The Next Chapter of Lee's adventures!Lee's travel Roundabout has so far taken her to Thailand and Mexico, with a romantic stop-over in Sweden.
Follow Lee on her further adventures! Next stop Malaysia!
✈웃♫ ♪ ♡ღ ツ✿
Next destination: Kota Kinabalu, Borneo, Malaysia.
Really looking forward to some unexplored territory in the world.
My friend Joey that I used to work with on the yacht in Malaysia is getting married.
Joey was the chef on board the sail yacht while I was a stewardess. We became very good friends during this time!
During the wedding it’s a purple theme in the church and red theme at the party afterwards.
My mission for today was to buy a purple dress. Found it in Thong Sala after all.
I already have a red one, so that was good at least! The only thing I need now is a belt. I also found a wedding gift. Just a little something.
It’s really hard to buy a gift for someone you haven’t met for more than 3 years. And especially when you’ve never met the bride either.
I’m so happy for him (them) though.
I should definitely pack my bags. It’s a lazy day today though. I have a lot that I will keep here with Linda while I’m gone.
I mean, I have a massage table, a bag I sent with the mail from Sweden and then a big plastic bucket with full of stuff. A big backpack and a small one. That’s a lot!!!
I’m bringing 2 of them that’s all.
Stine is going home to Denmark again and Linda will be right here with the 3 dogs – Dottie, Troels and Tommy!
Amazing dogs by the way.
We howl together in the dark and we wake up the whole neighbourhood with dogs in the middle of the night…
Dogs interest me a lot. I’ve always been a cat person, till couple of years ago. I really really REALLY want a dog.
Sometimes I wonder what the hell I’m doing here.
It has to be a purpose behind all this.
It just feels like I’m at the wrong place sometimes.
Sometimes I just feel so misplaced. And by that I don’t mean like in Sweden, but in Asia in general.
Since I finished my teacher training at Agama in March 2013, I’ve had a strong feeling that I need to go to USA. And do what?
Yeah, that’s a really good question. I have no idea myself!
But I had and still have a strong connection to Northern California. San Francisco to be more precise. I’ve also always had these things for Americans.
It may sound crazy but everyday I get some sort of sign. I can really go nuts on this. If it’s not someone I meet (most Americans I meet are from California), it can be a poster, a sign, a piece of clothing, someone talking about it, on TV or in a song.
I’ve been mentioning this to some people I’ve met along my travels and they have also noticed it, after a while. California is really hunting me. I also mentioned it to Mr Arizona when I met him. I remember his word clearly when he leaned towards me: - I’m moving to San Francisco in the beginning of next year.
Ok, that’s just creepy.
That’s just ONE story… But I’m more and more tempting to go. I still don’t want to leave Asia yet, even if I will in the end of January again. My home base will be on Koh Phangan, Sweden is more or less out of the picture.
But I can’t see myself living in Thailand for the rest of my life. I can’t start a”real life” there… It’s just temporary. And maybe when I’m old and not doing anything.
That’s why I also see it pretty interesting to move over to the other side of the world. Maybe that’s where I belong?
Since I’m going back to Mexico, I thought about driving from Mexico to the USA. We’ll see what happens. This is still just thoughts. Today’s sign is a plastic bag.
I will continue this California thing and post about it, until it happens I guess ha-ha.
I know that there is something for me in Cali. My intuition has never been this strong before…. I’m so curious to find out. Maybe prince charming is waiting behind the corner, who knows?
I remember the lyrics very well…
Californication – ”a little girl from Sweden” … I guess you can find signs everywhere for everything… just matters how much you look I guess?
I’m off to bed. Goodnight. Over and out.
On the road again…
While I enjoy the view from the car over a beautiful Thailand, I’m trying not to sweat in the van I’m sitting in.
Normally these vans have a really hardcore air condition, but of course it’s not on.
Many of you guys are familiar with the bumpy speedy vans that take you to do a VISA run here in Thailand...
Yes, I’m in one of those, right now. But, filled with Thai people and 2 other tourists.
At some places we stop at, I feel really really like a blond farang. Yeah, that’s what I am. A farang. But… I’m an English teacher (ajarn) as well. I took a TEFL course on Koh Samui in March.
I knew that if I was going to be able to stay in Thailand for a while, I may not be able to support myself financially with just being a Yoga Teacher or a Massage Therapist.
When it comes to staying in one place in Thailand and gets paid pretty ok and has a longer valid VISA - Teacher is THE SHIT ♡ღ ツ ✿
A plus is that you like/love children. Which I do.
And if you want to learn about the Thai culture, this is a very very good thing to do.
I notice that I can get upset with tourists too sometimes….
Another plus is that the Thai people give you a lot of respect.
I don’t really care about this whole ”respect for the teacher” thing.
For me, we are all one and we are all worth the same. If I greet you, you should greet me. I’m not the King and I’m not Buddha, even if I wish I was sometimes.
I’m working on detachment of my ego. It’s hard when it comes to certain things, but being in Thailand really helps in a lot of aspects.
And I also notice that my karma gets better when I do something for someone else.
So, back to being in a sweaty van…
We are getting closer to the border of Malaysia. I took the ferry from Koh Phangan at 07.00 this morning.
Since then I’ve been in a bus, a bus stop in the middle of nowhere and now the van. Hopefully I’ll get to change when we have crossed the border to a bigger bus.
When I’m looking out the window and all I see is nature, I get this amazing feeling in my body. Thailand is absolutely fantastic.
It just has to be a bit cleaned up, that’s all. Don’t make me start a blog post about the trash here…. I got used to it by now, but it’s not like Sweden. We recycle EVERYTHING! Here, barely anything.
I was never the person who wanted to go to Asia in the first place. It just kind of happened. All thanks to my friend Sofie. I guess I have to thank her for that.
My battery is dead on my phone. OH NOOOOOO end of the world.
I’m just the most obsessed person when it comes to listening to music. I love music. I love GOOD music. And, I’m one of those who have an IPhone that dies after 2 hours because the battery suuuuuucks!
The driver is starting to make me feel car sick.
Maybe I’ll take a break and continue to write later. We’re almost at the border now anyway.
Day 2 in Borneo.I don’t know if I can count yesterday as a day here.
I just arrived, ate some food, slept and at night we all went out together with Joey for his bachelor party.
In Malaysia it’s very different with a bachelor party. I thought it was just the guys going out but yesterday we were 15 people
First in a bar and then in some sort of a club. It was way too cold by the aircon in there, and I’m still not used to people that are smoking inside.
I was tired from travelling but I wanted to join everyone because of Joey.
Such a party pooper I am. I decided to take a month of and detox and be a good girl. Maybe couple of drinks tomorrow but that’s it. I need to get fit because I decided to climb the Kinabalu Mountain. It’s a 3 day hike and I need to be in a bit of shape before I do that kind of a hike.
I’m very glad to be here and Joey and his family and relatives treat me like a queen.
I’m still not used to being treated like this. And having people staring at me is still weird.
Today Joey’s cousin’s daughter at the age of 14 (who have been with me all day) told me that it was the first time IN HER LIFE that she has seen any blond and blue eyed person in real life.
And she told me that she wish that I was her sister because I was so pretty ♡ღ ツ ✿
It touched my heart to hear those words and I could really feel that she meant it. I told her that I could be her sister during the time I was here ♡ღ ツ ✿
All of them are really amazing people. So sweet and cute.
I live in Joey’s cousin’s house. In a little wooden room they have outside of the house. Super cosy.
I don’t even know how many people that live together in this area. It’s like a little village and just in Joey’s family it’s more than 30 people.
3-5 different houses all connected. I have no idea how many I met yesterday, but they are MANY!
Family here means everything. I love that.
There is NO privacy what so ever. It’s a very different life and lifestyle, but I think it’s good for me to experience this. It’s kind of a once in a life time experience.
I’m honoured to be here in Malaysia and to get invited to a wedding ♫ ♪ ✿ ♡ღ ツ
It’s actually my first wedding invitation. Weird, being 28 years old and never been invited to a wedding before.
I guess my friends are not the kind that gets married. I guess it’s a kind of a Scandinavian thing, you don’t HAVE to get married just because you have children or love each other.
Of course it’s a nice thing to show the love for each other, but it’s not a MUST.
I barely know anyone who is married today.
Everyone just have TONS of children. I also believe that children are more important than a marriage.
I think I’m one only one left of my friends to have a child. But, on the other hand… I’m a long time traveller and I live my life to the fullest and I’m not really ready for that life, YET.
I know it will come one day and if it happens, I am more than ready for it. I have been ready to have a child a long time, but I just didn’t meet the right guy to have a child with. And it’s a big step.
I do know A LOT of friends who ”accidently” gets pregnant, or it didn’t work out with the father and they separate before the child even is born…
Being a single mother can’t be easy. Yeah, I don’t want that. And I don’t like it either. I want to be with the father of my child. Of course you never know if the love dies or if someone cheat or something else. (Which I’ve been a witness of maaaaany many times) But then on the other hand, it may not be real love.
But at least you BOTH know that you’ve tried and worked hard for it.
In Asia, Love is really big ✿ ♡ღ ツ
Both men and women are obsessed with love songs and everything that has to do with love.
Even if it’s one of the hardest things in life, and sometimes you can’t control it, it’s so far one of the most beautiful things I know and being able to LOVE is the best thing you can do in your life.
Love your partner, your friends, your family, your pets, and the most important thing: YOURSELF!
If you start loving yourself, you will appreciate everything around you so much more and the result is that you will get a lot of love in return from others. And you feel good.
So, people… wake up and start loving!!!!
Yesterday was absolutely beautiful and I think that Joey and Cecilia will be an amaaaazing husband and wife together.
Joey is really a unique guy. I love him for his pure honesty and his straight forwardness.
He is really a funny guy and loves to joke around. Very simple and easy going.
He is a very very kind man and he deserves the best. I barely met his wife, but the little time I spent with her I can see that they are a nice couple.
Enough about LOVE for today. Go out and spread your love to the people around you and be kind no matter what.
It’s maybe easier said than done, but give it a try! Be a better person than you were yesterday.
♫ ♪ ✿ ♡ღ ツ ONE LOVE, MY FRIENDS ♫ ♪ ✿ ♡ღ ツ
Ps. My daily California message from yesterday was during the wedding banquet. ”If you’re going to Saaaaaan Francisco, don’t forget to put some flowers in your hair”… It’s driving me craaazy!
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