I Bought a One-Way Ticket to Bangkok

It’s true. I bought a one-way ticket to Bangkok.   I have absolutely no solid plans, and for once, I’m okay with that.

It wasn’t an easy decision to make, and every time I tell someone about my trip, I always get asked a million questions.  Let’s make it simple; I’ll answer them all here:

Why Are You Going?

It sounds a little crazy to simply pack up and leave, I know.  What makes a person walk away from a steady job, lovely beachside apartment, and meaningful personal relationships?  All I can manage when asked this question is that I simply need to.

I need to do this.

All I have ever really wanted out of the world is to see the whole of it.

I spent the early part of my 20s as an investment banker. Life was so structured for so long, it was stifling.  I couldn’t breathe.  My stress levels were at an all-time high and frankly I was suffering from depression.  My life felt as grey as the walls of my cubicle. Each year blurred into the next.   When I look back on the past four years, I can hardly separate one from the other.

I found myself questioning everything I had been conditioned to believe.  I started to realize that ‘success’ was subjective, and for me, it didn’t mean owning things.  I had worked my butt off in order to buy a purse, or a necklace, or a dress, only to realize that they brought me no joy.   It didn’t seem that this was the way life was supposed to work.

So I quit.

Then I bought a one-way ticket.

Then I sold everything I owned in the span of one week so that I couldn’t possibly change my mind.

Isn’t That a Little Irresponsible?

Maybe, but I have a secret for you – the happiest people in the world are the ones who mercilessly follow their dreams.  That’s what I’m doing.  Chasing a dream.

Why Thailand?

I fell in love with Asia after moving to Taiwan in 2007. Due to a lapse in my visa, I was forced to leave before I was ready.  I’ve been missing Asia ever since.

What Will You Do There?

Explore, dance, dive, meet some amazing people, eat fresh seafood, consume my weight in mango, watch the stars at night and contemplate life, and most of all, I’ll be doing TONS of writing, picture taking, and adventuring.

Stick around, you’ll come to find that I dive face-first into just about everything without many plans.  This doesn’t always work out particularly well for me, but it does make for some entertaining stories for you.

Are you Going Alone?

Yes, which, honestly, freaks me out a little.  I’ve never traveled long term alone (though I did move to Taipei alone at age 21 to study Mandarin). I have never even backpacked.

I’ve hardly ever even been single.  Seems to me that I need this.  If nothing else, just to get to know me a little better.

Where Else Will You Go?

I don’t make plans.  I just let things happen.

That said, I’m loosely intending on traveling through Cambodia, Laos, China, Mongolia, East Timor (for diving), Burma, and I just might have to make my way back to Taiwan as well.

When Are You Coming Back Home?

Maybe never, if all goes according to plan.

I simply don’t know, and that’s the beauty of it.

What is to Come on this Site?

Back in my cubicle-dwelling days, I was continuously inspired by nomadic women who wrote about their journeys and experiences.  Seeing how many strong women were out there living out my dream made me realize it was a possibility for me, too.

This site is my chronicle of the adventures to come.  I’m silly, I think joking and laughing is the best form of therapy.  I’m adventurous – I dive right into things.  I’m willing to try just about anything, and I like finding the lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path travel destinations.  I am fascinated by other cultures, and rather than just telling you want I’m doing every day, I’ll make it funny and interesting.

I do hope you’ll follow along.  I promise to make it worth your while.

*cover photo by Escape the City