Leaving Asia - Starting on a new path

Well, the time has come. It is just hours until I take off in an airplane headed for Uzbekistan and then Rome, Italy. It's been a wild 14 months that I've spent jumping around Asia and I've really enjoyed my time, even with the craziness that it has brought.

I'm actually feeling very nervous but also excited about this next step in my life, becoming a permanent traveler. I can't quite put it into words, how this all feels. Some people say they 'get it' but I'm not sure most people do. It's such an humbling experience, packing everything you own into two backpacks and giving everything that doesn't fit away. Do I really need that 5th pair of shoes? How many pairs of underwear will I really want to have. Which mementos from my time in Asia will I take with me, of the hundred of pictures my students have drawn to random papers that I seem to collect?

These past 2 months I have been traveling solo have been really hard and life changing at the same time. Truly understanding what it means to be on my own, not having anyone or anything to answer to except for me. No work, no significant other, no parents (sorry Mom...), I can get a tattoo (check), I can get smashed on Khao San Street in Bangkok (check), I can buy a one way ticket to another continent (check) and I can just vegetate in my room for 3 days at a time (check). It's all up to me and it is a breath of fresh air that is terrifying to take.

Well, those are my thoughts on the subject as I'm sitting here waiting for a bus to take me to the airport. By the way, Uzbekistan Airlines has really cheap flights from Bangkok to Rome. Hopefully I'll get a good story out of these plane rides.

View of North Phnom Penh from Phnom Oudong, Cambodia

The best way to travel in Southeast Asia

Plane, train, sleeper bus, tuk-tuk, motos, bus and cars. There are so many modes of transportation here in Southeast Asia and they are all so special in their own right. Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of each. 

Plane - Pros: Fast, on time (normally/ish), easily acessible. Cons: Expensive, normally outside of main areas of town and full of barangs (western people).

Train - Pros: Fast, on time, great people watching. Cons: More expensive, limited hours of service, limited locations. 

Sleeper Bus - Pros: Cheap, easily booked, saves money on lodging (overnight buses). Cons: Somewhat uncomfortable, only fits people about 5'10" and shorter, some Lao sleeper buses are doubles so if you're a single rider, you'll be sleeping next to a random person, slower.

Tuk-tuk - Pros: Very easy to find, cheaper (watch getting charged the "Barang Price"), exciting people and traffic watching. Cons: Bigger so they can take longer, overcharging drivers, easy to get belongings stolen. 

Motos - Pros: Fast, cheap, easily found. Cons: Life threatening driving experiences, not for long distances. 

Bus - Pros: Cheap, they will go all over and stop anywhere, easily accessible, full of nice locals. Cons: A million and a half stops for random people getting on and off, longer times, crowded at times. 

Cars (personal or taxi) - Pros: fast, easily booked, can go anywhere and at anytime, direct door to door service. Cons: Expensive, longer times if a lot of traffic (in city), crowded at times if you put 4-5 people plus bags in a car. 

All are amazing experiences though, very entertaining from watching locals and all they can fit into a tuk tuk/moto/car to watching Barangs that don't know how to travel. It's a humbling and growing experience I truly suggest for everyone!