Travel Update ***next trip***

Buddhist Temples, equatorial hot climates, street food, elephants, odd bowel movements, busy streets, foreign languages, world famous monuments, beautiful beaches, and jungle excursions.
Can you guess where I am going?
It all sounds like PARADISE to me!
Still can't guess where I'm going next...

Alright another clue: The region is a word scramble  esuaotsht siaa.

That's right, Southeast Asia!!




Last night, I booked my trip. My travel dates are from February 17th through June 16. 4 months. Let's say it again, together now, ready... 4 m-o-n-t-h-s. (wowza!) I know, I know, it ain't a year. But a year is a long time, especially when you've got something great going on here at home. Some would ask, if it is so great, then why the heck are you leaving again? hhmph, thats a great question that I don't know the exact answer to. But I have some uncharacteristically witty come-backs.


Why are you going then? Why are you not?
Why are you going then? TO SEE!!! Seeing is believing, seeing is learning, seeing is experiencing.
Why are you going then? Well I found this great word from a friend, Kent, 'Dromomania'. Dromomania is suffering from an uncontrollable impulse to wander or travel. Check out his website. I fear I suffer from a similar disease. He is far more experienced in travel than I, and I find him quite entertaining.


I am flying into the wonderful sounding city, Bangkok. Yup, who names a city that? Honestly? Well they didn't name it that originally, originally it is much more pleasant. The original name of this city is Guiness Record long, Krungthepmahanakornamornratanakosinmahintarayutthayamahadilokphopnopparatraj

athaniburiromudomrajaniwesmahasatharnamornphimarnavatarnsathitsakkattiyavisa
nukamprasit
That is the official name of Bangkok. which roughly translates to a story of the history of the place, but has been abbreviated to BANGKOK. ??? again, hhmph?


But this is not the only place I plan on going.With four months to explore, I plan on familiarizing myself with Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Other optional places I have my eye set on, and if the opportunity presents itself, Burma/Myanmar, Malaysia, Phillipines.
Now you guys may say, Cambo-da-what? Alright, quick geography lesson.
If we head from CA over the pacific, we'll wave down at the fishies, then wave down at the surfers in hawaii, then look upon the bright lights of Tokyo, then vere south toward China and Taiwan, probably wave down more fishies, start to decrease altitude, then land and come to a screeching hault in the peninsula of Southeast Asia. Arrived!

I'm very excited for this trip for quite a few reasons. One big reason is that, yes I have been to South America and Central America, but these countries I think will be a whole different story. Growing up in San Diego, the latino culture is very present, and boy do I love my comforting carne asada burrito, horchata, and rolled tacos, and the mixed english-spanish signs, songs, and commercials, but this will be differnt. South America is very different than the United States, but there is still something familar about it. But I won't discount that maybe in the entire world, people are just people, culture is just culture, places are just places, and as different as they may seem, they are quite similar indeed.
To find out if these are true or not, I travel.

I put together a simplistic list of goals, acheivable yet not too extravagent. Because truely, girls just want to have fun.
GOALS:
1. Ride an elephant while there
2. Scuba and snorkel some awesome places
3. Pick up a bit of the language
4. Trenza, Southeast Asian style, thanks Beth :-)
See those are acheivable and simple. All the rest of the experiences will be awesome too!!



OH, one more goal....

THIS IS ME IN 2 MONTHS!!!!




So, leave me a comment, your support, criticism. plans to join me? anybody out there?

I'd love to hear from you!! :-)

Until then, stay happy, and remember life is good.