The Pelham Adventure

I really did intend to finish off this blog with some sort of final entry, but once we got back it seems like "real life" just washed over all of us. So today I decided to really think back on the trip and come up with some conclusions. When we decided to come home after only seven months of travel I truly felt defeated and could not stop thinking of it as a failure. But now I see it as "Seven Whole Months of Travel" and I have come to the realization that it wasn't a failure at all. I am extraordinarily proud of what we did and even though I may have waffled a bit at first when people asked, "Was it worth it?" I have no hesitiation now when I say, "Absolutely!" Personally I actually feel different, as if all that cultural exposure actually did change me in a few ways. And when my wonderful daughter, who is about to turn 13, says that there is nothing she wants for her upcoming birthday because she feels "totally and completely happy with everything in her life" I have to believe that seeing the world has had an effect on her too.

Everyone has asked us, "What was your favorite place?" And I really did think that the final entry would be a list of favorites from each of us. That would have been pretty easy to do (Nicest people: Turkey, Most beautiful: Thailand, Favorite food...etc.), but since we have been home I think our reflections are actually a little more complicated than that. The place we talk about the most, by far, is India. It clearly made the biggest impression on all of us and is the source of most of our travel stories. Not one of us would have put anything about our three weeks there on a list of favorites! But looking back, I am so thankful that we went there and took on the challenge of really travelling in that most bizarre and foreign place. In retrospect, Europe was nice...but India was intense! Of course we loved Thailand, but to be honest Thailand is so easy you really can't brag about surviving three weeks or even three months in Thailand...it's paradise after all.

There is something very different about long term travel and I can't wait to do more. Of course it's a different perspective from your regular life at home, and it is also a very different perspective from a one-week vacation or an organized tour. We loved it and even though we came home broke and essentially homeless (at least until we can get back into our house in July!) it was the most valuable experience of our lives and worth every sacrifice.

See you right back here on this site just as soon as I can figure out a way to take off for South America!

Well, Shawn was having a strong need to get back to his businesses, Baylie was feeling pretty homesick, and I was finally forced to admit that we were basically out of money. So a few weeks ago my sister and I started working on a plan to surprise Mom with our very early homecoming. Erin invited Mom along on a day-trip to Disneyland (not a hard sell since my Mom is a bit of a Disney nut and going with her two little grandsons is something she would never pass up). Our big plan was to have them stop for a picture in front of the castle and we would magically appear to join in the picture. It worked out exactly as planned and there were screams, laughter, and tears all around.

Of course the fun of a surprise homecoming only lasts so long and then you realize, "Oh...we're home. Now what?" It's proving to be a harder transition than I expected.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who followed us along the way. It was a great feeling to know that we had a link to a familiar reality while we were jumping off into the unknown! I want to try to get Shawn and Baylie to help me with one last entry of each of our favorite things, what we each learned along the way, and the discoveries that will stick with us from now on. After that I guess this blog will sit idle until I can finally make it to South America (which might be sooner rather than later!) In the meantime, if anyone is planning an extended journey I would be happy to in my two cents and also follow your trip since mine is done.

Leslie

I don't say this often, and it may be awhile before I say it again, so listen carefully...my husband can be pretty amazing. He has been driving around a foregn country for the last month and today he took us right through downtown Bangkok and never even flinched. We were pretty hopelessly lost for a while but his confidence was unshakeable. Of course I was white-knuckle most of the time and I may have yelled a few choice things once or twice, but I am still impressed.

Today we found the Black Mountain Waterpark. It was outstanding! It's a brand new place and we had it almost all to ourselves. The waterslides were great and the place was just beautiful. A big hit with all three of us.

A few days ago we went to a little ""forest park" between Cha Am and Hua Hin planning to have a picnic, but we got caught in a torrential downpour while hiking on the nature trail. Still a lot of fun! There was a sign that said "Gibbon" with an arrow pointing down the path. Baylie and I cracked up because we couldn't imagine that the gibbons just sat around in the same spot all the time. But we rounded a corner, saw the Gibbon sign, and sure enough there they were just hanging in the trees right in front of the sign.

Speaking of odd signs, we often see yellow road signs that say something in Thai, then underneath have a translation that says "Accident Ahead". These are permanent signs, so I think perhaps something has been lost in the translation! We can't quite figure out what they are supposed to say

We have had a long time to notice tons of quirky translations, inconsistent spellings, etc. One little thing that drives Shawn absolutely crazy is the music. We hear American music everywhere; current pop, rock classics, oldies, you name it. But it is NEVER the original artist. Every single song is always a re-make. Often a very bad re-make, and almost always much more "bubble gum" sounding. It is bizarre!

Only eight more days until a 20 hour travel day...then Buenos Dias, Buenos Aires! Woo hoo Argentina!

We are down to the last ten days of our extended time in Asia and I've been trying to think of all the things we have learned here. I know Thailand and Cambodia were not at all what we expected. This place is the most relaxed and easy-going country we have been to. The people are friendly, cheerful, modest, polite, and seem truly happy. The country is peaceful and comfortable and somehow manages to be modern and traditional at the same time. It gave us the perfect place to put down roots for a little while when we needed to regroup and change our plans. It gave us the perfect tropical vacation and helped us save some serious money!

Even in the middle of our wonderful stay we did discover that long term travel needs some purpose. I realize that some people may be shocked by this...but there is such a thing as a "relaxing vacation" that goes on too long! While we were seeking out historical sights, finding our way through new cities, and constantly planning our arrival in the next new country our journey felt much more alive. Since we have settled into Thailand and have returned multiple times to some very familiar places we have become completely ready to move on. So we are gearing up for our next big jump across an ocean. Once again, adventure here we come!