July 8, 15:37

Yesterday was such a nice day. Bike trip around the area knowing it was the last full day in Ecuador together. The area here is just sooo beautiful. If I have to choose a location in Ecuador where I would like to live, it’s somewhere here.

Right now I am waiting for my empanadas to be ready to take home.

July 9, 09:22

I am in the bus to Peru. And the battery from my headphones just died. How annoying cause the trip to Jaén will literally take a full day, I probably wont arrive before 18:00. (update: I arrived at the hotel at 19:20)

So now I am kinda forced to think about my life choices here. Especially after a heart to heart with Mike yesterday, it’s not easy. So I’m a little in my feels at the moment and wrote this:

when the battery dies
the music becomes silent
no one to listen to
but the sounds of your life
the screaming options
become a silent decision
was this the right thing to do
nothing to distract me
when the battery dies

July 10, 12:09

Border crossing yesterday was super easy and fast. And I saw Mike there haha. I guess when you’re literally driving down the same road there’s really no escaping each other.

So this morning we met up for breakfast, cause why not, before I took the bus to Chachapoyas. Really excited cause it’s a smaller city between the Amazon and the Andes. So I’m planning to go hiking a lot and really see the surroundings. And I’m also happy to be out of Jaén this fast, cause that was just terrible. A whole new culture shock. People are shouting and there are sooo many motor taxi’s, that really don’t look where they are going. I just hope the rest of Peru is gonna be different (which is probably the case and I just had to get used to a big city again). At least the bus ride is super beautiful! The northern part of this country is absolutely insane, just amazing! I am almost doubting my choice to go to Brazil. Maybe I should stay in this country longer.

July 11, 22:10

What a day. So much happened that I don’t even know where to start. I mean, I guess at the beginning…

Went to a canyon in the morning. Suuuper nice hike from one mirador to another on the edge of the canyon. Just super beautiful. Did almost get attacked by wild horses and dogs, but I survived. Guess it was more their territory than it was mine. And then you just have to choose another path to walk on.

Then I had such a great call with Simone. Always nice to dig deeper in why we make certain choices and Simone is just the best person to do that with. Usually I am pretty clear on the what and why, although I do have the tendency to change my mind many times, it’s never out of uncertainty but usually just a change in opinion. (It might not look like it when reading all of this, but it feels like it to me 👍🏻) This time I really didn’t know what was the best for me. And a good talk with Simone usually gives me the clarity I need, and so it did this time! Super happy and grateful!

So afterwards I went to surprise Mike, who was working at a coffeeshop, and asked if he still wanted to travel through Peru together. And he did! So the rest of the day we spend working at coffeeshops and thinking about a route for Peru. Another motorbike trip coming up! We’ll probably leave on Saturday and the whole trip will take about two and a half weeks, I guess. So the trip through the Amazon will have to wait.

July 12, 11:30

Coffee shop day! Full working day on Yellow Views and I am happy about it. I really like these ‘working’ days. Also, yesterday was kind of a big day, activity wise and decision wise, so an easy day like this is very much appreciated. I am really happy that Mike and I are going to travel together some more. It’s gonna be good!

July 13, 15:28

I finished updating my website! So happy! Although finished for now, cause I still want to write an about me page, figure out how google analytics works and work on the SEO. But that’s all future stuff. Now first thing I am focussing on is sharing all of it on TikTok and Instagram. And once I have a rhythm doing that, find ways to make money. I have many ideas and I do think there are many possibilities, so I am actually super excited.

And for the first time I am not anxious about it. Cause at the start of my travel finding ways to make money online was my main goal. But I was so obsessed with the whole thing and about finding a niece that would fit me, that it felt like I was forcing it. Which did not help at all. The last months I shifted from obsession to try and find something, to enjoying where I am and choosing to do things that I actually love doing. So I kept writing and got into photography. And when I decided to start sharing all of that, I felt much more at peace and everything kinda flowed. So I have faith that the rest will work out, including the money thing.

July 14, 11:12

Sitting in a coffee shop, like every day. The idea was to be active and go hiking and all that. But instead I, again, got too comfortable and am doing none of those things. I guess it’s a good thing that I get easily comfortable at new places. The downside is that I don’t like being too comfortable. I like the edge and the slight uncomfortable feeling of not knowing what the day will bring. BUT! Tomorrow is the day we will leave for the motorbike trip through Peru. So I will feel less comfortable very soon and I am very happy about it.