Hopping on the back of Elmo, I felt my own anticipation soar as my trusty motorbike sputtered to life. With a light grip, I fingered the cold exterior of my steel seat, knowing full and well it was my only safeguard to maximum impact; that is, my face colliding with the unforgiving concrete below.

However, today was a day for fearlessness. For palpable adventure. Today signified a journey into the unknown. With miles and miles of stretched highway before us, a crudely drawn map, and the sun on our backs, we were off to discover the lilypad lake of Sakon Nakhon.

A hodgepodge of shanty houses and wooden bungalows melded together in one fluid line as we raced further and further away from town. Looking up into the brilliant blue sky above, I suddenly felt untethered and freed from dismay in one fluid moment. Loosening my hold, I let my arms spread wide over my head as my hair whipped frantically about in the wind. Heaven.

In the totality of that instant, a rush of emotion brought me to one perpetual string of thought: This was right. Being here in Thailand at this junction in my life. For once, there was no second-guessing my direction.