And we're off!

Greetings from Newark Airport, which my father was kind enough to drive me to from western MD on father's day. He totally beasted all Google Maps expectations and got me here three hours before my 10:05pm departure.

And so the first leg of the grand adventure begins. I only hope that I, Frank, and both of our packs make it through two layovers, a change of hands at BKK between Lufthansa and Thai budget airline Bangkok Airways, to make it to our first official destination of Siem Reap, Cambodia, gateway to Angkor Wat.

Defining the Flashpacker Stereotype

Cargo pants? Check.
Hiking books? Check
Super lightweight netbook that's bound to get stolen? Also, check.

Not pictured: Northface backpack, Moleskin notebook, Lonely Planet guidebook, morally loose universal power adaptor (no seriously, you can plug anything into it and it will plug in anywhere - enter Bangkok-themed that's-what-she-said-esque joke here), worldphone I got on study abroad in France and forgot how to use because I forgot French and have no idea what the PIN is (but I'm hoping some sketchy SE Asian dude will unlock for me for like $.75 if I overpay, cf. Greenhouse Apts sketchy resident emails), baby wipes, Nalgene brand travel bottles for brand name shampoo and conditioner, Ben's DEET 100, antimalarials for when that DEET doesn't do shit, 3 courses azithromycen, a baller ass Lumix camera that is waterproof/shockproof/also bound to get stolen, 4 days worth of clothing that I expect to last me 5 weeks, and to top it all off a lightweight fleece pullover that I will invariably regret bringing when I don't ever use it past the airplane ride but would have invariably wished I had brought had I left if at home.

So psyched for the trip. So psyched for the journey. So psyched for the adventure. So psyched for the heat. So psyched for the food. So psyched for the animaux. So psyched for some serious karst landscape. So psyched for Ambien to crush my jetlag like a BOSS.

Oh, I almost forgot! My phone will receive texts for free in Cambodia and Thailand so feel free to say hi whenever. Maybe if you're lucky I'll respond with one of the 50 international texts I purchased from ATT for $10 for the trip. Otherwise, email, Facebook, and Skype (sarah.stern08) will I'm sure all be viable ways to get in touch with me.

Au revoir mes enfants! Miss you all! See you on the other side!

XOXO,
Sternsy-poo