This picture captures the day after my best friends and I had a Christmas celebration and reunion after not seeing one another for around four months. This night was full of laughter, side quests, shenanigans, love, and being present with one another - and also about 0-3 hours of sleep depending on the person :p. These girls always make my life magical by instilling love and understanding into our relationships, and I am forever grateful for the memories we make together!

Breakdancing is magical. I was visiting Siracusa with my family. After a long and exhausting day of aimlessly walking around the city, we saw some people setting up instruments on the side of the street. A concert! When we came back after dinner, it turned out to be a breakdance tournament!!! In the streets, for free. Wowowow. Not only did they dance amazingly, but I could see the community was very tight. Everyone greeting everybody, all laughs and having fun. As an outsider, I was jealous and amazed. So much so that I forgot to take videos of the dancing. It was a little haven of community and love in a touristy town.

After my Vietnam e-Visa got delayed, Laos welcomed me through my last days in SEA. And this is how I wrote about my first encounter with Laos's atmosphere on my journal:

"Up in that temple, sat by the watch of a thousand golden budhas, the yellow glowing sunlight hit my face, fillinf me with warmth, strenght - vital energy. I closed my eyes and let the light shine on and through me. I let its heat invade my spirit.

Not so slowly, the sun took rest in its home beyond the mountains, coloring the sky orange, welcoming the darkness, blending its color. Purple.

Shimmering, glithering are the waters of the Mekong running north, strong but stable in its ever changing chemistry."

When I found a guy playing the guitar for his friends in the most beautiful sunset spot and talked to them for a while. He asked me what kind of songs I listen to (for him to play) and when I told him about the song my brother always plays - that always makes me feel at home - and he happened to know it completely + lyrics (see video)!!

Having friends around the world is one of the most amazing and also heartbreaking things. When I was flying back from South America, I had a layover in Madrid, which meant I was able to see one of my best friends for the first time in a few months. After solo travelling it genuinely feels so special to spend time with people who mean a lot to you. Beyond grateful I got to see my friend briefly, I feel recharged :)

This birthday feels different. Not bad, just different. There are no cards with hand written letters, no cakes made by your best friends, no surprise party, no shower, and again, sem o pai e a mãe. In Mae Sapok, in the mother of the ever turning river there was a cake, a chocolate cake with raspberry cullie, and brownies. There were coxinhas, and pastel and feijoada. I don't even like feijoada, but I ate it, I felt loved, I felt seen. There was tight hug, flooding you with love as a waterfall fills a creed with life. This birthday feels different. But there is something that I never felt without it: love.

After periods of budget food! The acai bowl, the fruit, the fresh! Happiness one bilion shared with Lauren during a three day food replenishment.