Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Bitten by the Travel Bug



51 days. I added up all our vacations since last summer began, and it comes out to 51 days. 51 glorious, what-will-we-uncover, I-can't-believe-I'm-here, where-did-I-pack-that days away from home. The kids attend a school with a mostly typical schedule. We've never had them skip a day just so we could go somewhere. Hubby has a regular desk job. He doesn't telecommute or get summers off and is expected to physically show up at his workplace. So what gives? We've been bitten by the Travel Bug. 


July 2011 - Cleaning up Paradise Cove in Malibu, California


Travel has suddenly become a top priority. Before our big move overseas, we usually did a two week summer vacation somewhere fun and then visited family in Houston for the Big 3 of Holidays —Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We may or may not have taken advantage of a long weekend to drive somewhere. But now that we're in Asia for a couple of years, we're flying around like crazy trying to take in the sights. There's so much to see before our time is up! Spending a long weekend at home feels like throwing away a chance to see another piece of the world.


August 2011 - Penang, Malaysia was a former British colony.


It's not just me. My expat friends have been bitten by the Travel Bug, too. We gathered for breakfast after the kids went back to school in January and went around the table saying where we'd been during Winter Break. Melbourne and Australia's Great Ocean Road, Koh Lipe in Thailand, Hong Kong (by 3 separate families), Park City Utah, Langkawi, Bali, Western Australia, Singapore, Bangkok and Cambodia all came up. I wondered aloud, "Can you imagine what we'd be saying if we were still in Austin?" Most of us probably would have just stayed somewhere in Texas. Now, we're sprinting around the world at a breakneck speed, eager to travel as much as possible before returning back to our home in the States.


October 2011 - Relaxing in Singapore with Clarke Quay in the background


These friends provide me with inspiration and motivation. We ply each other for tips on destinations. One couple took what sounded like a magical boat trip on Vietnam's Halong Bay. I was intrigued but wrote it off as something too hard to pull off with kids. Then, another friend with two preschoolers vacationed there. She came back with everyone she left with, too! So the wheels in my mind start turning. If they can do it, maybe I can also.


November 2011 - Climbing the steps up Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia


Even if we don't go anywhere, we can sightsee around  Penang, the tropical island we're currently calling home. I've been here for almost a year, and there is still so much to discover. 


December 2011 - Disneyland Hong Kong
BTW, my boy on the left is imitating the spilled honey pot.


The generally cheap airfare and hotels around Southeast Asia have been helpful. Although with trips to expensive places like Singapore and Japan under our belt, I'm not sure if we're really skimping that much. As one friend put it, "Normally, we'd save up and plan for a year before going to Australia." But when the opportunity to travel to Oz from Malaysia presented itself, she jumped at it on the spur of the moment. Carpe diem! Seize the Day!


December 2011 - Children's Museum of Houston (Texas)


Will my family keep up this momentum when we return to Texas? I don't know. I was all aflutter picking a trip to do over a long weekend in May. Cambodia? The Philippines? Thailand? Langkawi? Where did I want to go? I finally settled on Borneo. When I'm back in Austin, would the five of us fly off to Denver, St. Louis, or New Orleans for a long weekend? Maybe. Would I do all three places in the span of one semester? Probably not. The urgency would be gone, and these cities are not quite as exotic as the ones currently on the radar.



April 2012 - Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto, Japan


Plus, we're in a golden stage of traveling with kids right now. They no longer need all that gear like diapers and strollers, and they can remember and be influenced by where we visit. They don't mind hanging around with us all the time. Two years from now, my oldest child will start high school. I can see our weekends being taken over with marching band and sports. The kids will start exerting their independence from us or even — gasp — get a part-time job.  They won't be able to go away with us on a quick trip quite so easily. (I am admittedly looking forward to the "traveling with adult children" stage when I expect my younger son to include me in his big plans to always fly first class and order room service.)



May 2012 - Blowpipes in Borneo


We're in sprinting mode right now. Eight more trips are in the pipeline for 2012. We may not have the endurance to keep it up long term. In the meantime, we'll keep rolling along, see where our adventures take us, and cherish every moment.


This post is part of Friday Daydreamin' at R We There Yet Mom?

17 comments:

  1. It is so exciting that you and your family are able to visit all of these places. Being bitten by the travel bug is a wonderful thing and as you said, the kids are at a good age to do so. Living in Texas, our exciting visits are to Plano. . . to visit my in-laws. Sometimes we get extra feisty and travel to Lockhart to get Kreuz BBQ. So what I am essentially saying is that I am living vicariously through you!

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    1. The St. Louis mention in my post was inspired by your tip-tastic single parent trip there. Also, you've had a romantic trip sans child more recently than I have.

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  2. I am and was bitten by the travel bug... I'm not sure it ever goes away... even after you travel for a long time. When you return to "normal life" you get the bug again and yearn to travel some more.

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    1. I used to think that we did a decent amount of traveling, but this last year has really ramped up for us. I'm sure that I'll always have the urge to explore.

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  3. We have been bitten big time. My kids are already planning their trips to Europe when we move back to the states. I think I'm going to have to get a job to pay for our travels!

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    1. Europe sounds fun! The flights from the US will seem so short in comparison.

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  4. I love that you and your family are taking advantage of seeing SE Asia while you're there. 51 days? You are too lucky! Goodluck with the rest of your trips and looking forward to reading them here. I was bitten by the travel bug a long time ago and I'm pretty sure it's been passed on to the kids =)

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    1. I think my kids have been bitten by the "lying by the hotel pool" bug. We've planned one trip that's more relaxing and less sightseeing.

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  5. I definitely understand how this goes! We lived in San Francisco for a year and spent so much time sight-seeing in the area... and we still didn't get through everything on our list! Have a home base in SE Asia is really great because flights are so cheap and there's something new to see so close. What a great situation to be in, and kudos for taking advantage of it. :)

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    1. Your Technosyncratic blog has been a great way for me to research future "nearby" travels. I'm somewhat envious that you've found a way to not tie yourself down to any one place and have the freedom to travel the world.

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  6. I can relate for sure! It is crazy to think that during our 11 years living in Austin, we only visited one other state in the US, Florida, and Europe. The rest of our trips were like you said, to Mexico to travel with the family.
    Now we have already visited 4 countries and heading to visit the 5th (Hong Kong) tomorrow, and there are lots more to come. This has been a wonderful experience for everyone! Enjoy and share!

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  7. Once you get bitten by the travel bug it never goes away! Just let it take you where it may.

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  8. I hear you! And it's why I've seen more of Texas than many of my Texan friends at this point :) It's so true, a long weekend at home is a wasted travel opportunity :) I'm sure you'll find ways to keep traveling even after you return home!

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  9. That is so awesome that you are taking advantage of where you are and traveling so much! You are so right about living here in the US and not traveling as much - there is tons to see & do here too!!

    Travel safely home to TX - isn't that coming up soon?

    ~Becca

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  10. Count me among those who have been bitten by the travel bug!:) Living abroad as an expat for a period of time is such a wonderful opportunity to see that region of the world inexpensively - take advantage of every chance you get to travel! I'm envious!!

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  11. Penang is the perfect base for someone with a case of the Travel Bug. It's such a convenient spot. I can see why so many expat families live there. Plus you can get in and out on Air Asia which is a huge bonus!

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  12. I just found your blog and I so totally hear you - this is how we live our expat life - every long weekend opens up a "Where can we go this time?" debate!! Moving from SE Asia to the Middle East was fabulous for us for all the new destinations it opened up - so wonderful to hear of other families with the same attitude to travel and opening up their kids minds :)

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