Hi everyone! I’m planning a solo trip around Indonesia from late September until mid/late October and would love to hear your thoughts.

I’m in my late 30s, travelling on a budget (around €60 a day max), and looking for something slow and peaceful rather than nightlife or partying. I’m happiest eating local food, swimming, being in nature, watching sunsets, reading, wandering around and generally just slowing down a bit.
I’ll be flying in and out of Bali because of flight prices, so I’ll spend a little time there, but I don’t want to rush around. Ideally I’d like to visit no more than 3 places in total.

I don’t ride a scooter, which is probably my biggest limitation! I’m happy walking, taking local transport, boats or the occasional driver/tour, but I’d love somewhere where I can manage without a scooter.
I’ve been looking at Karimunjawa, Sumbawa, Lombok/Gili Air and Nusa Lembongan, but I’m very open to other ideas. I’d love somewhere beautiful and fairly quiet, with nature, beaches, sunsets and a more local feel rather than lots of tourism.

If you’ve travelled solo in Indonesia, especially without a scooter, I’d really love to hear where you’d go and what you’d recommend.

Thank you! 🌴

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to finish the Camino in Santiago in mid-September and then take a bus back to Porto to catch my flight back home.

I’ve been looking at FlixBus and ALSA, but most of the buses I can currently find are either already fully booked or overly expensive (80€ for a 2,5-h ride 😬). Interestingly, there seem to be many more options (and much cheaper fares) for August.

Does anyone know if the bus companies usually add more services as the date gets closer, or is the September schedule likely to remain this limited?

Would you wait a bit before booking, or book now to be safe despite the high prices?

Thanks!

Hi! I’m looking for recommendations for lymphatic drainage massages in Munich, ideally somewhere reasonably priced 😊

It would be a big plus if they’re covered or discounted through Wellpass. I’m also open to LPG, Icoone or similar treatments if you’ve had a good experience with them.

Would love to hear your personal recommendations, especially if you’ve found somewhere that isn’t too expensive for regular sessions.

Thanks 🙏

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to get a realistic idea of how much time I should set aside to prepare for the AIGP.

I already have the CIPP/E and work in privacy, so I’m comfortable with GDPR, governance, and compliance. My main gap is that I don’t have much practical experience with AI governance yet.

If I were able to dedicate around 3 weeks to studying almost full-time (roughly 5–8 hours a day), would that generally be enough to be well prepared?

My plan is to use both the official IAPP materials and Dr. Kyle’s Udemy course, which I’ve already purchased.

I’d also be interested to hear:

- What your background was before taking the exam.
- Whether 3 weeks was enough for you (or what timeline you’d recommend).
- Whether the exam was more conceptual or detail-oriented.
- Anything you wish you’d known before you started studying.

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thanks in advance 😊

Hi everyone! 😊

I'm walking the Camino Português Litoral in early September and would really appreciate a fresh pair of eyes on my packing list.

I'm 52 kg, so I'm aiming for a pack weight of around 5.2 kg (excluding worn clothes and shoes). Right now I'm at 6.13 kg, and I can't seem to get it any lower.

I'll be wearing Hoka Bondi 9 (not included in the weight). I've already decided to leave my Kindle at home and reduced my water to 0.5 L, but I'm still about 800 g over my goal.

Current pack:

• Deuter Futura SL 25 – 1,300 g
• Birkenstock Arizona EVA – 200 g
• Airism T-shirt – 138 g
• Airism top – 53 g
• Columbia T-shirt – 93 g
• Shorts – 82 g
• Bikers shorts – 96 g
• Long pants – 235 g
• Black sweater – 235 g
• 3 underwear – 51 g
• 2 bras – 70 g
• 3 pairs Injinji socks – 91 g
• Hat – 96 g
• Head scarf/Sarong – 40 g
• Large cotton T-shirt as pyjamas – 180 g
• Rain poncho – 360 g
• 0.5 L water bottle – 550 g (full)
• Blister + first aid kit – 109 g
• Sunscreen – 80 g
• Shampoo bar – 75 g
• Conditioner bar – 75 g
• Toothbrush & mini toothpaste – 23 g
• Mini deodorant – 65 g
• Makeup – 90 g
• Face cream (travel size) – 50 g
• Small soap bar (body/laundry) – 50 g
• Daily contacts – 80 g
• Small microfiber towel – 170 g
• Phone – 223 g
• Charger – 70 g
• Power bank – 215 g
• Sleeping liner – 300 g
• Compact daypack – 50 g
• Film camera – 100 g
• Sunglasses – 50 g
• Glasses – 50 g
• Notebook & pen – 80 g
• Credencial – 20 g
• Coin purse – 50 g
• ID copy – 10 g
• AirTag – 23 g
• Uniqlo bag – 104 g
• Lock – 30 g
• Carabiner – 15 g
• Earplugs – 5 g

Does anything jump out as unnecessary or easily replaceable with a lighter alternative? I'd especially love to hear from fellow smaller pilgrims or anyone who's walked the Litoral around early September.

Thanks so much! ❤️

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on an extended unpaid leave from work that I’d been planning for years, and I’m struggling more than I ever expected.
I work in Germany in a demanding, high-responsibility corporate role. Even though I already take decent vacations (sometimes up to three weeks), I wanted a longer break to truly disconnect, reflect, and figure out what I want from the next stage of my life.

The irony is that the months leading up to my leave were so hectic with work and medical appointments that I barely had time to plan anything.

Then, on the very first day of my leave, my boyfriend and I mutually decided to end our relationship.

We’d been struggling for a while, and I think it was the right decision for both of us, even though it hurts immensely. I still love him deeply, and while I’m trying to accept that we both need space, I’m grieving the relationship and adjusting to a future that looks very different from what I imagined.

The biggest challenge is that I suddenly have so much free time. When I was working, I was constantly busy and distracted. Now there’s nothing to hide behind, and the grief feels much more intense.

I’ve been traveling to visit friends, which has been really helpful, but when I come back, I’m left with long stretches of time alone with my thoughts. This leave was supposed to help me reconnect with myself, but right now I just feel lost.

Has anyone else gone through a breakup during a career break, sabbatical, or extended time off? How did you structure your days? How did you stop yourself from ruminating? At what point did the free time start feeling like an opportunity instead of a burden?

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve been through something similar. Right now it feels like I have all the time in the world, but none of the emotional energy to enjoy it.

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to walk the Camino Português in September and I’m trying to decide on a second pair of footwear.

I know the Teva Terra Fi 5 are excellent hiking sandals and could be useful on warm days or if I develop blisters. However, they weigh almost 800 g per pair, while the Birkenstock EVA are around 200 g. I’m only 1.57 m and petite, so I’m aiming for an ultralight backpack and every gram counts.

I’ve looked at some lighter Teva models, but many people don’t seem to recommend them for serious hiking. If I don’t go with the Terra Fi 5, I’d probably choose the Birkenstock EVA instead.

For those who have walked the Camino Português:

- Has anyone used the Terra Fi 5 on the Camino and felt the weight was justified?

I’d really appreciate any experiences or advice. Thank you 😊

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to walk the Camino Litoral/Coastal Route from Porto to Santiago during the first two weeks of September and am currently trying to finalize my packing list. I'd love some feedback from those who have walked it before, especially regarding whether I'm bringing too much, too little, or missing anything important.

Clothing

• 1 lightweight jacket (I was thinking of the Uniqlo packable parka)
• 2x quick-dry T-shirts (Also Uniqlo ones)
• 1x quick-dry long-sleeve shirt
• 1x tank top (for sleeping / after showers)
• 1x fleece
• 1x gym leggings (for sleeping, after showers, or colder walking days)
• 2x fitted gym shorts
• 3x pairs of merino toe socks (injinji)
• 2x bras
• 3x briefs

Accessories

• 1x buff/foulard (multi-purpose)
• 1x hat

Rain & Swim

• 1x rain poncho (I have a Vivi Mari one)
• 1x bikini

Footwear

• Hoka Bondi (main walking shoes)
• Tevas (showers, beach, and evenings)

I'll also be bringing glasses/sunglasses, toiletries and electronics. My plan is to wash clothes every day and keep my pack as light as possible.

A few questions:

1. Are fitted gym shorts and leggings suitable for the Camino, or would I be better off with looser hiking clothing? I almost never wear hiking pants, and the pairs I've tried felt uncomfortable regardless of the fit.
2. Is a hydration bladder worth bringing on the Coastal Route, or is a regular water bottle enough?
3. Does this amount of clothing seem appropriate for the first two weeks of September?
4. Would you add any extra layers?

Any advice, suggestions, or lessons learned from your own Camino would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! Buen Camino! 😊

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to do the Portuguese Coastal Camino from Porto to Santiago from late August to mid-September, and I’d love some honest opinions from people with Camino experience.

I’m not a “hiker” in the traditional sense and I don’t have multi-day trekking experience, but I’d say I’m at a decent fitness level, I go to the gym around 4 times a week (mostly weights + some cardio), walk regularly, and generally stay active.

I tried to build an itinerary that feels manageable rather than rushed, with a few shorter days and some rest days included because my main goal is to actually enjoy the experience instead of suffering through it.

Here’s my current plan:

Porto → Vila Chã — 16 km
Vila Chã → Aguçadoura — 18 km
Aguçadoura → Esposende — 13 km
Esposende → Viana do Castelo — 26 km
Rest day in Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo → Vila Praia de Âncora — 18 km
Vila Praia de Âncora → Caminha — 10 km
Caminha → A Guarda — ferry + short walk
A Guarda → Oia — 17 km
Oia → Baiona — 14 km
Rest day in Baiona
Baiona → A Ramallosa — 5 km
A Ramallosa → Vigo — 21.5 km
Vigo → Redondela — 16.5 km
Redondela → Pontevedra — 20.6 km
Pontevedra → Caldas de Reis — 21 km
Caldas de Reis → Padrón — 18.5 km
Padrón → O Milladoiro — 17.6 km
O Milladoiro → Santiago — 7.9 km
Rest day in Santiago

A few things I’m wondering:

Does this look realistic for someone without serious hiking experience?

Is the 26 km day to Viana do Castelo likely to be brutal?

Anything you wish you knew before doing the Coastal route in late summer?

Would you recommend training hikes beforehand, or is general fitness enough?

I’m definitely open to adjusting stages if something looks unbalanced.
Thanks in advance, really appreciate any advice from experienced pilgrims 😊

Hi everyone, I’m 37 going through my second egg freezing cycle in Germany.

Last cycle I started Progynova (estradiol priming) on day 16 of my break cycle, giving me around 10 days before my period. This cycle my blood test was delayed due to a bank holiday, so I only started Progynova on day 20, giving me approximately 6 days before my period arrives.
My clinic confirmed ovulation via progesterone before starting, so the timing is based on actual ovulation confirmation rather than a fixed day. But I’m concerned the shorter priming duration (6 vs 10 days) could impact my cycle 2 response.
Has anyone experienced shorter Progynova priming and did it affect your results? And does anyone know if 6 days is considered sufficient for estrogen priming before a stimulation cycle?
For context: cycle 1 gave me 8 mature eggs frozen (100% maturity), AMH 0.77, protocol was Elonva + Ovaleap.
Any advice or experience welcome 🤗