Two Days of Rest
From November 24th to 25th, I allowed myself to slow down. I stayed at the hotel, working, writing my book, and planning how to create content for YouTube and Instagram. Having more time than usual gave me space to think, prepare, and create with intention.
In between tasks, I stepped out to a nearby restaurant. There, I tried several local dishes: Lemang, sticky rice steamed in bamboo; Roti Canai, which looked similar to Indian naan; and a local fish dish whose name I sadly forgot.
The Rule of No Repeats
On this journey, I follow one rule: I don't eat the same dish twice. Of course, I often feel the desire to eat something delicious again. But if I give in, I lose the chance to discover something new. By forcing myself to try new foods, I allow space for surprise and discovery.
Counting the Remaining Meals
If I live 60 more years, I have about 65,700 meals left (60 years × 365 days × 3 meals). That sounds like a lot, but when I break it down, the number feels smaller.
If I travel to 100 countries and stay one month in each, that gives me only 90 meals per country. Across 100 countries, that's 9,000 meals—about 13.7% of my remaining meals. And that's only if I manage three meals every day.
In reality, some days I might eat only twice. Some days illness might prevent me from eating at all. There will also be meals cooked by loved ones, meals I prepare myself, meals made by family. Considering all this, each meal—especially while traveling—becomes an irreplaceable experience.
The Weight of Forgetting
That is why I try never to eat the same dish twice, and why forgetting the name of a dish feels like erasing a moment. Food is not just fuel; it is a memory, a piece of the journey, a small treasure.
When chasing big goals, it's easy to overlook the small things nearby. They seem flat, transparent, without weight. But often, those small pieces—the taste of an unfamiliar dish, the kindness of a cook, the warmth of a meal—are what give life its true depth.
Forgetting the name of that fish reminded me: value every moment, every flavor, every chance. Because the number of meals left is not infinite, and each one matters.
