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Published: February 8th 2017
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One Year. Incredible. Fifteen countries. From the deepest jungles of the Amazon River Basin, traversing the highest ranges of the Andes Mountains, swimming the turquoise seas of the Pacific Islands, witnessing the imaginable magic that is New Zealand, hiking in the driest desert of the legendary Outback of Australia, crossing the massive archipelago of Indonesia and coming ashore onto mainland South East Asia, I have made my own way. A few flights, countless buses, my own car, some motorcycles, numerous boats, a couple of trains, and a lot - and I mean A LOT of walking and it still seems like only yesterday I left home. One year ago today I left Denver, my friends, my family, colleagues, my cat. I have been gone for many an event. New family members have been born, dear friends have married, any number of holidays, birthdays, and celebrations amongst my loved ones have been missed. I have sacrificed. A necessary price to live out a dream that was hatched by a small child living in Southern California who received a globe for his 8th birthday. Everything I left behind in order to search for adventure and gain experience. I have achieved both, more than
fleapit
My closet of a room I could have ever imagined or dreamed. I went in search of life, and I have lived it to the fullest. I've come so far from those early days in Colombia when I was scared, hesitant, and cautious. A year later I now have the travel experience to just show up anywhere, anytime - to just choose a spot on a map and on a whim go there. It is freedom in the purest sense of the word. It has become second nature to me and I hold it to be sacred. I am proud of all that I have accomplished and am thankful of the places I've been and of the people I have had the pleasure to meet. Have countless others gone to the places that I have gone and done the same things that I have done? You bet. But I have done it as well. I did it. I went into the unknown alone, on my own terms. I gambled. I walked my own path. My eyes are now wide open, my soul is on fire, and I am more alive now than I have ever been.
I really love that last photo of me
in the legendary backpacker ghetto on Khao San Road in Bangkok. It personifies my entire journey of how I have gotten to where I am now on the other side of the world in Thailand. Bags in hand, smile on my face, and not a clue of what to do or where to go. That shot was taken after a 20 hour travel day - from bed to bed - that involved a boat from Koh Pha Ngan to the mainland and a thirteen hour overnight bus that dropped me off at 6am in the the megawatt city of excess - Bangkok. After being turned around numerous times in search of accommodation I finally scored a fleapit of a room for $180b ($6). Oh how far I have come.
After garnering a few hours of sleep I set out into the city in search of Chinatown. It was of course Chinese New Year and the reason why I had come to Bangkok. After a few hours of walking I finally had a bearing of where I was at in the city and where I needed to go. Just as I had arrived in Chinatown it seemed right on cue
that I was able to watch a lion dance progress down the street to the joy of the thousands of revelers. It was also here that I would meet a German couple who are living in Bangkok teaching English after traveling the world for a couple of years. Super nice people and I was happy to have the company during such a festive atmosphere. A little street food in the wee hours - duck noodle soup $30b - and I was off back home for the night.
After living it up for the lunar New Year I woke up late and set of to try and get my camera repaired. Unfortunately for me no one was able to assist. I went to the biggest electronics center in SE Asia (outside of Singapore) and no one had the LCD screen replacement part I needed. The only option was to send my camera to the Panasonic service centre and have it returned three weeks later. Obviously not a viable solution for me. So I was forced to bite the bullet and I purchased a new camera. I went with a Canon Powershot SX260HS. It is a really nice camera and has
all the features, and a few more, that my Lumix had. The Canon even has a better lens and I feel I negotiated a good deal for the purchase price of $240USD. Not really money I wanted to spend, but it was necessary. The rest of the day was spent riding the public train around the concrete jungles of the city just checking things out. Then I called it quits and got a good nights' rest (the best you can on Khao San Road).
My last day (this also marks the new era in pictures with the Canon) in Bangkok was reserved to visit the various Wats (temples) that are so famous in this region. My first stop was the Grand Palace home to the living grounds of the royal family and also of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Walking from my fleapit I showed up 45 minutes later to a scene of about 20,000 Chinese tourists swarming the gates. It is New Year and I cannot even imagine the amount of Chinese that travel at this time. But their was a good number here at this site. I thought about waiting in line to buy an entrance
ticket but I am crowd shy so I bailed. I got a view of the complex from the outside and moved onto another Wat - Wat Pho which is home to the largest gold reclining Buddha on the planet. Even President Obama came here last year (as everyone will tell you). The temple complex was stunning. The ornate detail in the buildings and the gold stupas gleaming in the sunshine are everything you imagine when you think of Thailand. The massive Buddha statue was pretty impressive as well. I enjoyed the afternoon strolling the grounds and watching the monks go about their daily business. It was pleasant and a world away from the hum of the city and tourist grinder of the islands I had come from. That night I met up with Fabian and Andrea (the original German Punk Rockers) for a nice meal and a few drinks. An awesome way to close out my brief stint in Bangkok.
I'm very humble about what I have been so very fortunate to experience. Traveling this way alone takes a lot of determination and mental strength. It's not just a holiday in the sun. It can be tough work and
a lot of the time it is challenging. I do not want to come off as an elitist or sound entitled. Even in my darkest days I have never taken anything for granted on this journey nor will I ever discount any place I am able to see or person I am lucky to meet.
As I write this now on my "One Year Anniversary" of leaving home I am currently tucked away in a little village nestled in the mountains of jungle that is Western Thailand. I am close to the Burmese border. I had no plan to come here but when I read about this place I knew I had to go. I am in a little tree house of a cabin on The River Kwai overlooking a Bridge. A journey retracing history is before me. I welcome the change of pace from the islands and beaches from whence I came.
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