Travel

Growing up, we didn't have money to travel. I was 10 or 11 the first time I saw the inside of an airplane. Until then, the most we traveled was by car to other places in Norway. Our vacations were usually spent at home or in a cabin, and we had a few trips to Denmark . At 15, I went to Lubeck, Germany on a school trip - by bus.

For one Christmas around 2002, my family went to Malaysia. I refused to go. I had preconceived notions about Southeast Asia and it just didn't appeal to me. I was home alone that Christmas instead. Missed opportunity.

Everything changed in 2006 when I moved to Australia. After a year on the Gold Coast, I traveled through Malaysia and Thailand on my way back to Norway. I spent the rest of my cash and then some during this trip - I literally had no money when I landed in Kuala Lumpur and spent two nights in a taxi driver's tiny apartment while trying to get access to my Norwegian bank card. It was chaotic and stressful and I had no idea what I was doing. But the moment I got to Thailand, I was hooked. I have been traveling as much as I can ever since.

Southeast Asia is where most of my travel experience is. I lived in Thailand for about 4 years total, and I've spent extended time in Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and Japan. I've also traveled with my kids - first an 8-month backpacking trip through the region, and a 10-month stay in Japan.

Major trips

I'm planning to write more detailed pages for the bigger trips eventually. For now, here's the overview.

I've also done shorter trips over the years - Japan for my wedding ceremony in 2014, trips with my wife during rainy seasons when we lived on Koh Tao, the occasional European holiday. But the long trips are the ones that shaped me. There's something about being out there for months at a time that a two-week holiday can't replicate.

In retirement, I imagine a lifestyle where we spend April to September in Norway and then travel slowly during winter - Thailand, Okinawa, or similar places. We'll see if that works out.