12 Months and 11 Countries on 3 Continents

My year in review — 2022

We’re really missing that one country to finish the 12 in 12 months. But that just shows you I usually don’t count countries. Experiences are way more important than numbers.

However, looking back at 2022 I can proudly say we’ve experienced a lot. We’ve made memories for a lifetime one could say just that we’re already busy making new ones in the new year.

It’s been an amazing year all apart from one day. Trying to delete that one from my memory is going to be a tough one but as always I am focusing on the positive things in life.

So here we go. In 2022 we lived on three continents. Asia, Europe and Africa. We worked in four countries and traveled to another seven. Because well, that is what we do. We work hard and play hard.

Starting the year in Thailand, we explored beaches, islands and remote mountains in the north of the country. Right there where Laos is sharing a mountain range with Thailand. We didn’t get a stamp in our passport for Laos but we walked enough steps on the Laotian side for me to mention the country.

Remember, I value memories and not numbers.

In late March, we packed our bags and flew west again. For the following 7 months, we were based in Germany but explored countless other European countries on small and bigger adventures.

Sweden, Poland, Austria, Italy, Portugal, Hungary and Romania were reached by car, ferry and plane in not one but many separate journeys.

And then the year was nearing the end and we hadn’t decided on another winter job when we just thought it was time to head back. Home. The other home on another continent.

Namibia.

Country number 11 for us. Within 12 months.

Yes, it’s been one hell of a year. But that in a positive way. And if you think I’ll be able to wrap this up in few words and even lesser pictures you don’t know me right.

But thanks to losing all my hard drives in the break-in disaster, it wasn’t so difficult to choose pictures for this post. I had none for half of the year and needed to download them from my Medium articles.

I did limit myself to one picture per month. But see yourself if I made it.

January

In early December 2021, I flew to Thailand and that is where we started the year 2022. Jumping out of planes for a living and exploring beaches on tropical islands was what we did for the winter months.

On one of our paddling adventures in crystal clear waters, we met geese in the ocean. Up until then, I didn’t even know they had free-range geese in Thailand and surely wasn’t aware of their liking for salt water.

These three were simply enjoying a bath next to all the other travelers.

February

The next month didn’t look much different. Some jumping out of planes and even more exploring. By boat and by scooter. Thailand is the country where I learned to ride a bike even if I know a scooter doesn’t count.

While we mostly tended toward excursions to the water, we did also explore the backcountry and the rural life of Thailand. More palm trees and sunsets.

March

In March, we then took leave from our working holiday and flew far north in the country. It was the first time we missed a flight and I thought that was the worst beginning of a vacation.

However, that trip will remain in our memory for long.

We ventured out into a national park far off the beaten track. In complete remoteness we found ourselves hiking in the wilderness of an ancient rainforest.

We then moved on and lived on the farmlands in the rural north eating everyday noodles and soup next to the locals in the restaurant.

After a long drive with our rental car, we then arrived even further north right at the border between Thailand and Laos. Where no roads cross the countries but a mountain range creates a natural border.

This is where we slept in tents and used heaters at night. In Thailand. I didn’t know I’d ever say that. But it was cold up in the mountains. Cold but beautiful.

April

End of March still, we packed our bags in less than 2 hours and flew back to Germany. When you move that much you get good at packing. And Tetris. Trust me, it is what it is.

We left tropical beaches and a humid hot climate behind us to land in freezing cold Germany. Where tiny packages of snow were decorating the garden.

April was the beginning of another working season for us. Skydiving in Germany is seasonal and most dropzones only operate from April until October.

May

While we landed a 6-day-a-week working job, we still took every opportunity to go out and explore our surroundings. Near and far.

One of the first excursions we took after moving to Northern Germany was a day trip to the Baltic Sea. It was David’s first time up north and my first visit to that ocean in over ten years.

Exploring new cities and especially new and different landscapes is what we love doing together.

June

But enough of Germany. When we were told our airplane had to go in for maintenance for three days we knew that was our chance to move further north.

Sweden, here we come. With an overnight ferry and a car transformed into a bed, we arrived in the wild Scandinavian country.

Wild camping was our choice since accommodation is too expensive in this northern country. But it’s what we love the most anyway. Find a lake and look for a remote camping place. Park the car and relax.

What an adventure.

On new year’s eve, I was asked what was my favorite travel memory of 2022 or what was my favorite trip I did and after thinking for a while I said Sweden.

It wasn’t an easy choice because we did a lot of adventures but my heart went straight for Sweden.

I want to go back. There is so much more to see and do up there!

July

Back at work again we took off for a week to work somewhere else. A friend of ours called us to Portugal to teach students how to fly. Why not, we thought.

It’s just a paid holiday. We surely didn’t have much time to explore the country but we got to see a bit of it from the air and on our drive from the airport through the countryside.

The city of Évora has many chapels and even Roman ruins. I loved the views from atop the castle and their food was the best, of course.

August

While July and August are our busiest months working in the tourism industry, we still somehow managed to get a few days off here and there to go on small adventures.

While we didn’t leave the country for this one, there are still many hidden gems in Germany we didn’t even know of.

The Spreewald is a nature reserve best explored by kayak or canoe. Countless canals are winding through the forest and across the fields.

We did a 5-hour round trip with the paddleboard and our kayak before we checked into a campsite for the night sleeping again in the back of our car.

September

September started off with a big adventure. Together with my parents, we went to South Tyrol, Italy. We had planned out a big hiking adventure.

All of us loaded with a backpack filled with our belongings hiked up above the treeline and stayed for 5 days up in the mountains. Every night a different mountain cottage to reach we had to climb mountain ridges and cross rivers.

Some days were more exhausting than others but after all, it will stay a trip I won’t forget.

October

In October our time in Germany was coming to an end and the skydiving season slowed down drastically. That meant for us we had again the chance for a small road trip.

We decided on driving east and exploring some of Poland’s coastline. The Baltic Sea was rough and cold in October but the days were sunny with blue skies. Whenever it didn’t rain.

We drove as far east as we could to reach a hidden wilderness. A petrified forest on the beach and sand dunes overgrown with grass.

Definitely my favorite day of the trip.

November

At the end of October, we emptied all our belongings from the trailer we were staying in for 7 months and drove back to my parents' home. Just for a few days before we were heading on again.

Together with my father, we had a long road trip planned to explore his home country of Romania. On the way east, we stopped for two nights in Budapest.

And this is where I am cheating because I want to share a picture of Hungary and Romania for November. After the quick stop in Hungaria’s capital we headed on for our destination.

Transylvania is where both my parents come from and where our ancestors built countless castles and forts. We covered lots of distance in the country and visited many sites.

December

And just about a week after returning from the big road trip, we were back in the plane crossing continents. We took long to decide but finally settled on spending the winter months in Namibia.

It’s summer in Namibia. That means more sunshine and warmer days on the coast and rain inland. It was great to be back after 20 months of being away from my home away from home.

And after finishing this post I did realize I forgot to share a picture of Austria where we also spend a few days on our way in and out of two trips to Italy and Romania.

So here is one bonus picture of 2022. Possibly the most spectacular landing I’ve done in a plane this year. The one approaching Innsbruck, the airport that is nestled between massive mountain ranges in the alps.

This was it. My year in review. Three continents and 11 countries later we have crossed into 2023. More countries to explore and adventures to go on.

“Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.” — Winnie the Pooh

Read here what fellow Nomad Jillian Amatt did in 2022:

And here about my previous yearly reviews:

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