Dear Inner Self:
We have been living together for 33 years and, yet, I think we haven’t managed to get to know each other very well. You will have to forgive me for not having paid you the attention that, of course, you deserve. Perhaps I have been busier attending to other “selves”, entertained by the outside world, and I have neglected you. Sincerely, I don’t regret having kept you in the shadows because I have been very happy, but I feel that, now, the time has come to know something more about you, to unzip you a little and see what you have to show me. These last few months I know you have been impatient to come out of that darkness; all the messages you have been sending me have made it clear and, little by little, you have been winning my affection until you finally convinced me. Despite how little we have bonded, I think you will know how to forgive me for my lack of interest, so I want to make up for all this lost time and there is no better way to do it than to go on a trip.
What do you think, dear “inner self”? You and I, the two of us alone. I have it all thought out, don’t worry, you just have to hop in my backpack and enjoy. It will be three weeks of adventure through Thailand y Myanmar. Yes, I know you might have preferred getting lost in Bolivia, seeing the valleys of Colombia, walking through the Chilean park of Torres del Paine, or playing with the lemurs of Madagascar. But don’t worry, if we get along well after this experience, there might be other solo trips, I might even let myself be carried away by the excitement and get lost for a few months through South America…
In any case, you should be satisfied because I have included the spectacular Temples of Bagan of Myanmar in the route and that was thinking exclusively of you, my dear “inner self”. A whim that I knew would enchant you. Do you like it? Are you happy? In a few days we will be there, watching the sunset in silence, side by side. I am very curious to get to know you more deeply; so many years together and, sometimes, I feel like you are a stranger. But that feeling is going to end because I plan to dedicate all my attention to you on this trip, I promise to truly listen to you, let you explain your dreams, your fears. We are going to have plenty of time, we will learn to dive together in Koh Tao, we will get lost in the jungle in Chiang Rai, we can have a drink in bustling Bangkok, ride an elephant, chat with the locals…. I don’t want you to be left wanting for anything. You know I like to improvise so I don’t have everything closed, you and I will make decisions as we go. Furthermore, the most important thing on this occasion is not visiting every possible place, nor crossing activities off a list; the most important thing on this trip is you. So stay calm, slow travel as they say… Look, I’m leaving you the route so you can get an idea.
September 12th to 15th: Bangkok
from September 15th to 19th Mandalay-Bagan
From September 19th to 23rd Chiang Rai
from September 24th to 30th Koh Tao
October 1st return to Madrid
I admit that it sometimes gives me a bit of vertigo to think that the two of us will go alone but I trust you, my “dear inner self”. We are brave! Also, to all those who haven’t stopped telling me that I am reckless, I have to tell them they are wrong because I am very aware of what I do, because I won’t forget to pack common sense in my bag, because I already have a few thousand kilometers behind me and because, of course, we are very well covered against any surprises with Iati travel insurance . Mom, you can rest easy.
Well, rest now for three intense weeks await us. I hope you are as excited about this trip as I am. On the way back, as always, we will keep the best memories in the drawer so they aren’t lost and we will share our experience with other travelers during this #IlusionTrip. And if any of them want to lend a hand or recommend something, there is still time.
Receive a warm hug and don’t go too far, because in a few days we take off.
Patricia
