Going Away Party!

Does the Universe have a sense of humor??? Perhaps, or it's conspiring against me. Either way, I was struck with a bad cold just a FEW DAYS before my departure for the Blue Beyond. I feel like a piece of grade D poo on the end of a stick. With Going Away Festivities planned for the whole weekend, I went into Aggressive Cold-Combat Mode.

I ate 4 cloves of raw garlic a day and consumed the highest recommended doses of Vitamin C, even snorting powdered vitamin C up my leaky nose!!! Gallons of green tea was consumed yet the cold raged on in earnest. Would I let some microbial trouble makers ruin my weekend??? HELL NO!

Many people have asked me how I got this crazy idea to travel in my head. Having always wanted to travel, I'm more surprised at their having never considered the prospect themselves. Americans, it seems, don't have a predisposition to travel. The overwhelming majority of young people are focused on finishing school and getting straight to work. When the travel bug does bite they look to Mexico and Canada as an alternative to exploring something other than the wide-ranging 50 states. The occasional traveler that looks farther than the North American Continent finds themselves visualizing Europe-Western Europe-as an alternative.

Yet it's rare that the American mindset gets even this far in travel considerations. Never mind the fact that most Amercans squander all their savings on gadgets, clothing, luxury items, and a plethora of other materialistic items designed to break or go out of fashion in due time, but misconceptions about the safety of travel discourage those who might otherwise relish the opportunity to save for an amazing trip abroad. The number of people I talked to concerning my trip voiced the opinion that my traveling alone to S.E. Asia was reckless, if not downright impossible. Several girls at my going away party broke into tears expressing fear that I might never return.

The American close-mindedness towards the accessibility and safety of traveling to exotic places is obviously deeply routed. People who voice a desire to travel are discouraged from all sides- their families and friends find many reasons to squelch their desire for freedom. They are told not only that travel abroad isn't safe, which is NOT true, but that a few months or years of travel will be a strike against them when they seek careers after. This is a consideration that the individual has to grapple with on their own.

Cliche, yes, but life is only lived once. Do you want to spend all your youth slaving away until your old and can't enjoy your body or life anymore?? Just because you land a career straight out of college and spend three decades working for the man, this still doesn't guarantee a healthy prosperous retirement as anything can happen on the unpredictable road of life. I hope that my story can be an inspiration to others. My Aunt Cathy says that while traveling, one knows they are truly alive.

What a wonderful day Saturday was!! Jahan was in the kitchen all day prepping chickens, pigs and cows. On my request, my outrageously wonderful room mate made a meal we call Porky Peach--a heavenly dish. People started trickling in the afternoon. Heres a photo of Jahan tapping the keg...

The celebrations went on all weekend. All hours of the day and night guests came and went and were treated to mountains of dog-food and and endless supply of wine, beer, and spirits. My friends took time to share their concerns with me about me going alone on this trip. It was also very humbling to have many share with me their admiration--some people admitted to living vicariously through me-that a trip such as this was something they'd always wanted to do.

Here are some of the crazy characters who made it out!

Misty and Rachael smiling for the camera!

Durka and Dave falling in love all over again

Julia and Croft !

Despite a perpetually leaky nose, it was a pleasant day and evening. The next day Durka Burgers and Sishkabobs are lobbed onto on the sizzling grill. Our guests will be wined and kegged according to the time-honored traditions of Durka Hospitality.

It shant be fun being the sick coughing person on a 10 hour flight...but then again, it will be an opportune time to rest!!

Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday and who are coming today. I shall miss you all very much and appreciate all your support and kind words!!

take care! See you soon on the traveling trail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!