After months of daydreaming, planning, research (and a few library overdue fines), we’re finally setting off on a nearly three-month adventure through Asia! That’s right—nine countries, one backpack each (hopefully…), and a whole lot of curiosity. Our journey begins in Japan and winds its way through South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, ending with a sandy, sun-drenched goodbye in Indonesia at the end of June.
This isn’t just a vacation. In fact, “vacation” doesn’t feel quite right at all. It’s not a sabbatical, not a gap year, not quite an eat-pray-love situation (though there will be a lot of eating). Let’s call it an unfolding adventure. One where we’ve built the scaffolding, but we’re leaving plenty of space for the unexpected—the hidden temples, chance encounters, offbeat towns, and noodle shops that don’t show up on any Google map.
Planning this trip has been a full-time hobby (and a slightly obsessive one). From towering stacks of library books to joining every travel group imaginable on Instagram and Facebook, we’ve been deep in research mode for the better part of six months. And honestly? I’ve loved every minute of it. There’s something so energizing about imagining the unknown and getting swept up in the possibilities of a place you’ve never been.
Of course, not everything will go according to plan—we’re expecting missed trains, confusing signage, maybe a few questionable food choices—but that’s part of the fun. Those unexpected bumps in the road almost always turn into the best stories (and let’s be honest, the best laughs later on). We feel incredibly lucky to be able to take this time, and we want to share as much of the journey as possible—both the beautiful highlights and the wonderfully weird surprises. I love new places, new cultures, people-watching in parks and night markets, and those serendipitous moments when travel opens a door you didn’t even know was there. So here’s to the known plans and the magical unknowns ahead.
