It was the start of my traveling obsession :) The wish was there nagging at the back of my mind forever it seemed but pulling the trigger is always the hardest part. Until now, life seemed like an endless taxiway constantly going in loops and waiting for the congestion to clear before I could line my nose up with the runway.
Why is the hardest choice in life always choosing…. Life?? So many people get a worried look when the thought of being “unemployed” is suggested but for me it seemed like the only option. After all, sometimes it’s now or never!!
I had spent the last five years trying to develop a career after college and every other free moment outside of enslavement I was trapped in a love/hate affair renovating a diamond in the extreme rough home I purchased. But my days were numbered at that point, the renos were complete, the sale was closing, my girlfriend had been laid off recently from her enslavement and all that was left was to notify my boss of my impending livingspree!!
I’m a mediocre planner at best, a global idea is about as close as I get to nailing down the details but I had goals….. sell it all, pack our bags and go. From there we just purchased the cheapest ticket to the other side of the world we could find….. Beijing….. Whaaattt!!! We knew nothing about China and it probably wasn’t the easiest place for a first destination but we’re jumpin’ in not dippin’ our toes.
So with all the leaving of existing life details cleared up and none of the next step except for a plane ticket and hostel booking details known, we rounded the corner to the tarmac, nose pointed far east and throttles pushed to no looking back!!! We were lifting off to a vagabond life with 40 litres of gear on our backs and boots made for walking.
To this day the plan of “sleeping on the plane” to me is the ultimate unachievable goal but trying to get any shut-eye with my future as up in the air as my body (30,000 ft) was a ridiculous thought. I was soooo excited I didn’t even notice there was free booze on the plane!! And here we were, it had been 14 hours of nonstop anticipation in the cabin; I peered out my window and spotted the great wall weaving its way across the mountain peaks like a great eastern dragon.
From altitude Beijing looked like Sim City grouped with tall condos and cranes as far as the horizon. BOOM! the landing gear lowered, we were on final decent gliding over the the barbwire compounded, guard tower surrounded packed shoulder to shoulder insanity that is Beijing International!!
Maybe it was all the excitement that made the stampede through customs feel quick but before we knew it we were on the train into the heart of china’s capital!!
Stay tuned, we’re only getting started :)
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