Happy Thanksgiving, Reader!

We finally arrived home after about 40 days that began in South Korea and ended with a long layover in Tokyo, where we had just enough time to do some exploring and eat delicious ramen. Last week we spent four beautiful days in the kingdom of Bhutan.

Most of November was spent in Thailand between Chiang Mai and Bangkok. For me, the latter city was a homecoming.

Being back in Southeast Asia after 24 years was a bit of a full-circle moment.

Thailand is where I really cut my travel teeth back in the late 1990s, and was the springboard for my overland Southeast Asia trip that ended up lasting nearly 8 months.

Some things have been unmistakably familiar, while others are completely different or not as I remembered them.

I've been flooded with nostalgia and reflection as I compare the past and present versions of myself through the lens of travel.

Now, here's your monthly dose of curiosity and inspiration!

Lines of Time

Time is such a funny construct. We need a way to measure the passage of our lives, but clocks and calendars exclude several dimensions.

Contemplating the passage of nearly a quarter century since I was last in Southeast Asia, I am assessing how much has changed in the world, and how much I've changed from growth, maturity, and life experiences.

Even though I was doing something nobody else I knew had done, I met so many backpackers who were doing the exact same thing.

As special as the experience has become to me over time, no matter what we do, if we do it repeatedly, it can lose its luster.

I remember after 2-3 months of traveling, seeing another temple was not as interesting. Even now, within the space of a few days, we needed to take a break from seeing another wat (Thai temple).

But what an amazing experience it was to travel pre-smartphone aimlessly throughout several Asian countries.

The start of the trip was just after my Peace Corps service in Uzbekistan. The world was big and the slate was blank. I just dove in with no plans or goals but to explore.

It's hard to imagine now, but we would just show up in a new city, look for a place to stay for a day or two, then move on and repeat.

In eight months, the only thing that I planned in advance was my flight home, and that wasn't until about a month or so before it happened.

There are many more travelers out there now, which is great. I mean, one of my purposes here is to encourage people to travel and be more curious about the world.

The sheer number of travelers means that some things are fully booked or you end up with an upper train berth away from your travel partner.

This is one reason why I tend to prefer traveling to places that are less visited, whether that is a rural setting in the USA or a country that has a lower name recognition.

I've settled into a mix of planned and unplanned that changes depending on the destination or situation. Flights I tend to book at least two months out, but hotels are more like a week.

For example, in Chiang Mai we did not book a tour to the elephant sanctuary because severe flooding recently made me wonder how it would be or if tours would be offered at all.

Instead, I waited until the day before and found an ethical sanctuary to visit called Chiang Lai Orchid. Thankfully it worked out perfectly, but it could have easily been booked too.

That's why I think you have to have a little faith in the universe (as well as curiosity) being your guide.

Don't plan too rigidly so as to miss out on serendipitous moments, but unless you have unlimited time, you might not want to leave everything up to chance.

Blending my early days of travel with my most recent allows me to see the world and myself in its various stages, yet connected together in the fabric of time.

Out of Curiosity...

Big dreams do require some planning. I did not just wake up one day and decide to leave my job and travel.

A lifestyle built around travel and purpose can allow for spontaneity, but there also needs to be some goalposts and time outs along the way.

As we near the end of the year and I add another candle to my birthday cake, it's a good time to look at what I'm doing now, where I'm going, and what I want to accomplish.

It's also important to look back at where I've been, how far I'm come, and what I've learned along the way.

So, out of curiosity...

When have you allowed yourself to travel without a fixed agenda?

Tell me of a time when you let curiosity and spontaneity be your guides!

Tools 4 Travel

Tickets are still on sale for our Mexico City CuriosiTrip, January 16-20, 2025. Prices will go up at the beginning of December and tickets are selling out, so be sure to snag yours now and join us for this epic group trip. More info and trip registration can be found here.

If the election results have you wanting to escape, check out Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights). The subscription pays for itself for years to come after just one deal. Don't just dream of cheap travel, make it a reality. Subscribe today.

Finding the best accommodation has gotten so much easier. I love using Booking.com for finding local homestays, guesthouses, and family-run lodging options as well as hotels. Check out how easy it is and be on your way to a getaway soon.

Disclaimer: This section contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Khop kun kaab (thank you) for reading.

For my American audience, have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. All of us could take a moment to reflect on gratitude and thankfulness.

Be curious!
John

​JohnTheTraveler.com​