30 days on Bali – Ready, set, go!
30 Days Off – A Pause, A Reflection, A New Chapter
Working day after day in a 9-to-6 or more realistically, 9-to-8 kind of job wears you down.
It’s not physically demanding, but still... exhausting in its own way.
I’ve been doing this for around 15 years now. Fifteen. It’s wild to even say that out loud. And now, finally, it feels like the right time to pause and reflect on what these years have been about. To take a break. To let go. To do what I feel like doing—or maybe what I’ve never had the time (or courage) to do before.
Yes, 30 days off is a long time. I’m using almost all of my annual leave. But you know what? It feels worth it.
I’m incredibly lucky to have a manager who understands and said yes, and colleagues who are covering for me while I’m away. To all of you - thank you. Seriously. Next round of beers is on me when I’m back. 🍻
Where It All Started
As a kid, I always loved traveling with my parents. We didn’t have much money, so we kept things simple. Most trips were to the Czech Republic - it was close to where we lived, and, more importantly, affordable.
The most “exotic” place we visited back then? Austria. And now, looking back, I understand what a big deal that must have been financially for my parents. I’m so grateful they made it happen.
Fast forward to today - I live in Barcelona, far from where I grew up. I earn my own money. And after saving for a few months, I can afford to go farther, to places that once felt completely out of reach.
The Night Before the Adventure
Like every time I travel somewhere new and a little outside my comfort zone, I didn’t sleep well.
I finally fell asleep around 2am and woke up at 9:30am. Not exactly a restful night.
I’ve never been able to sleep on planes, and I’m already wondering what state I’ll be in by the time I arrive in Ubud. Still, as always, I’ll give it a try... and probably fail. But hey, you never know. 🙂
Before heading out, I gave my flat a deep clean. Top to bottom. I hate returning to a mess. Everything’s packed. And yes, I left too early - as usual. But I’d always rather be early than late. Seems I’m still very German, even after 8 years of living in Spain.
A Detour, A Conversation
Just when I thought the trip was smooth sailing, the Spanish police decided to do random checks on the highway to the airport.
Perfect timing, right? 😅
On the bright side, it turned into an unexpectedly nice chat with my taxi driver. He’s from Pakistan, speaks three languages, has lived in Spain for 10 years, and loves Tesla cars.
Same here.
One Hour to Go...
In just an hour, boarding starts. It’s my first time flying on an A380, and I think I even spotted the plane landing earlier. It’s huge. And somehow, it makes this trip feel even more real.
See you soon, dear Barcelona. When I return, it’ll probably be full-on summer. But right now?
It’s time for a different rhythm, a different pace, a different place.