Round the World Trip: Round 2 - On the Road Again...

You know, sometimes, it's plain hard to predict what life's going to throw your way.  Last year, when I had the opportunity to take a few months off for a sabbatical from Monster, I thought I was the luckiest guy around.  Then, when I landed back in London after seeing such amazing places, I figured “right, that was the last BIG trip I'll have the chance to do for a lonnng time”.

Which actually turned out to mean, well, now.

Why?  Well, back in early March, I got the word that after nearly five years, I was going to be let go from Monster.  (Note:  Having done a bit of career-hopping early on, five years is my personal record in ANY job.)  The funny thing is that when the HR manager took me aside, she must have been expecting a much more depressed reaction.  Instead, I was hard-pressed to keep from grinning, since with the very generous tax-free severance package, I suddenly had the rare combination of money AND free time.

That meant, of course, trying to fill up the ol' passport again...


View RTW Trip 2010 in a larger map

The plan this time around was based around a trip to Mongolia.  I've heard such amazing things about this still relatively unknown country that I ended up basing my trip around it.  So, I had to pass on my first plan – the TranSiberian Railway from Moscow.

Instead, I'm starting with a flight into Singapore.   I'm going to check out Malaysia for a few weeks, then it's off to Hong Kong, which I've been dying to see for years after reading one too many of James Clavell's monster novels like Tai-Pan.  Four days later, I'll set off through the south and central parts of China, including some spectacular scenery and mountain hikes, before winding in Beijing.

That leg over, it's time for a flight to Ulaan Bataar – Mongolia's capital for a  week of general touring the countryside, and a two week guided trek in the western mountain.  The bonus is that I'll have the chance to finish with checking out the Naadam Festival, showing off horsemanship, archery, and all sorts of things.  But, instead of being in the capital with the rest of the tourists, I'll be in a small town far off the beaten path, which should be amazing.

Finally, it's back to SF for a few weeks with the family and friends, including a family reunion on a lazy river resort and my (gasp) 20th high school reunion.  I know, I know – scary freaking thought... I still feel about 28, not nearly ten years older.  Sheesh.

Add in a road trip with my friend Emily to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons National Parks, and a trip up to Portland to see Dave, Drea, and my friends Ross and Tracy, and it's a full itinerary.

(Uh, I didn't take that shot - but it does fire me up to see what sort of scenery is out there...)

The plan is to be back in London on the August – ready and eager even to get back to work in a small startup.  We'll see what happens...

Now, I'll sign off with a blatant effort to get a cheesy country song stuck in your head... like the great Willie Nelson once sang... “on the road again... just can't wait to get on the road again...”