Some closing ideas and learnings from this trip:

• We have again increased our appreciation and affection for SE Asia and would return again if we can. The world is a volatile place and we deeply felt the peace and calm as well as the burst of positive energy coming from these countries. Thanks again to everyone who we encountered during this trip — the planners, the hotel staff, the guides, the drivers, the chefs — all the cultural ambassadors.

• 8 flights is too many, but it was fewer than the 10 in Indonesia. Soooooo…. it was worth it. Everything may seem a bit uncoordinated at small Asian airports, but as long as nothing goes wrong, it will probably work out OK. However, when something does go wrong, it really goes wrong. And they are bad at communication in all the expected languages (the English pronunciation over the PA system is pure gibberish 85% of the time.) Our worst experience was Phuket airport. The only reason we got out with less trauma than required was because we were standing next to a nice Canadian couple (aren’t they all nice??) who were using Trip.com. They got updates about gate changes just in time for us to get there before everyone else. I’m checking into it for the long haul flights from now on even though I am in an abusive relationship with United. Almost 900k miles on UA can’t be all that bad can it? Can it??

• Otherwise keep an eye out for an earnest lady in a bright uniform carrying a hand written sign through the crowd with your flight number. They may or may not be shouting, “Telegram for Mr. Winston!” — it’s hard to tell.

• Ultra light suitcases, packing cubes, and marino wool are the secular trinity of travel. I also swear by ExOfficio underwear or the REI knockoff. Wooden toothbrushes with bamboo bristles totally rock. We are not Instagram models (yet!), but light, non-stinky clothes are fundamental to the carry on life style. We can live like this for at least 4 weeks with one quick visit to the sink laundry. Paris actually has it down for real laundries if you can figure out the French logic for paying at one automated station for detergent, wash and dry. Many of the Asian hotels had drying racks for the balcony — probably for bathing suits, but they still worked great for socks and underwear.

• Take photos so you can remember everything and not just for posting to your thousands of BFFs on the inter webs.

• Learn how to be polite in every language you encounter. Hello, thank you, goodbye. Being calm and friendly is a highly valued skill in countries where getting angry makes you lose face.

• Talk less, listen more, but ask questions — lots of questions.

• Definitely plan for a couple days of relaxing at the last stop before going home. Your future self will thank you.

• That’s it for now. Maybe someday this site will grow up to be a real blog :-)