More than a year a go I started cutting up old clothes from my childhood, with the intention of turning them into a keepsake quilt one day. Today, I made a significant step towards that goal...

When Marcel and I decided to travel "around the world", we knew for sure that we wanted to travel light. This was particularly challenging for me, who has been known for schlepping around a 20kg monster of a suitcase for 2-week city trips. It was a fun challenge though – I took some time for online research*, spent half a week writing my perfect packing list, actually made quite a few things myself, bought the rest, and continued to tweak the list throughout our trip...

We're back in Europe. Holland right now, next week Germany.

For now, we're done with travelling. Probably one day I'll try to sum up our experiences and our decision to come back earlier than expected – but not now. Fact is, we've given up hoping for some elusive place & lifestyle that'll finally "make us happy", we're back to zero, but with vast new perspectives. Yes, there were some painful disillusions. And yes, it was totally worth it.

That's all I'm saying for now :-)

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.
(Henry Miller)

There is nothing we have to do or achieve in our lives. Nothing that’ll “make us happy”. Whatever we do, in the grand scheme of things it’s completely futile. We think we know what’s right and wrong, only to watch our carefully crafted world views fall apart, again and again.

I believe that this might be a good thing. Often, our world views are nothing but concepts, categories we use to get a sense of understanding and control, while the real scope of reality is completely unfathomable, let alone controllable. So when those concepts fall apart, they leave behind an empty space that can be very precious, very valuable. If we resist the urge to re-fill the empty space with new concepts, we’re suddenly left alone with raw reality. The world as it is, for us, right now. The experience can be overwhelming and is definitely disconcerting every single time. But it’s also our only chance to get in touch with what is. To connect with what’s hidden under all the layers and layers ...

A few days ago Marcel and I made this 10-min video as we were driving through Pai and its surroundings. It gives an impression of the lush green around us, as well as the town center – I hope you enjoy watching it...