Just after high school, at eighteen years of age, I decided to do things a little bit differently. Instead of plunging straight into further studies, I chose to take a gap year, a deliberate pause to see more of the world before figuring out what I wanted to do. I spent eight months backpacking across Southeast Asia, a region alive with colours, flavours, and cultures I had only ever read about. At that age, those moments were transformative. I met people from every corner of the globe, each with their own unique stories, and I was immersed in ways of life that were entirely new to me. It left a mark on who I was becoming. 

 

Eventually, though, the adventure came to an end. I returned home, ready- or so I thought- to map out my next steps. What followed were three hard but meaningful years, including an unsuccessful attempt to get a diploma in Hotel Management. Those years taught me a lot about making choices and how aimlessness can creep in even when you have the best intentions. 

By the time this was over, I was ready for another change. This time, I didn’t want to just party till sunrise on Thai shores under the guise of "finding yourself”. I craved a journey rich with connection, one that let me truly live the rhythms of another world. I signed up for Workaway and found an opportunity in Sri Lanka. For two months, I worked at a Sri Lankan restaurant and lived with a warm-hearted local family. It was an experience that fully drew me into their way of life. Sharing meals, traditions, and their everyday struggles and joys. It felt honest and grounding, a stark contrast of the connections during my earlier travels. Their world became mine, simple, vibrant and alive with meaning.

 

From Sri Lanka, I moved to Nepal. There, I volunteered at Heaven Hill Academy, a small school nestled in the hills, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. Nepal was a turning point, not just because of its beauty, but because of the people I met here. One in particular, inspired me to dream bigger: to undertake a cycling journey, something I never would have imagined for myself.

 

After three months in Nepal, I traveled to Australia, driven by the need to work and save for my next chapter. I spent nine months in Melbourne, working in the busy city, and then moved to the Australian outback, where I spent fifteen months as a breakfast chef at Longitude 131. The isolation and ruggedness of the area taught me resilience, patience, and a quiet appreciation for the small routines of daily life.

 

And now, I am home again, standing at the edge of a new beginning. The next months are looking like a bridge to this dream, a time to prepare for the ride of a lifetime. Though I’ve never been an avid cyclist, I’m using this time to carefully soak in the knowledge I think I'm going to need.  

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