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TheSisterhood of theTravelingWomenMaybe it’s a sign ofthe times, but we’refinding quite anumber of AAwomen leavingposh corporate jobsfor trips around theworld. Here, onewoman shares herexperiences.

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Lena Vazifdar was born totravel — her own parentseach left their respectivenative countries, Japan andIndia, in search of adventureand found each other. Sowhen the San Francisco-based assistant editor foundherself the victim of compa-ny-wide layoffs one day, shereturned to her first loveand took off for a four-month, nine-country jauntthrough Asia. She started offin Vietnam and Laos, andsends us her first dispatch.

Strangest food discovery:Crickets — they were surpris-ingly delicious!

Never expected: Visiting theNam Song River in Van Vieng,Laos, which turned into adebaucherous spring break-esque afternoon of tubing downthe river, then having locals pullyou into riverside bars wherebuckets of whiskey and Red Bulland Lao Lao beers await.

I’ll never forget: The irides-cent sun painting splotches ofpale pink and yellow into thesky as it rose and set against thebackdrop of cavernous rock for-mations on Halong Bay — oneof the most beautiful places Ihave, and will ever, visit.

I wish I could forget: Makinga fool out of myself a couple oftimes with the help of myuntrusty friend, alcohol.

Something I learned aboutmyself that I never knewbefore: Living life with all yourpossessions on your back is awonderful and crazy thing. Yourealize at the end of the daythat everything is replaceable,and it is the experiences youhave, the ridiculously awe-inspir-ing things you get to see, thepeople you meet, and the wayyour heart feels full and heavy atthe end of the day that matter.

The glittering paper boats shined iridescently on the Mekong River forming sparkling white pools,lighting up the night sky. As the sound of drums and laughing children faded into the darkness, thecomforting smell of egg crepes with condensed milk filled the muggy air.

Just hours earlier that day, as I sat at an open-air cafe in Luang Prabang, Laos, my camera had beenstolen by a young boy from whom I had bought an 8,000 kip bracelet. I spent the next couple of hoursrunning around town trying to find it. Of course it was gone. I spent an hour in my hotel room with mytravel partner Denny, laying in bed and complaining. Meanwhile, the streets and temples outside werequickly filling with happy locals and the sound of banging drums. In the port, colorful boats of all sizeswould eventually make their way out on the Mekong and float away, lit up and glowing. After a peptalk from my travel partner, I realized I was letting something material ruin a beautiful experience inLaos, so I stopped sulking and walked outside to a city bursting with joy, color and a culture that was soforeign yet so intriguing to me.

It was about nine at night and I walked into a temple in the middle of the city during the festival.There was a golden Buddha statue and two young monks clad in traditional orange garb chanting.Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. There was nowhere else I wanted to be atthat moment; it was perfect, and it made me realize that the material things in life are just that —material. I may have lost my camera and my photos, but no one could take away my memories or thatamazing moment in the temple surrounded by monks and a giant smiling Buddha. As I kneeled downand closed my eyes I thought about Wanthon, a monk I met earlier that day on Phousi Mountain. Wehad conversed with him for nearly half an hour, helping him with his English. I was so grateful to havemet him, to have been able to experience a little part of his sacred world — even if for a moment, evenif it was just to help him with his grammar. I think everything happens for a reason, even getting yourcamera stolen. For me, my reason was to have that moment in the temple; I’ll never forget it and nophoto could ever take the place of that overwhelming, awe-inspiring feeling of thanks.

The author, Lena Vazifdar.

The boat festival at Luang Prabang, Laos.

The beautiful city of Hue, Vietnam. The author, left, at Vietnam’s picturesque Halong Bay.