The story of the bits and pieces left along the way..

Have you heard the story of the old woman, who had never left her home town, but dreamt of traveling around the world. She saved her entire life, but at some point got too old and too weak - so she changed her will. After her death and cremation, her ashes was packed in small bags and sent (and then buried) all around the world. So she eventually got her dream fulfilled. Now I'm definitely living a dream, my dream, right now, traveling around the way I am, but nonetheless I also seem to be leaving bits and pieces behind wherever I go.

In addition to all the cellphones I've had during these past months, I lost (forgot) my wallet in Bali. And mind you, I didn't loose any money or cards, but I almost wish I had - I was so upset about the beautiful wallet. I had bought it at this cute, small designer shop at Haji Lane in Singapore when I first arrived, and I love love loved it so much I even went back to try to get a new one. Of course they didn't, and the designer lived in Bali, not Singapore. So how beautiful wasn't my roomie Alessa (after listening me sorrow it for weeks), when she on her trip to Bali two months later looked up the designer's shop and got me a new, almost identical one for birthday! I was so touched and happy, both for the wallet itself, but the gesture as well!

The dance to the Full Moon claimed a sacrifice too - I lost my flipflops to some other dancer (guess there was a lot of black Havaianas lying around). Borneo and Mt Kinabalu didn't require more than some blood, sweat and tears (well, at least sweat and a lot of sighs), and I guess being sick in the Philippines  leaves something behind... The time with my family was the most costly, though. Leaving Singapore, my camera was left behind (in addition to a piece of my heart and a part of my life). I say was left, since it's disputable whether it was my or my sister's fault - guess we agree on mutual responsibility. In Sulawesi I (me myself this time) forgot my phone charger and the adapter in the outlet in the room, and Hong Kong took my make up, bag and all (left in the bathroom, rushing out from the room in the morning way too late, after way too little sleep). By the Laos border, my pen was stolen (even if the guy says he "left it on the table". But he was smiling in a very untrustworthy way).

The most upsetting thing still happened today, though (Luang Prabang, however cute, is not treating us well). We went for a walk to a waterfall outside the town, and somewhere in the woods, my ring (the beautiful one I bought in Hong Kong, and really really loved!) fell, slipped (something?) off my finger. Most annoying thing about it - on a group picture I still have it, but some hundred meters later - puff - gone! Looked for it everywhere, kicked (almost) every leave over, but no luck. And I know it's just a stupid ring, but I feel like crying..

Guess the story is to be continued as the traveling goes on, I'll keep you posted.. On the positive note, my eye is getting better. So if things happen for a reason, maybe this was some way to keep the universe in balance - a ring for an eye (or something).

Och samma på svenska.