I've been travelling now for about three months - currently in the North of Thailand - and it has really been a lot of fun. When I look back at the photos I've taken so far, then I'm really amazed at the sights, the colours... the different people, and am rather excited about all the things that I'm still going to see.Travelling for a longer time does bring about a number of interesting changes. The first thing to change is haggling... it becomes second nature. From now on, when anyone quotes a price, my standard response is to smile politely and utter a long noooo. This is going to be fun, when I get back.
Perceptions of time have also changed. Weekends, weekdays, they all feel the same. Which date is it again? It's a rather pleasant feeling really, very free, not so time-constrained. However, I do have to say that I am rather glad that I brought a watch that not only shows time, but the day and date as well! Things could get ugly otherwise...
I also can't believe it's almost December... I think I've had rain only twice so far, the sun has been bright and temperatures over 30 degrees C. most of the time. The exception was my brief stop-over in London. And why does 50 Bath or so feel to represent more value than 1 euro (more or less the current exchange rate)? It's strange, but when you're in countries where you can have extremely good meals for the equivalent of less than 5 euros, bags of fresh fruit for the equivalent of a euro and good hotels (similar to 3 to 4 stars) for the equivalent of some 15 euros, you start to feel that the local currency represents far more value.
Another interesting change is that some things that used to be boring routines, have become, well, rather fun really. One thing that comes to my mind is shaving, it used to be just one of those things you had to do.... but now, especially after a long hike or jungle trek, you also get this entire back to civilization feelings that comes along with it...
PS all of this reminds me that I still want to write down an impression of my journey through the Middle East. Will probably put it up soon, or you can of course skip it and go for my summarized version instead: nice food, many ruins, dry, and too many people making strange noises in the night aka how I learned to love the nightly call to prayer ;)
