150 Days Until the Next Chapter Begins

Robert Lindh
7 days ago
3 min read

150 Days - July 31

It’s 150 days until I board a plane and begin the biggest journey of my life.

Then for the next five months, I’ll travel through South Africa, Qatar, Thailand, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Turkey, and maybe a few more while also living 2+ months in Vietnam,. Some places I’ve dreamed about for years. Some will be a second or third visit, giving me the chance to experience them more deeply and see how they’ve changed. Others I know almost nothing about.

That’s exactly the point.

This isn’t a race to check countries off a list.

It isn’t about collecting passport stamps.

It’s about understanding the world more deeply—and understanding myself through travel and the experience of living abroad.

🏔️ Chamonix, France - Standing above the French Alps, it's impossible not to be reminded how small we are—and how much of the world still waits to be explored. Moments like this are why I travel: to gain perspective that simply isn't possible from home. — 🏔️ **Chamonix, France** - Standing above the French Alps, it's impossible not to be reminded how small we are—and how much of the world still waits to be explored. Moments like this are why I travel: to gain perspective that simply isn't possible from home.

I’ve always believed travel is one of the best ways to challenge assumptions, to stand where history happened, to share a meal with someone whose life looks nothing like your own, and to realize that the world is both far larger and far more connected than we often imagine.

That’s why I created Beyond the Return Ticket.

The name reflects something I’ve realized after traveling to more than 30 countries: the return ticket has never really marked the end of a journey. It’s only marked the end of that particular trip. Every place I’ve visited has changed how I think, how I see other people, and even how I define home.

But there’s one experience I’ve never truly given myself.

To live overseas.

🏛️ Luxor, Egypt - History has always been one of the greatest reasons I travel. Standing among temples that have endured for thousands of years reminds me that every destination has a story—and understanding those stories is just as rewarding as seeing the landmarks themselves. — 🏛️ **Luxor, Egypt** - History has always been one of the greatest reasons I travel. Standing among temples that have endured for thousands of years reminds me that every destination has a story—and understanding those stories is just as rewarding as seeing the landmarks themselves.

For more than two months, Vietnam will become more than a destination—it will become an experiment. I want to know whether my intuition is right. Could I genuinely build a life abroad? Would another country feel like home, or even more like home? Or will I discover that what I love most is the act of visiting, learning, and then returning?

I don’t know the answer yet.

That’s what lies beyond this return ticket.

🌊 Iguazú Falls, Argentina & Brazil - Some places are almost impossible to describe until you're standing there yourself. The sheer power of Iguazú Falls is a reminder that the world's greatest experiences aren't measured in photographs or passport stamps—they're measured in the sense of awe they leave behind. Moments like this are why I continue to travel. — **🌊 Iguazú Falls, Argentina & Brazil** - Some places are almost impossible to describe until you're standing there yourself. The sheer power of Iguazú Falls is a reminder that the world's greatest experiences aren't measured in photographs or passport stamps—they're measured in the sense of awe they leave behind. Moments like this are why I continue to travel.

Over the next 150 days, I’ll share exactly how I’m preparing: building detailed itineraries, diving into history and culture, finding incredible local restaurants, choosing hotels, testing travel gear, and creating destination guides designed to help myself but also others travel with more curiosity, confidence, and intention.

Then, on departure day, this site becomes something different.

It stops being about preparation and starts becoming a journal of the journey itself.

If you’re here from the very beginning, thank you.

If you’re finding this somewhere along the way, welcome.

Whether you’re planning your own adventure, dreaming about one, or simply curious about the world, I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

🗼 Paris, France - Every journey begins with curiosity. Whether it's a first visit or a return to a familiar city, I believe every destination has something new to teach us—if we're willing to slow down and pay attention.

Where would you go if you had five months to explore the world?

I'd love to hear your answer in the comments. And if you'd like to follow this journey from day one through my departure and beyond, subscribe to the newsletter and join me as the next chapter unfolds.

The countdown has officially begun.

150 days.

Here’s to curiosity.

Here’s to uncertainty.

Here’s to discovering what waits for me beyond this return ticket.

150 Days Until the Next Chapter Begins

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