# Well deserved vacation! By [GingerKingB.eth🦇🔊](https://paragraph.com/@gingerkingb) · 2023-08-20 --- The start of **June** was still **grind season in Spain**: **studying** 10+ hours daily combined with **marathon preparations.** It was amazing! I enjoyed every single second of it even though it was tough to get up early and stay motivated from time to time. But in the end, it was **discipline and routine** that dragged me through. As a **reward for my hard work,** I booked a **skydiving** jump on the last day of my stay there. An amazing experience! ![Posing with my skydiving instructor after our jump in Algarve, Portugal](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/30c2ac82aa9894316443d61a3d5f7509915e2a02a4da5f99ed5da2a7c0c420f8.jpg) Posing with my skydiving instructor after our jump in Algarve, Portugal Back in **Belgium**, I had to present and defend the **Blockchain Project** I had been working on for the past month. The **presentation** in the morning went smoothly, which gave me even more motivation for **my first marathon** in the afternoon. It was extremely hot that day and thus I decided to run on heart rate rather than on pace. The parkour was very calm and there were less than 100 participants. The result: running solo the whole time. But I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way! **Enjoying the suffering** all on my own. My parents and brother were biking around and supplied me with water every 2–3 kilometers and more importantly a boost in motivation. I finished in **3 hours and 26 minutes**. Happy, but not completely satisfied. I still had some energy left after the race, so that is promising for my next marathon! ![Happy and satisfied behind the finish line of my first marathon in Maasdijk, The Netherlands](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/1420d2452f08468fc7a2e3731fe238b19c70587960c6963e553d114368d06d0b.jpg) Happy and satisfied behind the finish line of my first marathon in Maasdijk, The Netherlands The next week was filled with **job interviews** from various companies, of which one lasted 6 hours long. Luckily I had studied a little bit for this one since it was **pretty technical** as well. I pushed all my interviews in this week because I won’t be home until the end of September. The **last week of June**, vacation started. First up in the running: **a road trip** with my girlfriend **through Luxembourg.** This one really surprised me beyond my expectations. We slept in the trunk of the car or wild camped along the way in some very beautiful locations. During our trip we **canoed**, **hiked** the **Müllerthal Trail**, visited a **castle** and chilled at various **lakes** and rivers. What truly amazed me was how calm and not (yet) touristic everything here was. On some occasions, we were the only people there with no one around. **The whole world seemed ours**. ![A small pathway through the rocks on the Mullerthal Trail in Luxembourg](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/5edd993f6e1b58583dd2589428c6b6a1a6abb7b9ccb734dbf10a29828c56cb77.jpg) A small pathway through the rocks on the Mullerthal Trail in Luxembourg After the road trip, I went straight to the **“Rampage Open Air” festival** with some of my friends. It was my first time there and I loved it with every cell in my body. Loud **drum and bass music** mixed up with **amazing friends** and some magical festival vibes. My body was overwhelmed with feelings as if I experienced the satisfaction from all the hard work over the past year in one single moment in time. **My brain rewarded my body for all the effort** I had put into myself. It felt like a **reality check** that I am indeed on a trajectory to living the life I thrive to achieve. And I am **enjoying every** **second** of the path along the way as well. ![Posing with friends at Rampage Open Air festival in Lommel, Belgium](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/e9fdb2a1e3cbfce6a66242e2aabae914864ed1fe9e880382aedb645fdf3713b0.jpg) Posing with friends at Rampage Open Air festival in Lommel, Belgium There was **no time** to come **home** and relax since I had to pack my bag again for **4 weeks of traveling** through **Montenegro, Albania & Greece**. The first 3 weeks were with my Scouting group. This was my final year and final camp, and I’m extremely happy that I got the chance to go abroad to **finish off my scouting career.** We traveled by public transport which in itself was already a challenge in these countries, let alone in a **group of 13** people. We started off with some bad luck: the luggage of 2 people was lost. But we didn’t let this ruïn our mood, and 3 days later they were delivered. We wandered through the — often untouched — nature and **hiked over the Albanian Alps** from Montenegro to Albania. Along the way, we encountered various lakes, glaciers and extraordinary viewpoints. For most, this was their first time hiking in the mountains, which also meant that they had to discover the boundaries of their own bodies. The group atmosphere was encouraging and in the end, nobody complained and most **pushed** their **limits beyond their own expectations**. After the heavy work, it was time to relax in Albania. We traveled through Skhöder, Tirana and Berat and checked out the area. The land is filled with beaches at lakes, rivers and the Adriatic Sea. **The nature is truly amazing** and the **cities** are clearly **developing** towards a **more touristic future**, but the crowd is not there yet. The **locals** are super **friendly and welcoming** and they break the stereotype that characterizes the Balkan region (as a Western European). ![View over the Albanian Alps on top of Rosni Peak on the border of Montenegro and Albania](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d98cbad325520acdfd6cb44294d4839131e3f451a070fbf5e3842598d68acada.jpg) View over the Albanian Alps on top of Rosni Peak on the border of Montenegro and Albania After 3 weeks my **girlfriend came over**. She joined the group for some days and then we continued our vacation when the others left for Belgium. We headed south towards **Sarande,** Albania, at the border with Greece. Suddenly the streets were crowded and it **felt like being in another country**. Overcrowded beaches filled with tourists and street shops on every corner. But once you go 5 km further everything goes radio silent again. **Empty beaches with hidden bars** and a handful of people. Truly amazing. We were headed towards Corfu, but forest fires broke out and were visible from our shore. Instead, we went to **Igoumenitsa, N**orthern Greece, until the fire was under control. Our campsite was ON the beach. We even stumbled upon a **holiday** in a small village with a parade and **fireworks**. After a couple of days, we finally headed for **Corfu** and got a taste of this amazing island as well. We **rented a boat** to discover even more beaches, wandered around in the cities and **talked for hours and hours**. We spent every second we were there, together. ![With my girlfriend on our rented boat with see-through waters on the coast of Palaiokastritsa, Greece](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/ba11872755ecfe026aa51fe33bdfbb498ac705b079abdf46c668bc0a78c8c905.jpg) With my girlfriend on our rented boat with see-through waters on the coast of Palaiokastritsa, Greece You can read my traveling journal for a more in-depth story including lots of pictures and video’s on my Polarsteps: [**https://www.polarsteps.com/GingerKingB**](https://www.polarsteps.com/GingerKingB) **Brain Activity** ================== During these weeks I have analyzed and thought about a lot of things. So I will **share some of my thought processes** as well. The most prominently present thought: As a Western European, maybe even more as a Belgian, I am so **extremely blessed with the chances** and possibilities I currently have **in my life**. None of this would’ve been possible if I were born somewhere else or if I hadn’t have got the support from my parents as I do. This doesn’t mean that I don’t try my very best and have not put in the effort to get me in life where I am today. But **so many other people never** even got close to **having these chances**. Or they do need to put in **10x the work (for less)**. I talked with multiple locals and every time I felt like I did not deserve to have these privileges. **What makes me worth more than them to be in this position?** Something else I noticed over time: **I NEED to talk with strangers**. Like, it is a basic **daily necessity**. My day will be good but never complete if I don’t. Everywhere I go I feel the urge to have (deeper meaningful) conversations with people I don’t know, nor will ever know. I always presume **everyone has good intentions.** Thus if people initiate or respond to a stimulus for interaction, they most probably have good and honest intentions. It impulses compassion and empathy in me. In every one of those conversations I’ve had in my life, I have learned something new: advice, insight into another culture, recommendations for activities, … The longer I was on vacation, the more I felt the urge to have these encounters. **It** **broadens my understanding of human interactions and leads to unpredictable experiences.** ![Happy faces after a game of pétanque for which this kind man invited me in Weiswampach, Luxembourg](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d12004ba157a9038023c78b96e4461914be5d85056a80d4df0c4c787f853d473.jpg) Happy faces after a game of pétanque for which this kind man invited me in Weiswampach, Luxembourg Over this period **I haven’t had** one free day for **me-time**. And the older I become the more I realize how **important** that is **for personal development and growth.** But I was able to asses this in advance and prepared my mind and body beforehand. I knew what was coming and had written down all the necessary things in my diary. But moreover, **I was able to coördinate** most of the **thought processes and analysis of my surroundings** during the action. I was able to split up the “problems” into subcategories to either “tackle now” or “I need more time for this, schedule a moment, continue the day worry-free”. I am becoming more and more in control over my mind and body and **my mindset is growing stronger by the day.** After all this “relaxing” it is time to make moves again. The journey continues! Greetings, GingerKingB [**https://linktr.ee/GingerKingB**](https://linktr.ee/GingerKingB) --- *Originally published on [GingerKingB.eth🦇🔊](https://paragraph.com/@gingerkingb/well-deserved-vacation)*