Alisha (left) and Kate (right) on their backpacking trek across Mongolia. Asia is under my skin. This is sometimes itchy, but mostly fantastic. One of the amazing things about Asia is that it's just so damn big. Every little corner holds something new: new people, new culture, new religion, new (and fantastic) food, new language, new adventure, new terrain and new pop stars. I live in Vietnam, but every day I discover that I know less about it, and when I take a detour over to Thailand or Laos or Malaysia, I experience a mix of awe at being a tourist, frustration at understanding even less than normal, and elation at not having to care again. How lucky am I that that's my life? I'd like to tell a brief story. The other day I was riding on the back of my friend's motorbike down a street in the old quarter of Hanoi when we saw Britney Spears's tombstone. ("And she was so young...".) You see, we were on "tombstone street", a short block in the old quarter which is dedicated to producing the tombstones of departed Hanoians. One creative crypter apparently realized that the best way to advertise their wares is with a celebrity! I think this highlights three important points: why I love Asia, why I love traveling, and the wonderful and unexpected ways globalization manifests itself. I met Kate during my first foray into Asia while we were studying abroad in Mongolia. I am thrilled with the opportunity to join Kate on another adventure, and am touched by Kate, Mel and Ben's willingness to accommodate me by allowing me to meet them part way and by providing so much support with cycling and logistics. I am the novice of the group and that's a lucky position in itself because it means I have so much opportunity to learn. So bring on the saddle sores, silk road here we come!
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