3 months in SE Asia

T-minus 21 days until we leave on our 11 week adventure in SE Asia. Wow! We will be leaving Jan 7 and returning March 23, flying in and out of Bangkok. Our itinerary beyond that is not set. We plan to play it by ear and see where the wind takes us. However, I have been reading up on the area and checking out some potential areas and things to do. Here is where we are going:We expect to spend most of our time in Thailand and Laos. We will likely go to Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat. We may go to Malaysia, especially to the island of Borneo to check out the wildlife and jungles. We may also head to Vietnam.

Some of the things we will likely see and do:
-Hang out on the beaches of southern Thailand
-Sea Kayak in the Gulf of Thailand
-Go on a jungle trek and visit the hill tribes of laos
-Bicycle through Laos villages
-Check out a lot of markets
-Eat a lot of tasty spicy food
-Visit many, many temples and historic buddhist sites
-Hang out with our friend Prigge who will be living in Bangkok
-Meet lots of local people and travellers
-Visit gardens and see lots of orchids
-Take lots of bus rides to get from town to town

We have been saving up for this trip for a long time. I am taking a leave from work, and Chad is in his off season, so he is able to get away. It's a big amount of time to be gone, certainly longer than any vacation i have taken in the past, and the expense is not insignificant. However it is one of the most affordable areas in the world to travel, with hotels often costing $10 a night.

There is never a good time to travel, never a time when a big trip fits easily into life. We had to make it a priority to find the time and money to make this trip a reality. I have been inspired and encouraged by all of my friends who have traveled the world and brought back stories that changed the direction of their future and shaped their character. I have been inspired by the life and loss of my dear friend Kelly, who lived in Vietnam teaching English and who in life and dying was an inspiring, fiercely independent, adventurous, gracious and compassionate spirit. I feel lucky every day to be healthy and surrounded by friends, family, opportunities and the things we take for granted like clean water coming out of the tap and comfortable furniture to rest upon. Chad and I are taking some time out of our busy working lives to travel together, see the world, and get a glimpse into other people's lives.