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| 1. The fountains of Peterhof Palace outside Saint Petersburg, Russia |
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| 2. The Red Square with the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia |
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| 3. A yurt in the wilds of Mongolia |
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| 4. The Forbidden Palace in Beijing, China |
THAT is major clue to my next adventure, which is....
... Russia and the Trans-Siberian Railroad!
Ok - technically, I will be traversing the Trans-Mongolian section, not the true Trans-Siberian route - but it will still be quite an endeavor! I am starting with Saint Petersburg, despite the route officially beginning in Moscow. If I traveled this line in one solid stretch, it would take 6 non-stop days aboard the train and travel over 8,000 miles, crossing 6 time zones! However due to visa restrictions, I can only stay in Russia for 28 days, so my overall time is limited. I aim to use every day! After hitting St. Petersburg and Moscow for short stays in each, I plan to slowly make my way along the entire route.
As of now, I'm still sorting out which cities/destinations I will make as stopover points and for how long, but so long as I exit Russia into Mongolia before my visa expires, I am safe. In Mongolia, I plan to make at least one major stop to explore the unique nomadic culture and landscape, but again, that section of the trek is still being laid out. Lastly, I will cross into China with the current end point being Beijing - since that's where the train line ends! Naturally, I'll explore Beijing and some of China before leaving.
And that is where my options split in so many directions that I'm still not sure of the next step. As of now, some of the options include:
- accepting service in the Peace Corps with a possible fall or winter embarkment (working on that application currently)
- slowly continuing my travels from China into Southeast Asia, finding a place to call home for a period of time and finding work as I go (such as teaching English, or possible digital nomadic means of income)
- travel through China into former Tibet, flying over the Himalayas into Nepal and continuing that direction
- rather than stop in Southeast Asia for work, I'd continue traveling down to Australia or New Zealand to stop and take a working holiday for a year
- ???
As you can see, the options are about as endless as the world is full of destinations! Sadly though, I might need to make a stop back home for a brief period before continuing for a few reasons. If I am offered and accept a Peace Corps placement for example, I would need to undergo their training and preparations here in the US before departing for that placement. I might also have some dental issues to resolve - UGH! And if I make the trek back home, I would take advantage of the time to go back to work briefly and bank up more money.
My date of departure and the one-way plane ticket is already purchased, at a cost of $5.60
Yes, you read that correctly! $5.60 total - granted that is also using 30,000 of my built up frequent flyer miles too (of which I did not spend a single extra penny earning - thus I'm not really counting that in the cost). I will be flying from New York City en route to Saint Petersburg on my 31st birthday, June 8. While not quite a "mid-life, getting old crisis," I felt it fitting and one of the best presents I could give myself. For those of you already thinking: but you live in Pittsburg, not New York City... I will be taking the overnight Megabus to NYC the night before. Not as glorious as saying goodbye at the airport, but I was unable to wrangle leaving from Pittsburgh's airport on my birthday.
Now that the cat's out of the bag, I have a ton of planning, preparation, and work to get done. But the avalanche has begun and what has been a flight of my imagination for at least a solid year, is now a reality. I am leaving. Sure, I still have many questions and concerns, but I cannot let those hold me back. I hope that as you follow me on this adventure, many of those will be answered. And welcome aboard the experience!
P.S. - Earlier this week, one of those extra options jumped to the front of the line (the additional awesome news I hinted about!) I received word that my application for a working holiday visa in New Zealand was APPROVED! YAY! Unlike a regular 90 day tourist visa, I will be able to stay for up to 1 whole year AND I will be allowed to work and thus, earn money to fund my stay there and further travels. And if that news alone cannot be bested, I have until next March to enter New Zealand, upon which my 1 year stay begins. As of now, I feel that only a Peace Corps acceptance and placement would challenge this option but we'll see!
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