My life took such a radical turn in my 55th year that I decided to write it all down. Finally free from the professional pressure and the domestic routine that characterize our Western society. It overcomes me here, on this steep hillside in a row house in Robledo, with a breathtaking view over the immense city of Medellin, to write down an account of my experiences.
The tropical vegetation, the eternal spring, the cradle of fashion, flowers and software startups, and the women I met here, beautiful in a way that goes well past their looks, in the warm and respectful way they treat their man, all of this has allowed me to find peace here and chart my new course. It was in the autumn of 2023, now four months ago, that I decided to give my life a different direction. A well-paid job, and a long chapter of my life that had, with time, quietly run its course. I said goodbye to both, a decision that was mine to make, and one of the hardest of my life.
It brings much grief and loss with it, and above all a feeling of guilt over the life and the people I left behind, something I still wrestle with. The challenge of starting over is immense, and the fear of failure and of having made the wrong decision gnaws at me constantly. But time always brings counsel. Learning to enjoy each day, to appreciate the beauty of nature, to discover new people and make new friends; that is what this memoir is about.
A roller coaster of experiences and emotions stretching from Belgium to the Caribbean sunshine of Playa del Carmen in Mexico, from the wintry Sofia in Bulgaria to the vibrant Medellin in Colombia, from the Bocas del Toro archipelago in Panama to the historical city of Cartagena in Colombia, from the beaches of Pattaya in Thailand and Vung Tau in Vietnam to the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) in Vietnam and the banks of the Mekong River in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. And there is more in these pages than dots on a map. There is romance and there are real connections, big cities and quiet beaches, history and culture, the little language hacks that open doors, and the nomad’s blueprint for starting a new life abroad. Along the way I share my tips on hotels, restaurants, experiences, and the places worth your time. In short: travel with me. Carpe Diem!