Cambodia!

I don't know where these fixations and fascinations come from. But it happens.

I had this fascination with Pisa, Italy since I was probably 8 years old. So in May, it didn't matter what anyone said, about how I should skip Pisa... I was on a mission to go to Pisa and see the leaning tower of Pisa. Now, I'm completely content with that fascination.

What does this have to do with Cambodia you ask?

Well.... sometime last year, or I guess it would have been earlier this year, 2010. I got a little itch about Cambodia... from the moment I started planning this trip, Cambodia has been on the list. Some people have said things questioning that destination, but I'm pretty stubborn and persistent. So last night, I'm reading through the countries in SE Asia in my Lonely Planet book and the fascination with Cambodia just multiplied a million times. So now I'm thinking about maybe skipping Vietnam, maybe even Laos, and spending the bulk of my time in Cambodia. I'm sure there's tons to do and see in all the countries in the area, but for what it's worth, Cambodia has captured my attention more than the other places. I have to go to Bangkok, even though I really don't care if I make it there or not, because my flight to India is set to depart from there, so I'll probably spend a few days there at a beach somewhere.
I'm looking forward to being able to explore Angkor Wat on a bicycle and taking a boat down the river to Battambang and going to see the floating villages and the markets that I can wander and explore. And as much as it scares me; because I'm so used to being in a hotel room alone and isolated, sharing a hostel dorm room with other travellers! Meeting people along the way who could end up impacting the course of the entire trip and it's activities.
Again, I don't know why the fascination with this country developed, but it seems that it's bursting with activities that I would totally enjoy!! I think Chris is right when he says my plan for SE Asia is flawed, there is a lot to see and do. I've talked with him about this region many times. But for me, the deep, inert, undeniable desire to see this region isn't really there, except for Cambodia. It's more of, ehhh, I'm in the area and I'm traveling to all these other areas, why not stop here too.
Regardless of how long I end up in any part of this region. I look forward to what I'll encounter.

Tentative Itinerary

So last night, apparently I wasn't very tired. I didn't even realize how long I'd been working on putting together a calendar for an approximate idea of where I'd be at certain points. Before I knew it, the clock said 11:30pm! I suppose that's what happens when you're enjoying yourself.

So, here it is.... a rough idea of where I'll be at certain times. Please keep in mind, this can and probably will change!

February 17 - Leave home (SF Bay area) for Singapore
February 21 - Head to Vietnam
February 26 - Head to Cambodia
March 5 - Head to Laos
March 11 - Head to Thailand
March 15 - Head to India
March 19 - Holi Festival - it's the Hindu festival of color celebrating the death of some god and the incoming of spring; or something like that. Either way, anyone who knows me knows I LOVE color and the idea of having the equivalent of a giant snow ball fight with colored powders and water is VERY intriguing to me!!!!
June 1 - Head to Sri Lanka.... yes, that's right 2 1/2 months in India.
June 6 - Head to Madagascar.... I like to move it, move it.... I wonder how many people will get that??
June 12 - Head to South Africa
June 15 - Awesome budget overland camping safari departs South Africa, heading north thru Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania and ending in Kenya
July 16 - Head to Egypt
July 23 - Head to Europe, first stop, Turkey
August 1 - Depart Turkey, start heading north on the train, first stop Bulgaria
August 8 - My birthday and Romania. Looking into working with City of Hope in Romania and their activity with the Romanian street children while there.
August 21 - Hungary
August 29 - Czech Republic
September 6 - Poland
September 13 - Fly from Poland to Paris for dirt cheap... I don't understand why domestic fairs in the US aren't as cheap as domestic fares within Europe!?!
September 20 - Head to Spain
September 27 - Head to Morocco
October 3 - Head to Portugal
October 9 - Fly to Greece
October 27 - Head to Cyprus
November 1 - Head to Tel Aviv, Israel to meet the COTH group
November 11 - Head back home with my friends!!

Oh, the possibilities!!!

I had this thought all of a sudden... which when I think about it, I don't know why I didn't have it earlier...

When I was a kid I used to love spinning the globe, closing my eyes and pointing to some random destination to dream about going to. I'm sure I'm not the only kid that did this. Anyways, it just struck me a few minutes ago, that I actually have the opportunity and potential to do that!!!

HOW FREAKING AWESOME IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!

I hope anyone reading this found themselves surrounded by friends and/or family who love them and were able to share a day filled with love and laughter!

I myself had what was one of the best, if not THE BEST, meals of my life prepared by my wonderful brother. I also go three Lonely Planet books... India, Southeast Asia on a shoestring budget and Europe on a shoestring budget. I am also expecting some solid shampoo which will be easier to travel with.

Merry Christmas!

Ponderings....

I should really be doing work at this moment, because it's Christmas eve and I want to get out of work ASAP. But I need to put my thoughts down before the excel spreadsheets suck my mind dry of any creative juices!
So, I've been thinking about postponing my trip again, by another couple of weeks. Part of me wonders how much of this is actual intelligence and how much of it is cold feet. I have a lot of stuff I need to do before I leave. Not necessarily time consuming tasks. The things I need to get done I could easily get done within the two weeks after work ends and when I'm currently planning on leaving. But some of the things I need to do require large sums of money. My budget for my trip is based on a sum of money completely unrelated to my severence. So I'm starting to think that maybe I should wait till I'm done receiving my severence, which the official end date is 2/23, or at least wait till mid February with the last full severence check. Then I could use that money to take care of the items I'm concerned about without having to tap into my travel money with the assumption that I'll replace it with severence money. I know myself... all to well... and know that I might have good intentions, but that probably won't happen. When I went to England and Paris several years back I ran out of money and I'm very aware of the potential of that happening again unless I'm very careful. In fact, the reality of that happening is why the trip has changed from "ehhhh, i'll just go wherever I want whenever I want, no timeline or schedule at all... i'll see where the wind takes me" to "maybe I should have an idea of a timeframe for where I'll be in places and how long i'll be there, at least a general guideline so that I can budget accordingly and avoid the dreaded 'OMG MY BANK ACCOUNT IS EMPTY!!!'". It's happened before... I wouldn't put it past me to happen again!! And, of course, there's always a selfish underlying, part of me just wants some time to chill at home, sleep in and have time to hang out with my friends before I go.
I guess more thinking and time will tell what ends up happening. In reality, what's another two weeks... I'm still gonna go!

Expectations!

So, I randomly decided (just about 5 minutes ago) I needed to have some sort of standard for this blog. Maybe you could blame some of this thought process on the fact that I had to write the entire process manual for my department on how to do my job and it's forever altered the way I look at things. Either way, I think it's fair for you the reader to know what to expect. And if I put it out there and have it in writing, it gives me a standard to live up to, strive for, and be held accountable to. I can easily dive into things whole heartedly, only to fizzle out and abandon them when they become inconvenient or boring. I honestly wonder sometimes if I have slight ADD with my "raccoon syndrome"..... oooh, SHINY!!

I, Esther, promise that I will write a blog post a minimum of once a week. The only time this may not be feasable, is while I'm taking the awesome camping safari road trip in Africa for a month. Other than that, I should be able to have reasonable access to the internet to be able to update you on where I'm at, what I've done and what amazing things I've seen (complete with pictures!).

So there you have it, my guarantee! I'm not just the Esther's Adventure author, I'm also a reader!

So much to do, so little time!!

It seems like every time I manage to cross one thing off my list, two replace it!! I have 6 weeks and a laundry list of items that need to get done or purchased. Some items are easier than others, but then the others are a bit more complicated, and I don't necessarily WANT to do them! Like doing a deep clean of my apartment before my brother moves in. After all, it is just my brother, he doesn't need it to be spotless! Does he? And then, in addition to the items running thru my head and the new items popping into my head I've started obsessing over what exactly I should pack. How much should I pack? How little should I pack? Should I bring a dress and heels in case I want to go out? Should I only pack outdoorsy/travel clothes? What type of American luxuries should I bring with me, i.e. hand sanitizer, wet wipes, etc.? (insert maniacal crazy lady scream here!)

Once upon a time....

In a land not so far away, there was a girl (me), who had a camera (that I love) and a job (that I don't love). Then one day the giant corporate overlords (I call them my fairy godmother) came to the girl's office and announced they were closing it and everyone (almost) was getting laid off. While all the girl's co-workers started to worry and fret, the girl started seeing potential for a dream to come true!

This is my story...

I worked for a corporation, which shall remain nameless, who decided to close my office and move our operations up to the northwest. Please, save the sympathy, this is the BEST thing that could have ever happened to me!! One of the things I always wanted to do, but never had the time or money, was travel around the world taking pictures. Well the time has come. My job will be officially over on January 14 and I'm set to depart for one of the biggest adventures of my life on February 1!!

This blog will follow the final weeks of preparation (a little more than 6, not that I'm counting!) and my journey as I make my way through southeast Asia, India, Africa, Europe and wherever else I find myself along the way. Just me, my camera and my spirit of adventure. Hold on tight, because it's gonna be one hell of a ride!!