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.