Last Minute Preparations

I have less than 48 hours before I leave.  It still hasn't hit me that I'm leaving for almost 2 months.  It probably won't until I get off the plane in Bangkok.  Today I took care of some final purchases at my local friendly neighborhood Target.  Now I just have to start packing soon.  Regardless of how well I pack, I know I'll forget something.  As long as I have my passport, my credit card, and  my sense of adventure, I think I'll be good. 

I hope to keep this blog as updated as possible.  I'm not taking a laptop since I don't want the hassle of having to carry it around.  I'll just have my iPod touch and my global Blackberry with me.  So at least that way, I can still stay in touch via email and facebook.  Talk to you all next time from the other side of the world!!!

Travel Buddies!!!

I typically travel alone most of the time because most of my friends usually do not have the time or money to travel.  I've mentioned my trip to quite a few people and most tell me they'd love to go but can't.  Well this time around, I found a couple of takers.

So I guess I won't be alone after all.  My buddy Minh recently has gone through some life changes and will be joining me for a portion of the trip.  His family originates from Vietnam but has never been there himself.  This will be a good experience for him and a good way to get out of the norm.  He should be joining me in Ha Noi, Vietnam and HK after I go through Laos and Cambodia. 

Then there's also Selma.  She's a really bright girl and loads of fun to be with.  I've known her for years and consider her like the little sister I never had.  We've traveled domestically together in the past and this will be our first international trip together.  She'll be joining me once I reach mainland China.  In the mean time, she'll be busy finishing up her semester in school while I'll be living it up in SE Asia.

Although I've always had a good time exploring places on my own, it will be nice to have a couple of familiar faces with me to share my experiences with.

The Magic of Social Networking

So I started thinking a couple of days ago on what would be the best way to meet local people in each of the areas I'm traveling.  First I thought I'd just show up and meet up with other travelers in the hotels/hostels I'm staying at.  But then I thought, "They're probably just as green as me and won't know anything else other than what's inside the local guide books". 

Then I started thinking how've I've met friends over the last couple of years.  It used to be I would meet friends at school, work, and through other friends.  Over the last year or so, most of my friends I've met have been through social websites such as Meetup.com.  I've even tried online dating and suprisingly met quite a few nice people there too.  The thought occurred to me, why not try contacting people using these mediums and see if anyone would be willing to show me around their cities.  Afterall, this is the way people communicate now right?  It's made billionaires out of people who were able to captitalize on the idea early on.  Imagine trying to do this 5 or 6 years ago.  It would have been virtually impossible.  So I've messaged people all over Asia and have received quite a few responses back from people willing to meet and show me around.  The response level is a lot higher that I ever imagined!  I can't wait to try some of the local foods and check out some of the sites that tourists don't know about.  I've always been open to making friends all over and making new friends in Asia is going to be exciting!

I just love the internet!!!

I Quit!!!

So today was the day I decided to quit my job.  I knew this day was coming sooner or later.  It was just a matter of when.  I started thinking about traveling to Asia a couple of years back.  I was actually close to visiting the region prior to finishing grad school.  Then it was annouced that my class would be traveling to South America for an international residential.  At that point, I realized Asia would have to wait. 

So why travel now?  Why quit my job?  I say why not?  I've been blessed throughout my life and have enjoyed the opportunities I've been given.  I've been fortunate to see many world sites that only a small percentage of the world population has ever seen.  Either people think I'm crazy or rich for doing this.  I'm neither.  Life is short and you have to live it and enjoy it the best you can.  I'm very passionate about seeing and feeling and absorbing myself into cultures different from mine.  Regardless of what happens in the future, my memories and experiences will always be priceless to me and no one will ever be able to take that from me.

So about the trip...I have 6 countries in mind to visit starting with Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Japan with the posibility of Malaysia somewhere in between.  I haven't completely booked everything at the moment.  I'm still figuring out the trip (thought about using a travel agent but then where's the fun in that).  I'm nervous and excited at the same time since a good portion of this trip I will be alone.  There's the language barrier I'll run into, possibly dealing with some shady characters, and of course the chance of getting sick. However, it's never stopped me before from traveling alone.  At this point I'm waiting to get my passport back from the Vietnamese Embassy in DC and then will be driving up to LA to get a visa from the Chinese Embassy. 

I have 2 weeks to get ready and I'm good to go.