The second leg of the world tour is officially underway. Over the next six months, I plan to travel through Southeast Asia, China, Japan (maybe – on the look out for affordable flights and accommodation), India, down the east coast of Africa, and finally, if I have time and money left, through South and Central America.
On Monday, I took a 16-hour flight from NYC to Hong Kong. I spent one night there and then flew on to Bali, which seemed like the perfect place to start the trip (and to escape winter – there was snow on the ground in New York, but it is smoking hot here).
I spent the first two nights in Jimbaran, where I toured the amazing fish and produce markets and took a great cooking class.
Jimbaran Beach is known for the grilled seafood restaurants (warungs) that line the sand, and they proved to be a great place to chow down and watch the sun set over the ocean.
Today, I am in Kuta Beach. Here, I’ve logged quite a few hours lying in the sun, drinking fruity drinks, and watching the surfers. Tomorrow, I will head on to Ubud to soak up Balinese culture and eat some delicious suckling pig. Life is good.
Today also happens to be the last day of my twenties. (Well, I suppose I can squeeze in an extra half-day of youthful revelry if I decide to age according to U.S. time). I am heading into my thirties homeless and unemployed. I wake up each morning with no real plan. My only concrete goals are to see cool things, to eat good food, and to learn some stuff.
I know that some people will read this and think that this whole trip is a bit immature. (I know this because, thanks to the wonders of the internet, those people occasionally express their disapproval anonymously. Weenies.) Those people are wrong. One of the signs of true maturity is being comfortable enough with who you are (and confident enough in your own judgment) to follow your own path in life, even if some people disapprove or think you are crazy. I have never been happier and have no regrets about leaving my job and selling everything I owned to travel the big, beautiful world. I am looking forward to whatever the next six months – and the next decade – have in store for me.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
So gentle of you to call them weenies ; ) Keep up the journey!
I think it’s great you are out exploring. People will forever tell you what they think. When you realize that what matters is what you think, y
ou have found your true self!
Happy birthday. I can’t think of a better way to start your thirties. Also, I’ve found (over the past year), that 30 is a wonderful year, and I can already tell that you are really going to enjoy it. Love the pictures.
Happy Birthday. Sounds like the next decade of your life is off to a great start. Life is short and there really isn’t any do-overs. Enjoy!
Certainly refreshing to read your blog! I have traveled the world, and never been happier while doing so. Had a bad wreck 10 years ago, and could have traveled again, but only did so in a limited way. I quite regret not having gotten back into the swing of things then, but am back in the saddle now with a great job that keeps me traveling! Keep it up!!!