To begin this blog post, an important public service announcement: I finally got my Springsteen tickets. Great seats. Normal price. Must be a good sign for the adventure that lays ahead.
If you've made it this far, you've probably either clicked the link on Facebook or sent me a money belt (Hi dad!). Either way, welcome! Oddly enough, I've never been the journal-writing type. I get too distracted and lazy. I know, I know, I'm the world's worst wanna-be writer. But, now that we're in the digital age, I've decided to record this adventure online. They say the internet never forgets, so I'm banking on that and the fact that I won't get any hand cramps writing this.
How this will work: I will try to write every day. By setting this overly-ambitious, borderline-impossible goal, I hope to absorb every memory I make into the written word. Whoever started the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" clearly loved to over-share on social media. Without words, most of us would forget the significance of that tree, or temple or dish of pho. Words bring photos to life and photos help words tell they're story. They're the perfect couple. So, while I'm not going to Instagram our hostel or the taxi, I'll be sure to include some of my favorite visual snippets from our trip as well. While I will work to keep up with my writing-every-day expectations, I can't guarantee I'll have WiFi every day, so some days you may see double or triple posts. Whenever I get WiFi, I'll be sure to post the link on my Facebook profile, but feel free to check back here just in case.
This blog will also supplement my travel buddy Miki's (see above photo) email updates, though it will contain far fewer endearingly obvious typos. Feel free to comment below (especially with recommendations!), share with friends and family, and show those over the age of 65 how to find this on the internet. Thanks to everyone who made this possible! First stop Seoul: for some Hello Kitty gear, then off to Hanoi, Vietnam where I hear the Asian New Year is in full swing. Can't wait to immerse myself in an incredible culture and celebrate the Lunar New Year! Hope you enjoy my ramblings and notes.
-A