Six months later

As I write this in February 2025, six months after our return, the trip feels like another lifetime. While we still regale friends and family with stories, the cobblestones of Italy, wildlife of the Serengeti, and temples of Japan seem worlds away from our familiar American life.

I've been meaning to write this final post for months. Perhaps my procrastination was serendipitous, allowing enough time for deeper reflection. Recently, I revisited our blog posts and Su's photo albums, and was struck by how much I'd forgotten. Reading through our entries, I kept thinking "Oh yeah, we did that!" and remembering countless moments we never even documented. When people ask about our trip, I realize our journey was so vast that no single conversation can do it justice. I find myself mentioning Luxor and our safari frequently, while somehow forgetting to mention seeing St. Peter's Basilica or Mount Fuji – experiences that would typically headline any vacation. It's both completely understandable and absolutely mind-boggling.

Going through all the old photos, I realized there were a few amazing places I wanted to share that never made it to the blog:

Atomic Bomb dome on the right

Hiroshima, Japan

A beautiful city with a river running through its heart. Its resilience after the devastation of the atomic bomb is incredible. The Peace park and museum alone justify the trip, but the city’s charm deepens as you explore. And yes, their local version of okonomiyaki is excellent.

Sculpture Garden, Hakone

Hakone, Japan

A perfect getaway from Tokyo, offering a taste of Japan’s hot spring culture. Staying in a traditional ryokan (Japanese inn with onsen) was a highlight. Seeing Mt. Fuji was breathtaking, and the open-air museum was far more impressive than expected.

Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa

A detour between Durban and Johannesburg led us here. We stayed at the Cathedral Peak - a half board hotel located right in the park. Hiking Cathedral Peak’s trails, surrounded by jagged cliffs, reminded us that nature needs no hype.

Kotor, Montenegro

A short flight from Italy took us across the Adriatic to Montenegro. Less crowded than neighboring Croatia, it was spectacular. This picture says it all. I definitely want to go back to explore more of the Balkan region.

By the numbers

• 17 countries across 3 continents

• 325 days of travel

• 65 accommodations

• 2 backpacks, 2 suitcases and one yoga mat bag (RIP Away bag left behind)

FAQ

What was your favorite country? 

Honestly? I can't choose. When asked, I rotate through a mental shortlist (Japan, Egypt, South Africa, Germany), but we truly loved each place for its unique character.

What was your least favorite country? 

Zanzibar. Though part of Tanzania, the island experience differs greatly from the mainland. While the people are wonderful, the combination of poor infrastructure and high costs was challenging. I don't regret going, but ten days was too long.

What country surprised you the most? 

Budapest topped the list. Despite low expectations given Hungary's politics, the city captivated us. Like separating America from Trump, Budapest stands on its own merits. Germany (underrated) and Egypt (not hyped enough) were close seconds.

What are three standout experiences? 

Safari, Olympics, and the Crystal Maze (not a typo).

What did you miss about America? 

Besides friends and family? Having our own space and familiar comforts. Mostly Trader Joe's, if we're being honest.

How did the budget work out? 

We stayed within 10% of our target, even with pricier European months at the end. Surprisingly (or maybe not 🥲), we spent less than we would have living in California!

What did you learn? 

While I haven't fundamentally changed, certain beliefs strengthened:

• People worldwide find happiness through countless different lifestyles. There's no "right" way to live – you do you.

• The world is far friendlier than we're conditioned to believe. Everywhere we went, we found friendly faces looking to help us out of a jam or have a good time.

Would you ever do this kind of thing again? 

Right now, I'm content staying put. After our return tour (NYC, Houston, San Jose, India, San Jose), my inner nomad needs a nap. While another 10-month adventure might not be in my future, I can see taking multi-month breaks every decade or so. It's healthy to step away from the rat race occasionally.

A favorite memory that encapsulates our journey: Su and I are in a cab outside a small town in Japan and the driver and I begin to converse in a combination of broken Japanese and English. Through the conversation I learned about his city, his favorite football team and he learned a bit about our life in America. At one point, I even made a small joke in Japanese that he actually laughed at - something to this day that I am super proud of. In spite of our language, cultural and social barriers - we shared the most universal of experiences together.

As I look back on the past year, I am overwhelmed with amazement and gratitude. Most of all, I’m lucky to have shared it with Su—not only an incredible travel partner but an amazing photographer and a better writer than me for this blog.

It was a year of travel, but the memories will last a lifetime.

Thank you for reading and being part of our journey!