ of his I ended up riding 37,000kms on a motorbike, so forgive me for being a little nervous.
Anyway, where were we…
2015. What a year. A year when even the negatives turned out to be incredible positives.
So at the risk of sounding all too-hippy for my liking, a year for which I am incredibly grateful.
I’m grateful at the chance of starting the New Year with new friends in one of the most ridiculously low-key capitals in the world, Vientiane
Jonas, Ellen, Chris and I waiting for the NYE fireworks (that never came) in Vientiane,Llaos
I’m grateful that Chris’ parents joined us for his birthday and we had the chance to experience new lands together
Hot air balloon ride over Angkor Wat, Cambodia
I’m grateful for my bout of tendinitis that put a tremendous ‘brake’ on our travels this year. We’ve had the priceless chance to ‘live’ in these foreign countries, rather than just visit them
Rockin’ that sling, Bangkok
I’m grateful that 2015 brought us together with my mum and my best girlies. I’m grateful for the laughs and the love
My fave ladies!
I’m grateful for the discovery of house & pet sitting, it’s opened up a whole new travel world to us, one which is sustainable long-term
Julian, Doug & Gus (three other little demons missing), the best furry new friends we made this year
I’m grateful for the chance to discover new places, explore new cultures and learn more about this wonderful world of ours. And, above all else, I’m so very grateful for my health and that of Chris, so that we may continue to explore this insanely addictive, complex, dumbfounding and interesting planet of ours.
Island hopping off Sihannoukville, Cambodia
And finally, I’m grateful to all the amazing people we’ve met this year, who have enrichened our experiences and made our journey – in life, not just on the bikes – so much more fulfilling.
Thank you to all our dearest family and friends, for keeping us connected to our ‘homes’, and making us feel supported and loved. That’s the most appreciated gift of all.
I wish you all an amazing start to 2016. May the silver linings that will inevitably come, be the sweetest of all.
‘Till soon
Laura x
