Old man in the old hostel

This Linen Hostel is old enough that everything in the house seems have a long history. There also lives an old man. Well he is not that old but old enough to be called an old man. He told me that he stays in Ireland for six months in summer here then goes back to New Zealand when summer goes there. Thank goodness to the round globe that he can always has summer, well at least no need to go through winters. 

It seems he is quite lonely although I know nothing about him at all. He tries to approach me whenever I am in the hostel. It is true that I am traveling alone but it doesn't mean I need someone to talk to. I'd like to talk to some wise people, but definitely not to the one who just need someone to talk to. 

I remember I had strong urges to talk to someone a few years ago. With years went by, apparently I have become quieter. The need to get someone to share my life gets weaker somehow. I wonder if I would be in the condition like this old man when I am in his age though-desperately needed someone to talk to. 

Perhaps I don't need to worry about this issue as I might die a lot earlier. Anyhow, he reminds me that one should really develop one's personal interests and keep it up forever. We cannot always get someone when we are in need but we always find something we need. In my own case, a book, or a pen with a piece of paper I can leave the whole world alone. 

Belfast

I am staying in this Linen hostel, in Belfast now. It has been a few days already. I will be here until 28th when my flight leaves for Paris. Today is Sunday, everywhere is dead quiet, especially in the morning. This is a busy hostel people never stop coming in and out, but I can still find a quiet corner to do my work.

Organizing my stuff, my schedule, and my mind. I have to make sure I am always in one piece, knowing what I am doing all the time as no one will check for me.

Belfast is not a big city although it claims it has over a million population. Despite the hostel staff said that nobody go there on foot, I went to the Belfast Castle without taking any transportation yesterday. It took me about one hour to go up to the hill. Scenes in Ireland have disappointed me for so many times, so did the Belfast Castle, it's not surprisingly great but reasonably nice. It's okay. Tomorrow, I plan to see the Giant's Causeway. I came all the way to see the Giant's Causeway actually. Some said it's not that big so some people are disappointed when they see it. I always have an urge to reach the sea and standing at the edge of it. I just hope that I can stand on those giant hexagons and breath the sea wind tomorrow.  

Guinness

I am probably drinking my last can of Guinness in the spire hostel tonight. How does it taste? Well to me, all beers are similar, they share one common favour that's bitter. Whether like it? I would say, it's okay, not a bad drink. 

I have decided to go up to Belfast tomorrow for a change. Perhaps I need to walk out Republic of Ireland and look back to it and see if I should stay here for a few months or a year. 

These few days I struggle a lot due to the issue. I don't have an definite answer for my future. My intuition stopped working somehow. 

On the other hand though, those strangers talking me on the messenger drag my emotions even further. I feel like I am not in one piece sometimes. 

Nevertheless I know that staying at the same place and thinking the same issue wouldn't help. I need to get out from here at least for a while. 

Check yourself before you die

Check yourself before you die


1.I followed my heart and intuition.


This is your life, and it’s a short one. Don’t accept false choices. Don’t let others put a cage around you. Try what you want to try. Go where you want to go. Follow your own intuition.


2.I said what I needed to say.


You must say what you need to say when you need to say it. It may be your only chance to do so. Don’t censor yourself. Speak the truth. Your truth.

3.I did what I needed to do.


The greatest gift extraordinarily successful people have over average people is their ability to get themselves to take action – to physically do something about getting from where they are now to where they want to be. And no, it won’t be easy. But in the end, suffering from the pain of discipline while you do what you need to do is a whole lot easier than suffering from the regret and disappointment of never fulfilling any of your dreams.


4.I made a difference.


In life, you get what you put in. When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. Do something that’s greater than you – something that helps someone else to be happy or to suffer less. Doing something nice for someone can change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world.

5. I know what true love is.

Relationships must be chosen wisely. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason.


Love is beautiful and unpredictable. The best thing you can do is to start to become the most outstanding person possible. The universe will know when you are ready, and when you are, true love will happen, unexpectedly.


6. I am happy and grateful.

Very little is needed to create happiness. It is all within you, in your way of thinking.


A big part of this is simply being grateful for what you have. Look around. Appreciate the things you have right now. Many people aren’t so lucky.

7.I am proud of myself.


You are your own best friend and your own biggest critic. Being proud of yourself is also known as having strong self-esteem. Being proud isn’t bragging about how great you are. It’s more like quietly knowing that you’re worth a lot. Acknowledge your positive qualities, and when you come across a quality in yourself that you aren’t proud of, don’t sulk in your sorrows, proactively work on correcting it.


8.I became the best version of me.


Remember, at any given moment, you are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself. You are competing to be the best you can be.

9.I forgave those who hurt me.


Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.

10. I have no regrets.

Follow your heart. Be true to yourself. Do what you need to do fulfill your dreams. Say what you need to say. Be kind to others. Offer a helping hand when you’re able. Love those who deserve to be loved, and cherish the bond you share. Appreciate all the things you do have. Smile. Celebrate your small victories. Learn from your mistakes. Forgive. And let go of the things you can’t change.

Stockholm

The journey from the airport to the Stockholm city centre takes one and a half hour. It is probably the longest journey between airport and city centre I have ever took. It feels like I an travelling from one country to another. While most people are either taking naps or playing their handsets, I take the chance to write something down. 

"We all in the dance" is my favourite song   these days which I downloaded accidentally from an app. My ears have been plugged on for the whole day today that I feel a little bit sore. But I am still listening to the music now. 

In Stockholm I will be surfing in a guy's apartment who lives in the university. This is my second time surfing in somebody's couch. Last time was in Bratislava, Slovakia in Brano's apartment. Couch surfing is definitely a great idea. It opens opportunity to many things. The surfer can get a free staying while meeting someone from the local. The host can also get to know some from another side of the world from their homes. There is a chance and there is risk of course. It is always like that. I hope this would be a nice staying.  

These days I hope more and get more positive. 

Rainy night in Tallinn

It's a rainy night in Tallinn. Pub crawlers become TV addicts, the common room is therefore full of people. The program showing now doesn't seem to be a good one, people are watching just because it's still not the time to bed. 

I felt very tired yesterday due to overnight bus from st. Petersburg the night before. Even now I am not fully recovered. My body is telling me that I am not young anymore that I should avoid any long distance overnight journey. 

St. Petersburg is huge and it's totally different from its nearby cities like Tallinn or Riga. With population more than five millions and the gateway to the Baltic Sea, it's a very busy city especially in summer time. People walk in fast pace like those in HK, many buildings are under construction or renovation, you can spot tourists in every street, in short, this is a fast moving metropolis. Having read some history about Peter the I in advance I learned its gonna be a big city but never expected it is in that size. This is also the only city that I like to have my ears plugged with music when I am walking in the street. 

I will be staying in Tallinn for 3 more days. During the time I will have a trip to Helsinki by ferry which I will have to arrange it by tomorrow.

Many things need to be arranged but the most important thing is to let my old body having a rest!

Crossing Russian boarder

At 14:40 local time, the bus stopped its engine at the boarder between Estonia and Russia. Our passports are taken to be stamped or more seriously, checked. everybody is waiting, waiting to move on in their own mood. 

This is the 2nd time I have my passport checked. The last time was before entering dresden, Germany. That was pretty fast and easy. This time I think we have to wait for quite awhile. 

It seems the bus is full of Russians, I couldn't tell where they come from originally by appearance, but at least i know that they speak Russian, including the driver. Throughout the journey so far, not a word in English is heard. I am a bit worry if Russians speak English? The owner of the hostel in Tallinn has already warned me that Russians don't speak much English. I could be in trouble. 

Nevertheless, i couldn't not miss the unesco list of St Petersburg especially when it's only 8 hours away from Tallinn. 

I don't know what sort of people are on the bus, but they seems all quite serious. Not much smile at all. I can sort of feel the tension between the east and the west if I put myself into the Cold War time. 

On the bus

Overnight bus is tiring, day time bus is boring, flight is expensive ..... Too much complaint I know. I am totally bored on this 4-hour journey from Vilnius to Riga today. Despite my poor sleep last night, I have no invention for a nap. The man sits next to me looks young and kind of professional but I reckon he doesn't speak much English. The rest of passengers are mostly old people. The whole bus is so dull and dead. 

Looking out my window, Europe is still very green despite rapid modern development after Soviet retreat in 1989. Fresh air is still available even in the city centres. Lives here wouldn't be very interesting but would be a health one. 

Today is quite cloudy and the clouds are floating in the rather low sky that makes you feel like you can almost touch them. Believe or not, I am quite sure the sky in Europe is lower than most places in the world. 

Somehow I am not quite sure why I am on the way to Riga now. I know nothing about this place and nothing there would seem interest me. But I cannot stop here and go back. And go back to where? Perpetual travelling seems the only way can go. The only way!? If there is a way!?