Here I am in Rochester Hills, Michigan. I embark in one week on the dream adventure of my lifetime. I will travel through Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. I haven't seen my travelling companion, Jake, since we graduated from Michigan State about a year and a half ago. But we have both stayed true to this dream, this plan, this adventure, that started over two years ago with our imaginations exploring the possiblities of international travel.
Where we will go...We fly into Madrid, Spain, on March 14th. Over the course of the next year we plan to visit Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Australia, and New Zealand. That's right, our passports will put James Bond to shame. As for what we'll actually be doing during the year...fulfilling our wildest travelling fantasies. I've always wanted to see the pyramids, scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef, learn to surf, hike through the Alps, mediatate in ancient Asian temples, get a tribal nose piercing deep in an Indonesian jungle...just kidding Mom.
What I've been doing...ordering groceries at Whole Foods has taken most of my hours during the last year...I had to stash some bones away somehow. In the meantime, I've taken up yoga and climbing, which I hope to continue to practice as I travel. We already have some climbing spots scoped out in Spain, Italy, Vietnam, and Thailand. I've been reading quite a bit lately...Hermann Hesse has me temporarily hypnotized, and if you need/have a book reccomendation...holla.
I'll miss most of all my friends and family. I'll miss bike rides through Bloomer with my brother, Mom's cooking, climbing at the gym (although climbing outside in Europe may top that), hikes at Addison Oaks with the Whole Foods crew, etc.
The pack list includes my small 60L backpack, one pair pants, one pair swim trunks (doubling as shorts), three pair underwear, three pair socks, microfleece, rain jacket, rain pants, hat, two bandanas, beanie, long underwear bottoms, and sunglasses. We will be camping in as many places as possible so we will also be carrying a tent between the two of us, and a sleeping bag and pad. I will be bringing my camera to keep everyone posted with picture updates in emails and blogs. And my guilty pleasure item will be my iPod for those long airport delays. My reading list will be changing constantly, and I need some recommendations for a couple books as my first reads on the trip. I will have my trusty toiletry kit, which is my current bathroom supplies packed into a 8x10" foloding kit, and I will also have a first aid kit and medicine kit packed in some small trendy make-up bags, curteousy of my mom. We will share a sewing kit, water purifier, and stove set between the two of us, and my personal cookware will include a sierra cup with the backpackers silverware set. I'll probably remember plenty other things the day before I ship out, and if you have any recommendations, I will be grateful.
Thus concludes my first transmission. I will post pictures, insights, itineraries, and all other sorts of fun shenanigans here in the future, so keep checking up on this site.
Finally, I just want to let everyone know how good it felt this last week at home, just hanging, and feeling the love from all my friends and family. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions these last few days, but I've never felt so much love and support from everyone that has supported this dream of mine. I will keep you all in my heart as I tramp the globe. Don't be shy...drop me a line. I know I will love to hear from anyone and everyone. Until we meet again...we are all one within our hearts.
Peace and Love
Justin
