Okay, so, though I did that last post as an initial inspiration to make this a video blog, I got hung up pretty quick with gettin' my video to upload smoothly. I have since fixed the fundamental problem, but still haven't bothered to upload the videos. The future awaits for those.
Nontheless, I'm going to make this my new blog for my upcomming worldly travels. The travel bug infection I've been nursing for so many years is now finally going full-blown, and will soon be over-running my body. I'm going to try and start updating it more regularly now to keep my family and friends, and new aquantinces, updated on my current travel plans and whatnot. I'm usually a bad blogger, but I'll try harder. Really.
Incidentally and ironically, keeping with my original post theme, this post's title seems apt.
In any case, today's mission was to go to Eugene and get my bike fixed up from the tour I had last summer. Several bits had rusted fairly well with all the coastal riding, and my rear rim was starting to crack again with all the weight on it, so had to replace that as well. The rear derailleur was a bit busted up and hadn't been shifting right for awhile either, so fixed that as well. Luckily, I had some credit from a referral that I made to Julie's father, and with additional credit for it being used in store, I saved $95 on the whole. And now my bike's all (non-)squeaky clean again.
Whilst I was waiting for said repairs, I entertained myself with shopping at REI. Luckily I ended up not buying anything, partially due to the fact that they didn't have the size backpack I've been eyeing, and partially because I didn't have my REI credit card and couldn't get that remaining 2% dividend when they give you your accumulated discount (when not using *their* credit card; it's a sham, but at least they tell you). I wanted to check out the difference between their "travel" packs (which are mostly big backpacks with a detachable day pack and are complete with a hojillion clips and straps to tie itself together in new and confusing ways) and normal frame hiking style backpacks. I opted for the former. But, when sized (oddly enough, I fit the medium best), they didn't have in stock. So, online order it is.
Still working on a bunch of stuff for the whole travel thing. To continue that however, I would now like to solicit you all for general help. Mostly I would like to collect some of your advice on travel if you're willing, especially on areas I'm planning on going and ways I mean to travel, but I'm not real picky. And contacts and connections are a big help, like if you know people who might be willing to bunk me for a night in some far off place, that would be terribly helpful. If you know of good places to go, or not to go, or what to look for, or not look for, promote or avoid, etc. ... or whatever... I am merely an egg.
My current trip plans go something like this:
I'm going to start by heading out to Atlanta to see my folks for a few or three weeks. By this time I'll have moved all my stuff out and managed all the stuff around town. I'd like it to be by the end of April, but there is a bunch to do.
Post Atlanta, I want to head to Hawai'i to hang out there for a bit. Maybe a week, maybe a month. Hard to say. Also depends on what kinda flight arrangements I can manage that don't suck. We shall see.
After that, my decision is much more fluid, partially because I'll be out in it at this point, and I intend to stay as flexible as possible wit my plans. I realize this is terribly unhelpful for most aspects of planning, but if I wanted to plan it, I would've already. I can do that, I actually have a great deal of trouble not planning things to death. Must be a genetic german thing. Hum. At any rate though, I'm leaning towards Japan and South Korea after that. When is mostly the stickler. I'm debating right now whether I want to try setting up a job/stay/thing in Japan to be able to afford staying there longer and enjoying the culture in more depth. My primary interest in Japan is to study Aikido, and if I can swing that by teaching English, or really anything for that matter, I'm game. My only possible conflict is that I don't know if I'd be willing to go it a whole year. Six months would be fine, but after than, I dunno. Again, debating that part.
My other thought is to do a bike tour down part of the country. This is a tricky thought though: I don't know the language well, even less about the geography, and still less about how to do a bike tour there. Much research still required. Anything anyone can add to any of that would be helpful. I'm going to go look up Japanese bike touring.
I also have some friends in South Korea teaching English right now. Though I'm not as inclined to teach there, primarily because if I stay somewhere long enough, I'd like to get into a good more Aikido lest I loose what small edge I have now.
A potential and workable scenario would be to go to Japan on a normal tourist visa, check it out for the 90 day limit or so, head to S.Korea and check it out, and then decide what to do.
Nonetheless.
All that is in such a more dynamic future, that even those plans seem futile to be called a tentative possibility.
After that, I would like to work my way through east-southeast-south asia. Thailand is rather appealing. Vietnam and the others in the peninsula look interesting, but I could spend lifetimes there in any case, so I'll just say Thailand right now.
And after that, India. Again with the lifetimes.
But, that's where I want to go. Spend a good deal of time bummin in India if all goes well. Cheaper there anyway. I'd think of China more, but I don't really have a thing for China yet. Perhaps someday. I'd like to head through there after India, perhaps go on the Trans-Siberian Rail to moscow and St. Petersberg, work my way through Europe, and then head back to the states. But, as future things go, it is out there.
And there you have it. Discuss. :-)
