She's just vacationing. Backpacking, visiting jungles, ruins, eating amazing food, the 'Killing Fields' museum, Khmer temples, playing with elephants, hanging out on the beach (especially the last 2 or 3 weeks when she'll be island hopping in southern Thailand). Once you get there, food, lodging and travel is cheap. Street food as low as $0.65 a meal(take that McDonalds), bus travel is $0.25 US, lodging in the countryside is $4 per night, cities $7. More pricey with AC. Thailand is called a foodies delight, beautiful national parks and friendly people.
Her original plan for the winter was to go to Morocco, Algeria and Western Sahara. She planned on riding camels in the Sahara. I'm not sure why she changed her mind because she seemed so determined. That changed to her plan of spending this winter in the Virgin Islands waiting tables but that deal fell through.
2 years ago, my son's girlfriend spent a semester studying biology in Thailand. My son went to visit her and they went to Cambodia as well Thai sites. Perhaps their experience swayed my daughter to hit that part of Asia. My son also spent a month in China a couple years prior to that. He and his girlfriend are considering their next trip being to India when they're both out of school.
A little over a year ago my daughter spent 2 months backpacking across Europe to France, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Kind of a whirlwind tour of Europe. She was amazed at all the Canadians, Aussies and Kiwis - as well as Europeans and Asians she met that were her age and spending a year in Europe. That may be why her trip is longer this time and less ambitious.
It must be nice to have money. I can't afford to cross the street.
I think it's my fault. I created travel junkies when they were kids. Even though we traveled the US a lot (mostly camping and canoeing in MO and AR), from the time they were 4 and 5, we would travel abroad at least once a year. Mostly to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean but also to Europe. Whenever there was an air fare sale, we took it. Hence all the Mexico trips. We would also travel as cheaply as possible once there. Eating like locals, staying in bed and breakfasts, sometimes living and eating with Indians. We once rented a Mayan hut on the beach with no electricity or running water and a Jaguar was on the thatched roof clawing at it - it was only $25 a night though and the most amazing beach. Most importantly, avoiding all inclusive resorts. Hanging out with a bunch of drunk Americans in an all inclusive isn't my idea of travel. No offense to drunk Americans because I've been one, but that's no way to see the world. I'm most proud that my kids got to see how others really live and immersed them in those cultures - not staying in safe, expensive hotels. I'm also proud of the fact that they've footed the entire bill for their travels - they know I don't have it.
Had I not done so, I'm sure my daughter wouldn't have been brave enough to travel the world alone. When she was 16, she decided to fly alone to meet up with my son and I travelling to Austria for a short ski vacation. We missed our connection in Paris and luckily got on another flight to Zurich where we found her sitting the airport McDonalds speaking German to a couple old men, patiently waiting for our arrival. She's tough. My son speaks Chinese. My daughter speaks German and some Italian. She's trying to bone up on some Thai phrases but I'm sure that will be tough.
Their first trip abroad as children was sailing in the USVI and BVI where we chartered a boat and besides the husband/wife team of captain and cook, my family were the only ones on she sailboat. My daughter had the bug so bad that she's been to Mexico more times than I have and I've been there at least 10 times.
Boy, it was nice having a job and no chickens. Now my travel is carrying thawed water.
Her original plan for the winter was to go to Morocco, Algeria and Western Sahara. She planned on riding camels in the Sahara. I'm not sure why she changed her mind because she seemed so determined. That changed to her plan of spending this winter in the Virgin Islands waiting tables but that deal fell through.
2 years ago, my son's girlfriend spent a semester studying biology in Thailand. My son went to visit her and they went to Cambodia as well Thai sites. Perhaps their experience swayed my daughter to hit that part of Asia. My son also spent a month in China a couple years prior to that. He and his girlfriend are considering their next trip being to India when they're both out of school.
A little over a year ago my daughter spent 2 months backpacking across Europe to France, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Kind of a whirlwind tour of Europe. She was amazed at all the Canadians, Aussies and Kiwis - as well as Europeans and Asians she met that were her age and spending a year in Europe. That may be why her trip is longer this time and less ambitious.
It must be nice to have money. I can't afford to cross the street.
I think it's my fault. I created travel junkies when they were kids. Even though we traveled the US a lot (mostly camping and canoeing in MO and AR), from the time they were 4 and 5, we would travel abroad at least once a year. Mostly to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean but also to Europe. Whenever there was an air fare sale, we took it. Hence all the Mexico trips. We would also travel as cheaply as possible once there. Eating like locals, staying in bed and breakfasts, sometimes living and eating with Indians. We once rented a Mayan hut on the beach with no electricity or running water and a Jaguar was on the thatched roof clawing at it - it was only $25 a night though and the most amazing beach. Most importantly, avoiding all inclusive resorts. Hanging out with a bunch of drunk Americans in an all inclusive isn't my idea of travel. No offense to drunk Americans because I've been one, but that's no way to see the world. I'm most proud that my kids got to see how others really live and immersed them in those cultures - not staying in safe, expensive hotels. I'm also proud of the fact that they've footed the entire bill for their travels - they know I don't have it.
Had I not done so, I'm sure my daughter wouldn't have been brave enough to travel the world alone. When she was 16, she decided to fly alone to meet up with my son and I travelling to Austria for a short ski vacation. We missed our connection in Paris and luckily got on another flight to Zurich where we found her sitting the airport McDonalds speaking German to a couple old men, patiently waiting for our arrival. She's tough. My son speaks Chinese. My daughter speaks German and some Italian. She's trying to bone up on some Thai phrases but I'm sure that will be tough.
Their first trip abroad as children was sailing in the USVI and BVI where we chartered a boat and besides the husband/wife team of captain and cook, my family were the only ones on she sailboat. My daughter had the bug so bad that she's been to Mexico more times than I have and I've been there at least 10 times.
Boy, it was nice having a job and no chickens. Now my travel is carrying thawed water.
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I couldn't wait to blast out of New England. I like visiting there but honestly, Arizona became home to me. DH is down there now for a few weeks for a test and he went to visit our family members that still live in Sierra Vista. He said it was like going home. I do understand staying put once you find your roots I guess. I love to wander, but if I could move back there I would do it in a heartbeat!
