50. THE END – the great value

50. North America

THE END – THE GREAT VALUE

End of Journey: I feel incredibly happy and grateful for the opportunity to take this wondrous sabbatical year for ourselves. It was a chance to escape the everyday hustle, lose ourselves in the moment, and embrace the vastness of nature. Out in the open, there’s always enough room to roam. One of life’s great mysteries is that we never quite know what comes next—making every day a surprise. We wandered through blooming deserts, scaled towering peaks, stood beneath sandstone arches, watched tumbling waterfalls, marvelled at steaming geysers, and witnessed the raw power of calving glaciers. We crossed prairies that reminded me of Karl May’s novels and explored great plains teeming with untamed beauty. The best things in life are indeed free. I tend to avoid visiting the same place twice—not because it’s unworthy, but because there are still so many untapped destinations to discover. I believe the real magic of travel lies in experiencing a place for the first time—wide-eyed and without judgement—whether it’s the grandeur of the Grand Canyon or an unnamed peak reached by only a few. Over the years, I’ve become a bit spoiled when it comes to travel. I’m uncomfortable being a tourist—waiting in line to take the same photo as everyone else. I’d much rather earn breathtaking views with a long, demanding hike or a thrilling scramble. Souvenir T-shirts were never my thing, and nothing makes me cringe more than stumbling through a food order or paying for bottled water. I believe nature belongs to everyone. I prefer wild, free experiences—unless it’s a National Park, where access is thoughtfully preserved. Theo’s meticulous planning has also made me a bit of a travel snob—by his side, I never feel lost or unprepared. Sure, traveling has its tough moments—walking when your feet ache, trudging through scrub and thorns, climbing toward a summit that seems endlessly far, braving bad weather, washing in icy streams, cooking when you're already starving, or setting up your tent soaked in rain... But these challenges shape you. The places you’ve reached through your own effort are the ones that truly stay with you. Sometimes, after a particularly strenuous day, I’m completely fed up—but after a good night’s sleep, I’m amazed by how rewarding it all feels. I dislike zoos and domesticated animals. It’s far more thrilling to spot wildlife by accident—by surprise. Parking somewhere remote and taking a cold plunge in a wild river always feels like the truest adventure.

Live life to the fullest. Balance ambition with joy in the present moment. Travel with fewer expectations, and the world will surprise and reward you. Every corner we passed was breathtaking—but this journey was only a glimpse of the world’s vastness and its stunning beauty. And I must remind myself—this was only the beginning of an endless adventure. Our journey was packed with what some might call “great value”—not just in the literal, Walmart sense, but in a much deeper one. Just like their private label offers practicality and accessibility, this trip gave us immeasurable richness—an unbeatable return on the investment of time, effort, and curiosity. Life’s greatest value isn’t found in things. It’s in moments like these—moments that shape us, stretch us, and leave us forever changed. This, truly, was great value for the soul. I hope my adventures inspire you. May you feel awe in life—for all its myriad forms. Happy travels, forever.Baca lagi