And, that’s pretty much all, folks. Here in India we’re currently counting down the hours left of 2011 while folks on the other side of the planet are just starting this last day of the year.
2011 was a pretty fantastic year for me. There’s nothing I love more than traveling. Apart from back home in Kuwait, I had never gone anywhere outside of India before. In 2008, I backpacked around India and it blew my mind. It’s crazy how different parts of this subcontinent can be. Seeing different sights, tasting different food, learning about different history. I found it all, amazing and the proverbial ‘travel bug’ had well bitten into me.
This year I traveled to more places than most people do in a lifetime.
I drooled all over the future (and the general geekiness of) Tokyo, Japan (technically in late 2010):
And met a handful of pretty cool people but only managed to take a picture of one (D’oh!):
I went to my first *real* convention/conference/huge-giant-festival thing, at SXSW, Austin, Texas in March 2011:
Where I met some of the awesomest peeps you’d ever meet on the planet.
I stopped by Los Angeles which was a place I’ve always. ALWAYS. wanted to go check out. Hollywoooooood!
Where I hung out with my ub3r awesome friend and her equally awesome significant other:
And generally other people of lesser importance than my Los Angeles friends:
I swung by Vegas, to see what the fuss was all about:
Didnt actually meet anyone new but it was spring break so I saw a lot of generally drunk people. Some very friendly folks and happy couples spreadin’ love:
I later went back to L.A and fulfilled my childhood dream, of visiting Disneyland:
And met some very old friends there:
In May, I visited Europe, which was another thing I had always wanted to do. And Berlin, Germany at that:
Where I met even more awesome folks:
In June, I made my first Asia trip, with a visit to Singapore:
With (you guessed it) awesome friends once again:
Which was followed by another Asia trip in August, to Hong Kong:
Where I met a combination of some awesome old friends and made some awesome new ones:
In September I was actually sleepless, in Seattle:
Unfortch I was a bit sick on the last day so I missed the ‘hanging out’ portion. I met tons of new people but darn it, I didnt get any pictures! Managed two though:
In October I was in Los Angeles again (two times in one year makes me a VERY lucky boy):
And I got to hang out with one of my bestest friends of the year as well:
And ofcourse, new friends as well:
Before I knew it, it was November and I was in London. London. Loonnddooonnn:
Where I was reunited with a couple (now old) friends, and a couple brand new ones:
I am so. freakkin. grateful.
Through it all, I laughed, I cried, I got pissed off.
I got screwed over, I got lucky.
I got everything I’d ever wanted. And I lost things that were somewhat important to me.
I made a ton of new friends, and lost a couple along the way.
At the end of it all, I ended the year happy & healthy. All in all, what more can you ask for?
I know this is going to sound very deja vu when my post goes up on ZCJ tomorrow, but I want to extend a personal Thank You to each and every person I met in 2011, and to anyone that had anything to do with me going places haha. I’m really at a loss that another year has come and gone but … well, here we are. I hope every one of us has a great night tonight and that we all stay safe and sound. Have a blast, enjoy the last hours of 2011.
But as fantastic as 2011 was, here’s to a great 2012! There are still places I wanna see (cough New York plz? cough) , and there are still people I want to meet (and some again). I gots my cool shades on, and i’m ready!
Bring it on 2012! If you’re even a percentage as good as 2011 was, I cant wait!
