10 hours til take off

My flight to Singapore leaves in less than 10 hours. I've got 14.5 hours from LA to Hong Kong before getting on a 6 hour flight to Singapore (with stops in Bangkok first). Long night ahead.

I thought I'd make my first real post on this blog before heading out of town. This blog has a couple functions:
1. to let family and friends at home know how I'm doing/what I've been up to
2. to be my main note taking/journal for my trip
I will warn you now, my prose is not that of a great novelist or a comedian. As much as my mom would like, I don't really do long detailed descriptions. I'm more of a fact oriented person. However, as this is my big trip, I am going to try to improve my writing skills for this blog in an attempt to make it more interesting for the reader. Hopefully, at some point in the next 10 months, you will find something here that's worth reading.

I am feeling at bit nervous right now. After months and months (kind of years) of planning, I'm off on my world adventure. I spent five years in London working my butt off: first for a small family office, then for the enormous bank Lehman Brothers, then for the Lehman European Bankruptcy, which is the position I most recently resigned from (and hence the name for my blog). It was strange to say goodbye to my colleagues. I worked with an amazing group of people over the years and have been very fortunate in that respect. Despite what they might think, I do miss them.

Packing up my life in London was challenging. I lived in the same flat for over three years so I had a good amount of crap to go through (16 bags worth which went to Oxfam). My incredible friends threw me a going away afternoon tea and drinks party before I headed out. I have some wonderful memories from London (plus my travels in Europe). And time marched on...

Just as I planned, I flew to Philadelphia on 27 May and spent my first weekend State side in Chicago with my four best girlfriends from high school. Then it was back to Philly for my PRK (laser eye surgery) with the amazing Dr. Slochower. Aunt Susie and Uncle Art kindly allowed me to crash at their house for 10 days and mom flew in for the actual operation. Fortunately, everything went perfectly and I was off to Bermuda for Aud and Rob's wedding. It was a fantastic weekend with college friends and a gorgeous wedding. From there I flew to LA to enjoy a week at home with my parents and sister including a night in the desert with Aunt Rene and Gary. The week disappeared before my eyes and next I knew, I was on a plane again heading to Israel (with a night in NJ with my Aunt Elaine and Harry) for Birthright. Words cannot accurately describe the 10-day trip. The people on my bus were incredible and the sights beautiful not to mention the thought-provoking discussions we had about Israel. A bunch of us spent a few extra days in Israel relaxing and I even made the day trip to Petra from Tel Aviv. And just like everything else I've mentioned, the days flew by.

This past week at home I've been busy preparing for my trip. Got some shots and visas, bought quick-dry light-weight clothes, booked hostels and my around-the-world plane ticket (which doesn't actually start until 1 Sept), updated my netbook, the list goes on. And now its time to take the plunge. Tonight I head out for the first part of my adventure with some butterflies in my stomach and lots of meds in my backpack (thanks dad). Hopefully I'm ready for the next six weeks of non-stop travel.

For those of you who've asked, here's where I'll be:
Singapore (19-22 July)
Java, Indonesia (22-28 July)
Penang, Cameron Highlands, KL, Malaysia (28 Jul-5 Aug)
Kuching (on Borneo), Malaysia (5-7 Aug)
Beijing, China; Mongolia; Russia (8-28 Aug) on the Trans-Mongolian railway (on a tour with a group of 12 people, more details www.intrepidtravel.com/osm)

Guess that's it for now. Next stop Singapore...