This would be the time of your life. I'm so glad that a lot of people are doing this now as I did three years ago. That 7 months trip to South America has totally changed me and I've learned a lot from it like survival skill, languages, and communication (well, I'm an introvert).
What's your itinerary in South East Asia? I'm from here and based here, let me know if you need any help!
RE: Travel journey #1: Leaving my cat