The prospect of another winter here in this town of Juneau Alaska is unbearable. Just thinking about the dark and cold nights that are sure to be spent alone with nothing but a television and an Xbox for company makes me want to lash out irrationally at the nearest inanimate object, which just so happens to be my work computer, so I should probably remedy the situation before I lose my job.
I have been considering leaving the country for some time now. Ever since I graduated High School back in 2003, I have had an unused round trip plane ticket to anywhere in the world that I just haven’t gotten around to using. I could bore you with a list of excuses as to why I have not cashed this in until now (my lack of financial responsibility being the primary reason) but let’s just skip that. And so, now that I have the proper motivation, I have decided to leave here in the coming month of November.
There are two places in the world that I have always wanted to see. The first being Japan, for that is where my Father served a two year mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. For as long as I can remember, my Father has regaled me with fond memories of friendly people and great food.
When I was in second grade, my school participated in a cultural teacher exchange. My teacher Ms. Cross and a teacher from Australia swapped classrooms. While the teacher was a horrid bitch, she did instill within one small Troy Willis the desire to travel to her country. (I will also admit to being a serious fan of the Disney classic Rescuers Down Under. My sister and I probably watched that movie more than 50 times.)
With these two places in mind, I decided to request that my flight be to Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand has received a reputation for being a traveler’s hub. From Bangkok, I can maximize my opportunities, and see any more places than just Australia and Japan. Both of those countries are known for being quite expensive, while Thailand, and other countries nearby, is known for great places for travelers on a budget. From Thailand, I will explore Laos, Vietnam, Burma, Indonesia, and whatever other country that I so please. This will be no small holiday, as I plan to be away for many months.
My goal on this trip: to get outside of my comfort zone, where nobody knows me, where I can really find myself. I want to meet people of all backgrounds, experience different cultures, and to develop and inspire the writer within myself. I will be journaling and blogging extensively on this adventure. I hope to share my experiences, and maybe inspire others to take similar adventures of their own.
In the coming months, I will be blogging all about my preparations. That includes things to pack, what I might want to visit, guide books, and anything else I deem relevant. I know my blog has been rather empty (who would have guessed?) but this is something I am determined to remedy.
2010 has been a hard year for me so far. I have been dealing with issues that have long been buried away in the far outskirts of my brain. I have been surrounded with people who love me, yet I still feel more alone than I ever have in my entire life. Despite the drastic changes I have made in my life during the past few months, things that include cutting down on my media intake, exercising, and being outdoors more, my mental state remains unchanged. I am hoping that after I come back from this adventure, I will not be the same person that I am now.
Join me in my next post as I attempt to find the perfect Backpack I need to carry my belongings in the travels to come.
