California

I was thinking about my SF people the whole way, as I couldn't really sleep for long on the plane.

This was the only time I was awake most of the time on these four 12 hour flights. Because I slept on the last one and during transit, plus I got a good rest for the last few days in San Francisco.

All trips are different and I think the most special thing this year has been encountering with people while travelling.

I’ve met (or connected with) so many good people from different backgrounds and with different lives, all of whom have given me a unique perspective on life and helped me to realise what kind of person I am and what I should expect from others and myself.

Your help, care and companionship have made this trip possible for me.

Living here (for a while) was always my plan for the future and this first expedition just made it more feasible and exciting.

Every day was busy, fulfilling and wonderful while I was in San Francisco and of course Los Angeles too, but I do need a car next time lol.

It really is a special city for me, even if I'm only here for a few days. I've visited more than 20 cities this year, but I get this feeling that I haven't got anywhere else.

I have a strong sense of belonging to Bangkok, but here it's very different. I believe people are important.

I've been to so many places and done so much in the ten days that it feels like I've been here for a year. I have my first base in this country and continent and I even got my phone number and bank account to live on in the future. Now I have a reason to come back and visit my friends here, and the ones I missed this time.

My friends started helping me before I arrived, and I believe the Tales of the City series has also helped me to connect my identity to the city.

Of course, we've been working on getting to know ourselves, which has been a big step forward for me and I'm very grateful for that.

2022 is a very luxurious year for experimentation, as my view of myself continues to change during the pandemic. It was good, but not really fit me at this moment. So let's have a more sustainable future with different ways of travelling and exploring. I will try to connect more with people, communities and of course myself. I know exactly what I want and the goal is there. Thank you for being with me, even if I have broken your hearts.

I will use this December to reorganise my life (financially, socially and of course my digital and physical living environment) and I hope to see you all again soon. I'm sure I will.

So in the new year, couchsurfing will be a thing and yes, hostels/dorms will be back in my life. Less business class travel (it will still be there, like resorts on islands, and I will definitely need it). Segmented on Jetstar, AirAsia and Scoot. may still be Asia Pacific at the moment, but in a different way.

I've only been home for about a week in the last two months but this time I'm really back, back to all my friends and my favourite place. You have no idea how much I've missed you all. I'm sure I'll cherish everything I have at home and everything this city has to offer me and really can't wait, but I'm going to take a little break on the way home.

I used to write a lot about my thoughts about my life, especially when I was a teenager or a student. I still think about it a lot, but I don't really have the time to keep track of everything. I have a lot going on in my work, life, studies, social life and travel. But now I know how important it is to be aware of what things really matter, rather than constantly trying different new things. So, for example, no more tennis or boxing for a while, less group socialising, more aerobics and exploring, and of course improving language and work skills.

Cool, let's enjoy a night out in Singapore, even if we haven't figured out where we should stay tonight.

My friends tried to take me to various bars but I didn't survive and sometimes I think I'll never make it, but who knows. People really do change quickly and I know I will take on the challenge of becoming the good person I really want to be.

25.11.22