7th November
2008
“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again—to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.” —Pico Iyer
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ABOUT
Hope is 5 foot 11. Jeremy is 6 foot 4. Together we are 12FOOT3. This is our around-the-world travel blog. Come see the world from our point of view.
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Hi Hope and Jeremy!!! You have this site up and going!!! Your trip is truly beginning!!! This will be fun! xo Mom
I’m weeping = happy and sad…reading your bon voyage farewells today 11.13. Sad only b/c I’m not leaving with you ;P
Can’t wait to live vicariously through the two of you.
Craig and I are hoping to rendezvous with you both in the Galapogos Islands…that’s on the top of our list. Love you both!
Bon Voyage! I look forward to your updates on this blog. Hurrah to both of you for taking the time to savor life, the world, and each other.
xoxo
Hope & Jeremy, We wish you a fantastic adventure. We will be following you every step of your way, and look forward to your blog. Hugs to you both.
Susan stole my words. Even that I have not weeped, but I do have mixed feeling of both being sad and happy.
When you called me to say that you are taking off, I was driving to the choral practice. Mom left early by herself.
While I was driving, I was listening to “La Boheme” for a while, then I switched to the song-”Time to say goodbye” which I have learned to sing recently. Then, my cell phone rang, I thought it was Mom reminding me the song sheets. But it was your call to say “goodbye”.
I don not know your reason for traveling a full year, but I fell you need to go ‘conquer’ the world and enjoy the life, especially with Jeremy together. In the 60’s, when I was in my 20’s, there was a whole generation searching the meaning of life. Through the traveling together, supporting each other, helping each other, you and Jeremy will definitely find the meaning of your life, and your marriage.
Like what I said to you: Tell that young man to take care of you, and also you will take care of him too.
Bon Voyage. We will meet you in Taiwan and China. Learn your root and culture. Have a good time.
We will think of you two all the time.
Dad
I am glad to see that I can communicate with you no matter how far away you are.
After I sent my message to you last night, I tried to really evaluate your year long trip. And I will tell you now how I see it.
First of all, there are sayings like: ‘Mi casa, su casa’, or ‘Any of your friends are my friends’,….really mean that you and we are always linked together. Therefore, whatever I say on your blog, all the people who are associated with you can also see it. But, if I can open myself to you, I do not worry to hide anything from them either. I am sure they understand that I am the dad.
When I was 22, I left my home for the first time for eight months on a merchant freighter as the deck cadet. It definitely was a life of ‘drifter’.
Can you imagine how much I missed my home? I received the letter from home first time after I crossed the Pacific Ocean. When I opened up the letter, my warm tears just fell
with no control. Three months later when the ship went back to KeeLung port at North Taiwan, I was jubilant and extremely happy to see Grandmom, grandpa, auntie Shirley and auntie Ann.
For you, you are not traveling alone. You and Jeremy are not only partners of this trip, in fact, partners of life. This is why I say ‘take care of each other’. You need his help and support, let him know. And, do not take it for granted, he will need some help and support sometime, do offer your care too.
I will talk to you both from time to time.
Dad
to reach Long Beach port at Los Angeles.
Corrections first:
1. 11/18 message: the word ‘weeped’ should be ‘wept’
2. 11/19 message: the phrase of ‘to reach Long Beach port at Los Angeles’ needs to be right after ‘Pacific Ocean’
Ok, this is 11/20 message:
“So, the first stop is Auckland
which I am being told is in New Zealand
What? you do not have to camp out sleeping under the sky?
Then what’s the fun being a drifter, I wonder why
Therefore, this is my first poetry
which will be part of your travel history
By the way, is a poem supposed to have rhyme?
I don’t know and I don’t care, this is the end.
Dad
Thank you so much to everyone for your nice words and wishes! Each and every one of you will be with us on this trip. Dad, you are so funny…keep up the wacky comments!
I’m a little late in joining you on your journey. Just spent a couple of hours reading all of your comments and enjoying the photos. The most meaningful and emotional words for me were when I read your reasons for travel — and the responses from Hope’s Dad. Made me cry. I’m thankful that in this wonderful, modern world of technology that I can travel along with you in the comfort of my home. Since I was not gifted with a sense of adventure, I’m fortunate to have you two open my eyes to the wonders of our world. Looking forward to each segment. “Aunt” Bun