The Beginning

This year, there is a particularly great interest in my journey, and I receive several inquiries from you daily about the state of things. I appreciate every single message from you, but responding to each one individually is exhausting, so I thought I would start a blog. I specifically selected something so you don’t have to install an app. How well I will maintain it remains to be seen.

When writing a story, the question always arises, 'Where do I start?'. And the simplest, yet hardest answer is: At the beginning.

Sri Lanka has been on my bucket list for a long time, but I found it 'too popular', which is why I kept postponing it. However, I was determined to visit the country this year, even though it had already broken visitor records early in the year.

I found a cheap flight with Saudi Air for about 600 euros. But after a quick check, I realized I didn’t want to endure that, so I paid a bit more to fly with Emirates (730 euros). Once the flight was booked, I noticed that Sri Lanka is not as 'out' as I thought. The country is roughly the same size as Bavaria, and there is a route that everyone follows, either clockwise or counterclockwise. So, for the first time, I planned everything out: where I want to go, where I will stay, etc. And of course, booked everything. I usually travel alone, but I would prefer to travel with people. That's why I chose nice, well-visited hostels, yet with private rooms, as I’m no longer 18.

And then all the preparations: vaccinations, a new snorkel, new action cam, visa, waxing appointment, etc.

On Saturday, February 28, 2026, the new madness in this crazy world began. The airspace was closed over Qatar, the UAE, and other countries. People died, and so much suffering arose. Nevertheless, what bothered me the most was the thought that my vacation might not happen. Then I was annoyed with myself for prioritizing my luxury problem over human lives. A good friend helped me with this by teaching me a new word: Ambiguity Tolerance. It’s okay to feel bothered for myself.

I had a tough week: night shifts in the emergency room from Sunday to Monday, Tuesday to Wednesday, and Thursday to Friday. I noticed how everything was weighing on me and how important a vacation is to me. My mood was unlike anything I know, especially over such a long period. I believe it was on Wednesday that I received the information from Emirates that my flight was canceled.

On Thursday, I spent over an hour in chat with booking.com to discuss my options. After a long wait, I was offered a flight for March 13, but that would mean losing a week. That was not an option. On Friday, I searched the internet for alternative flights: every flight started at 3000 euros or more. I also looked in other directions: Colombia, Ecuador, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and many more. But prices skyrocketed everywhere, and my despair increased. I clung to a straw: a flight that could be booked with Qatar Airways for 900 euros on Sunday to Sri Lanka. I booked it immediately. Then, I spent over 1.5 hours in chat with booking.com to get my Emirates flight refunded.

Then the hoping and worrying continued. 'Can I fly?' is the thought that kept screaming in my head the whole time.

Last night, around 7:30 PM, I received the message from Qatar Airways that the flight was canceled. Disheartening. I had to admit that hope was futile.

This morning, I sat back at the computer and researched again. I found something. I will be flying away on Sunday! The flight was absurdly expensive at 1100 euros, but staying here for three weeks wouldn’t be good for my peace of mind.

But I won’t tell you where, so: Stay Tuned