#7 Renton & Seattle

Arrived to Seattle, an hour less behind from home again so 9hours! I was picked up by a friend I met a few years back in Belize! She lives close to Seattle in Renton and I was able to stay with her! We chatted for a bit and watched a match, and she also made me one of her homemade Margaritas :-)! Heard some fireworks that night around 11pm since it was 4th of July the next day. She told me that it wasn't allowed anymore, but people don't care. 

They showed the weather forecast just before landing, looks great!

#6 Majestic Mountains and Bear Country in Alaska

After security I was straight away welcomed into the United States! Finished watching the movie Pizza Movie, which was suppose to be my Chicago movie cause of the 'pizza'! Weird movie but also hilarious haha! 

I am about halfway through this first part of my sabbatical, even though it feels like I've been away so much longer. It always does, even on day one if it's a good one :-)! And so it is also time to think about what's next but not yet!

I was seated in seat 25D, 25 lucky birthday number :-). The flight was fine. I watched a movie called 'Good luck. Have fun. Don't die.' Great movie, kind of 'Black Mirror' like. After that I had an hour or so left and started a show but was also pretty tired so I closed my eyes for a bit.

#5 Vancouver, back to Canada!

Toronto and Chicago were last added to my itinerary because they were closer to fly to then Vancouver or Alaska or Seattle and seemed like fun cities to also visit (Chicago was however always one of the cities I wanted to visit). Anyways, it's now time to go to the places I originally had on my list, Vancouver first and then Anchorage, Alaska and Seattle after. I picked Vancouver to see orcas/killerwhales! My tour is booked for tomorrow, so fingers crossed!! 

Went back 2hours again (so 9 behind of home) and it was a 4 hour flight. We had a lot of turbulence but I thought to myself, if I go, at least it'll be with a Dr. Pepper in hand as that was what I picked for my complimentary drink 🤭! I watched 3 movies (last one was a documentary and I didn't get to finish it unfortunately):

- Strangers Chapter 3, weird..

- Solo mio, fun! Recognized some of the culture haha

- The secret of me, very interesting!

I did have to go through customs this time, but again only took me 10min or so to get through. The guy did ask me a few questions on what I was doing and where I was staying but he didn't seem to care much as to what my answers were haha. Walked to the skytrain and was suppose to take a bus after but decided to walk the 2nd part which was about 30minutes. And I'm glad I did, what a lovely neigborhood. Lots of 'swap houses', for books, and even dvds and plantseeds! And I caught my first glimpse of the mountains!! I'm staying in a house this timenand have a private room with a private bathroom! 

Arrived at the airport!

#4 Chicago two of my faves True Crime & Pizza

Went another hour back in time and so instead of 6 hours behind home, it was now 7 (and more to come!)

The planes get smaller each time. Only a 2x2 and 20 rows. Weird use of letters though A-C and D-F, I understand not using E but why not B then instead of A 🤷🏽‍♀️. Anyways, flight was delayed for about 30minutes but we caught up some of that during flight. It was only about an hour and a half flight in the end. Got to the airport and I was ready to go through customs. I received an email a few days ago to download an app and fill in my arrival card to go trough a fastlane but I couldn't be bothered. Didn't know how busy it would get but decided to wing it. And so, I got off the plane, followed the Exit signs and found myself in baggage claim within 5minutes or so. No customs, no security, I guess it doesn't matter from Canada haha. And I remembered I did go to US departures (so maybe they did the check there already, no questions asked though). But alright, made my way to the Blue line train to get to my hostel. And yes, I checked this morning what I booked, private room with shared bathroom and no breakfast so back to my intermittent fasting :-)!

#3-2 Toronto Dutch match & 356m high hangout

So I had a few things planned for today but the order changed when I went out for my first stop: getting a stamp. Turns out that on saturday a lot of post offices are closed. And so I ended up walking over 2km to one that was open haha. I saw a lot of German people on my way and also during breakfast, their match was at 3pm. I also saw a lot of Japanese restaurants throughout the city and so it wasn't just limited to Little Tokyo. I even saw a mini version of the Shibuya crossing (which is the most known crossing in Tokyo but you can find crossings like that throughout the city as well and I also saw two smaller ones here). And so I finally found my stamp and made my way back the same way. As said, it took a lot longer than anticipated and it was close to 1pm which was when the Dutch match would be on. And so I figured I would watch the match first. But not without a visit to their Dollarshop, Dollarama. 

Look-a-like Shibuya crossing

#3-1 Toronto flight and Niagara Falls!

Wow what a great flight! It took about 8 hours and even though they announced at the gate that it was a full flight, it wasn't. And so who needs businessclass when you can have 3 seats for the price of 1 (I always love a good deal 🤭). And so for the €300 I paid for this one way ticket, that's what I got! Also a meal with a glass of wine and a hot snack before landing! I slept like a baby using my bag as a pillow (also watched 2 movies). They don't give you blankets or pillows btw or headphones, but they are available for purchase, which is why I didn't know if I was getting a meal or anything but I did :-)! And I always have my own headphones with me.

3 for 1 seats :-)

#2 And so it begins... Its go time!

Hello from the other sideeeeee, 

Well, not quite yet! Hello from the gate at the airport! 

The day after I booked my one way ticket to Toronto, I pretty much booked everything else I wanted. And so after a few last minute changes to my itinerary, this is it for the next 3 weeks: Toronto (incl. Niagara falls daytrip), Chicago, Vancouver (incl. whale/orca boattour🤞🏽), Anchorage (incl. a tour to see bears catch salmon🤞🏽) and Seattle to see the city but also meet a travel friend I met in Belize. 

Breathe in, breathe out. It's done. All that was left to book, was a flight out of Seattle. I first wanted to go to Bolivia but I read about protests and stuff that started last May and so that wasn't a very safe option anymore. And also the trip there was sooooo long. And so, maybe Europe? Or Asia? Or safari in Africa?! I decided to get back to it later! 

#1 It's (sabbatical) time!

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-Happy 20th anniversary to me, 25th of May 2006 was when I wrote my first post-

Hiiiiii,

So for those who don't know, I have a 6 month sabbatical, starting June 1st (so back to work on December 1st). 

I left work on thursday (May 28th), my last day at the office. I knew I still had so much to do but for a second, it hit me that I was one day away from my 6 month break and that brought a smile to my face :-). It felt so close and yet so far or maybe just unreal. Either way, it's been a long time coming and it's needed. 

One of my colleagues gave me this keychain on thursday 🙏🏽🌷

Leaving the office with a bright sun waiting for me 🤩

Munich, Malta, Brussels and an unexpected turn to Florida

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There's not a whole lot that I want to write down, but I'll share a bit of it so it's not just pictures. 

Part V Meet & Greet in Bangkok and Going back home

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One of my friends from back home was arriving on sunday and so I booked a hotel close to his for my final 3 nights. Checked in but the room wasn't ready yet so left my bag there and left for the airport to pick up my friend! It's always fun to do so and it felt like I'd been there forever, picking somebody else up. Had to wait for a bit but there he was! We went back together, he wanted to take a taxi and so we did. Dropped him off at his hotel and then walked back to mine. Got into the room, gorgeous with bathtub :-)! 

On my way to the airport link, 20 min walk.

Part IV Back in Bangkok!

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Walked to the busstation, which was really just the street in front of an open office space with a large desk and a lot of backpacks people had dropped off before getting on the bus. I booked the 130pm bus, 1230 was already full and a flight to Bangkok at 7pm. That would leave me 1,5hours in between as it would take about 4hours. If things went the way they did on the way here, I would have plenty of time. I had checked in online the night before and had no luggage to drop off. Checking in online didn't work at first, had booked through a 3rd party because it was cheaper and I read afterwards that more people had this issue and to go to the airport early to check in there. Nothing else worked, some got in using different information provided by the airlines customer service. Checking in online wasn't an option for me. I contacted the online customer support of the 3rd party, but after 15minutes or so she couldn't manage it either and told me to call the airline to ask for help. It annoyed me but I put my shoes on to ask the hotel if I could use the phone. I then remembered something worth trying, incognito tab! That had worked for me before with a completely different issue but also with an online purchase. And it worked (so there's a free tip 😁)! And so, even if we got to the airport later, it would be fine as long as I was checked in. It's also an airline that deals with a lot of delays (same airline I took on the way to Chiang Mai with an hour delay). 

Part III Peace in Pai

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Arrived in Pai!!

Part II Chiang Mai - Trip down memory lane

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I'm here, I'm here! And I didn't have to wait for any luggage wootwoot! Tried to get a Bolt (taxi via app), but it wouldn't connect. Still kept trying because the Airport Taxi was more expensive, this is when the backpacker in me comes out again. You see, the hotel had a free pick up from the airport but the driver was out sick or something and so they would reimburse the cost of the taxi, but I still I wanted to get the best deal possible haha. I still ended up taking the Airport taxi though after trying Bolt for 10minutes. It's a fixed rate of 150THB btw which is a about €4 (Bolt was around €3). I know, who cares right?! Well, I do 😅🙈.

Part I Going back to Thailand

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Yes, booked! A week before leaving, I finally booked my ticket. I was planning on going to India but decided I didn't want to rush a new country/culture and so I picked Thailand! Last October when I went to Florida, Thailand was the runner up but the only affordable flights back then were 20+ hrs and so I picked Florida. Thailand also holds a special place in my heart. It's an easy country to travel through, I love the people, the culture, the food and the prices :-)! Bangkok was also always where I usually started and or finished my trips in Asia. And so I've been wanting to go back for a while. My last time was October 2018 according to my passport stamps. And according to my blogs, I believed then that it was my 5th time since started traveling to Asia in 2010. And so this would make it no. 6 but who's counting.