A new chapter? Or maybe a whole new book?

It’s been a while since I last checked in. I've been busy. But yes: I’m still alive! Still in Spain, though I’ve made a few trips back and forth to Portugal lately - specifically to the place where I lost my heart to the ... Gilão River… let’s put it that way. 😉

At the beginning of March, I felt the weather shifting. Not just a regular rainy day, but a full-blown storm was on its way, expected to last an entire week. Wind, rain, grey skies… I felt it in every fiber of my being: I had to escape. That’s just who I am. Freedom, to me, means truly being able to go where I want, whenever I want.

So on February 28, I asked ChatGPT where in Europe the sun was shining at that moment. Within a minute, I had a list. One place stood out. Not even thirty minutes later, my plane ticket and Airbnb were booked. Three days later, just before midnight, I landed on the island. Malta. A country in itself, basking in sunlight and adventure - though I didn’t know the adventure part just yet.

A bus took me to Ta'Xbiex, and along the way I suddenly remembered: they drive on the left side of the road in Malta. Good to know - especially since I sometimes cross streets like a wild animal roaming free. Always looking both ways, of course, but still...

Malta truly surprised me. Not just with the sunshine, but also with unexpected encounters. A Facebook friend - someone I’d been connected with for a year and a half, but never spoken to - turned out to live there. He saw my first story about Malta and reached out right away. That same evening, he gave me a little tour of the island by car - and even rescued me from the chaos of Carnival (a story that definitely deserves a few chapters in a future book!).

Speaking of books: I’m currently working on my third True Travel Story. This one is especially dear to my heart, about my very first holiday in Portugal two years ago. I can already tell - it’s going to be a gem. The first two books are doing fairly well, and reviews are slowly starting to come in - thank you for that!

Still… my website isn’t doing so great. Very few likes, barely any support. It’s making me reconsider things. I’m thinking about taking the site offline soon. I’ll still be around on social media, so you can follow me there. If I do decide to pull the plug, I’ll announce it in one final blog post.

Why? Something has come my way - something that promises to be very beneficial for my spiritual growth. I can’t say more just yet, except that I might be offline for the next 8 months. What I can share is that I recently completed a two-week spiritual course by Sadhguru, a wise teacher I’ve been following for years. His insights - especially on why we shouldn’t eat meat - were incredibly eye-opening.

Then came early April, which brought a beautiful week. A friend from Gran Canaria came to visit. Flight and rental car for three days - for under 100 euros. I gave him my bed and slept on the couch myself - technically a sofa bed, but not the most comfortable. Still, it didn't matter to me, it was just for a few days.

On day two, we drove to my favorite village in the Algarve. And there, after nearly two years, I saw my Indian friend again. It was such a beautiful day. My heart literally felt 10% bigger in my chest.

After all that magic, I retreated back into calm for a while. But not for long - I hitched a ride back to Tavira one more time, all the way to the boat. Another funny story, but I’ll save that one for the book.

For now, I’ll sign off - along with my time here in Andalusia. Tomorrow I cross the border again, over the river that separates Ayamonte and Vila Real de Santo António. Wish me luck, because there’s something for me to take care of in Portugal.

You're welcome to follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/solotravelwithkim/ or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kim.debeuckelaer.1 . Also if you're interested in my diverse unique crazy adventures, check out my True Travel Tales in English or Dutch at https://stan.store/solotravelwithkim Until next time - maybe the last? Photo: Punta Umbría, april 2025