<div class=text-justify>To be quite honest, I didn't join any of the Road to Steem Fest writing prompts because I wasn't sure I would be attending this year, at least not until a few days ago when I got everything sorted out; but I didn't want to tell anyone about this because I still had a bit of hope that some kind of miracle happened and I made it to Bangkok.

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I knew I didn't want to miss the event, not only because I've attended the previous two in Lisbon and Krakow, but also because this particular event has already become part of my life and November means Steem Fest for me. </div>

The first year I won a ticket from @blueorgy and since then, after all the situations, learnings and friends I made I knew I had to pay that forward, which is exactly why I'm coordinating all the @blocktrades sponsored contests that last year brought 4 Steemians, accommodation included to Krakow and this time, five Steemians to Bangkok. I guess it's a way for me to be grateful to what it has been given to me and I want other steemians to experience the same I got lucky to experience two years ago.

I knew I want to go to Bangkok, but I couldn't start planning until I was sure I could, but every day that passed since @roelandp announced the date and place, I began to doubt more and more I would be able to attend.

In fact, just a couple of weeks ago I messaged Roealand telling him I woul not be able to attend due to the high price of plane tickets and the low price of Steem - the two main factors that were forcing me to step down from this. But I kept the positive attitude and good vibes and didn't let the fact that I wouldn't be attending to stop me from shilling the event and building up the hype towards it, which is exactly why I pushed the #roadtosteemfest initiative once more just like last year. I know how much it meant for some people to be able to read and meet all of the other attendees beforehand, so when most of them met in Thailand, they already felt like friends. 

The group that was formed by those who joined the RTF was amazing, we had a whatsapp group and we went out every night together, some of us even rented a house and stayed together the whole week and it became sort of a frat house. Good times. The point is, even though I wasn't attending this year I knew the RTF writing prompt had to exist once more and damn, its been amazing reading all your entries and getting to know each other before meeting in person; I already know so much about you guys and I'm pretty sure some of you already know about each other to the point that it is not nervousness but looking forwardness what we are feeling now that we feel like we know each other for months.

#### I was sad, but I was looking forward to see your posts, photos and videos about the event even if I couldn't be there myself

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But then, out of nowhere a miracle happened. I started to search in all my wallets I had scattered in different websites and hardwallets I have in my old laptop and damn, I don't if it was luck, a gift from my past self to my present self, or plain sincronicity but I checked a wallet I hadn't checked in more than two years and I had a considerale fraction of a Bitcoin, bought back when BTC was at 900 USD; a BTC I bought and forgot I had, thinking long term and following my own advice: If you buy BTC forget you ever had it, you'll thank your old self for this.

Anyway, I found this fraction of a BTC and was able to buy 20k Steem, pay for my plane tickets and pay out all my debt, medicines, doctor's bills, lab tests and substain myself until November the 2nd, which is when I fly out from Mexico to Thailand.

So here I am, after doubting for so long and wanting even more going to Thailand, I can finally start planning my trip. Now that I know for sure I am going, I can begin to dream about meeting each and every one of you, perhaps for a second or third time or maybe for the first time, but I am pretty sure it will be amazing and we will have the time of our lives.

See you in Bangkok, friends :)

<center>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaunCFdb51n8WcTPAbiCuFKrDvnxgGmpZC1K7DV3p3g7D/sf4_planning.png</center>

<center><sub><sub>Picture by @soyrosa</sub></sub></center>

<sub>If you are going to Steem Fest and you haven't heard of the ***THE ROAD TO STEEM FEST*** writing initiative, you are still on time to join in the fun, just [check out this post and get to write already!](https://steemit.com/steemfest/@anomadsoul/the-road-to-steem-fest-or-catching-up)</sub>

<sub>PS: Any vote or resteem is appreciated, since all the liquid rewards from this post will go to @funds4sf, the account I set up to pay for the sponsorship of the @blocktrades contests Steem Fest tickets + accommodation.</sub>