Gratitude and Farewell: Thank you, Australia, you've been everything I needed and more
A Journey Through Time 🕰️ Ending My Australian Chapter and Beginning a New Adventure
My last days in Australia are like an emotional rollercoaster - one moment I'm happy about all the incredible experiences of the past two years, and the next I'm already imagining the beaches in the Philippines. Sometimes I wonder if it's crazy to leave a place that has become home, but that's me - always looking for the next challenge, the new experience. So I sit, close my last suitcase, and try to process that this is it, my two years in Australia are over. Here are stories from my final moments here, as I summarize one period and open a new door.
📍 Melbourne, Australia | 01/01/2025
Year in Review
New Places, Amazing People, Wonderful Experiences, and Memories That Will Last Forever
I don't like goodbyes, but this time I'm parting with this year with the biggest smile I have.
What an amazing year I've had! I found myself traveling from one end of Australia to the other, like a treasure hunter in every new corner. From the golden beaches of the Sunshine Coast in the east, through the breathtaking sunsets of Darwin in the north, to the cool winds of Perth in the west.
I dove deep into the wild nature of Tasmania in Hobart, fell in love again with the vibrant streets of Sydney, and even ventured as far as the magical beaches of Fiji. Each place was a world of its own, with its own stories and unique charm.
But more than all these amazing places, the people I met this year changed me forever. I met special souls who touched my heart, people who lit my path when I didn't know where I was going. They gave me inspiration when I needed it, ignited a flame of passion and hope within me, and most importantly—helped me know myself better.
Every conversation, every random encounter, every connection formed was a life lesson. Some people enter our lives for just a moment, but leave an imprint forever. I'm grateful for each one of them, for every lesson they taught me, for every moment of insight they gave me. They are an integral part of my story, and my heart fills with love when I think of them.
This year was a breakthrough for me, the best year I've had in my life. And the truth? I'm so excited about 2025, because I know it will be even better.
This year I taught myself so many things. It's funny—I used to think I'd never take courses, because nothing interested me. And now, I find more and more fascinating subjects, and my curiosity only grows.
I'm a member of Facebook groups for all topics that interest me, diving into discussions, drawing new ideas, and mostly—learning. I know not everything written on social media is true, but inspiration? There's plenty here.
True, I'm giving up a "steady income" from work, but on the way to financial freedom, I'm discovering new and fascinating income streams—things I wish they had taught me in my youth. I've always been good with financial management, but only now, at 31, am I learning how to make my money work for me.
If someone had told me a year ago that I'd find myself sitting in front of the computer, excited about creating automations in Python, I would have laughed skeptically. But if they had told me I'd decide to leave Australia, leave behind the financial safety net, and chase after my wanderlust dream—I would have said: "Yes, that sounds exactly like me."
When I look back at my journey, I remember how a year ago I was in Queensland on a "honeymoon" with my then-partner, and two years ago I celebrated the new year at a festival in Tulum, Mexico.
I'm curious to know where I'll celebrate next year and how I'll summarize it. But until then, I'm full of motivation to make this year the best of all.
As I look ahead to the new year, I feel like I'm at the beginning of an adventure journey. The path won't always be simple or clear, but I have the most important tools—endless curiosity, courage to try new things, and belief in my ability to create the life I dream of.
I know that every lesson I learned this year, every challenge I overcame, and every moment of doubt that turned into insight—they were all part of the path to becoming the person I am today.
And now, feeling more ready than ever, I open a new page with a smile of confidence, knowing that every day is an opportunity to create something amazing, learn something new, and get one step closer to my dream.
I'm starting the new year at the peak of self-fulfillment, more connected to myself than ever, with complete faith in my path. Welcoming the new year with open arms, confident it will bring happiness and success—and that's all I need.
Welcome, 2025,
I'm sure we'll be good friends! 🎉
📍 Melbourne, Australia | 01/18/2025
It's Not You, It's Me – A Farewell Letter to Australia
When the Heart Wants to Stay but Dreams Call to Other Places, You Need to Know When to Say Thank You and Move On
So if not Australia, where to?
I sat and tried to formulate a plan, research what really interests me, and where I want to continue my journey.
The first thing that came to mind was, of course, New Zealand. "Because I'm already here," I thought, on this end of the globe. And New Zealand—the place where "The Lord of the Rings" was filmed, has been on my dream list for years. I'll start there, but just for a short visit.
It is interesting if in the future I'll come back to read this post, and laugh when I see I wrote: "just for a short visit."
There's so much to see and do there, but I understand that now, I'm embarking on a digital nomad journey for the first time in my life.
And like every beginning or advanced digital nomad, I'll first settle in affordable countries in Asia—places where the cost of living is low, and thus, even if I don't earn money at first, I can live off my savings. That's why I'm working so hard now.
Oh, right. That's why I'm working so hard. As if for a moment I forgot what my ultimate goal is. Maybe I need to remind myself more often.
Suddenly, I feel like I have a plan. And here, everything's okay. Here are the steps, here's how to execute them. Now I see the path paving itself and showing me where to walk.
The pink sunsets of the Philippines, the colorful markets of Vietnam, the white beaches of Sri Lanka—they're all waiting for me, and I'm waiting for them.
I see myself sitting in a small café, with a cup of local coffee in one hand and a laptop in the other, writing stories about the people I meet, the cultures I experience, and the inner journey I'm going through.
I'm filled with excitement for the unknown. I know there will be challenges and moments of loneliness and homesickness, but also moments of pure happiness, of complete freedom, of self-discovery.
This is my journey, and I'm ready to live every moment of it. To absorb every experience, and document everything in words that will stay with me forever.
So thank you, Australia. You've been wonderful in every way, but our paths are diverging now.
It's not you, it's me.
You were everything I needed, and much more. And this isn't really goodbye, because I'm sure we'll meet again in the future.
You were just a chapter in this story, an important and meaningful chapter. Now it's time to move on, to new chapters, new places, new adventures.
So thank you, Australia. Until next time.
I can already feel it - that mix of fear and excitement I always experience before a big change. It's exactly what happened when I left Israel, and then Mexico, and now Australia. There's a moment when I ask myself "Are you sure you want to leave?" and then immediately comes the clear answer - "Yes, damn it, you can always come back."
The journey isn't over, it's just changing direction. Maybe that's what really drives me - not just the new places, but the new versions of myself I discover in each place. In Australia, I was a bartender, a friend, a partner, a tourist, and sometimes just a confused woman sitting on the beach thinking about life. I wonder which Maya I'll meet in the Philippines or Vietnam. I can't wait to find out.
Your support helps me continue experiencing new worlds and sharing them with you through my words. Sometimes, a single cup of coffee can make a difference.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Who Am I? | The Journey Through Time | The Daily Journey