Zaijian Shanghai...hello rest of Asia!

In the months prior to my last entry, I had been extremely busy and had not been able to keep up with my writing. Sorry (again)! After much thought, I had decided to leave my teaching job last May and return to the US.  I had been working as an ESL teacher for four years--two in Spain, two in China--and felt it was time to move on.  I also hadn't been back home since I left for Shanghai in 2010. 

I haven't given myself enough time to really explore China and the rest of Asia, particularly Southeast Asia. Fortunately for me, a fellow blogger and former coworker told me all about her previous year living in Vietnam and traveling through Cambodia. Everything she told and showed me about Vietnam--Saigon, the Mekong Delta, the food--got me really excited.

Around the same time, another friend of mine from Chicago was planning a trip to China, specifically Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai.  Although she was originally going to come in February, I was able to convince her to schedule her trip right after my last day on the job.  In the end, planning these two trips ended up being the most ambitious projectI had ever done.  Although during the first half of the trip through China I had a travel buddy, the second half through Southeast Asia was going to be solo. 

I also could not leave Asia without visiting the family that I had here.  Although I had spent last Christmas and New Year in the Philippines, I didn't have much opportunity to travel, and told my cousin that the next time I come back, we would have to visit the island paradise of Boracay. I made sure we had the opportunity.  Along with the family I have in the Philippines, I also have an aunt and cousins from Hong Kong whom I haven't visited since 2005.  It was time I paid them a visit.  

After my plans were finalized, this is how my trip panned out:

Beijing: April 30-May 4
Xi'an: May 5-6
Shanghai: May 6-14 (with a side trip to Suzhou)
Hong Kong: May 15-21
Thailand (Bangkok, Koh Samet): May 21-27
Cambodia (Siem Reap/Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh): May 27-June 1
Vietnam (Saigon, Mekong Delta, Vung Tao): June 1-8
Philippines (Manila, Boracay, Tagudin): June 9-17
Hong Kong (June 17-18)

A few years ago I don't think I would have thought I'd be able to do such a trip.  Even right before I left I wondered if I was doing the right thing in traveling by myself.  Needless to say I am beyond glad and proud that I did this.  Not only did I learn more about this part of the world, I learned a great deal about myself. I cannot wait to start my next adventure.

Next blog entry: Beijing!

Til next time...