Self-consciousness feels different here, 8 April, 2026 Kayseri, Türkiye
Self-consciousness feels different here As much as I like traveling, I am conscious that one aspect of my character does not align well with it: I prefer to go with the flow of the environment and do not want to “raise a hand” or be the center of attention. It can be called a common aspect of human nature (we are at peace when surrounded by similar people), but staying low profile is either not an option or not ideal as a traveler, as you...
Sketches of Kosovo, 26 March 2026, Prizren, Kosovo
Sketches of Kosovo Personally, Kosovo felt like the first ‘real’ destination of this trip. It is a place I had not visited previously and a place I do not know much about, other than how the media has portrayed it for years. After having spent four nights in the area, not surprisingly, I still feel largely ignorant about this place despite some textbook knowledge I absorbed each evening. Yet, it did not feel too unfamiliar, and I will remember the warmth of the people, many...
Beginning, 14 March, 2026
I hit the road again after years. This new lifestyle began weeks ago, but I was waiting for the traveler’s energy to gradually settle in, so that I feel more authentic about what I might want to say. It is going to be a multi-month overland journey toward somewhere in Central Asia. My friend, who kept me company years ago in the Americas and Caucasus, will do so again— now covered in a new paint. Happy to give an old pal a ride (says the van!)....
Another experiment of Homo Sapiens @ Malta 2024 April 29
Another experiment of Homo Sapiens During my five days in Malta, I managed to visit three sites of big stones in two days – they are officially known as Megalithic Temples of Malta and there are a total of 7 of them. They say they were built in the Neolithic era, sometime between 3600 and 2500 BC, making them as old or older than the pyramids of Giza, Egypt. The oldest one, Ggantija temple, was built about 5,500 years ago, and it is the second oldest...
A (de)tour to Viseu @Viseu, Portugal, 17 April 2025
A (de)tour to Viseu When I decided to spend 9 days in Portugal for my vacation- perhaps a generous amount of time for a vacation traveler within the EU – I was conscious that I wanted to glimpse the “deeper” Portugal, where tourists do not frequent. That motivation became even stronger during my three-day stay in Lisbon, where I found myself almost exclusively surrounded by tourists in the old town. It was a strange experience, rarely spotting any locals. It felt like a real-life theme park....
Not Separate @ Warsaw, Poland, June 2, 2025
Not Separate I first met “C” at a hostel in Moldova some six years ago. I don’t remember how well our initial “small talks” went, but the two of us hung out several times, and I ended up building a sense of brotherhood with him (I’m not sure about his account, though). Not only did we recognize common thoughts and feelings regarding long-term traveling, we also shared some insignificant fun coincidences: man-bun hairstyle, the same age and height, and each having one more brother. Although we...
Amateur is the goal
The most influential dance teacher of mine was a martial arts practitioner before he became a dancer. When I asked about the difference between the two different phases of his life, he told me that there was fundamentally no difference, indicating that he viewed either form as a tool to shape the life he wanted. That is, a life supported by a lifelong craft where there is no final destination. At least this was my understanding of what he said then. Over two decades of dancing...
Carthage ruins @Tunis, Tunisia, January 1, 2023
Tunisia boasts a very long history, and the earliest stories date back to as early as the 9th century BC when the city of Carthage was founded by Phoenicians in modern-day Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia. It is easy to notice that Tunisia is proud of being the descendant of Carthage, as the international airport and many train stations have the name “Carthage” in them. Unfortunately, many of the buildings by Carthage were later demolished by the Roman empire, and as far as I understand,...
This website chronicles Leebong’s journey around the world for 2+ years, for the time being. To find out more, see The Travel & The Why.
To catch me, see Itinerary.
Impressions Series
