Summer 2011.

Since moving to Chi.na in 2008, I've been many amazing places.

Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan...as well as a bajillion cities within Mainland Chi.na.

And I've only cracked the surface of where I want to go before I leave. My "must-do before leaving" plans include: Japan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Loas, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Mongolia, and I want to go back to Thailand again. There are only a few places inside Chi.na that I have left to discover: Xi'An, Tibet, Yunnan Province, and Chengdu are the only places I still need to go.

Some flashbacks...

snorkling in the Thai Sea...

Phi Phi Island, Thailand...

Ma Ping village, Chi.na...
Harbin Ice Festival, Chi.na...

DMZ, South Korea...(NK border)...

As much as I love Asia, I am so excited that my summer travel plans do not include pagodas, noodles, chopsticks, or temples...I'm going to...

EUROPE!

Thank, goodness. I need a break from the noise, mess, and clutter of Asia. I'm headed to Spain and Italy with my family, then hoping for a jaunt through France, Germany, and ultimately flying back to Chi.na via London.

The prospect of new stamps on my passport makes me giddy. The prospect of being in a *ahem* civilized country for over 2 weeks makes me shake with joy.

Europe, here I (and my family!) come! Let the trip planning commence...

(Is it me, or is planning a trip pretty much just as awesome as actually going on the trip itself? The possibilities of world travel are thrilling!)

There's so much of the world to see...I can't wait to get out of this corner of the world and experience something totally different than my everyday Asian norm. I need some gelato. And an Italian man.

It's going to be an incredible summer.

walk slow. xoxo.