Onward and upward

I’m sitting in an airport yet again waiting for my first of two flights which will take me back to Australia.  In a small part of my brain, I’m worrying if the flight will be delayed, if my baggage will come quickly, if I’ll make it through security once again in time for my second flight, if I’ll make it through customs with my double passport.

But the majority of my focus is directed towards these past 6 weeks.  Or rather, focusing on not focusing on it.  I can visualize the mass of emotions and memories this ‘US tour’ has both created and brought up.  I know I need to process this experience and yet I feel myself shying away from it.  The desire to put it all in a box to deal with later.

This whole trip has been about moving, catching up, shifting, shedding...

Crap, I’m still not ready to get a piece out about this trip.  I had this grand plan of some sort of post that would be eloquent and fun and thoughtful.  I’m just not ready to deal with all the emotions and memories. I am actually rather looking forward to arriving in Sydney simply so I can sit and not go anywhere. Take the time to decompress and process. I'll try and get something out afterwards.

For now I just want to thank everyone I was able to see. For the new friends I've made, the friendships I've renewed, and those that have strengthened. I'm so incredibly blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life. Thank you for making this trip so special and just what I needed. I love you all!!

Smores and cuddles with my little nephews

**All pictures are property of Kira Zebroski**

Just an update: I've made it safely from WI to LAX and about to board my final flight to Sydney. It was a close call with some passport issues. Like I wasn't allowed on the plane for a bit. But all is well. ::knock on wood:: It's never a dull moment with the Monkey!! ::grin::

Lift Off!!

Just wanted to send a quick hello and goodbye as I get ready to board the plane that will take me Stateside for the first time in almost 2 years.  You ever notice I seem to find the most free time to write posts when I'm in airports?  Huh...

Anyway, I'm both nervous and excited to be coming back to the old US of A.  It's been a while and the culture shock may be a bit of a, well...shock.  I just changed over some money to USD and it was weird seeing the money all be the same color.  I'm used to the Monopoly color scheme most countries sport.  I'm going to have to look really closely to make sure I don't mix up my notes.

I'm also a bit overwhelmed with my travel schedule.  I never can do anything halfway and so I'm making it to 5 states in 6 weeks.  Whew!

**By the way, I've had very little sleep so my typing style may be a bit slap happy.  I'd apologize but I'm just proud I'm getting a post out.

So those of you following my travels, here's the low down on where I'm heading:
LA 23-24th
Florida 24-3rd
Pittsburgh 3-7th
Rochester 7-24th
NYC 24-26th (oop!  I had the wrong date.  Not bad for only 1 mixup)
Seattle 26-1st
Wisconsin 1-10th

And fly back to Australia on July 10th.  I've actually had to make myself an itinerary with all my flights/buses to keep them straight.  I'll try and keep updated on how things are going but you know how it goes.

They're calling my flight so ::massive hugs, cuddles, and kisses to all::  And see many of you soon!!!!!!!

Me and Monkey Jr getting settled in

**all photos are property of Kira Zebroski**

Alive and kicking!

Hello everyone out there!  Yes, I’m still alive.  It’s been an incredible and enlightening experience these last few months.  I haven’t posted a lot, okay, like hardly anything but it’s been so wonderful simply being present in the moment with the people around me.  I’ve wanted to share this with all of you but life happens and it turns into “tomorrow, Kira.  Write it tomorrow.  Share it later.”

As one chapter ends and another begins, I just want to briefly catch you up with me.  I left Thailand and the amazing Koh Phangan island last week as my visa was ending.  The big question was ‘Where to next?’  And up until the last day I still didn’t have a destination.  It was both terrifying and exhilarating.  I like spontaneity up to a point, more like freedom within a confined plan.  Sounds a bit like an oxymoron, doesn’t it?  I had some dear friends pushing me to stay but I was ready to move to my next destination.  It didn’t feel right to start my travels around the world, only to stop in the first country I came to.  I’d been there 7 months and was ready to expand my bubble.

I settled on Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  It seemed like a good location to figure myself out.  Lots of embassies to get visas and an international airport.  And so began (or rather, continued) internet searches, emails, and phone calls galore.  I was looking for a place to do my Dive Master course as an internship (work exchange) and was waiting to hear from some while always on the look out for new opportunities.  At the same time, I was also looking for workaway possibilities as a place to stay to help offset some opportunities that didn’t include accommodation.

I kept leaning towards Indonesia; I’d heard repeatedly on how incredible the diving was in Bali and the Gili Islands.  One dive shop I very much had my heart set on told me I was overqualified.  They were only looking for those brand new to diving or with only their Open Water despite the same end result of becoming Dive Master.  ::shrug::  Their loss.

It had reached the point where I decided that unless something crazy just popped up, I was going to Indonesia and would just start banging on dive shop doors, begging them to take me in as a DMT in exchange for work.  I’m a hard worker, darn it!!  ::bangs fist on table...rubs fist::  :-)  The only problem was discovering that KL no longer does 60 day visas.  ARGH!  So it was off to Penang for a couple of days.

Now I am once again sitting in an airport, waiting for my flight, wondering where this next adventure will lead me.  I’m heading to the Gili Islands in Indonesia, specifically Gili Meno.  Apparently it has a population of about 300 locals and “there are no cars or motorbikes on the island, all transport is by horse-drawn carts or on foot.”--According to a website I’d found.  But the diving is supposed to be spectacular!!  I found a workaway where in exchange for getting a cute little house all to myself, I have to watch their cat and maybe water the garden.  DONE!  And it will leave me plenty of time to try and sell myself to one of the local dive shops.  ::chuckle::

So wish me luck!  I have 60 days on a new tropical island.  By the end I’ll have loved it and want to stay longer or I’ll be pulling out my hair from sheer boredom.  ::laughs but stops suddenly with a nervous look::  But in all seriousness, I’ve made it my goal to try and learn how to climb a coconut tree.  A monkey’s gotta eat!  ;-)

Lovelovelovelovelove!!!!

First Days

It's official.  I survived my first day in Bangkok!  ::happy dance::  I arrived at about 9:30 am Wednesday after having left San Francisco at 1:40 am on Tuesday.  It's weird losing an entire day while on a plane.  I watched movies and slept during my total of about 15 hours of air time.  Two things I can say about this experience.  One: I'm very glad the two seats next to me on both flights were empty so I could stretch out (as much as you can on a plane) and Two: I'm glad my watch tells me what day it is.  At least one of us knows what's going on.  And the plane to Taipei was huge!!!  It had over 50 rows, 9 across, and an upstairs!!!  ::shakes head::  I was worried the thing wasn't going to get off the ground.

I made it through Immigration with no issues and currently have a 30 day pass to travel around Thailand.  Let's see what I can get done!

I met a fellow traveler Leon from Holland who was hoping to share a cab to Khao San (a popular street for backpackers and near both of our hostels).  A shuttle bus, small bus, and taxi later found us to our destination.  Note to self: Pack less stuff!!!  I was dying from the heat and carrying all my bags wasn't helping matters.   I got to my hostel in one piece but dripping sweat.  ::chuckles::  Even he thought I had too much stuff.  I'm realizing the issue is more that my backpack itself is rather small.

The hostel I'm staying at is fantastic.  There weren't many backpackers there when I first arrived but met a group of them later that night.  The bathroom is entertaining.  It took me a minute to figure out about the little sprayer next to the toilet, but...Hey Hey!!  ::light bulb went off::  And let's just say my first shower resulted in EVERYTHING getting wet.  Oops!

I went exploring with Leon and we tried some vendor food (so much to choose from!) and found a beautiful temple.  I've discovered that isn't actually hard as you find one about every 2 blocks or so.

I promise to talk more about my experiences in Bangkok but I've got a bus and then a train to catch to Pak Chong and then heading to Khao Yai, a national park.  I'm going to camp out for a few days there so I'll try and write more and upload when I get near internet again.

But a brief teaser, I can now cross off eating scorpions and grass hoppers and going on a tuk tuk ride off my list.  ::grin::

Sitting in an airport

I think it was when I saw on the map that I was flying over Japan when it hit me.  I'm going to Thailand.  I'm going to Asia.  I am leaving the United States.  Scratch that.  I have LEFT the United States.  It's been a rather surreal journey and everything I've been doing for the past year has been in preparation for this.  The journey to this point has been incredible.  I'm not going to say wonderful because it would be a lie.  As my friends and cohorts can chuckle along with (I hope), there have been numerous ups and downs but I'm finally here.  On my way.

I've always been such a detail-orientated person and there are always a few more things on the "list" to get done.  So much extra I could have accomplished for this trip, but you know what?  It doesn't matter now.  I've set these wheels in motion and it's time to enjoy the ride.  

I don't know how long I'll be gone for.  Heck, I could take one step into Bangkok and turn right around.  But that's the fear of the unknown.  I'm terrified.  I'll be the first to admit it.  But when I see the transfer listings as I walked down the terminal in Taipei and see destinations for Okinawa, Singapore, and Hong Kong, I know it's only the fear of failing that makes me hesitate.  Just taking that step and I've won.  No matter what.  

It's interesting.  I was talking to my mom and she told me about a sermon my dad had given about letting go and giving things up.  And guess who he talked about?  ::grin::  But he also brought up a conversation he and I had back in college.  It had to be one of the hardest conversations I'd ever had with my dad, but also one of the most freeing.  I told him about my fear of letting him down, disappointing him if I chose not to go to grad school, didn't fulfill these expectations I felt he'd built up of me.  And he told me it wasn't him I needed to worry about disappointing.  This life isn't his to live, but mine.  The person I ultimately need to please in life was myself.  Wow!  It released something in me.  He gave me permission/blessing/trust to live my life as I see fit.  Thank you dad.

And now I sit in an airport, waiting for that next flight and the knots in my stomach and butterflies trying to make it up my throat are a reminder of the path I've chosen and I couldn't be more excited and more terrified.  A good combination.