North-East Solo Travel

EP 10. The Destined Return: Reconnecting with Myself on a 26-Hour Bus Journey

EP 10. The Destined Return: Reconnecting with Myself on a 26-Hour Bus Journey

Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia

A sudden flight cancellation pushed my journey onto an unplanned course. After a last-minute dash onto the ferry, I had a chance encounter with travelers from China back in Tallinn. Now, seated on a 26-hour bus ride home, I watch the landscapes flow past the window, chewing over the dialogues from Kamome Diner. As I sort through the thoughts and encounters of this entire trip, I’ve written down a few words for myself.

EP 9. Kamome Diner: Our Reasons for Being in Helsinki

EP 9. Kamome Diner: Our Reasons for Being in Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland

As the fictional Kamome Diner merged into reality, the contours of Helsinki gradually came into focus. I walked past the bustling main islands for tourists and retreated into the quiet 'backbone' of Suomenlinna, where I shared a private joke with history through my lens. Watching those who crossed oceans in pursuit of freedom, I finally found my answer beside the steel movements of Sibelius: we may arrive for different reasons—some to take root, others simply to escape at will. Yet, on this all-embracing land, every unbidden stroke of luck and every unique story becomes the most priceless gift before we journey home.

EP 8. Wandering Across the Sea Under a Purple Afterglow: When Regret Becomes a Destined Tenderness

EP 8. Wandering Across the Sea Under a Purple Afterglow: When Regret Becomes a Destined Tenderness

Helsinki, Finland

Beginning with the regret of a missed ferry, I unexpectedly stumbled into the decadent purple tenderness of Helsinki. In the hostel's bustling kitchen, a surprise African meal warmed my long-parched Asian stomach, while the raw monologues of travelers revealed the realities of survival in the North. As I stood atop the cold cannons of Suomenlinna, watching crowds picnic peacefully beside war ruins, I truly felt the weight of shifting eras. It turns out that every regret on the road is merely a guide, leading us toward a destined, beautiful memory.

EP 7. Reunion at the Turning Point of Time: Unlocking the Baltic Mystery

EP 7. Reunion at the Turning Point of Time: Unlocking the Baltic Mystery

Tallinn, Estonia

It began with a simple bowl of pasta and a deep conversation with a German sociology student. Together, we wandered past the Russian Embassy, etched with historical scars, and the desolate ruins used as filming locations for Tenet. Our walk became a classroom for debating war, sovereignty, and the stark contrasts between the German and Taiwanese education systems. Soon, the setting shifted to the beach, where I joined a group of Ukrainian men—living fiercely in the moment—for intense rounds of volleyball and table tennis. In their laughter, I witnessed true resilience and experienced a brand of language learning that no textbook could ever provide. Finally, through a small twist involving a WhatsApp contact, I released the regret that had lingered since Budapest. I realized that the meeting of travelers is like "time inversion": not every encounter is a prelude to a goodbye. Some people are simply waiting for their next predestined reunion.

EP 6. At the Peak of Europe's Silicon Valley: Meeting the Musician Who Rejected the World

EP 6. At the Peak of Europe's Silicon Valley: Meeting the Musician Who Rejected the World

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn: Finding Truth at the Edge of Europe’s Silicon ValleyArriving in Tallinn, a city celebrated as the "Silicon Valley of Europe," I stepped into the Old Town and felt as though I had entered another realm. At the Patkuli Viewing Platform, I met a wanderer—once a forestry executive who, at the age of thirty-four, resigned to carry his guitar across the globe. Amidst the lingering glow of the midnight sun, we talked of music and our shared weariness of societal frameworks built on fame and fortune. Though he lived a humble, modest life, his unwavering commitment to freedom and his passion for living gave me a profound sense of confidence. At this final stop in the Baltics, I found the courage to step outside conventional definitions and pursue a life true to my own ideals.

EP 5. At the Heart of the Baltics: Rediscovering the Simplicity of Life

EP 5. At the Heart of the Baltics: Rediscovering the Simplicity of Life

Riga, Lativa.

Crossing the border into Riga, I found a city that once rivaled Stockholm as a great trading hub, now radiating a secluded, timeless elegance. In a hostel brimming with the pulse of daily life, I swapped melodies with Henry, a BBC photographer. It was here that my identity began to shift—from a guitarist and an athlete to a traveling adventurer, sowing the seeds of my passion for photography. From cooking a 30-TWD bell pepper and chicken pasta to lowering my guard during a game of beach volleyball by the Daugava River, I realized that as the veneer of prosperity fades, a refined sense of "living" becomes even more precious. As the sun dipped into the river, I finally found my own rhythm in the long Nordic nights.

EP 4. Heading North: Post-Rock in a Forest City

EP 4. Heading North: Post-Rock in a Forest City

Vilnius, Lithuania

I woke up in Vilnius during the early morning "blue hour." This forest-enveloped capital felt even more free and mysterious than I had imagined. My journey here began by stumbling into a graffiti-covered ruin of a hostel. In the Old Town, I found soul music that felt like a cleansing for the spirit, and later, I stood atop Gediminas' Hill, overlooking the city with a cup of bubble tea in hand. Looking at the crumbling remains of the Upper Castle, I realized that this city chooses to coexist with its scars—a gentle compromise between time and freedom. As the local children welcomed the first day of school, I put on a pair of new shoes, ready to wander even further.

EP 2. From Surviving to Living : The Souls That Are Saved

EP 2. From Surviving to Living : The Souls That Are Saved

Kraków, Poland

Leaving Budapest behind in the middle of the night, I boarded a night train to Poland. In Kraków, the way I measured my journey quietly shifted—from the anxiety of saving money to the richness of living experiences. I found myself in heated foosball matches with a Finnish couple and receiving a clumsy yet heartwarming "Goodnight" in Chinese from a Kazakh traveler. Although I missed the heavy silence of the concentration camps, I witnessed a different kind of power in the Old Town Square: a crowd singing "Zombie," a moment where the force of life transcended borders. This was no longer just a trip; it was a lesson in letting my guard down and reconnecting with the world.

EP 1. Where the Adventure Begins: My Escape to Budapest

EP 1. Where the Adventure Begins: My Escape to Budapest

Budapest, Hungary

My exchange life began in Brno, a city where industrial grit meets classical elegance, but it quickly devolved into a survival challenge involving a messy dorm and a roommate’s thunderous snoring. Seeking nothing more than a night of peace, I staged a midnight "escape" from the Czech Republic to Budapest. There, amidst the majesty of the Danube and the energy of a city music festival, I finally found room to breathe. But the true turning point happened at a hostel reception. A girl from Hong Kong shared her travel tales with a burning passion in her eyes. Though our digital connection vanished, the mystery of the Baltics she described became my new compass, pushing me to rewrite my plans and continue my adventure into the North.