There’s always a moment before a huge trip that I have sudden regret. What am I doing! I don’t want to go…I feel better staying here.

But then I think of all the wondrous things I will experience, see, hear, touch, feel. No regrets whatsoever. Regrets would be not doing anything at all.

Here’s me the day before I left for Hong Kong and Vietnam.

I am showing the blank pages of my passport, which are now filled with a used Vietnam visa, an entry stamp from Vietnam, a departure stamp from Vietnam, two entry stamps from Hong Kong and two departure stamps from Hong Kong.

As I donned my rooster hat, I was thinking how sad it would be to travel without my usual companion, how I will come back with mosquito bites (and I did), how much anxiety I would have if I forgot something (and I did), and the money drain on my bank accounts. But the adventure, the experience…was right there!

When I believe that it’s going to be amazing, it becomes amazing.