Wow! It's hard to know where to start but we are convinced that the immediate reflections on a year of travel will be a valuable memory. As we sit on our final plane ride of the journey the setting seems to be the right time to pour out a few thoughts and jot answers to some commonly asked questions.
At the start of our journey we tried to define how we felt with an appropriate analogy. The analogy we fell on was the feeling of going off to university. The wonder, the excitement, the unknowns. When one leaves for college there is a belief that one will come out a better version of oneself on the other end. What is unknown is what those differences will be and how those transformations will occur. So many variables such as the quality of life, the different stresses, the risks, the new friends, how to keep relationships with existing friends, etc.
Now that we are on our way homes we can say with confidence that we are thoroughly happy with our decision to forget the expected responsibilities of life and see from the front row what the world has to offer. We return home appreciating more deeply where we landed on the roulette wheel of birth and that we were both born into supportive families, in countries that provided opportunities that many people in the world can barely dream of. We return to our normal lives refreshed, motivated and with a much deeper understanding of human beings, politics, and the world in general.
In some moments we have craved the comforts of home, while at most times we have fully embraced the chaos, the crowds, the fumes, the utter madness that is normal for many. Our appreciation of the structured western way of life has grown, as has our desire to help find a way to find a balance between nature and providing for the needs of the billions of people on this planet.
We return home having absorbed some great achievements by man but also emotionally changed as a result of visiting the locations of some of the most inhumane actions man has ever inflicted on himself. The slippery slopes in which nasty regimes have found their way into power is a stark reminder that we need to be find ways to work together and bridge the political and economic divides that have been rapidly spouting their ugly heads in the past few years. Being human is about being different, about being free, about helping one another, not hating.
On a more superficial level our senses have been saturated with the views of majestic temples, stunning cathedrals, ancient ruins, and other worldly landscapes. Our ears have been filled with the sounds of many languages - some beautiful and some not - with the scents of exotic cuisines, the tastes of the freshest fruits, the textures of the warm sand on our feet, and the feel of a hug of a friend or family member. We miss the freshness of the tropical fruits that we devoured in South East Asia, yet loved returning to Europe where the abundance of breads and cheeses made up for the absence of picked ripe fruit.
We have been so utterly amazed with the welcoming and friendly nature of strangers, starting in Thailand where a young couple welcomed us into their guesthouse and insisted on touring us around their pocket of Thailand. To the family in Vietnam that was so happy every time we returned to their little resort and made conversation with us as best we could communicate across the barriers of language. On the other side of the pacific and near the southern ends of the earth we made friends as we tested our physical endurance during a trek in Patagonia. The kindness of random strangers in Argentina and then in Turkey to give us an unexpected ride. In our opinions most people want the same things, the essentials of food and shelter, but beyond that a sense of belonging, of feeling connected to one another and to the splendor of our wonderful planet.
We are also grateful for the family members and friends we synced up with during all parts of our trip. Your love kept us from ever being lonely and added another dimension to our overall experience. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy lives to meet us, to give us somewhere to stay, or sent the occasional message. You're all amazing people and we hope it is not too long before we see you again.
On a less sentimental note here is a short summary of answers to some of the common questions we've been asked.
We have been repeatedly asked about our favorite places. Scott has typically answered with Bali on the caveat that you get away from the main tourist areas and find a way get to some of the less crowded beaches. The food on the island was incredible, the ability to hike in the mountains or surf in the ocean, the beauty of the rice terraces and the friendliness of the people make it hard to choose somewhere else. The landscape of Patagonia ranked very highly to Scott as well, and the Vietnamese town of Hoi An also stands out.
Tori fell in love with Vietnam. From the friendly people, to the wonderful food, places such as Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, and the organized chaos of Hanoi. The other place Tori would love to return to are the Greek Islands home to beautiful beaches, lovely white villages, and hundreds of cats, it's obvious why Tori wants to go back.
The country that positively surprised us the most was Bolivia. The high plains and desert were absolutely stunning with our tour of that area culminating at the salt flats, one of the most bizarre but beautiful landscapes in the world. The towns of Sucre and Potosi allured us with their pretty streets and intense histories. The setting of the metropolis of La Paz was so unique that only visiting will do it justice. Where else in the world is the best way of getting around a gondola ride? We were worried about the food in this country but had some of our favorite meals here. The abundance of quinoa and cheap prices likely helped.
Biggest location letdown of the trip. The coastal towns on the Black Sea were far more touristed than we expected. We were unable to find anything really authentic there except for the unesco world heritage town of Nessebar. We were told it would be like this but we had been told similar things about other parts of the world and found gems in those locations. Although cheap we wouldn't recommend going out of your way to visit the black sea coast of Bulgaria.
Our best pieces of advice to you. Traveling in the shoulder season gave us a very good mix of good weather, less crowds, better accommodations, and generally lower prices. Try and visit the most popular sites very early or at the end of the day to avoid the worst masses. Be flexible, if possible, and listen to the advice of locals. The locals know the best restaurants and the best times to visit places. Eat lots of local foods, drink the local craft beers. Most importantly dont rush too much. Allow the sites and sounds to soak in.
All the countries we visited in order from Start to finish and only listed once. USA, Canada, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia (Bali), Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, South Korea, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Netherlands, Belgium, France, England. 22 countries total.
Some photos just because every post should have photos.
At the start of our journey we tried to define how we felt with an appropriate analogy. The analogy we fell on was the feeling of going off to university. The wonder, the excitement, the unknowns. When one leaves for college there is a belief that one will come out a better version of oneself on the other end. What is unknown is what those differences will be and how those transformations will occur. So many variables such as the quality of life, the different stresses, the risks, the new friends, how to keep relationships with existing friends, etc.
Now that we are on our way homes we can say with confidence that we are thoroughly happy with our decision to forget the expected responsibilities of life and see from the front row what the world has to offer. We return home appreciating more deeply where we landed on the roulette wheel of birth and that we were both born into supportive families, in countries that provided opportunities that many people in the world can barely dream of. We return to our normal lives refreshed, motivated and with a much deeper understanding of human beings, politics, and the world in general.
In some moments we have craved the comforts of home, while at most times we have fully embraced the chaos, the crowds, the fumes, the utter madness that is normal for many. Our appreciation of the structured western way of life has grown, as has our desire to help find a way to find a balance between nature and providing for the needs of the billions of people on this planet.
We return home having absorbed some great achievements by man but also emotionally changed as a result of visiting the locations of some of the most inhumane actions man has ever inflicted on himself. The slippery slopes in which nasty regimes have found their way into power is a stark reminder that we need to be find ways to work together and bridge the political and economic divides that have been rapidly spouting their ugly heads in the past few years. Being human is about being different, about being free, about helping one another, not hating.
On a more superficial level our senses have been saturated with the views of majestic temples, stunning cathedrals, ancient ruins, and other worldly landscapes. Our ears have been filled with the sounds of many languages - some beautiful and some not - with the scents of exotic cuisines, the tastes of the freshest fruits, the textures of the warm sand on our feet, and the feel of a hug of a friend or family member. We miss the freshness of the tropical fruits that we devoured in South East Asia, yet loved returning to Europe where the abundance of breads and cheeses made up for the absence of picked ripe fruit.
We have been so utterly amazed with the welcoming and friendly nature of strangers, starting in Thailand where a young couple welcomed us into their guesthouse and insisted on touring us around their pocket of Thailand. To the family in Vietnam that was so happy every time we returned to their little resort and made conversation with us as best we could communicate across the barriers of language. On the other side of the pacific and near the southern ends of the earth we made friends as we tested our physical endurance during a trek in Patagonia. The kindness of random strangers in Argentina and then in Turkey to give us an unexpected ride. In our opinions most people want the same things, the essentials of food and shelter, but beyond that a sense of belonging, of feeling connected to one another and to the splendor of our wonderful planet.
We are also grateful for the family members and friends we synced up with during all parts of our trip. Your love kept us from ever being lonely and added another dimension to our overall experience. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy lives to meet us, to give us somewhere to stay, or sent the occasional message. You're all amazing people and we hope it is not too long before we see you again.
On a less sentimental note here is a short summary of answers to some of the common questions we've been asked.
We have been repeatedly asked about our favorite places. Scott has typically answered with Bali on the caveat that you get away from the main tourist areas and find a way get to some of the less crowded beaches. The food on the island was incredible, the ability to hike in the mountains or surf in the ocean, the beauty of the rice terraces and the friendliness of the people make it hard to choose somewhere else. The landscape of Patagonia ranked very highly to Scott as well, and the Vietnamese town of Hoi An also stands out.
Tori fell in love with Vietnam. From the friendly people, to the wonderful food, places such as Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, and the organized chaos of Hanoi. The other place Tori would love to return to are the Greek Islands home to beautiful beaches, lovely white villages, and hundreds of cats, it's obvious why Tori wants to go back.
The country that positively surprised us the most was Bolivia. The high plains and desert were absolutely stunning with our tour of that area culminating at the salt flats, one of the most bizarre but beautiful landscapes in the world. The towns of Sucre and Potosi allured us with their pretty streets and intense histories. The setting of the metropolis of La Paz was so unique that only visiting will do it justice. Where else in the world is the best way of getting around a gondola ride? We were worried about the food in this country but had some of our favorite meals here. The abundance of quinoa and cheap prices likely helped.
Biggest location letdown of the trip. The coastal towns on the Black Sea were far more touristed than we expected. We were unable to find anything really authentic there except for the unesco world heritage town of Nessebar. We were told it would be like this but we had been told similar things about other parts of the world and found gems in those locations. Although cheap we wouldn't recommend going out of your way to visit the black sea coast of Bulgaria.
Our best pieces of advice to you. Traveling in the shoulder season gave us a very good mix of good weather, less crowds, better accommodations, and generally lower prices. Try and visit the most popular sites very early or at the end of the day to avoid the worst masses. Be flexible, if possible, and listen to the advice of locals. The locals know the best restaurants and the best times to visit places. Eat lots of local foods, drink the local craft beers. Most importantly dont rush too much. Allow the sites and sounds to soak in.
All the countries we visited in order from Start to finish and only listed once. USA, Canada, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia (Bali), Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, South Korea, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Netherlands, Belgium, France, England. 22 countries total.
Some photos just because every post should have photos.
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