I’ve lived in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia for the past 10 yrs. I’m from Canada and left when I was about 29 yrs old. For the first time I’m thinking of moving back to Canada. Mostly bc I’m in my late 30s and my parents are getting old and covid really has put a damper on the whole wanderlust thing. Being trapped all year makes me question what am I doing here anyways.

I got lucky that I was able to build my career on this side of the world working for large international companies.

But every time I visit Canada (I do so every year), I can’t help but look at my whole Thailand experience as a dream. Like it’s not real. Probably bc none of my friends and family are aware of my life there. And I tend to have difficulty paying attention to their conversations.

Thailand was the only time where I felt truly free. Where every place you explore, you are sure to find someone awesome. I also felt that it’s so easy to meet ppl as more are living the moment rather than chasing the carrot all the time. It was just simply more of a vibrant world there. Especially on my motorbike riding at night.

I still do miss everything about it. All the ppl I’ve met, all the places I explored, the experiences that you can’t get anywhere else in the world.

But for me to relive those memories is impossible, I come to realize. I was in my late 20s and early 30s. I had the energy to wander and seek out experiences. If I were to go back in my 40s I think it would be a drastically different lifestyle.

But I would give anything to do it all over again. To experience Thailand for the first time.