Thai'ler Goes to Thailand!

Well, quite the coincidence that "Tyler goes to Thailand".  That was my father's first response upon telling him that I was planning to make the trip to teach English.  "That's all he has to say...?" I thought to myself.  Of course my father, being the sage fellow he is, expounded on his quip and gave a more appropriate response.  He was happy to hear of my decision and said he would support me all the way.

And so the journey began -- or should I say, the "pre-journey".  Now 6 weeks later, I sit here on the Eve's Eve of my departure to Bangkok and cogitate and mentally regurgitate the innumerable steps I've taken to get here.  I AM LEAVING IN 36 HOURS.  Is this real?  It sure doesn't feel like it.  And, pardon the cliche, but does time fly or what?

I hope you like the picture.  For those that aren't familiar with Nicholas Cage's filmography, a poorly reviewed movie bearing the name "Bangkok Dangerous" was released in 2008 in the U.S.  I asked a friend well versed in Photoshop to surprise me with a "Thailand-like picture of me".  I don't think he could've done it better.

This new adventure is all the more exciting for the fact I've never left the country.  That's right.  At age 25 and with a complete bill of health, I have never stepped foot on foreign soil.  Not even Mexico or Canada.  So I am both proud and slightly embarrassed to say that this is my first trip out.

I've started this blog with the hopes to keep in touch with friends and family; to edify the many that have not visited the beautiful country of Thailand and future countries I may visit in my travels; to provide that "worldly view" to others that I found myself lacking in my day-to-day American grind.  And certainly not of least importance, to bring a little entertainment to the eyes and ears of those I love and care about.

This blog will be fun.  It will be interesting.  It will inspire.  It will articulate my many thoughts and experiences in this faraway land.  Pictures, posts, news bits, videos and more will be updated every few days to a week.  In some cases, I will have the time and appetite to post daily.  Sometimes I will have to mentally spank myself to pick up the ol' fingers and get 'er done.  But I promise that there will always be some routine.

Feel free to forward the blog onto your friends and family.  I wish to communicate to as many as I can reach. Everything in this blog is broad public information and I hope even strangers find me and keep tabs.

With that, I will sign off.  Just these few paragraphs have been fun.  And I haven't even boarded the flight!  Yikes!  More to come!