day 145: 平凉 (pingliang) = 0km

Almost 2000km, some fantastic 5 months – and now I’m not going to walk anymore.

All you guys have been so supportive and so kind, thank you!

So many friends I’ve made on the road and so many on the Internet.

…but now I am not going to walk anymore.

It’s not only that my feet are killing me:

^[1]

It’s not that.

Also on top of this, I have achieved something that I could have never hoped for:

^[2]

I have found inner peace. Do you know what I mean?

I know this might sound totally silly…

…it’s so hard to put in words or pictures.

It’s like…

…for example, all this worldly stuff; the cookies, the soda pop, the potato chips, the gallon of pear juice (hm… pear juice!):

^[3]

- I don’t need all this anymore, it means nothing to me!

This walk has given me so much…

I’ve stood in the presence of the Buddha – massive Buddha, heavy snow ^[4]

I’ve walked the way of the Tao – mountain temples ^[5]

I’ve talked to the Father and to the Son – watch my back, Lord ^[6]

I’ve felt the peace of the Prophet – Muslims and water fountains ^[7]

…and I’ve grown something like a beard:

^[8]

My dear friends, please forgive me…

With this new peace of mind, I just can’t continue my walk – it would be meaningless!

So what am I going to do now?

I am in my hotel, and I still have some money left:

^[9]

If push comes to shove, I can always sell some of my equipment and live off that for a while.

Like, for example, the computer should get me a couple of months rent. Then there are the cameras.

Or I could get a teaching job…

No, I don’t think that’s what I want.

I want to stay here for a while and meditate. Maybe join a temple and become a monk.

Or a Muslim. After all, I already have a beard!

Soundtrack: Serj Tankian – “Lie Lie Lie”

—total: 1904,9km