Why the fuck not? TL;DR: see the title. I haven't been satisfied by life lately. I mean, I've been happy but I'm the type of person that thirsts for those evolutionary, revolutionary experiences in life that forever change the core of who you are. As excessive as that sounds. I've been saving up all this money for the past year to move across the country to start my own business, which later sectioned again into a wedding fund, and I can think of better ways to spend it than settle down. Y'knowutimsayin'? So I got out my soapbox and I gave this spiel to my lady and, as it turns out, she feels much the same way. Great. So we went down to city hall and applied to be married; in 3 weeks we can seal the deal (holy shit!). We haven't breathed a word of this to anybody and I can say with certainty that our families are going to be upset. In five months I'll have satisfied the conditions on my visa and I'll be a permanent resident of Australia - something very important to me. One of those conditions has been that I live and work in rural Australia for two years, for the same employer, and satisfying this means that I can leave this place and still call the country home. I'm free. And I'm at a crossroads. I truly afraid that if I settle down and set up shop, it'll be the last thing I ever do. I'm not prepared for that. So we're going to pool all of our money together and backpack until it runs out. That ought'a be good. We're going to start in Japan in the beginning of December to spend the holidays with my cousin who lives there, then pop over to China and travel overland through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Slow, budget-wise, and immersed in culture. Hostels, couchcurfing, hitchhiking, street food. Just us and a couple backpacks. I can't plan any further in advance, but I've long had my sights set on Africa, I want to reacquaint myself with Europe, I'm often obsessed with America, and my heart really does long for South America. I guess that's just about everywhere. Time to get this adventure started. T-8 months and counting...
right on man I usually don't support this type of shit but you seem to have a good head on your shoulders; you're just taking a big risk is all, one that you seem to be seeking actually I'm stoned as fuck and my vision is shit so I can barely see what I've typed out, but I wish you luck and wanna leave you with one thing: try to get your family's approval in this. you'll feel less alone, you'll have a safety net. idk, been on a family streak lately I guess. family's family. keep us posted dude
Cheers, mate. Family is important, and I thank you for the reminder. It's something that I know weighs heavily on my fiancé, but I'm well-practiced at running against the grain. They'll all come around, of that I am certain. They always do. As you say, family's family. "In the end you won't remember the time you spent in the office or mowing the lawn, so climb that goddamn mountain." No sense in waiting for approval. What's stopping you?
That's my plan..but me and my lady are gonna travel by sea and explore the world! Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Amazing, to finally do what so many people long for, yet never achieve. The total freedom of the road. Keep your heart open, go with the flow, and trust yourself, always I am constantly thinking of doing the same, dropping or finishing college, grabbing by bag, and zig zag across North America. Working when I can, where I can, and moving around. So I wish you luck, and safe travels! Dont let fear kill your buzz, if you know what I mean
Theres nothing holding you back, if you want something you need to grab life by the balls and take it. You dont want to be sitting on your death bed saying "what if?" I think we all have that special whore somewhere in our lives.
I am going too deep when I say that what further motivates me to try and do what you do OP, is that I am trying more and more to accept my own eventual death? With this knowledge in mind, I can truly be myself, and pull away from this sometimes insane society. To simply be part of the scene, part of nature. To be a stranger to so many, yet always a friend to everyone!
Good luck bro it sounds like you will have a great time. You should have GC on your travels a make a journal.
I really hope you and your lady do go. I"m a landscaper like u who had the same dream. I obsessed over the same idea for years. I never went because I figured I.ve traveled more than most,throughout Vietnam Japan and Thailand etc. Also a big thing was my family,society norms, financial burdens, and other dreams. U will love vietnam.cheap boat and scuba diving tours in de nang.eat bomb meals for less than a dollar.20 foot waves.thailand has great temples with cool monks. And in japan,its just a whole new world.think of seeing white people all the time replCe it with japNese people.its a trip Sent from my ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Fierce using Grasscity Forum mobile app
On your own craft or by freighter? Or cruise? Don't let that dream fall by the wayside, man. I did the exact same thing, hitching and working for a few bucks when I could across Australia. It's an experience you can't regret and it will change your life. And that's all most of us ever want - just a change in life.
Oh, it's on. Like Donkey Kong. Tickets to Narita are already booked. I've been to those countries as well, though not for such a long time - Yokohama in Japan, Phuket in Thailand, and Hanoi through the northeast and Halong Bay in Vietnam. I want entirely different experiences this time. Any other recommendations? I dig outdoor adventure and she's into temples and history most. We're going to go south from Tokyo, south in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh and Mekong) and stick to the north in Thailand.
That is awesome OP. Wish all the best. Please do make a journal though. I too wish to just travel without any real plan or course some day. But obligations obligations obligations... university now, job then, and before you know it you are 50 and did absolutely nothing with your life. fuck that. edit, oh oh oh TIBET dude ! you soo should go there, not only for the culture, the landscape and the temples, but the hash i hear is damn fine too
Thank you, sir! Why does your life have to be obligation? University now, sure. I can get behind that and I always support education of the right kind, but this whole Australian/American Dream thing that dictates that you must go to school, must get a job, must get married and have 2.5 kids and a big smiley life like a fucking McDonalds poster.... who made that the rule? The way I've figured it, and believe me I've tortured over this for years, the dream is taking advantage of us. I've always struggled with wanting to do my own thing but I feel guilty about not "contributing to society." We're all cogs in the wheel sort of bullshit. And yet half of us can't find work, and then once we do it's misery just to make enough to pay for everything we're told will make us happy. Houses are full of things that collect dust. What about self-fulfillment? Is that too selfish? Clearly I'm still struggling. Tibet. Yes. I've never considered the prospect seriously but I do dig hash. The woman is hot to experience India, which I'm not as interested in yet, but it would lend itself to a Tibetan detour... thanks for the suggestion.
You should do it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBMdsSwNZ9M I'd love to do something similar myself one day, having lived in England all my near 21 years of life, it's really draining being surrounded by the same shit everyday. Make sure you get some awesome photos for us here on Grasscity.
That's awesome, Toasty! Congrats on the upcoming marriage as well. Like others have said, keep us updated. Hope you two have an awesome adventure, and don't hit any severe bumps in the road Not going to lie, I'm a little jealous. But who knows, once taking care of kids isn't an obstacle, as long as I'm in decent health I might try to venture the continent (and a few others) as an old fart. I've always loved to see new places, even ones that aren't exactly the most riveting. I just like to explore I guess and I've still got most of the world, and a lot of my own country for that matter, to see.