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About three years ago I gave up my life and my job and every kind of comfort I was use too and moved to China and then Thailand to teach English and travel. I sold everything, bought a one way ticket to Shanghai and off I went, literally not knowing what to expect and what could happen. All I knew was I needed to find me again and start living life so me and no one else. So with my big suitcase and backpack I got on a plane, waved goodbye to Cape Town and buckled up for the ride of my life. I felt physically sick but euphorically excited. I arrived in China and got the shock of my life. What a culture to experience. It was loud, it was big and I had never seen so many different kinds of people together in one place, let alone the difference in language, expression and lifestyle. Forget Deli- belly I got Shanghai-Fever. For months I was going at warp speed trying to adjust and find my way, falling in love with people and places and the experiences I was blessed to experience. I got to be face to face with the good and bad of the Chinese Culture, the shock of some things they do that according to Western society was unorthodox and wrong. I was shocked, amazed and horrified all in one. Then came Thailand and I was blown away by the sheer magnitude that was the Crown Jewels of Thailand and Asia. The landscapes, the islands, the traditions and believes and oh my goodness the food and absolute generosity and joy of the Sunshine People. I had found heaven amongst the most beautiful of nations. They taught me about humility, compassion, gratitude and kindness...but above all about taking it easy in life, living simply and slowly and enjoying every single day for that day. Not to over plan and stress about things that had not even manifested yet. They helped me get in touch with my true self on a higher and deeper level. For years I had tried to plan my life, chase money and safe for one day but never attained half of what I found in my travels through South- East Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Malaysia and China. These people and the different cultures they have, had taught me lessons in life that I would never have thought possible. I got pushed to limits I never knew I could reach. I reached for dreams I never even dared to reach for. I learnt to be a human- not the rat race kind of human- but a true and caring human being that has respect, love and gratitude towards life and the other souls that inhabit this planet. I found faith in a place that one would not expect to find it, I found happiness, truth, friendship and love amongst nations of the world. I found me again. When you start to travel you learn and grow as you go along, and going into it blindly like I did, now in retrospect I see just how stupid and brave I was and how much stronger I came out the other end of my journey. Life has more meaning, I am more aware and open to experiences and people. I listen more, speak less, give without expecting, push boundaries, I do not conform anymore and I do not waist energy on people, places or things that do not add value to my life or the lives of those around me. I learnt to believe, to openly speak, to not let fear rule me, to take chances and to say sorry and mean it. I learnt to forgive truly and honestly. I learnt to enjoy every second of the day because tomorrow is not guaranteed too is, it is a gift to be treasured and enjoyed. Travel has set me free from the prison cells in my head that was created through years of self conditioning or social conditioning of what is expected. Traveling gave me a true identity, I am now a citizen of the world. I am who I am suppose to be.