Mind blowing that seven days have already passed since I got here and for my first blog post. I’ve experienced so much in so little time: hostels, strangers, night markets, mountains, beef noodle soup…. more beef noodle soup. This trip has turned out great so far but it is getting to that point in the trip where the loneliness begins to creep in. The missing of family and friends and you’re own bed. It is also the point you begin to question the meaning and purpose of life and what else you could do with the heaps of free time. The social aspect of hostels truly do help fill the void and make you feel you’re not the only one wandering through this world. It adds a small sense of meaning and belonging to the opposite side of the world.
What an absolute spike of adrenaline yesterday. Sun Moon Lake is gorgeous but almost got me killed or rather I almost killed myself. It’s a 32km bike loop around the lake and of course I’m up for the challenge. Starting out you think nothing can stop you and then you hit the first hill where your thigh heat flashes. Next thing you know, the next hill is already here where your thighs are on absolute fire. Pit Stop. Quick break and it’s a nice downhill section. But again, the steepest uphill yet and every ounce of lactic acid has evaporated from your thighs and your clinging on for dear life. Finally comes the reward and an ego boost where it’s a complete downhill section 100-200 meters. Nothing can stop me… literally, nothing is stopping me. The bike slowly starts to pick up speed and gradually more and more until you’re on a full downhill with the electric assist cranked to max (thank god for electric assisted bikes otherwise I wouldn’t have made it past the first quarter of the loop) and the speedometer is clocking 60 km/h! With perfect car control and racing experience, this is a joke but you look up and it’s a double hairpin downhill. Little cause for concern but you start trail braking and you’re not slowing down… I’m carrying to much speed! Full lock on the brakes it is…. to no avail the tires have locked and you’re just a passenger. Luckily flinstones brakes have never failed and use the natural body to stop. My body is still shaking writing this.
It is an absolute privilege to be able to travel for this long and have the experiences I am going through. Everyone deserves the opportunity to explore, learn about the world, culture and about themselves. It is our duty to help out everyone who has drawn the short straws in life.
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