I have just completed five beautiful weeks in Malaysia and a few days in Singapore.  I'm currently in New Zealand.  The simple fact that I am so far from home and in such a remote part of the world is just so exciting.

I have about five draft blog posts and essays about my experience in Malaysia that I am finalizing.  I also have a few drafts about some New York City urban planning issues that I have some thoughts on.

In New Zealand, I'm finding very beautiful nature: the greenest fields I've ever seen.  Many of the backpackers here are merely on holiday.  Whereas in Malaysia, I met a lot of people who were working in Malaysia or trying to figure out a new lifestyle.  Of course in Mexico I met so many backpackers on holiday but I also felt so integrated into the communities I was in and I spoke to so many locals, I did not feel like I was "surrounded by people on vacation".

Because New Zealand is mainly a holiday destination known for its scenery and the culture is mostly Western European style, I am unfortunately a little bored.  Ok, I'm really bored.  It's all good.  One day I will come back here with someone I love and we will experience this beautiful nature together.  We will go on vacation and look at all of the beautiful things and kiss each other and eat a sandwich and smile.  Right now, I want more than just looking at pretty things.

I've realized that I miss being in environments that challenge me.  I want to be in a place where there are restrictions on how I can communicate.  I want it to be hard or significantly different for me to do things.  While I appreciate the beauty here, I do not think I will grow here.  I am currently looking into visiting some islands of the Pacific Ocean that offer a more cultural experience.  New Caledonia (French), Fiji, American Samoa, Vanuatu and Tonga are on my list of places to research.  "Can I really make this happen?", I'm thinking to myself.

How could I have ever thought that I would want a curated trip handed to me?  I absolutely love the research aspect of planning this experience.  In the planning alone I feel like I am growing in that I am becoming more confident and secure in my travel decisions.  I know how to book open-ended experiences and I know when I want to sleep in a hostel closer to a bus station vs. closer to something pretty.

More posts coming soon.