The Other Side of the World
A six-month journey of discovery across continents, sleeping under the Southern Cross. It began in London, but took me to Beijing across the Great Wall of China, to Hong Kong, to Kuala Lumpur, to the entire east coast of Australia, and a long journey across both islands in New Zealand. I settled down after this and lived in New Zealand for many months.
Setting Out
In 2010, at the age of 29, I packed my life into a single backpack and set out on a six-month journey across the globe. It was a time of immense freedom and terrifying uncertainty. I flew to London to visit my sister, stayed a bit to repack, then took flight to Beijing for a week of exploration. I climbed the Great Wall, wandered through famous parks and temples, soaking in the ancient history. From Beijing, I took a night train to Hong Kong—a journey that gave me time to reflect on the enormity of what I’d already experienced.
After Hong Kong, I flew to Kuala Lumpur for a few days, visiting temples and local sights. Then came the moment I’d been most looking forward to: flying to Auckland where I met up with my friend Victor from Sweden. Together, we boarded a Kiwi bus and traveled the length of New Zealand’s islands for many weeks—the landscapes, the people, the adventure itself was transformative.
Down Under
After those weeks across New Zealand with Victor, I flew to Australia to continue the adventure solo. I traveled the east coast for several weeks, exploring the diverse landscapes and coastal towns. The heat, the vast open spaces, and the incredible wildlife were a stark contrast to everything I knew back home. I finished my Australian leg with a few weeks in Darwin, embracing the raw, remote nature of it all.
Then I returned to New Zealand, settling in Wellington for the remainder of my journey. I lived alone in the quiet suburb of Whitby, worked odd jobs to sustain the adventure, and celebrated my birthday there. Nights were spent staring up at the Southern Cross, feeling simultaneously on top of the world and contemplating the weight of being so far from home.
The Other Side
There is a profound, deeply philosophical moment that hits you when you realize you are quite literally standing on the other side of the planet. Everything you know, everyone you love, is thousands of miles away. It gives you a new perspective on distance, connection, and yourself.
Eventually, the journey took me through Auckland and back home to Sweden. The trip changed me in ways I am still unpacking today. Six months, endless memories, and a realization that the world is both impossibly large and intimately small.
Blog
During the entire trip I wrote a detailed blog, in Swedish. Do check it out, it also covered the work and planning before the trips, as well as some after I got back.