memories

This evening I was walking through the streets of Hanoi people watching. The locals gather around small tables on plastic stools drinking and eating bowls of soup. As I passed a car, it was blaring old school Vietnamese music - the kind I remember hearing on weekend mornings in Springfield, VA. I would wake up and walk downstairs to see my parents cooking or cleaning to this joyous music. It's been awhile since I've heard it, and it brought a huge smile to my face. :D

It's always nice when you are reminded of the past from a sound, smell, feel, taste, or sight. I've been trying to buy one small souvenir from every place that I've been so far. They aren't necessarily "nice", but they are usually everyday items like a lighter, purse, t-shirt, etc. It's a thin line between junk and a tasteful travel collection. The question I try to ask myself is: Will it just sit there and collect junk? If that's the case, I'd rather spend my money on an experience that I will remember forever.

Updated Itinerary

Hi Folks! Sorry I haven't been writing - I haven't had much down time. In the meantime, I wanted to let everyone know my itinerary. I've been thinking about what I'm going to do when Lauren heads back to the States.

Hi everyone! As you know, I'm in southeast asia right now. I wanted to give you all an idea of my travel plans in hopes that we can cross paths!

Here's my basic itinerary:

My friend Lauren and I have been in Thailand most of August and just got to Laos earlier this week. We did the Gibbon Experience (www.gibbonx.org) in the Bokeo Provence, near Thailand. We were in Vang Vieng and (of course!) went tubing TWICE. It was a blast! We parted ways in Vientiane - when Lauren flew home via Bangkok and I flew to Hanoi.

By mere coincidence, there are a few people that happen to be in Hanoi the same time as me. Jama (Ted's good friend is on business), Andrea (Singaporian friend I met in Hong Kong summer 2008), and Van (John Riordan's friend who works in Saigon). I'm looking forward to meeting a French-Canadian girl I met on the slow boat in Laos, Michele. We will spend 2-3 weeks making our way to Saigon.

I'm considering spending the month of November in northern Thailand with a program called "Monk for a Month". (www.monkforamonth.com) It's a bit pricey, but they have teachings in English and it's an organized program.

I hope to spend December traveling India, Nepal, Bangladesh and go to Dubai to meet up with a friend for the holidays. I'm not sure I can make it to all those countries or that side of the globe, but I'll try. If only I had a private jet! :P

Ted is coming to visit January 2. (our first year together!!) We plan on going to Bali and spend most of the time in Vietnam. My two older brothers are coming to Vietnam for the first time and we will all meet my mother's family together.

This trip is going to be a real treat! A number of folks on my mom's side will be coming through Saigon around the same time.

• My mom and 2 older brothers, Pierre and Paul
  
• My oldest uncle, Bac Hai from Paris, France
  
• His daughter, Chi Dzet, from Houston, Texas
• My cousin, Anh Nathan, from Sheperdstown, West Virginia
• My cousin, "Chi" Diana, during her 2-month winter break from grad school in Geneva (maybe her sister?!?!)
  

Not to mention, my cousin (dad's side) Hiep from New York should be arriving that month for her 2-year stay in Saigon.

My mother will be in Vietnam through February so it will be nice to spend time with her in her homeland. I also plan on signing up for a vietnamese language course - something to distract me, as 24/7 with anyone's mother could be a recipe for disaster! :D

Brigitte, Katie Ridd and Jaime (high school friends) and Michelle and Maggie (middle school friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law) and hopefully Trang and Lauren (again!) coming to Vietnam around March and April! I plan to travel in around Singapore, Malaysia, Phillipines and if I'm lucky, Burma these months.

I've told Ted that this is my 8-month long "bachelorette party" [this is a joke! i'm not engaged!] - but it's really just my really long vacation, and you're invited! :D

I'd love to meet up and enjoy this journey with you. See you in Saigon!! :p