Tagged: Planning

Sketch 2012-08-06 04_28_43

WHY I’M GOING TO ASIA

I’ve wanted to write a “Why I’m Going” post since I started this blog a few months ago, but I’ve put it off until now because it’s been a hard subject to pin down.

Offhand, it’s easy to say my reasons are:

1. Because I want to, and

2. Why not?

I’m not a Type A, hammer-out-all-the-details sort of person, so those reasons are justification enough to hop on a plane, as far as I’m concerned.

But why is it so easy to just go off without much of a plan? 

Two reasons.

1. I have nothing to lose.

That might sound like a bad thing, but I swear it’s not.  

Earlier this year, I knew that just about everything in my life would be up for renewal in July.  I needed to find a new place to live, because the lease was up on the house I was sharing with a couple of friends.  I needed to find a new job, because things weren’t really working out.  Plus, the feeling that I didn’t belong in Seattle was growing stronger by the day (though it is a great city).  Several of my friends were moving away as well, and I didn’t have a boyfriend.  I felt like a bored, stuck, miserable failure, until it occurred to me that since I had to start over anyway, I had the freedom to do anything I wanted.  And that freedom was an unbelievable breath of fresh air – so much better than the idea of another job, a new apartment and more of Seattle’s questionable dating scene.

I believe this trip will take my life in a whole new direction – if I didn’t, I wouldn’t bother with it.  But, let’s say for a moment that it doesn’t.  Say I travel until I run out of money and have to return to the US.  If that happens, I’ll be in exactly the same position I’m in now, except with a year or two of incredible adventure under my belt.  I’ll be looking for a new city, a job, and a place to live – just like I’d have to now if I were staying in the States.  But it would be worth it.

2. I can spend part of the trip working.

I learned the hard way that I need to do this.

Two years ago, I took a big trip through South America, drawing up ambitious plans to squeeze in as much adventure as humanly possible.  I had no idea what I was going to do or where I was going to go when I got back, but that little detail was easy to conveniently forget – until I got back to the States.  Then I had to deal with the unfortunate reality of having spent absolutely every penny in my bank account.  And I mean everything.  At one point I walked to Starbucks, thinking of buying a latte, and had to walk out shamefully when I realized that I couldn’t afford one.  So I had to stay at my parents’ house for a few months while I somehow got together enough work to get myself to Seattle – where I applied for jobs blindly and madly, panicking daily about finding a job in time to pay rent on the lease I’d signed.

I’m not doing that again.  

At 26, like at 24, I have no idea what I’m going to do or where I’m going to end up.  But, this time I know that the time it takes to figure that out needs to be spent working – and if I go to Asia, I have the option to get a working holiday visa in Australia or New Zealand.  They last a year, so I can save up some money to fund the next step, whenever I figure out what the hell I’m going to do with my life.  Knowing that I have a job (even a temporary one) on the other end of the trip takes the stress off.

What would your reasons be?

forsale

SAYING GOODBYE TO MY STUFF

One of the only hard things about preparing for long-term travel is getting rid of my STUFF.

I would love to be one of those natural backpackers.  You know, the ones who don’t feel the need to own too much in the first place, and ideally not more than what they can carry across town on their backs.

But I’m not.

My very favorite things are wildly impractical.  What will I do with my vintage yellow wool cape?  What about my velvet hat with feathers and a net veil?  What if I miss my matchbook collection?  It sounds ridiculous, but it’s honestly tough to think about paring down my possessions.

(img: eastlaketimes)

But: buying a one-way ticket to a new place calls for a new attitude.  I don’t have to say goodbye to absolutely everything, but I don’t want to feel tied down either, and I definitely don’t want to pay for storage.  At the risk of sounding all graduation speech-y (forgive me), I don’t want my 20s to be about stuff.  I have a lifetime ahead of me to have a house full of furniture, but I don’t have forever to travel.  So, I’m shooting to get rid of everything I can live without, and I’m going to be brutal.

 

So what am I doing with it all?

1. Anything that’s worth any money I’ll put on Craigslist.  That means a secondhand BBQ grill, two hand-me-down couches, and a few chairs.  Even if they just go for a couple of bucks, I won’t have to move them, which is nice since I don’t have a car.  If I get ambitious, I’ll see if I can sell things on eBay.

2. I’ll try to get rid of the smaller things in a garage sale.  One of my roommates is moving in late July also, so we’re going to hold one jointly and see if anybody shows up.  The rest will go to Goodwill.

3. Clothes will go to Buffalo Exchange and a women’s shelter.

4. Anything I absolutely can’t live without, or anything that will cost more to replace than to move, goes to my parents’ basement in Colorado.

 

My advice for making it all easier:

1. Think about how long you’re going to be gone.  If it’ll be a while, chances are that when you get back, you’ll see things differently.  Are you keeping anything you won’t like by the time you dig it out of storage?  Anything you’ll consider hideous in a few years?

2. If you know someone else will actually use it, it’s easier to give away.  Donating some work clothes to a charity or womens’ shelter will help someone else, and for me at least, probably doubles the amount I want to part with.  Same goes for things your friends might want – would you feel better about giving things away if they found good homes with people you know?

3. Well before starting your trip, start a box in the basement.  Anything you’re on the fence about giving away, stick in the box.  Giving yourself the option to be ruthless now and then rescue it later can help you get rid of more.  A couple of weeks later, see if you miss anything.

4. Selling things is a good way to fund your trip – obviously!

Do you have any tips for getting rid of everything you own?

angkor wat (full size)

THE NEXT WHEREVER: ASIA 2012

I just bought a one-way ticket to Malaysia.  Eeeek!

After months and months of saving and planning and debating, I finally took the plunge and bought plane tickets.  It’s official – I’m off to Asia this fall!

The best part of an open-ended trip is seeing what happens along the way and not deciding too many things in advance.  It’s important to build in lots of flexibility for all the things I haven’t heard of yet, and I don’t want to kill the fun with a rigid itinerary.  I’ve got a rough idea though, so here are the plans as they stand now:

First Leg: Spain with the Madre

The trip will kick off with two weeks with my mom in Barcelona.  The reason for Spain (an admittedly impractical way to begin a trip to Asia) is La Mercé, a festival celebrating the last day of summer.  I got to go to this a long time ago, during my year abroad in college, and it was incredible.  As luck would have it, getting a one-way ticket to Spain and then one to Malaysia was only a little bit more expensive than a ticket straight from Denver (my starting place) to any Asian city.  So, bring it on!

img: IK’s World Trip

Second Leg: Solo in Asia

I fly straight from Spain to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Definitely on the Malaysia list are: Melaka, the Cameron Highlands, Penang, and I am soooo hoping to go to Borneo.

From there I’ll cross into southern Thailand and start heading up the coast(s).  I want to make it to Chiang Mai, in the north, by the end of November.

img: hahatango

From there I’ll go through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia for the next few months.

img: victoriapeckham

Beyond that, I’m dying to go to Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Phillippines, and back to India…we’ll see how long my money lasts.  When it inevitably runs out and I need to make more, I’ll head to New Zealand or Australia, get a working holiday visa, and work until I figure out where to go next.

img: eguidetravel

Flamingo Closeup 1

MY NEW BABY TRAVEL BLOG

Welcome to my new project!  This is the first time I’ve ever had a blog meant for a broader audience (aka greater than about 5 people).  I’m pumped.

I’ve wanted to start this for a quite a while, and now’s the time: starting this September, I’ll be traveling Southeast Asia, Australia and possibly New Zealand for…not quite sure how long, but I’m buying a one-way ticket!

Until then, I’m going to get this site up and running, do some practice posts to get the hang of blogging, sell most of my stuff, and prepare for life on the road.

I have quite a bit to figure out, still, and I’m doing this whole thing on a tight budget, but I’m incredibly excited to go exploring and to write about the adventures here.

So…off to the Wilds of Wherever!