EPTI did not get to go to all those countries. After miles and miles of traveling via bus and 4 pairs of shoes, I decided to make my home in Thailand! Long story short, I decided to stay because I got a volunteer position at a public school in Chiang Rai and it was too much fun (I am back in the States now)!
First, I went to Cambodia and visited Siem Reap, Penh, and then cross country to Sihanoukville. Afterwards, I crossed the border into Thailand and went to Bangkok. From Bangkok to Mahasarkham, where I taught English to university students (Mahasarakham is booming university city). Then I went to Chiang Mai in the north. Lastly, I found a home in Chiang Rai. I did travel back and forth quite a bit as I loved to visit my new friends in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. Traveling is cheap and very comfortable.
In Chiang Rai, I stayed with the Hill Tribe people of Northern Thailand for a week. I washed with rainwater every morning and slept with the chickens. That family made me feel like I was home.
@micronesia
At first I was going to backpack like a soldier for the entire trip, but it wasn't working out for me. The novelty wore off after the first month of trekking. If I was backpacking the Rockies, I would have enjoyed it a lot more, but the trails here aren't that great compared to the ones back home.
I did not have to carry a lot because the routes are lined with services for backpackers. Felt too touristy for me. So in the end I decided to do some work and live in Thailand for awhile. I knew the most people in Bangkok, but it is a bigger clusterfuck than a Toss ball. Too crowded for me. So I ran away to the north, to a rural city called Chiang Rai. It was here that I made some real good native friends that were my age. We became close brothers and a local elementary school asked me to teach English to the kids. It was the best job ever!
+ Show Spoiler +
micronesia: I'm sorry that I don't have any advice for you (I don't know much about those areas) but I'm hoping you can explain how this trip will work. I have backpacked, but only for a few days at most.
Can you explain in some detail how much you will carry, how you will resupply, how you will typically sleep, etc? Also, that sounds like a tremendous amount of distance/time to me. What fallbacks will you have in case of emergency?
Can you explain in some detail how much you will carry, how you will resupply, how you will typically sleep, etc? Also, that sounds like a tremendous amount of distance/time to me. What fallbacks will you have in case of emergency?
Overall, it was a great trip. Being alone and in a strange country where I do not speak the language, gave me the opportunity to learn a lot about myself and reflect on life. Isolation is revelation. Also, I fell in love with the people of SEA. The sights and things to do are cool, but it is truly the people here that make it wonderful. For them to make a foreigner like me feel so at home and belonging to the community...I will never forget that.
I lived very simply and modestly during this time. In the States and in Korea, I have too much. I am surrounded by the things I own and the things I want to get, to do, etc. I felt more alive in SEA with just my legs, my heart, and mind.
But enough of my story! I have a desire to help others who want to solo travel!
I will not run away from this blog so if you guys have any questions just ask me!
edit:
Now that I think about it, the only reason I made that blog post 6 months ago was just in case I died, I would leave a trail...hehehe.
