Restless…

I’m feeling restless at the moment. I can’t help wondering why I always want to be somewhere else. When living in Sydney all I wanted to do was move to Asia. Towards the end of my time living in Phnom Penh, I couldn’t wait to move on to bigger, brighter Saigon. Once in Saigon, memories of Phnom Penh wouldn’t stop resurfacing and everything here seemed not quite as great (at first – these thoughts eventually went away, replaced with the occasional bout of Cambodia nostalgia). Thoughts of Sydney also emerge now and then – would life be better back at ‘home’? And what about other places? My Bangkok obsession has never really subsided and I often wonder if we should live there next instead of returning to Oz. And I just know that when the day comes (which is yet to be determined) when we move back to Sydney, I’ll be pining for Asia and comparing everything and wishing I was still there. And complaining how expensive everything is! Maybe this is the eternal dilemma of all those who venture outside their comfort zones to live in new places, and fall in and out of love with places along the way. For now – I’m physically settled in Saigon, but my mind refuses to stay put.

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15 Responses

  1. Vivian August 27, 2009 / 2:37 pm

    You described exactly how I’m feeling. When I was in Seoul, all I could think about was Montreal. Then I came back, and got bored right away. Now all I can think of is jetting back to Asia, but I KNOW that when/if I go back, I’ll miss Montreal, or want to live in a different city. Why, why?? I really need to work on appreciating the place I’m living in, at the present… otherwise we get too disappointed, no? I know how you feel…. but I think it’s normal for us wanderlust-ers… πŸ™‚

  2. Fly Girl August 27, 2009 / 3:04 pm

    Sounds like a classic case of wanderlust to me. A traveling spirit can never be content in the same place for long. Just live in the moment and relish all of your Viet Nam experiences knowing that they will only be memories soon.

  3. ana August 28, 2009 / 7:50 am

    I really understand, there is something about Asia that can’t compare with anything else. I have never lived there, but traveled around for months, again and again, and there really is something about Asia that always will be in my heart and I miss it all the time. Especially Siem Reap…. the smell, people, food, nature, sounds… everything. I admire and think you are so lucky that have the opportunity to live there, moving around and really get to know the culture typical for each of the countries.

  4. Xander August 28, 2009 / 2:44 pm

    Eek, I know exactly the feeling you describe. Must be commmon to all of our type… back in 2005, when I was last living in the US, I felt so depressed about my tranquil and settled life. When I lived in Asia, I felt like I really missed living in a ‘Western city’ after awhile. Now that I’m settled in South Africa, I’m constantly missing both the US and Asia! It’s awful sometimes, really… -X

  5. Bali Beach Bunny August 29, 2009 / 10:54 pm

    the grass is always greener
    i’ve felt that so many times
    although i’m being pretty good this time, probably because its all new and i’m still traveling a lot. also think that spending the holidays you’ve got in new places rather than the old homesteads diffuses the pangs. turns you on to new places.
    having said that, if i see or hear mention of paris i literally melt and wander off down its streets for about five minutes. that’s definitely a place that no matter what paradise i’m in, i will never be able to shirk.

  6. backpackingteacher August 31, 2009 / 1:21 pm

    Great post Liz, it encapsulates nicely that feeling I think we all have. I guess it’s the price for living lives as interesting and varied as we do. We’ll never quite be satisfied again by one place, especially a familiar one.

    By the way… nice article on the Saigon bloggers. Sorry I never got back to you on that but I was traipsing through Spain at the time. It was good to see some of my fav Saigon bloggers get a plug.

  7. Lisa September 1, 2009 / 3:56 am

    Yep. Happens to me all the time. I think travelers have this feeling of restlessness inside of them that never really dies.

    I, for one, always feel homesick, even when I’m “home”. I feel that there is a little bit of home everywhere I have ever been, and every other day I miss one place or another. Does that make sense?

  8. Baron's Life September 1, 2009 / 4:04 am

    Been there, felt that way I fully understand how you feel

  9. princesszhing September 1, 2009 / 11:35 am

    hi! πŸ™‚ just popping by to say thank you! i recently moved to phnom penh with my husband and found your blog! your recommendations are great and i’ve yet to explore all, but thank you so much!!

    i know exactly how you feel, i feel the same way too, a little displaced and yet still looking forward to our next continent! πŸ™‚ hope you settle in soon! cant wait to read more about your adventures!

    best,
    zhing

  10. Cascabel September 1, 2009 / 9:03 pm

    I go through those stages, too. I find that obsessively planning a trip (even a trip that is far off in the future) helps calm my wandering soul. In fact, I stumbled upon your excellent blog when preparing for a way-off trip to Vietnam…

    uptownlowdown.blogspot.com

  11. Karachi Hotel September 8, 2009 / 9:38 am

    Yes,Definitely guess that movement of life and i know that exactly how you feel,Traveling is a very good habit so for.

  12. Niamh Griffin September 28, 2009 / 9:40 pm

    So true. For me it’s because I pour so much into a place while trying to setle in there that even when I’m ready to move on, a part of my self just stays back there.
    Tough tough decision between BKK and Sydney – I’ve lived in both and had such totally different experiences but loved both:) It’s great to have that kind of dilemma though …

  13. Viet October 20, 2009 / 11:26 pm

    just like life, what counted is the journey not the destination because when you’ve reached there, you’re already in the box πŸ™‚

  14. Rizwan Ali October 18, 2011 / 3:47 pm

    I can understand that how do you feel because once you make your plan for your holidays then you feeling are automatically change and when you have a nice holidays then structure is totally change keep it up.
    pegasos world

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