Oh the places I will go...

As I write to you from my hostel in Melbourne, I can say I finally feel like a real backpacker. Meeting new people (like my roommate from Holland) and taking trains, buses and ferries to get from place to place really reassures me that I'm living the dream. Sure, I'm still living off mom and dad but I'm pleased to say they at least trust me to go off on my own and not get abducted, locked up or disappear. I realized today that I can seriously travel the world. Sounds a little cliché but its true. In fact, I've already made my list of places I plan to visit within the next...15 years? I would like to make it 5 years but I'm being realistic. Here's the start to my list:

• Scandinavia (I'm going to try to just knock out Sweden, Denmark, and Norway all in one trip)
• the UK area (same deal-Ireland, N Ireland, Scotland and England)
• Greece
• Morocco
• Japan
• Vietnam & Thailand
• Brazil
• South Africa

I feel like this list will keep me preoccupied for a little while. Oh, and if anyone wants to join me for a once in a lifetime cruise from Argentina to Antarctica, I'll be glad to put you on my guest list of travel buddies. Anyway, as I drink my Rekorderlig Premium strawberry-lime swedish cider in my little guest room, know that I am happy and safe and looking forward to my return to the States in less than two months. I'll leave you with a nice quote as you sit in bed and drink your red wine, reading my blog:

“As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.” Margaret Mead

^seriously, thats precious