Packing and Prepping: 6 Hours to Go!

July 1st - Swampscott, Massachusetts, USA

I'm a bit worried that my backpack may kill me if I actually have to lug it around for any length of time!

These last hours before I leave (1am-5am) are currently being filled with frantic packing, organizing, double checking, and creating this blog. As a result, I won't really be test driving the bag by walking 4 miles in it fully packed, as a neighbor suggested. Its possible that when I throw it on my back for the first time I'll compulsively throw half of the stuff out. But have no fear, I'll try my best to post to this blog as regularly as possible, no matter what happens to my backpack :).

This blog will be a way for me to record my state of mind, adventures, explorations, foods, people, stories, travels, letdowns and joys on my 28-day trip to Southeast Asia. I'm going by myself to an unknown country with few obligations or plans in an attempt to find some isolation, relaxation and a platform for some self-reflection. If I come back speaking in Buddhist mystical phrases, you'll know why. My plan is to start for at least 5-6 days in Bangkok, Wednesday-Sunday, meet up with a couple of friends from Northwestern (Snow and Tim!), try out the guidebooks and my guts and see how I'm doing. If I can't figure things out, Bangkok will be the best place to fall flat on my face.

After Bangkok my trip is kind of an open book. I know I want to spend some beach time in the South or on the islands, and that I want to spend some time up north in Chiang Mai. If I wake up one day and feel good, I'll try to go into Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam. Who knows? If you pay attention to this here blog, you'll know where I am, what I'm doing, all that good stuff.

I'll be posting to this blog as regularly as my energy level and internet availability allows. If I can get some good pictures I'll post them to a website called Flickr (www.flickr.com), and you can find all of the photos I can post at (http://www.flickr.com/photos/99106455@N00/).

Well the first step of this journey is only 5 hours away! My dad is driving me to the airport, where I'll hop on a 6-flight to San Francisco. Then I get an hour or two layover and hit the skies towards Tokyo. That 12+ hour flight and a few more hours gets me on the plane to Bangkok itself, where I arrive Wednesday, July 2nd, at 11:10pm. Thats right: Tuesday 8am-Wednesday 11:10pm. Awesome. Hopefully my Sudoku, books, trail mix and need for sleep can get me through it.

The next time I post to this it'll be from Bangkok, Thailand. Wish me luck, and thanks to everyone who has provided advice, good wishes and constructive criticism (thanks mom) over this process. Check back when you have the time!