Our #Vanlife Experience

We are often asked why we left Thailand after many years. Was it because of Covid? Because of the visa regulations? Or the need to be closer to family and friends? In the end it was probably everything and a big portion of desire for a new adventure, for the unknown.

But what did we want to experience? Where were we going? We didn't know that for sure four years ago. Our goal was to find a place that felt like a new home. So we packed our belongings into three suitcases, along with our faithful Thai street dog, our toddler and our newest addition to the family - a three-week-old baby - and started our journey in the middle of the pandemic. At first we lived here and there with family and friends. It was nice to spend so much time together and settle in familiar circles for a while. But we quickly realized that adventure was calling.

Then it started - our #vanlife began, in the caravan and in the middle of winter. It quickly became clear: off to the south - to Portugal - where the sun awaits! In fact, that was our first and without knowing it also our (for now) final goal.

Our journey was incredibly exciting. We met great people that we would never have met otherwise. Each of them tells their own story, inspired by their own path in life. We discovered places that are not marked on any map, experienced adventures together and a feeling of freedom remains in our memories. It is a time that bonded us as a family and in which we realized again how little it often takes to be happy.

Of course, RV life comes with its own challenges. This #vanlife often looks incredibly romantic on Instagram and calls for wanderlust and a desire to travel. But there are also some things that are rarely revealed to you:

The sun doesn't always shine!
It gets cozy in around 15 m² with two children and a dog.
Finding work in a caravan that fits into everyday life is an experience in itself.
Grandmas, grandpas or other childcare providers are not nearby at all times.

"While we continue to produce alternative clothing with virblatt, keeping our connection to Thailand and Nepal alive, we have now found our new home in Portugal. A journey has turned into a chapter of life."

Looking back, it is precisely these intense moments that we will never forget. The stories we will tell our children and grandchildren. The difficult decisions that ultimately worked out for the better. The unique people and stories we met along the way and the challenges we overcame together.