9 Months Later...I've Given Birth!

...To a new life! Made you look?! Don't hate me....

However, I can't help but to think about how symbolic "nine months" sounds each time I was asked “How long are you traveling for??” I've been back in the States for exactly one month, and now that I’ve completed this solo travel journey around Asia, the new questions I’m constantly asked are:

1. Which country was your favorite? It’s still Japan :)

2. HOW DO YOU FEEL??

...To finally be at rest. I know what you’re thinking and I agree, the crazy part is that this is the feeling I’d been expecting WHILE traveling the world, not after!

Of course, I knew it wouldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows, but I was confident that I’d never want to return home and find opportunities and excuses to extend my trip until eventually I was one of those people who could proudly say “I went to Japan for a month and stayed for two years!” Instead, I was so physically and mentally drained that I was ready to call it quits after just six months.

I know many people dream of doing what I’ve done, and I have no regrets and still encourage anyone who wants to to do it. But just manage your expectations. Don’t be fooled, endless vacation sounds amazing, but only if you’ve got it like that ($$$$).

The truth is, nomadic life is EXHAUSTING, especially on a budget (which meant majority of the time, I was playing the lottery with hostels, sometimes sharing rooms that smelled like dirty socks with inconsiderate a-holes who have full blown conversations IN the room!! And don’t get me started on finding nail clippings in my locker).

Also, if you move as often as I did (every 2-10 days because FOMO got the best of me), this caused major anxiety: constantly unpacking, packing, and triple checking I left nothing behind, dragging along my suitcase along rugged streets and up hills (I tried a camper backpack for the first half of my trip; that KILLED my back), long bus rides, stressful airports, and the inability to maintain a stable routine. I admit, I brought a lot of ish with me and bought even more. That was my mistake and warning to you...OMG PACK LIGHT!!

Also, because I’d switch countries every 2-6 weeks, it meant constantly adjusting to new customs, language barriers, currency conversion, local foods, weather changes, transit systems, and much more. There’s little room for the brain to be on auto-pilot which is something we take for granted. Even the most mundane tasks like using the washing machine or a remote control required a translator app. Menus without pictures were sometimes a gamble, even with the translator app because some phrases just don't translate well. Many times, I gave up or simply got tired of rice and noodles and munched on pizza, Mexican food, or convenience store sandwiches.

Finally, as a travel creator with hopes of raking in a decent income from my travel content, the pressure to venture out and explore for content was high. When I reached my first few bouts of exhaustion, I had to remember the reason I started this in the first place.

Like how many videos do people need to see about Ma Doo Bua Cafe in Phuket or Pokémon Cafe in Tokyo? While I have plenty of footage and recommendations for touristy stuff, I happened upon plenty of, dare of say, *hidden gems* and above all, enjoyed the random moments that usually involved people I met along the way, and those didn't require creating the perfect footage for me to appreciate them.

Finally, I’m relieved to have returned home safely with stable places to rest both my body and my belongings. I’m relieved my family is well, and I cherish moments with them even more. I’m blessed to have my family’s support in taking my time to figure out my next move when, really, sometimes I feel like what I've done is selfish and reckless.

I also feel content. I've finally completed one of the most significant goals I’ve ever set for myself! This trip evolved into something more than just magical places and living carefree (which TBH is impossible unless you’ve truly given up everything at home, including family and friends).

It took four years to start this journey, and now, I’ve explored TEN new Asian countries at a slower pace than a job would’ve allowed. I've savored an extensive experience of my favorite country and made incredible new connections and memories along the way! And now that I've rid myself of the travel bug (for now), I have more clarity to figure out the next phase: finding my semi-permanent home and community. I want a cute and cozy apartment, or better yet a house where all my valuables sit safely. I want to take Pilates on Tuesdays, attend pop-up events with friends, and try new restaurants in town with my boo thang.

BUT if you see me on a plane soon...

Anyway, being home has brought me great joy, satisfaction, and appreciation. Hopping on the subway at Jamaica Center for the first time, seeing the diversity of people, hearing the muffled train announcements, and, dare I say, even the smells of the subway tracks moved me to tears (and so did the $12 smoothie prices). For the first time in a long time, I felt like I belong.

Uncertainty looms, and I’m still technically nomadic since I no longer have my own apartment (or a job). But I’m fortunate to still have some savings and truly the free time without too many financial pressures. I don’t take lightly the privilege of this…but also, no! I worked hard for this dammit, and I deserve it!

All that is to say I'm back, baby!!

And I'm ready to share everything in hopes of inspiring YOU, whether you need motivation to take that leap to travel solo, tips to maximize your travels with limited time and money, need ideas for your planned trip, or at the very least, just want to see what the hype is without having to venture there yourself!

In case you didn't know, creating quality YouTube videos takes HOURS, even DAYS, from organizing and cutting footage, creating eloquent voiceovers in a quiet environment, finding the right music, adding transitions, and so on...so I give those people their props! I published three long-form videos while away, so check them out!

And if you'd like to show the greatest FREE support, please SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel so that you can tag along for the entire journey across 12 countries (15 territories) including: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, The Philippines, Qatar, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam! Maybe I'll even throw Finland in there (my first stop along the way to Asia).

At the same time, I will post detailed itineraries to my blog so SUBSCRIBE BELOW to receive those emails when I post and other exciting announcements!

ALSO, I now offer travel planning services!!

So if you're interested in traveling anywhere I've been, but need help creating an itinerary or would rather be as hands-off as possible with planning, feel free to reach out to me to get your trip planning started!

Have you solo traveled before? Thinking about it? Which country are you most excited to learn about? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Also subscribe below so you don't miss the next post!