Lifestyles of the Wild and Free.

I'm on a little island in Malaysia currently and ventured into the bigger town on the island today in search of toilet paper, fried chicken, and muscle relaxers (don’t ask). I was successful at 2 out of 3 on the list and even stumbled upon some pastéis de nata- Portuguese egg tarts. Win!

Big fail on the way back though when the drive belt on my motorcycle snapped, scared the shit out of me, and left me stranded on the side of a jungle road. Not usually a big deal except there are monkeys, which can sometimes be vicious and thieving assholes. Plus it was 98 degrees with 85% humidity.

And I didn't have any water.

I shouldn't have worried. As always, the universe was on my side and quickly sent me a new friend, who drove me and my 12-pack of toilet paper right back to my apartment 20 minutes away and called my moto rental guy for me.

It’s times like these I'm so glad I get in the car with strangers!

One thing I have learned on this journey around the world is that people are inherently good. With the exception of a few hurt and damaged people with bad intentions, nearly every other human on this planet wants to help a person in need, regardless of their race, age, socio-economic status, or religious beliefs.

I’ve been helped constantly by random strangers, and always want to help when it's my turn.

I once slept in a dirt floor hut in a rural village in Vietnam at the border of China, when the locals found me lost on a dark road in the middle of nowhere and took me in. The tiny little old toothless lady shared her bed with me, fed me, and kept the fire stoked all night- the fire that was in a dug-out hole in the ground about 4 feet from where we slept.

She didn't even want the money I offered her when I was leaving in the morning.

As much as it seems that we are being divided as a society more and more when we look online, I don't feel that way at all when I’m out in the world. I connect easily with almost anyone, because I see the human in them that’s the same as the human in me, and I think they see the same.

If you look closely enough, we are all the same people.

Last month I celebrated the 9th anniversary of my Round The World trip. Ironically, I was here on this little island in Malaysia exactly 8 years ago, celebrating the first anniversary of walking away from an amazing life I had built but was no longer serving me.

I met a very close friend on that trip who I just talked to today; a British kid who’s nearly 10 years my junior and calls me Mom.

Life’s funny like that.

As I follow the calls of my soul and continue to float around this beautiful planet of ours, letting life unfold as it will, I am reminded that although there will always be sorrows and sadness and stress, there will also be joyous, enriching, and meaningful moments that make it all worth it.

I have made some of my best friends and chosen family on this venture, and I am forever grateful for each and every person I’ve met along the way.

Even the bad ones- I caught TWO different guys following me over the last couple of weeks- a foreigner and a local.

That’s another lesson I have learned on this journey- guys are pervs all over the world. You can’t escape them no matter how far you go!

But to be honest, dealing with it in a tropical paradise makes it slightly less annoying :)