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Published: September 29th 2011
On October 3, 2011 I will be traveling, on a one-way ticket, to Istanbul, Turkey. When I tell people this fact, I’m met, more often than not, with a wide-eyed stare and the question, “What’s your plan there?” This is my answer.
My plan is to make no plan. In my experience, plans exist only to be frustrated, and frustration is not an emotion I take to well. That being said, I have developed the faintest trace of an outline, in the form of a three-pronged campaign.
Stage 1: The Middle East. After a month or two of traveling through Turkey, I’ll head south. Reluctantly, but necessarily, avoiding Syria, I’ll hit up Lebanon, Jordan and Israel before crossing over into Egypt to fulfill my childhood dream of climbing the pyramids. The next part is hazy, but somehow, I’ll end up in India to take my first rest stop. I’m assuming my funds will need some replenishing by this point, so I’ll find some form of employment and prepare for the next stage.
Stage 2: Southeast Asia. Leaving India, I’ll go through the Himalayas before heading south into (civil peace allowing) Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, the second rest stop. The hope is to get a job on a live-aboard and dive until I’m sick of coral reefs and whale sharks or, more realistically, until I’m sick of cramped living quarters and being at the beck and call of demanding customers (am I bitter already?).
Stage 3: Indonesia and the South Pacific. From Thailand, I’ll continue south through Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra (where I will undoubtedly stop to play with orangutans), into New Guinea, New Zealand and, finally, Australia. From there it’ll be back to California, I suppose, at least for a little while.
Of course, this “plan” is entirely subject to changes of wind direction and political climate. I figure my life will bring me exactly where I need to be, when I need to be there, so I’m just along for the ride.
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Chris Hanmer
non-member comment
Good plan! Let the adventure begin!