In case you have been neglecting your Google Reader for the past couple of days (which I should be doing since it’s finals/graduation time), you’ve probably heard about my last minute trip to Thailand. It’s possibly the craziest thing I’ve ever done.
I will start out teaching English in the mountains north of Chiang Mai for two weeks with my mom before doing my first solo trip to Croatia aboard a BusAbout cruise.
So what do I hope to get out of this trip? Saying I want to find myself sounds so cheesy, but it’s true. I’m testing myself to see if I can handle this lifestyle. I need to know if I’m cut out for it before I put all my efforts into being a travel writer. When I’m in Thailand, I hope to learn to travel less selfishly.
I want to learn to give back when I’m abroad. I want to spend time with my mother, who instilled this travel addiction in me. I know she wishes she could travel more, but she had a lot of her own adventures before I was born.
When I’m in Croatia, I want to be independent. I want to arrive somewhere without knowing anyone and leave with lifelong friends.
So here’s the books/movies that have inspired this trip so far:
- Traveling with Pomegranates: I fell in love with this book when I read it in December because it’s about a mother daughter journey, which this is about to be. They’re at separate points in their lives but need an adventure equally.
- Eat Pray Love: It’s a contrived example of a travelogue where a woman finds herself after a crisis, but I really hope I will. I also can’t wait to see the movie!
- Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason: I know I know. It’s so cheesy. And I won’t be macking it with Hugh Grant or doing magic mushrooms or going to jail, but the scenery is what I’m after. And maybe I will eat a bug or two…if only to cross off #42 of my Life List (eat something exotic).
So here is my official itinerary:
May 26
- Atlanta to Los Angeles, Delta Airlines, 5:15-7:10 p.m.
- Los Angeles to Bangkok, Thai Airways, 11:20 p.m.-6:40 a.m.
May 27 –Crossing International Date Line
May 28
- Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Thai Airways, 7:45-9:05 a.m.
May 28-June 9 Thailand
- Chiang Mai for 3 days? Mountains until June 9
June 9
- Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Thai Airways, 5-6:10 p.m.
- Bangkok to Frankfurt, Lufthansa, 11:55 p.m.-6:10 a.m.
June 10
- Explore Frankfurt, 6:10 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
- Frankfurt to Split, Lufthansa, 12:05-1:40 p.m.
- Check into Silver Gate Hostel
June 10-11
- Explore Split, stay at Silver Gate Hostel
June 12
- Leave Split on BusAbout cruise
- Travel from Split to Hvar
June 13
- Travel from Hvar to Mljet
June 14
- Travel from Mljet to Dubrovnik
June 15
- Travel from Dubrovnik to Korcula
June 16
- Travel from Korcula to Makarska
June 17
- Travel from Makarska to Omis
June 18
- Travel from Omis to Split
June 19
- Arrive in Split and check out at 9 a.m.
- Check back into Silver Gate Hostel
June 20
- Take day trip to Zadar
- Return to Silver Gate Hostel
June 21
- Split to Zurich, Croatia Airlines, 7:20-9:20 a.m.
- Zurich to Washington DC, United Airlines, 11:55 a.m.-3:05 p.m.
- Washington DC to Atlanta, United Airlines, 4:36-6:26 p.m.
So many airports, so little time. And how many passport stamps? At least 4.
What’s the craziest travel-related thing you’ve ever done?
OMG, how exciting!!! I think you are going to be so freaking proud of yourself for being brave and going on this awesome adventure. I can't wait to hear all about it after the fact. What an AWESOME itinerary! :)Congrats on graduating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PS Most of my travels are filled with crazy adventures. But, I think I'm most proud of my 2 week solo trip to Brasil, and especially my 4 day trip to the heart of the Amazon.
So jealous I could throw up. But AWESOME, can't wait to hear about your adventures!