Destination World: Farewell to Southeast Asia

Bangkok, Thailand - January 8

And so, after thirteen satisfying, memorable months, I pack my bag and prepare to leave this place I've grown to love so deeply. To hop on an airplane and arrive back in India, in another WORLD, in the matter of of a mere two hours seems utterly surreal. Darin + I kept toying with the idea of doing it all overland (as so far on this trip we've opted only to use planes as a matter of necessity), but our two possible routes were both restricted. 1) To go through Burma to Bangladesh to India, or 2) Vietnam to China to Tibet to Nepal to India. The first was impossible due to Burma's tight control over tourist's movements within + in and out of the country. The latter was due to expense plus the seasonal closure of the high pass linking Llhasa to Kathmandu. And so, we ended up back in Bangkok, running last-minute errands in preparation for our departure tomorrow. (Photo: Me standing next to giant standing Buddha at Si Satchanali - One of our favorite spots in Thailand)

It's much easier to get some perspective and not be so enamored here than if we were leaving directly from Cambodia, Vietnam or Southern China (I include the latter because the southernmost provinces feel very connected). Thailand, the place that drew me back to this part of the world initially, is not the place I long to be now. I/we held many hopes about what we wanted from this life adventure when we left, and a big one was to experience cultures distinctly different from our own. Thailand's got alot to offer, but it doesn't rank as highly in this respect. And though most of the developing countries we've traveled through ARE following the western model to one extent or another, the places we've fallen in love with are either well behind the curve or doing it with their own distinct flair. India falls into that category too, in a MAJOR way, which is partly why we've decided to go back instead of checking out Africa or some other new places in South America, even though we know they'd be great too. (Photo above: Darin with tree-root entwined temple at Angkor, Photo below: Woman cycling in countryside, both in Cambodia.)

Either way, we know we should leave, simply from the fact that we didn't leave our comfy scene in S.F. just to build another comfy scene abroad. At least not yet. We're not quite ready to become permanent expats... as tempting as it is.

But Asia's under our skin now and our plan was to really get into the culture here and take away as many valuable lessons from it as we could. And I have, even though I haven't mastered them in practice yet - Of patience and living daily with a slower pace; To be more aware of what's right in front of me instead of thinking of a million things at once; To be less selfish and more giving. Though India is different, we know it will inspire us afresh and help spark ideas for our future at home that we need to seriously begin contemplating. India's the kind of place that makes you search within yourself. To go deep. (Photo: Monks accepting morning alms of food from local women in Laos)

So yes, I'm here boxing up all the sexy, womanly clothes that I've been able to wear here (even though it too is more conservative than home) and don a more androgynous attire that will attract less unwanted attention among the masses of men that can't adultly handle the sight of bare skin. And from a country that was once renowned for it's eroticism! But as I've said before, you've got to work and make sacrifices for the myriad of wonderful things that India DOES offer. I know it won't be easy, but it WILL yield lifelong memories, and more importantly, teach me more valuable lessons.

So with that, I find myself relishing this final, bittersweet day. Trying to clearly capture in my minds eye all the daily scenes that have become so familiar - Women carrying vegetables and joking together at the markets, men sawing big blocks of ice and waiting around on their motos for a fare, children playing with homemade toys and riding on their parents laps on motos... SO many things that I'll miss.