Advertisement
Published: September 17th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Just when I thought that I could settle down, plant my roots and get back to a some what normal life, I up and bought an around-the-world ticket. Hello, my name is Jeremy…I’m a Travelaholic.
Alright, here’s the run down. After returning from Africa in June, I just couldn’t get the desire to travel out of my head. I was back at work, but my mind drifted else where. I began skimming the internet for cheap ATW tickets (that’s “around-the-world” - mother) and different variations of possible travel paths. I was merely looking out of curiosity and never thought it was feasible. Then one evening, I came across a travel deal that I just couldn’t pass up - I admit, I’m weak. The ATW ticket hit many of the destinations I have longed to visit and came at a special discounted price. The only catch was that the tickets had to be purchased by the end of July, which was only two weeks away. This meant that all of the arrival and departure dates had to be determined and set for each country - and that would be fifteen different countries (12 flights). The following are the countries I plan
The beauty of youth...when life is simple
Tyler and Chloe take a stroll down the beach. on visiting over the next 8 months: Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, India, Kenya, Egypt, Ukraine, Romania and Hungary. I may hit more or I may hit less; I guess it all depends on what the road brings.
Although I’ve had less time to prepare for this trip than one probably should, there is no need to worry; I’ve got everything under control - or at least I think I do. The month and half before my departure has been non-stop planning and preparation for the trip. The first bump in the road came when I realized that my passport pages were almost completely full, which meant that I had to send it off to have an insert of pages added (2 weeks expedited). Next came the visas. I will be needing visas for eight of the fifteen countries - three of which I had to obtain before leaving the states (China, Vietnam and India) and the rest I’ll have to get in route. All of my flight dates are set but can be changed for a small fee. That makes this trip a little less flexible than my previous travels, but still allows
for change. As for now, I have set my itinerary for a week in China, two months in Southeast Asia, a month in India, two weeks in Egypt, three weeks in Eastern Europe and Kenya…well, that’s another story.
One thing I’ve found when traveling over a long period of time is that stopping to volunteer along the way really makes the experience that much more memorable and meaningful. That is why, as soon as I saw Nairobi, Kenya on my list of stops, I called Jane with Into Abba’s Arms (see my entry:
Into Open Arms, Into Abba's Arms) and asked her if I could stop by the orphanage and help out. Jane welcomed me in and even offered me a place to stay on the IAA grounds. I will be helping out at the IAA orphanage for roughly three months. I can’t wait to see their smiling little faces.
Now besides researching countries and practicing more than seven different languages (whatever), I visited with friends and family to say my goodbyes. I started off with a beach vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with the Wagners (Chad, Cayce and Chloe) and the Moores (Bobby, Jill, Trey, Tyler and Turner). What
The Wagners
Chad, Cayce and Chloe an amazing time spent with friends - boy those kids have grown (check out Cayce's slide show -
Outer Banks 2007). Note that most of the pictures on this blog were not taken by me...even though I claim the copyright (you've gotta be quick). Next came a Colorado wedding. I had the pleasure of being in my good friends Eric and Hannah’s wedding. It was great to see old faces and catch up on my time away from the Rocky Mountains. The Morrell family (now including Hannah) is amazing and always make me feel like part of the Fam. Following a few final work weeks in Savannah, I headed back to Knoxville to visit with my mom, grandmother and the numerous friends I rarely get to see now. It is amazing how just a year and a half ago I was leaving for my trip through Latin America and all of my farewell pictures were of my friends and family, many of who were pregnant or had just welcomed a new member. Now, I look over my new pictures and see so many new little faces that are part of our family of friends. That in part is why I’m leaving -
The Moores
Bobby, Jill, Trey, Tyler and Turner you people make me feel old!!! Finally, it was off to New York City to visit my brother Derek and the rest of my family (Marilyn, Alex and Jessica). The Big Apple is my departure city and the last piece of America I’ll see for a long while.
Surprisingly, this was my first visit to the “Big Apple” and it has been a long time in the waiting. This metropolitan giant definitely overwhelms you with its size and energy. I’d seen the city in numerous movies, but didn’t fully appreciate it until I stood staring up in Times Square. Derek and I toured the city (in record timing) from Midtown to Downtown to Uptown. We saw Times Square, Rockafeller Center, Madison Square Garden, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trump Tower, Central Park, Battery Park, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Ground Zero, the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Stock Exchange, the United Nations and the Empire States Building. Wow, what a tour and what a city. I now see why New York City is considered the business, media and cultural capital of the United States. Now, besides roaming through the “City That Never Sleeps,” I spent time in
the countryside of New Jersey wrestling with my niece and nephew and enjoyed the company of my brother and his Puerto Rican esposa, Marilyn. It is always great to see family and, of course, torture my little nephew Alex.
There is an uncomfortable issue (at least for me) that comes to light quite often in my travels - IBS!!! Yes, the infamous irritable bowel has frequented my journals and just had to make an appearance on this new adventure - I just wish it would have waited. While recently battling a Staph infection I picked up in Africa or maybe Savannah (it’s a toss up), I irritated the lining of my stomach with the medication I was taking. I wasn’t aware of the complications until I reached New Jersey, just days before my departure to Hong Kong. I went to a walk-in clinic and confirmed that I had Gastritis (one of the two ailments I previously caught on the Amazon). It was nothing serious. The doc prescribed me some meds to reduce the acids in my stomach and I should be back to abnormal soon enough. I was thinking though; it sure would be nice if someone would invent
a Pepto injector (Pepto-pen) for fast acting, emergency bowel control. It’s a brilliant idea! I’ll have to patent it upon my return.
Now it's time for me to take off. I ask that you keep me in your prayers and stay in touch with me while I’m gone. Along with e-mailed updates of my journal entries, I will also be posting real time information on my main page that tells what country I’m in and where I’m headed to next (because my journals are always behind a bit). You can either click on my photo in the top left corner or go to
www.mytb.org/Curl.
“Not all those who wander are lost”…well in my case, I can’t say I know exactly where my life is headed, but I do know that I’m going to have a fun time figuring it out.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.09s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 9; qc: 25; dbt: 0.0455s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Yimmy
non-member comment
Awesome
Bro, Keep the journals coming - just reading the notes and thoughts, seeing the pictures, helps to cure my travel jones. I have a cousin over in the philipines on an extended mission trip. She loves it. I hope it continues to fuel your mind and heart. Jimmy