Have you ever found yourself living your life as though you were watching it from afar? Like everything is on rewind, replay, and fast-forward over and over again? It's odd, because before I began traveling, I was content with my life. It's much like reading in a dimly-lit room. It's adequate and your eyes adjust. It isn't until someone turns on another light that you even begin to realize that you were sitting in the dark. And then you start feeling like an observer the moment you fall into a routine. The travel bug is relentless when it strikes. Every journey takes me to a new place filled with new hope and unexpected adventure. But it can be frustrating, miserable and lonely at times. It has, however, been one of my greatest teachers. It has imparted awareness, taking me further away from one of my greatest fears: leading a mechanical life. It is in going away that I become more grateful, appreciative and mindful of my own life when I return.

Plans for this trip began in October 2001 at Letchworth Park in upstate New York. I went there by myself one afternoon, frustrated by the routine of medical school. And I knew I had to go. This trip will take me to Portugal, Spain, India, Thailand and Australia in a whirlwind time of 9 weeks. I want to see places that dwarf my perceptions of humanity and civilization; to come face-to-face with culture, religion and people who twist and challenge my concepts of right and wrong and good and bad. It's going to be amazing!

~Hope