I'll take you in my backpack

8/21/15 Well, sleep did not happen! That's really unfortunate for anyone I come into contact with today. Apparently the airport does heavy construction in the middle of the night. Tonight's soundtrack was welding. By 2:30am I felt sick and was freezing (I forgot to pack my socks in my carry on to keep my feet warm) I decided to go see about this shower situation. I expected it to be 1. Nasty and 2. A pay shower. It was neither of those things. It was amazingly clean and free! I love the system. You press a red button on the wall when you walk in (there is a changing room section and then you can step into the shower (the changing room has a lock to keep it private obvi) the red button turns on the water heater. Directions say to let it warm for 5 mins before getting in. You only get a total of 15 mins so I wasn't waiting the full 5! That water temp is hard to figure out. Mine was hot instantly. Then it got really hot and I had to jump away from it because it was burning...

8/20/15 I woke up very early this morning, 3 something. I just couldn't get back to sleep. I think my body just new that my vacation was coming to an end and my mind was beginning anxious as a result. I haven't been this happy in a long time and I dread that vacation hangover, coming down from the excitement, settling back into the reality of things (at least until my next trip), and moving to a new place where I am completely unfamiliar. I can look at all of that as "not being on holiday" and "not Thailand" or I can embark on it as another adventure...so I will do exactly that! That's not to say that I wasn't completely morose when I woke up this morning knowing my flight would be taking me out of Thailand.  I am rather excited and hopeful though, I found a super neat opportunity that I'm hoping to take advantage of tomorrow morning. I overnight in Taipei (I did not get a hotel so I will be airport camping) and the tourism board offers free tou...

8/4/15 I was a bit morose leaving Taipei this morning. Something I didn't anticipate. What I have realized with each trip here is that this magnificent city has more and more to explore! I would love to come back with the intent of doing some hiking and seeing the more mountainous sides (there are a lot)! Here is a shot I took from my cab ride to the airport, just as the sun was coming up... I practice the (at least) 2 hours early rule for flights. It cuts down on the anxiety and leaves a lot of wiggle room when it comes to potential mishaps with checking in, immigration, and potentially having to get miles across an airport to a gate. Of course that means I'm always left with plenty of time, but I'd rather sit in an airport with no stress than be freaking out about being late or missing my flight. That's what they made my elite status and airport lounges for right?! The EVA Star Lounge in Taipei doesn't disappoint. Lots of food choices, beverages of...

8/3/15 Time to go Exploring! The first official day of the journey! I'm excited though I'm not sure that it's really hit me, the magnitude of what's about to happen. Even boarding the plane to Taipei it didn't fully sink in, I mean, I've been to Taipei before so perhaps that was delaying my freak out moment. That all changed when I landed. I didn't freak out but I felt that sense of adventure that I've been craving for so long. I felt like a piece of me that I lost a long ass time ago, for reasons so stupid I won't even humor them on this blog, was reignited. I felt alive. I'm ashamed to admit that I definitely haven't felt "alive" in a really long time either. Maybe I need to travel more :) Taipei is a fantastic city! I did a lot of the main touristy stuff when I was here over Thanksgiving of last year, so I wanted to try something new this time. Upon recommendation I set out for Tamsui. It's the very end of the red lin...