But it truly was an amazing experience. I'll always be able to look back on my experience (and my blog!) and say, that was me! I did that! I really hope that I remember the way it felt being out there on my own. Sometimes I would just get so giddy and do a little dance because it would hit me, I can't believe I'm out here doing this. I know it sounds cheesy but I also learned a ton about myself, which has given me self-confidence and an ability to keep the minor things in life in perspective. It really is about the journey and not the destination.
Anyway, enough of the squishy stuff. How can I best summarize my year? This will sort of be like superlatives in the yearbook or better yet, a reality tv award show:
Favorite place - This is the number one question I get and hands-down it was Patagonia. Maybe because it was the start of travels (after spending time in Buenos Aires) but the remoteness and the wildness were just breath-taking. The glaciers and mountains were also awe-inspiring and really puts life into perspective. Really, my issues seem pretty insignificant when compared to these mountains that have been here long before me and will continue to be here long after. Its such a harsh environment but that just adds to the beauty.
Tastiest food - Another easy one, China! I love Chinese food (and not the American fast-food versions) and I got to experience so many different foods and flavors. Everything from the peking duck in Beijing, the Muslim soup dumplings in Xian, the sichuan peppers in Chengdu, the hotpots in Yangshao to the curries in Dali, it was all SO GOOD! I would go back just to eat
Most "I can't believe I'm here" moment - This is a tough one. Honorable mentions will have to be the overnight bus trips in Bolivia, swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon, arriving in Kathmandu during the political coup but I'll have to say it was traveling through Tibet and spending the night at Everest Base Camp. It was not only the most disgusting place I've ever stayed (at a Buddhist monastery no less) but the most painful. It was altitude sickness at its worse (almost 20,000 ft), I couldn't eat, sleep or function all with the worst headache I've ever had. It was worth it when we got to base camp and saw Everest but just barely. I've always wanted to do Kilimanjaro but no more. EBC was hard enough!
Best road less traveled - Its a showdown between traveling through Tibet and traveling down Northern Argentina but Argentina takes this one in overtime. Maybe it was the company but being able to hop from village to village with Argentinos really made for a truly authentic experience. I also think I learned more Spanish in the week I was with them than in the 2 months in Spanish class in BA. The villages were beautiful but I really felt like I was experiencing local life that not many people get to see.
Most "I went to school with no shoes, in the snow, 365 days a year, uphill both ways" place - The hardest countries to travel through were easily Bolivia and Tibet. Not surprising that both were kind of similar, barren, high altitudes, destitute and poor. I never felt unsafe (well, maybe in Bolivia) but without any infrastructure it was just hard to get anywhere or do anything. I also got sick a bunch no matter how careful I was trying to be. I loved going to both places but I'm glad I did it now rather than later in life.
Best beach - Perhentian Islands in Malaysia. It wasn't just the perfect sand, warm waters and best-in-class scuba but it had this great laid-back vibe. The place is definitely a time drain, you could spend weeks there and it would just fly by.
Biggest gross-out moment - I'm not really a queasy person though truthfully bugs aren't my favorite but I lost my sh*t when I saw that leech sucking on my ankle in Thailand. It was just so slimy and wiggly and I thought it was trying to burrow into my body (I know! Its just the head and it didn't even hurt). Thank god they got it off!
Most disgusting food - Its only fair since I put down the tastiest food that I put down the worst. I try to be culturally sensitive and try everything (surprisingly, most non-Americans find peanut butter and apples to be one of the strangest thing we eat) but my stomach can only taste so much. I have to say that vegemite in Australia is up there along with blood sausage from Argentina but anything yak-related definitely is the worst. Especially the tsampa in Tibet which is this smelly mush of barley and yak butter tea. SO GROSS.
Food I missed the most - Easily anything Korean (I was practically begging for rice in meat and potato heavy South America) and strangely hamburgers, especially with pickles. I think I tried every variety in every country but none compared to good ol' American burgers.
Cheapest beer - In China beer cost less than water at around 80 cents or so. Mind you it was terrible beer but it was cheap! And sanitary!
Most precious resource when traveling - Besides water, I would say toilet paper and soap. I would hoard these and steal them whenever I ended up at a real hotel room. I would also have to put two-ply as the most luxurious item. You really under-appreciate two-ply until you have the sandpaper some places pass for TP.
Luxury I refused to go without - Laundry. I know lots of people did this themselves in sinks and what not but I never did. I always paid to get it done and as often as I could. You really can't put a price on clean clothes.
I could go on and on but really that's what each of my posts have been about! I'm so glad for every one of my experiences in the last year and I never want to forget them - the beautiful places, amazing people, laughs over beers and even the times I wanted to tear my hear out, it was all worth it. I just hope I get more chances in the future for real travel and not just vacationing. Thanks everyone for following me along on my "modern day grand tour"! I'll leave one last photo that for me captures that feeling while on the road. Until next time!
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