For every hello, there is a goodbye...

I'm back from my 1 month backpacking adventure in Thailand. I have to say that it was a mind blowing experience. I'm not really at a stage where I can sit here and bang off a whole bunch of anecdotes. There were many, but what might seem relevant and interesting to me, might be completely mundane to you guys... I will say that the trip blew my mind in so many ways... This trip opened my eyes to so many misconceptions that I had about Thailand, travelling, people and the world in general, both good and bad. I was witness to so much beauty... cultural, environmental and physical, but I was also witness to so much abuse... cultural, environmental and personal; some of it which just churned my stomach.

I think that the most rewarding part of the trip was that I learned so much about myself. For the first time in a long time, I was able to see myself for who I was and not who I wanted to be. Many of my ideas, ideals, morals and values were put to the test and reinforced while others were blown away.

I was also very fortunate to have met many really amazing people. For some reason I attracted many many many Swiss and Canadians from the West Coast... it was kind of weird... I think my German improved ten fold. I'm going to miss these guys and gals... to be honest, I think the best part of the trip was the friendships that I made. The night that I had to catch my flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, I grew more and more anxious as the flight approached... I wasn't all that nervous about leaving, and I couldn't quite pin point why I was feeling like this. It wasn't until I had hopped in to the Tuk Tuk and was well on my way to the airport, that I felt a surge of calm... I didn't want to leave my friends. It wasn't that I didn't want to leave Thailand, because to certain extent, I was looking forward to coming home. But like my good friend Sarah said to me as we said goodbye... With evey hello, comes a goodbye. It's just the way it is. And with every ending, there is a new beginnng.

and that is where I'm at now... a new beginning... hello! Let's get it started!!!!