My sister and I have always been close in the kind of way that only siblings with a two-year age gap can be. We grew up sharing everything from wardrobes to the same old hand-me-down phone. As adults, though, life has pulled us in different directions.
She’s 33 now, I’m 31, and somehow, we spent most of our twenties living in different countries. She moved to Singapore when she was 25, while I stayed in India. Just as she returned home, I left for Ireland. A year later I moved back home, and then moved again, this time to the Netherlands.
For years, our relationship existed through text threads sent from different time zones. We vicariously lived through each other’s adventures, always promising, “When you come here, I’ll take you there.”
Somewhere along the way, it became a pact: that when we finally got the chance, we’d travel together — somewhere offbeat, away from the crowds and big cities.
We finally made it happen in Liechtenstein
Last December, our calendars finally aligned, and I decided to visit my sister for Christmas. It felt like the perfect time to honor our pact.
We both wanted to travel somewhere quiet, a place that matched our shared introverted energy. That’s how we found Liechtenstein, a tiny country between Switzerland and Austria that looked straight out of a postcard. Neither of us had been there before, which made it even better.
We both initially wanted different things from the trip, which became clear right away. I’m the kind of traveller who makes lists of places to see, things to eat, photo spots — all mapped out by the hour. My sister is the exact opposite. She’s a “let’s see where the day takes us” kind of traveller.
Naturally, we had a few disagreements about where to start, but since this trip was really about reconnecting, we settled on three spots that suited us both: Vaduz Castle, Stausee Steg Lake, and Malbun.
We slowed down just enough to notice everything
Vaduz Castle was my pick. I love all things historic, so walking up the hill to the castle felt like stepping back in time. We kept stopping to read the little signboards about its past, mostly because I made her, but also because we couldn’t stop pausing for the stunning views of the Alps.
The lake, Stausee Steg, was my sister’s choice. She’s always been drawn to water, no matter the weather. We sat by the lake, eating snacks we’d packed, and talking about everything we’d missed in each other’s lives. Seeing her there, smiling like the happiest kid I remember, I felt like we could finally be in the moment together after years of quick catch-ups.
Then there was Malbun, a small ski village tucked in the mountains. We didn’t ski, but wandered through snow-lined streets, sipping hot chocolate and taking in the view. Being there felt like stepping into one of the Christmas movies we’d loved as kids.
Our time together felt surreal. Two sisters who once shared a room, now halfway across the world in a country most couldn’t even point to. I even got a souvenir passport stamp from Liechtenstein to remember the trip, a small token of a pact finally fulfilled.
Traveling together helped us rediscover each other as sisters
Traveling with my sister after years apart was fun, grounding, and yes, sometimes testing. We argued about directions, meals, and whether we should wake up early. But somewhere between those little disagreements, I realized this was exactly why I’d missed her.
She slows me down; I push her to move. She reminds me to look around; I remind her we might miss the train. We balance each other out, the same way we always did growing up.
When we said goodbye a few days later, it didn’t feel sad. It felt complete, like we’d kept our pact and somehow found our way back to each other in the process.
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