goodbye office tel, hello backpack

Leaving Korea wasn't fun. There were tears. There were so many hugs and promises and expressions of love, as there always are at the end of a shared adventure. A journey taken together, that's the expat way, and people might come in and out very often but the true ones, the ones met and loved and that touch your heart in new ways, I'll never forget any of that or any of you. I already miss my little one room apartment, my 'officetel' loft and what became my safe haven from pressure, noise, pollution, and loneliness. I know they say it's good to leave when everything's great, but the life I created from scratch had so many places to go, it's so hard to believe I'm really leaving it all behind. Traveling is all well and good, but what about building?

In the meantime, because I always planned it this way and because every decision has about a million other viable options, I have exchanged all hard-earned comfort for strange surroundings and a backpack full of everything I could ever need. I am slowly learning where it's all kept, those life necessities, that in this case include everything from pairs of earrings to malaria meds. I am still working out some serious personal definitions. Figure it out as you go, it could be worse, and live for the freedom, have become mantras already. I have great companionship (we'll be six girls by tuesday) and am staying safe. The beaten path is well worn in this part of the world and for now the gentle flow is relaxing and well-received.

And so, after a few days on the infamous Khao San Road, a delightful escape from it all on Koh Chang for some serious do nothing in the sunshine time, and a wicked private chartered, air-conditioned van ride through most of northern Thailand, we arrive in Chiang Mai, ready to jungle trek, watch a boxing match, and learn a little about cooking the delicious curries we can't get enough of.

And so the adventure begins...