Life and all its struggles

Life is not easy. That's something I found out quite some time ago already. Life is throwing things at you and you just have to make sure you catch the rights and duck from the wrongs. You learn by making mistakes and you grow from experiences. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I travelled to Asia on my own last year. The first picture below is that very first picture that was taken of me when I started my journey. The second picture is the last picture that was taken of me at the end of my journey. There are exactly 111 days in between, and I still can't really believe how much I have changed. On the first picture we had just landed in BKK and I was so happy I survived that long flight on my own. I was so tired of all the impressions and I guess I didn't really realize yet that I would be on my own for about four months. I didn't have a clue of what was coming for me at that time. 

The second picture was taken by Matteo when Arjen and me were at Koh Samui Airport to go home. By that time I had seen 5 Asian countries, gained a pretty sweet tan, improved my muay thai skills, spoke some Thai, learned to eat rice for breakfast, decided not to go to University after summer and most importantly I got so much more independent and confident. I was still alive! I found out being on your own isn't as hard as it sounds. Yeah of course, I struggled at times, but looking back now, this was probably one of the best decisions of my life. I gained so much of this trip. I met so many new people. It really makes you think about how big this world is and how many people are living on this planet. I feel like I met the whole world while really I haven't even met 1/100 of it. I met some nice people and I met some not so nice people. I met some people I'd rather not have met and I met people that will stay with me forever. I quickly found out not to trust everyone but also figured out that most people are willing to help you if you are in need. Everyone is human. That's for sure. I guess Asia made me grow up. And made me a little more the person that I am right now. 

Like I said, life's not easy. I'm still young, I'm still learning every single day and for now I'm just catching the things life throws at me and I'm trying to make the best of it. I read this quote one day and every time something isn't going as planned or when things turn for the worse I think of this quote.

'Even if you fall flat on your face, you're still moving forward'

Life wasn't made to be easy. Life was made to be worth it. I decided not to go to college yet. To travel some more before starting another chapter of my life. I thought I'd only be going to Asia again. Those plans changed already. I'm going to Rio as well now. Things change. Change isn't always a bad thing. I can say I'm not really good with changes. But sometimes change is what a person needs. So Rio in January, Thailand in March, University in September and after that, the rest of my life. 

People, we can conquer the world. Don't ever let someone tell you you can't do something. Prove them wrong. And remember, Karma's a bitch. Do good, get good. What goes around comes, around and when life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life you've got a thousand reasons to smile. I could go on in quotes for about on hour more but I'll leave it here. I just needed to get this of my chest. Had my mind going for a while. Okay, now go and enjoy the rest of your day. Carpe Diem. 

Early Bird

Got up early this morning to drive my sister to the train station because she had an introduction day at one of the possible universities she might be attending next year. The temperatures keep reminding me of the fact that winter is getting extremely close. I really don't like this time of the year. I like either a hot summer or a really cold winter with snow and ice. Not this wet-cold-inbetween stuff. Can't wait for the temperatures to finally drop below zero. 

It was also really foggy this morning. I love what fog does to the world, it makes it so mysterious. Feels like you are one of the only persons on this world, just because you can't see the rest. Call me crazy but that's how I feel haha. I can really enjoy getting up early some days. I don't like getting up tó early, but wake up just around 7.30am and go for a little stroll can do me so well. The little things in life I guess.

They See Me Rollin', They Hatin'

 If, for some reason, my career doesn't work out in my future life I can always consider becoming a cab-driver. This Tuesday I got to drive my entire family around. First off I had to drive my mom to the hospital for minor surgery, then had to take my dad to another city, drive home to pick up my sister to take her to yet another place, wait there for over an hour, drive myself and my sister back to the hospital to pick up my mom and last but not least training in the evening. I drove about 200km this day and for Holland, that's quite a big amount. I didn't mind though because I freaking love driving.

One thing that I really don't like when driving is getting stuck behind one of these on a small road with no option of taking over. We were stuck behind this truck for about 15 minutes. I guess that's what happends when you live in a bit of a farmer's country. We tried to make the best of it of course, cranked up the radio and let the good times rollll. Haha no just kidding. Well, we were 'rolling'.. Haha okay, enough. 

When we arrived to the hospital we had to bring a wheelchair to pick up my mom because she isn't allowed to walk for a couple of days. I work at the hospital as well so I know my ways. We tried to behave, as much as possible. But yeah, haha you probably already figured that thát is something that isn't going to work with me and my sister. She ended up driving me around like a crazy person and we had a blast. Don't know if the nurses were all that happy with us, but at least my mom could hear us coming from the other side of the building. All was good and well and I had a great day. So maybe yet another future career prospect, we'll see!

2013

I bet my 2013 is starting better than yours. Why? I'm going to Rio, that's why! I took another year of for travelling and I realised travelling didn't only have to include Asia. So I decided to pay a little visit to one of my close friends living in Rio. Can't wait! After Rio I will return back home again, work some more and then I'm off to Thailand again by the end of march. Sweet times are coming up. I just really love the fact that I'm young, free and able to do stuff like this. Just chasing my dreams, a thing everyone should do. 

Luxury Problems

My head has been going like crazy the last couple of weeks and one of the reasons for that is that I have to start thinking again about what I'm going to do in Asia. This is giving me a headache big time. I don't know where to go. This is a problem I never expected to have. It's a luxury-problem. I want to train and I want to learn more about the culture. I'm done with all those partying tourists. I have seen enough of that last year. Also I don't necessarily feel the need to travel around that much. I don't mind being in one place for a long time. I've done that before and I actually enjoyed that very much. I'm asking you guys for help. If any of you has any suggestions of what I should do or where I should go, please message me (facebook, email, whatever). Oh and if someone has a ticket to Rio or a shitload of money in the very near future, and wants to give that to me, that would be highly appreciated too. 

Another one of my luxury-problems is the fact that I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace, which is great of course. Except for the fact that is only has touchscreen. I always use my phone when I'm riding my bicycle and as temperatures in Holland are starting to freeze, I find myself no longer able of using my phone during my bikerides just because my hands are freezing off. I either had to choose between warm hands, or using my phone. That was.. until yesterday! Because yesterday I found the best solution for this problem ever. They made gloves which allow you to use your touchscreen without freezing your hands off! Made my day. So although I might still be a little bit bummed because of all the other things going on in my mind right now. This is one less problem I have to worry about.

For now I will just enjoy the rest of my free saturday. I'm literally working my ass of lately to save money for travelling. My budget is coming along pretty well but this hard work is wearing me out some days. I just have to keep my focus, remember what it is that I'm working for. It'll pay of eventually. Just need to get there. Tomorrow I have to start work again at seven in the morning, not that bad. I hope next week will be a good week. We'll see what a new week will bring us. 

I'm slowly getting into the whole blogging-thing again. Ideas are always welcome. I'll put up a link to where you can contact me. Take care!

Regular Wednesday

Everyday I get to ride my sweet-ass bicycle. Got it for over two years now and still love every minute of riding it. Except for those ten times a month when it has a flat tire, but we're working on that.. 

 Went for lunch with my friend Iris today, we sat down at 1.00 in the afternoon. Before we knew it it was 15.30 already. Time went by so fast, guess we had a lot of catching up to do! It's always a blast. I love my friends. And I got to enjoy a nice ride to the city. The weather was actually kind of nice today. I guess fall has really started..

Next to Impossible

I'm back, and with that so is my lovely cat. His name is Felix and when he's around I never get anything done. Had to do some studying this afternoon, guess how that went. F to the Ailure. We did have some good quality time though.