.....without first realizing the value of long-term travel. Not travel as a tourist, but traveling with the intent to be open to new experiences which we would not normally participate in, talking to the locals, learning and understanding about other cultures and so on....what we didn't want was a exotic tour package encapsulated in a 14 day excursion which we would be expected to cram all the mental and physical rest we earned, only to come back to the same ol', same ol' stuff.

There are also other reasons why this type of travel appealed to us. We needed a break from our full-time jobs, get off the freeway, out of our cars, rid of our comfort zones and attachments to our day-to-day routines, attachments to our belongings, and carry with us just what we can cram in our backpacks. Another motivator was that we've always wanted to make time to visit friends and family in faraway places and this would not be possible with a 2 week jaunt to Asia.

We also needed the time to write about our adventures, get back to poetry writing, drawing, reflecting and practicing meditation. We want to be able to share our experience with our families, friends, future kids, and even farther in the future - grandkids. We want to start a long line of travelers and this would be our legacy.

Lastly, but never least, this trip would not have been possible without the support of our parents. We would like to thank them for supporting us in every sense of the word, and encouraging us to "make it happen". Thanks also to our friends who shared their own travel experiences and really inspired us to make our own way. Thank you!