I'm a little nervous about going to another country where a foreign language is spoken. The only other country I have been to is Canada, but that really doesn't count. What if no one understands English? What if they point and laugh when they see me? What if I don't even make it to my hotel room and end up living on the streets of Bangkok selling crappy jewelry and crafts that I have fashioned using bits and pieces of my clothes and backpack? Well, I doubt that will happen. From what I gather, english is widespread and Bangkok is filled with tourists.....so I should be fine. Also, I read that pale skin is admired and revered in most Southeast Asian countries, therefore I will most likely be viewed as the most attractive man on the planet due to my extremely pasty, ghostlike skin. Finally, my Irish and Scottish genes are coming in handy. I knew the day would come. But seriously, although I am anxious about the whole trip, I'm mostly I'm feeling hopeful and optimistic that this experience will be an amazing adventure that is a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow as a person and gain a real perspective on life and what is really important.
For people curious about the trip, I am traveling with a Intrepid Travel for about a month through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. You can find out all the details here. The tour ends in Bangkok at which point I plan to travel in Thailand, but I have yet to make any specific plans. Armed with my copy of Lonely Planet Thailand, an abundance of Baht and plenty of sunscreen and bug reppellent, I will roam around the country for a few weeks until I run out of money or get bored. My bet is on the former.That's it for now, I have to finish up packing. Please Leave comments so that I can feel good about myself that people actually read my blog. The next time I post I will be halfway around the world....
