410 (480) days, 21 countries, 1 adventure

I never would have thought that I would write 110 blog entries… and it's a strange feeling to be writing the last one today. But let's start from the beginning…

After having to leave our little paradise, we spent two more nights in the capital city of Colombo and then flew to Vienna via India. Yes, you read that right... with my "favorite" airline through my "favorite" country...;-)

So, on September 14th, it was time to say goodbye, goodbye to a different world where we had spent so much time. But we didn't go straight home yet. We flew to Vienna to meet Jonas' parents and spend a few beautiful days together. The background for this action was also that they brought us some clothes (lederhosen and dirndl) from home that we would need in the next few days. On September 18th, the two of us continued by train to St. Johann in Tirol. There we surprised Jonas' boys and spent the really last days together in the mountains and at the knödelfest.

At the beginning of the journey, both of us had a lot of expectations... very different expectations. If it hadn't already crashed between us after a month and we hadn't exchanged our fears, wishes, and worries, everything could have taken a completely different ending. The first months in New Zealand were a great, eventful time and especially our time on the farm will always remain in our memories and enrich our lives!! My personal highlight of the entire trip followed directly on the Fiji Islands. Our dive with the bull sharks is still a mystery to me today and I wonder how I managed it and where the courage suddenly came from... absolutely INSANE!! =)

As beautiful as this moment was, the next few weeks became even more terrible... the moment I looked at my phone in the middle of the night in Beijing and read the message from my seriously ill godchild Emil, everything changed. We interrupted the journey for the first time and spent the next four months at home. No, I don't regret this decision and I am very happy to have spent this time with Emil and my family!!! But at some point, wanderlust grabbed hold of us again and at the beginning of October we set off again for part 2 of the journey to Asia. What we experienced here was crazy, wild, bizarre, different, chaotic, hectic but still beautiful and a huge experience in a very special way. I will always remember here our 26-hour bus ride from China across the border to Laos, the two nights in Hong Kong, our visit to the elephants, the time in Vietnam with Chiara and Marvin, and our "vacation" with Josef, Jutta, and Johanna on Koh Samui.

Unfortunately, I was plagued by thoughts of home the whole time until I finally made the decision to fly home again shortly before Christmas and go our separate ways. Then the worst time followed... I was alone at home and could only see Emil, who was getting worse and worse, very rarely. I went back to work while Jonas traveled alone through South America. We endured this separation for a whole 2.5 months until I finally flew to Brazil together with Josef to join Jonas there and we had a wonderful time. While I was sitting alone on the plane to Brazil, my grandpa passed away... this moment was particularly sad and strange feeling..

The four weeks in South America were absolutely amazing and I am glad that I took this step. At the beginning of the journey, I was terrified and had great respect for this continent, but today I am very happy to have gotten to know and love this "different world". Even though I had some really bad physical times in Bolivia, I fell in love with this country and the tour through the Bolivian Highlands is also one of the absolute highlights, and Bolivia has earned itself the number 1 spot on my "favorite countries list"!!

But shortly after, our plans were about to change again...

After my sister wrote to me about how bad it looked for Emil, we booked a flight home on the same day. From Frankfurt Airport, we went straight to the hospice to find out that Emil had passed away while we were on the plane... I really can't find the right words for this moment or describe the feeling somehow. I have rarely seen such a happy and warm-hearted child as Emil, so it is all the more difficult for me to understand this fate... you will always remain in our hearts!

With many impressions from the past few weeks and enough thoughts for the next months, we set off on the final stage. First, we spent two weeks on the Canary Islands together with Annelie and Dennis and then finally flew back to New Zealand to the pig farm. The time there helped me a lot to switch off and digest the first shock. We really enjoyed that month there.

Next stop was Australia. We bought a car, created a new "backpacker car", and were just looking forward to driving into the blue. But somehow, the spark didn't jump and the car also messed up our plans. After only 1.5 months, we left Australia again and wanted to continue our abruptly interrupted journey through Asia from last time. My homesickness grew from day to day and the thoughts about God and the world literally made my head explode. And then there was the heat... I never thought that the weather would ever affect me so much. We hardly left the room, searched for the blowers of the air conditioners, I spent hours on the toilet with stomach upsets, and somehow we couldn't really enjoy anything anymore. If we hadn't spent the last few days in Sri Lanka in such a great place, I would probably have been pretty sad.

I think a whole bag of rocks fell off my heart when we landed in Vienna and everything went well. We made it!!!

Even though this trip turned out completely differently than originally planned, we have learned a lot, especially about life. There were many highs but also many lows. I can't say whether we have changed now, you have to tell us that=)

Even though I could hardly believe it at the time, I am very grateful today that Jonas simply gave me the choice back then to come with him or stay at home. You have to fight for your dreams. Thank you for showing me the world. Without you, I would have never seen and experienced all of this!!

We also have to thank many people, both our families and friends at home and all the people we met along the way. To all those who eagerly followed our blog and were interested in our journey. Of course, there were also a few people who went beyond the goal and supported us mentally and financially more than we could ever have expected. THANK YOU for everything!!!!! And then there was one person who really listened to my whining every day and always gave me courage and strength, even though they had to sit at work all day and had enough problems of their own. Without you, I wouldn't have made it through especially the last three months. You are the best!!

Every journey has an end, but the memories last a lifetime. With that in mind, we are now diving into a new phase of life and continue dreaming of traveling and a better world=)

THANK YOU for everything!! Jonas & Bella

P.S.: This time the pictures are our favorite pictures and highlights of the entire trip!