28th of August 2023 was the day when I packed my suitcases and left home to return next time only two years after. Wasn’t an easy decision, not some “searching for life’s meaning” kind of trip, more like just diving into the unknown with questionable perspectives, pushed by circumstances. Most of the circumstances are still around and perspectives are still questionable with some new challenges rising regularly, but I got through 3 years of this life and enjoying it still.
Over 3 years I visited 12 countries, living in some for months and visiting some multiple times even. Returning home now for the second time in these 3 years, but slowly getting ready to depart to another long stay trip to Armenia, where everything stared in 2023. Total time I lived in Armenia is already near 1 whole year, but after the upcoming trip it will go well over it, since I plan to stay there until spring 2027. Uzbekistan and Georgia also were my long stay countries, over 6 months in each, from Uzbekistan I did travel around Central Asia, visiting Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan too. Thailand and Vietnam got 2 months each earlier this year and that’s when I learned that I rather go for long stays around 6 months than jumping around countries with all my luggage like crazy.
I don’t mean just Thailand and Vietnam trip by the way, our trip to those countries and back was way more complicated: Armenia – Georgia (1 day) – India (1 week) – Thailand – Vietnam – Cambodia (2 weeks) – India (1 week) – Emirates (1 day) – Armenia. And I had a little personal detour to Malaysia to refresh my stamp since my e-visa to Vietnam wasn’t approved in time for our trip there (first it was extra stress, but then extra trip that I enjoyed). Moving around like this with quite a lot of luggage is pretty stressful and trying to bring some souvenirs from all the countries you visit becomes extra challenging.
Sadly my friend that I started my adventures with returned home a bit over one year after the beginning, but at least I have my other friend to travel with. Have to say no matter how good your friends are, travelling and living together like this is quite the test for your friendship. So far I’m managing, returning home to take a break helps, because it ain’t simple to live with an alcoholic, lemme tell you. Really wish I could have some of my fellow streamers to try this nomadic lifestyle so I could switch companions and travel with someone I could work together, but over 3 years of trying I had no success in recruiting them. It is pretty hard to take a first step though, without that extra kick from the circumstances I don’t think I’d end up doing this myself, so I can understand the hesitation. For streaming nomadic life is really beneficial though I’ll talk about it more, this topic deserves a separate post, maybe even multiple.
In terms of plans it’s going to be pretty simple for year 4 – Armenia and then returning home again, but also going to try to visit some conventions, at least TwitchCon in Germany. Will be hard with visas, but I feel like trying in 2027, because every year nowadays it feels like there are less and less opportunities for me to attend any. Visas becoming harder to obtain, financial situation getting worse, less people from the community/colleagues considering going and of course not getting younger/healthier too. Not gonna promise anything, because you never know nowadays how things will turn and situation with visas and travels can change overnight for owners of our beautiful passport.
Despite all the difficulties these 3 years did bring some life changing experiences and adventures that I will never forget. I did learn to appreciate what you have and especially your friends and family, because things can go South really fast and without you being able to control it.
Will be posting about my previous adventures and about the future ones more here, I do think there is a lot of useful information and insight that I can share about this nomadic life, especially for fellow content creators. Not to mention I’ll need to log some of the events while memory still stores it all in detail. First day of our travels was quite something actually, maybe something to log for the next anniversary post?