The past 5.5 years of my life

Here’s a summary full of funny anecdotes for those of you who are curious about what I had been up to in the past 5.5 years of my life.

Got a one way ticket to Australia when I was 18. Spent 9 months in Australia. Road-tripped both the East and West Coast, drove through the Gibb River road of the Kimberley (one of the least explored and understood places on earth). Worked in a Japanese restaurant. Hitchhiked over 3300km

Then spent 8.5 months exploring South East Asia. I tried my best to live like locals, on an extremely low budget. Which wasn’t difficult considering how easy it is for me to blend in. I Visited Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Burma. I hitchhiked alone here and there. Sailed from Lombok to Flores. Chased after waterfalls, remote islands and lagoons. Tried all the weirdest food I could find. Ate a cat/ rat by accident. Witnessed the most intense and dangerous festival in the world - at the Fire Balloon festival in Burma. One balloon was exploding on top of the crowd and five men jumped on top of me to protect me. I had my first taste of “going off the beaten path, when I wondered alone into the Chin hills to get to know the tribes where women wore full-face tattoos.

Then decided to join an NGO for 2.5 months in Nepal, to build a school after the devastating earth quake.

I got inspired to visit Iran. With no plans at all, I ended up hitchhiking from the very south of Iran to the south of France. Visited remote forbidden villages in Iranian Baluchistan that the Australian government said is illegal for me to visit. Celebrated my 20th birthday in Iraq, Kurdistan. I spent 1 month in Iran, 1 month in Iraq (Kurdistan), and 3 weeks in Turkey. Then 5 months in Greece, volunteering in Crete and Lesvos. Had the weirdest Couchsurfing story to tell as I stayed with a nudist on Santorini for 1 week, in a tiny room.

Then decided to get a job in London, because at that time it was the only place in the world I could get a Pakistani visa. In 1.5 months, I hitchhiked from Greece to France. There was a 5€ flight from Nice to London, so I took it as it was cheaper than hitchhiking. (Now I sincerely wish I had continued hitchhiking to save my CO2 footprint.) I didn't get to hitchhike between Istanbul and the Greek border, because apparently a 19 year old girl who hitchhikes and has been to Iran and Iraq is not allowed in Turkey. They detained and deported me, without beating me up.

After 6 months of working at a private casino in London, I saved a lot of money and embarked on again.

Turned 21

First I went to Morocco, hitchhiked more than 2500km. Surfed Morocco's longest waves, every day in a cute little town. Met a photographer who told me the story of how he’s the person who took the photo of the Afghan girl with green eyes and sold it to Steve McCurry in Thailand. (Yes, I kind of believe him.)

I flew to Kyrgyzstan. Barely knowing how to cycle, I spontaneously decided to buy a bicycle and cycle alone across Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - along the legendary Pamir Highway. Yep, that’s the second highest 'road' in the world, tracing along part of the ancient silk road. Most of the road is unpaved, with many high passes to cross. The highest is at 4655m above sea level. I stopped every 3 seconds to catch my breath. I went off-road to cycle via Zurkul - to see the legendary "Great Dragon Lake", while imagining the way ancient Chinese explorers also camped on the same lake some thousand years ago. Most travelers skip this area because it's too remote.

From Tajikistan, I crossed the border into Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor. I rented a donkey and walked for 19 days, through "the roof of the world", at 4000m-5200m asl. The owner of the donkey came along to take care of him. Stayed with one of the world's most remote communities. It was the most surreal experience I have ever had. It's out of this world. There was no postal service, phone service or internet. There's no way to stay in touch with the new friends I made there.

After a surreal month in Afghanistan, I crossed back on foot into Tajikistan. I couldn’t get the documents needed to enter China, so I flew from Uzbekistan to Pakistan with my bicycle. Cycled across Northern mountainous region of Pakistan in Autumn. Then guess what, I ended up spending 6 months in Pakistan! Kidnapped by the beauty and kindness of the land! I experienced the best hospitality in the world here. I was invited on many special trips and events. Flew on an Pak Air Force aircraft to participate in an International Ski Competition, having never skied before in my life. It was a plane I'd only ever see in movies. Never have I ever thought I'd ever see one in real life, let alone to fly in one, over the Hindu Kush and Karakorum! We saw K2!! Anything is f***ing possible in Pakistan. And that is why I ended up spending half a year of my life there.

Wait, did I mention the one-week-long Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally? I was invited by one of the racers. Imagine riding in a raging jeep, only 15km away from the Indian border. Stopping in a village that survives and settles in the middle of a desert!

Every participant had to set up their own camps in the desert. There are no guest houses. At night, people fire off bullets into the sky to celebrate. To show off, different camps fire off the heaviest weapons they have.

(Taking a sip of water)

Turned 22

It's now May 2019, after waiting 5 weeks for an Indian Visa. I could finally move on from Pakistan. Crossed the whole of India by train, 3 nights cramped in lower-class seats (from Amritsar to Chennai). I went to Sri Lanka. It was right after the Easter Attacks and I ain't gonna let no terrorist stop me from living my life. That’s their purpose! To impose fear, and as you should know by now. I don’t let people impose fear on me. I had an amazing 3 peaceful weeks of chill and surf - to prepare myself, for probably the most mind-blowing journey of my life - 

visiting "mainland" Afghanistan.

By relying on local Afghani friends I had made in Pakistan, friends of friends, and Couchsurfing - I spent 3 weeks in Afghanistan, visiting: Kabul (the capital), Bamiyan (where the giant buddhas are), Band e Amir National Park (the most beautiful lakes in the world), and Kandahar (the Taliban's ex “capital”).

My mind was blown by the beauty and kindness of the country and people. My perspective on the whole world, in fact, has changed. Afghanistan is now my favorite travel destination in the world.

After an absolutely insane 1 year of traveling in Central Asia, I needed to take things slowly. So I went to India to learn yoga, and do a bit of EatPrayLove (without the “love” part lol unfortunately). Completed a 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training, and went straight to Sri Lanka to work as a yoga teacher in a surf hostel. Teaching yoga, surfing, sipping on 0.39$ coconuts. All day, every day.

In September 2019, I flew to Australia to work. In between, I made a short trip to Japan and South Korea. Lockdown made me lose my job (at a café). Road tripped 4500km around NSW with a mate.

Turned 23

After quarantine life, in August 2020, I moved to Europe. The first thing I did when I landed in Europe, is of course - hitchhike and couchsurf all over Switzerland. Then I went for a solo hike at Sarek National Park in Swedish Lapland, where I saw the Northern lights!

I was based in Berlin for half a year. In between took a short trip to Egypt with a friend.

March 2021, I left Berlin to volunteer on a permaculture project in the South of Spain. That is where I am now, with no plans for the rest of the year. The world is a complete mess right now.

Turned 24

After two months in Spain, I went to Mexico as it was an affordable and incredible place to settle while I worked online (freelance travel writing). I had some of the craziest experiences of my life here. Experienced a nudist-mandatory hostel. Found an apartment - then, like always, my plans changed at the last minute. I decided to go to Australia for a personal reason.

To hear the craziest stories I have, you'll have to meet me in person. There's no way I could put those stories online!

Gracias. Thanks for reading!