An Epic Farewell to Asia

Life has been crazy lately, personally, professionally and passionately crazy.  In no small part due to the fact that I’m moving out of Korea in March 2017!  I’ve got a tentative arrival planned for Europe months later but regardless of where I end up I’ll likely be saying goodbye to Asia, my home for the last 3 years.

Rickshaw Run logo designed by Jonathan Gregory, November 2006.

Before actually bidding adieu to this continent I’ll embark on the most epic road trip I’ve ever conceived and what better way to kick off an adventure of this magnitude with the Adventurist’s Rickshaw Run?  Rather than explain this 3000 km journey through India its easier to just show you this video.

My Seoul buddy, Joe, first told me about the Rickshaw run on a night out in Hongdae.  I was instantly interested but didn’t solidify my plans to go until we had some time to hash out some details on Muuido Island.  We’re still finalizing our team and choosing a charity but are excited to venture from Jaipur all the way south to Kerala in glorified lawnmowers!

This is our crew: 2 Rickshaws, 2 Aussies, 2 Americans and 2 Kiwis!  We are going for a Pirate Theme and hope to have the rickshaws painted like boats.

Rickshaw 1: Morning Glory

Me – “You guys realize we won’t be able to communicate in GIFs once we are in India”
Joe – “Only weirdos would pay money to drive rickshaws through India.”
Ben – “Woah woah woah I ain’t no weirdo… Naaaah who am I kidding, I’m full on loco ese… I wonder what kind of fireworks they have in India”

Rickshaw 2: Afternoon Delight

Sarah – “Nah Ming can do that…”
Ming –  “?? start with vindaloo or work your way up?”
Tristan – “He just needs to ask his girlfriend first”

Let me know if you have any tips for our trip or happen to know someone or a company who wants to sponsor our venture with camera gear or a donation to a local Indian charity (I’m pulling for a children’s or educational charity but we haven’t picked one yet and the Adventurists might actually choose for us)

After the Rickshaw Run I’ll start an indefinite backpacking trip.  My goal is to stick to land crossings as I head north to Nepal for some Himalayan trekking before making my way to Myanmar.  From there I’ll continue east through Laos to Vietnam.  I have high hopes of making it to Vietnam before the rainy season and buying a motorcycle in Hanoi.  The drive south to Ho Chi Minh City is roughly a thousand miles but I’ll make it longer by exploring every nook and cranny along the way.

After that the plan gets a little hazier.  I will undoubtedly want to keep traveling to Cambodia and Thailand and perhaps this blog will help make that possible.  Alternatively I head back to the classroom and put this masters degree to use by following my other dream of teaching in Europe.  That could mean spending the summer in Germany, Spain or some other Mediterranean paradise while looking for a teaching job starting Sept. 2017.  That also could mean visiting the states.

Part of what makes this trip so exciting is the whole not knowing aspect.  I’m going with a very open ended vision and a rough plan to see a few highlights in each country but will be letting the excursion evolve as it develops.  Comment below with suggestions for any part of the journey and don’t forget to subscribe for updates as the adventure unfolds!