Two weeks ago, I started telling you the story of how I celebrated my birthday around the world during 3 amazing months. Here is what happened after I left Montreal and Canada!
From North America To Asia
Continuing To Celebrate My Birthday Around The World
After Montreal, came Tokyo! I had already visited the city a few years before, but I simply love it so much that I wanted to go back. And my excuse to do so was named Miho. I met Miho on the plane and we quickly became friends. She guided me to some incredible local restaurants and bars. My experience in Tokyo would definitely not have been the same without her! Have you ever seen someone cut a fish with chopsticks? I have. Miho did.
On that second stay in Japan, I spent a few days in Tokyo. Miho and I went to discover the extraordinary teamlab Borderless exhibition, and I highly recommend going. Even their website is cool!
She also organized a dinner at her place with friends, some of them playing music. At the end, she brought a cake for me to blow the candles and I got a bit emotional. So many wonderful people!
A Month To Discover Thailand And Meet New Friends
Originally, I was supposed to meet one of my Australian friends in Thailand. She loves it and told me it was amazing. At the last moment, she couldn’t come because she got a new job and she couldn’t take days off. But I had planned to see all these wonderful things… So I went by myself to discover the country for a whole month.
A month is a lot, but at the same time, it’s not that long. Thailand is a beautiful country and each city has its own personality. Bangkok is so different from Chiang Mai and so different again from Ayutthaya… I am very lucky that I had the opportunity to see a lot of places.
In Chiang Mai, I met some new friends and, together, we celebrated the lantern festival and made floating baskets to drop in the river. It was truly incredible!
Everything was happening so fast and I lived so many crazy moments in Thailand that I forgot about the birthday cake and only blew the candles on the last days in my hostel, on my own. But that meant that I could eat the whole thing, haha!
A Stop In Sydney To Celebrate My Birthday With Friends
I didn’t spend much time in Australia. I’d love to go back to visit some more of this giant country, but then, that was not the point. I have a few friends who live in Australia, and they all happen to live in one city: Sydney. So that’s why my Australian stop was so short.
I spent most of my time with Melissa whom I had met during a previous trip to Australia, when she was herself a tourist in Melbourne. We saw fireworks, carnivorous plants and cocktails on fire! She was the highlight of my stay.
Despite very busy schedules, Rajit and Amy also took some time to meet me and share a meal with me. Both of them were friends from my time as a London resident.
Using My Birthday Around The World As An Excuse To Visit India
During a trip to Croatia, I met Ekta, who invited me to her home in Mumbai. That was the perfect opportunity to visit India!
I couldn’t go to India without seeing the Taj Mahal, my brain couldn’t accept it, so I booked a tour. Before going to Mumbai, I spent about a week in the Northern part of India with a driver and three guides. I visited Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
After fully embracing my status as a tourist in India in these 3 cities, I felt a bit more like a local in Mumbai. On my first evening, Ekta guided me in the night markets to eat delicious street food. She was working during the day, so I would explore Mumbai and its surroundings by myself before meeting her again in the evening.
And that’s where I ate the last cake of my birthday around the world!
So, Is It A Good Idea To Celebrate Your Birthday Around The World?
Of course it is! But maybe, I would recommend less countries or more time. When I landed in Paris that cold day of December, I was exhausted!
Even if it’s not your birthday, it’s always a good idea to visit a country with a local. You experience it differently and learn more about different cultures and about yourself.
