Plot Twist: The Magic of One-Way Tickets

So the blog right now is about a week to ten days behind where I am (just a heads up… and sorry – it gives me a bit of time to get the posts put together! And some days have more than one story!).

This week, I’m in India – you’ll get to see posts soon! However, I thought this would be a good time to mention that my itinerary has changed.

Originally, I was going to go trekking in Nepal for three weeks and enjoy the Himalayas, rainy season be damned. Then I got over here, and one too many people used the word “leeches” and alas, I will be rescheduling the Himalayas for non-rainy season.

This has, however, thrown a wrench in the schedule. I planned to go from Myanmar to Nepal to India, but luckily was able to decide on an earlier India tour date (yes, I’m going with a company!). However, after India… we are in the land with no plan.

I was working with G Adventures, the tour company I’m using for India, to schedule the tour and they were asking about arrival and departure transfers. Alas, I told them I had an arrival flight but hadn’t scheduled a departure flight and I’d likely let them know by mid-week the week we are on the tour. I don’t think they get that often!

If India is less scary and overwhelming than I think it will be (which I’m hoping to figure out by mid-week), I think I’m going to go spend a week in Goa relaxing on the beaches. If I find India overwhelming, I’ll likely head to a different kind of overwhelming – Jordan.

Due to costs/entries/visas/transport/timing, I have decided I am not going to go to Israel after all (unless somehow I get over there and it just happens… who knows). So I’d fly into Jordan, go through Jordan for a few days (I won’t be spending long there – it’s crazy expensive!), and then head into Egypt. That would put me leaving Egypt sometime in late July or early August.

Leaving Egypt for where, you ask?

I have no clue. Right now, the whole block of time from early August through early October is listed as “Europe” on my itinerary. Please, please make suggestions of places to go!

I have a few thoughts, but we’ll see. I’ve thought about starting in Portugal and making my way through Europe’s wine regions – Porto, Rioja, Bordeaux, Champagne, Tuscany, etc. Tough life. This is a definite top pick, but I do worry about transport between all of those. We will see how the trains and busses are!

I’m also thinking about spending a lot more time in Greece. I’ve always been captivated by ancient history, so I think I could spend quite a bit of time there. I’ve also always loved Alexander the Great, so maybe take a detour into Macedonia.

Or, go through the Balkans (they’re safe now, Mom). Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, Romania – there is so much nature there and I think I could get my trekking fix that I didn’t get in Nepal.

Maybe I’ll spend some time in France – I’d love to discover the countryside, perhaps wander the coast, see Paris, etc. And maybe I’ll spend extra time in Italy.

I’ve also heard good things about Austria and Hungary.

In the department of wanting to send my mother to an early grave (not really!) I have been thinking about Capadoccia in Turkey – it looks amazing! I can just hear my brother’s voice as I type that… “Why don’t you just add a nice vacation in Syria while you’re at it?”

We are officially off the map now. I don’t think I’ll have any problems entertaining myself through Europe. Who knows where I’ll end up?! (But seriously… if you have any suggestions, please send them my way!)