Well, my journey began about 20 hours ago… First stop was O’Hare airport in Chicago and “enjoyed” a 5 hour layover. The next stop was Doha, Qatar which is a 14 hour flight from Chicago. Now, here we are at the beautiful Qatar airport and settling in for a 9 hour layover. The joys of traveling when you are on a budget and can’t afford a direct flight! So, economy class it is!
I am not sure where this blog is going to take me, so I will just let it evolve on it’s own. My former online business has hit hard times after the AI revolution, and I need to rethink new avenues for employment.. Either my travel blog is a success, or I reenter the workforce with a more traditional job. Ultimately my goal is to create a travel blog that will capture the spirit of solo traveler who wants new experiences, and is willing to step outside of his/her comfort zone to find them.
As I observed travelers passing me in the airport while I site here, I can’t help but wonder and think of what their destination will be? Are they beginning a new adventure, or going back home from one? How many are grieving a loss of a loved one, and how many people are ecstatic to see their family after a long time away? All of the above must be true, with so many travelers from all over the world crossing paths in one location.. When you look closer and all of the lives intersecting, you can’t help but to feel a little emotional. Empathy for those traveling during dire times, and excited for those ready to embark on a journey that may transform their life in to a new direction.
The Beautiful Qatar Airport
I am from the United States, and we do a lot of things well, and admittingly a lot of things not quite so well. When it comes to airports, we do not stand up well in comparison to other countries who take a lot of pride into their transportation hubs. The Doha Airport in Qatar is one of the nicer airports that I have ever been in. I highly recommend using them if you are trying to choose a hub to redirect your flight.
As you walk in to the Doha Airport in Qatar you are greeted with beautiful scenery that you can walk through. Let me tell you, it is very calming for tired and weary travelers. This is especially true for travelers who experience “travel anxiety”, who don’t exactly enjoy flights, and have a hard time pushing though the controlled chaos of it all. I’ll save that for another post!
Here is a short 23 second video of the scenic views within Doha Airport
If Doha airport in Qatar was put up against any of the U.S. airports that I have been through, then it’s really not even a contest. It is clean, comforting, and many places for weary travelers to relax if they are on a long layover (9 hours for me).
The Beginning of an Adventure
If you are ready to embark on an adventure the excitement begins to build the closer you get to your flight date. When that date arrives, it begins to feel surreal when you the journey finally begins. While, I still have a 9 hour layover and a 10 hour flight to Cambodia (where my adventure will take place), I am beginning to feel the excitement of what will soon be my life for the next two months.
I have been to Phnom Penh before, but I will be taking a step further and experience some of the smaller cities and provinces in Cambodia. After a short stint in Phnom Penh, I will be traveling by bus or van to Kampot.. The municipality of Kampot is located on a river with a population of approximately 50,000 people. The architecture seemed beautiful, and is within close proximity to the Beach.. Motorbike rentals are cheap and I can scoot myself over to Sihanoukville and be on the beach within an hour. Or I can visit the many provinces along the river, or I can spend a few days just hanging out with the expats in town and drink some beers and listen to their stories. It all sounds beautiful to me!
Kampot just seemed like a good starting point as I explore Cambodia. After Kampot, I have absolutely zero clue of where I will go next. While many people love a structured itinerary, I have more of a wandering spirit until I find a place that just feels right. Maybe it will be Kampot, and I never leave.. Maybe, I want to take the next bus out? That is the excitement of it all. I have already rented a “Shipping Container” turned into an apartment so that will be interesting in itself.
Next Stop Cambodia
I guess that I will wind this post down since I haven’t even arrived at my destination. I am not sure how long I can hold a reader’s attention when I rambling on about an adventure that hasn’t even taken place yet. However, it is there.. I can envision it already… Soon, very soon, I will be living in a world very unfamiliar to me, and that just seems……. NICE….
If you made it this far, please Like Mid Life Travels on Facebook and follow along on my journey and see where it leads. Maybe it will inspire you to start a journey of your own!