Last day of my Trip

I got to Japan and it took me 20 minutes to exit the plane, go through immigration and customs, and ten get in the train.  It's almost as if Japan was waiting to welcome me home.  I had this wave of relief once the plane landed.  I felt that I could finally relax. I noticed on the plane that I had lost the bracelet that Pau from Cambodia had given me.  Although a little bummed, I felt that the bracelet was karma reminded me of its presence during my trip and now that I was ending it, it also ended its journey with me.

Even thoguh it was a month long and there were times during the trip where I literally thought would never end, now that I'm at the end, it all went by pretty quickly.  All those long nights waiting for a bus or boat, the crawling train that would be stopped more than actually moving, the nights where I couldn't sleep because I was being eaten alive by bugs.  They don't seem so bad anymore now that I'm back home.  

If there was anything I could have done different, probably not.  It was a great trip and those unbearable times all make for some pretty good stories.  Is there anything I will do differently next time I try something like this?  Yes, less long haul transport.  For a $10 train ticket, I could have dished out an extra $15 and gotten a flight.  

Also, I wouldn't take so much stuff.  I didn't have much with me as it was, but I only used 2 shirts and only 1 pair of pants (which only got washed twice, but is now comfortably resting in a trashcan in Bangkok airport).  There was absolutely no need for 5 pairs of socks.  I think 2 sets of clothes is enough.  You can wear one while the other spends a day drying in your room.  Unless you plan to do some intense hiking, you don't need shoes.  I used it once for the Mount Bromo hike in Indonesia, but there were plenty f people using flip-flops.  Take clothes that you don't mind throwing away beause that lightens your pack and makes room for gifts.  My shoes are in Indonesia, while half my other clothes are in Thailand.  

I'm more of a see as much as you can kind of person, so although most people will do a few weeks in a country where I only did a fee days, I don't think I would change that.  A couple of days in Ko Tao might have been nicer, but no complaints.

This trip definitely fine-tuned the patience that I learned in Japan.  Waiting 5 hours for a minibus to fill up, or 2 hours because the bus broke down ... I didn't expect much in terms of efficiency when I came out here, and I didn't get much.  

This is what I appreciate back in my comfortable life.  Flushing toilets that don't smell or are coming apart, being able to rinse your mouth with tap water. a comfortable AC room on a really hot day, mosquitos that are actually repelled by my repellant, my bed.  I still don't really have a bed that I feel very comfortable in, except back in Hacienda, but just knowing what kind if sleep I'm going to get is a nice luxury.  Seeing a price and paying no more than that and knowing that everyone pays the same price, that's something I missed.  Although haggling was fun at times, it's can be really draining.

Seeing the cultures differently from the frat to the last day was interesting.  The touts in Indonesia started off as really annoying and I ignored every one of them, but spending that night in the bus station watching them work really hard all night long to make just a few bucks, that put them in a new light.  They're just trying to get by like everyone else. 

I met some really interesting and nice people on this trip and I'm ending it with lots of good memories.  I wouldn't compeltely call myself a true backpacker yet (I still need to loosen up a bit), but I'm getting there.  
  

Last Day in Thailand

Overall, I wouldn't say that Thailad was my favorite country, but the pushy angrier touts, cockroach pillows, 9:00PM curfews, half-assed street pad thai are still fresh in my mind, so maybe it'll change in a few weeks.  The first day going from Siem Reap to Bangkok, from Bangkok to Chumpon pier, from Chumpon pier to Ko Tao, diving twice, then going back to Chumpon pier from Ko Tao, back to Bangkok from Chumpon was the most intense stretch of travel on this trip.  Although the dives made it completely worth it, I would never do that again.

Josie left on the evening of the 22nd for her very long trip home.  I got an email the next day from her saying that she made a mistake and was a day early, so he spent an entire day in the airport apparently.  It paid off though because karma gave her a first-class seat back to America.  Being in my own was kinda cool.  I could go where I want and at my own pace, but Josie's a real easy travel buddy, so I'd have preferred hanging with her.

The worst part of Thailand was the heat.  It was the hottest I've been too, but I was also walking more instead of taking tuk tuks or buses.  The pigeon lady who shoved her popcorn kernels at me also pissed me off.  The touts were less willingto bargain as much and would get mad if you didn't like their price.

The best parts were the cobra show and the cooking class.  3 cobras, one in each hand and one in his mouth ... doesn't get more exciting than that.  The pad thai was exactly what I wanted to eat and te cashew chicken was amazing.  Earth, Aeg, and Katsuni were really fun ad I got to hang out with a few locals at the end if my trip.  The girls at the Luang Poo shop were always welcoming and offerred a nice, cool place to sit down and I never hesitated to buy a smoothis from them.

I met a guy on the plane sitting next to me.  I had just finished a 4-day trip to Thailand, but he had just finished 2 years.  He was teaching english out here and had decided to go back home to Vermont.  Although he said he was excited to go home, I didn't sense it.  He sounded a bit like me.  We had a good chat and parted ways at the Beijing airport. 

 I don't have a strong urge to come back again anytime soon, but definitely sometime in the future.

Last Day in Cambodia

We're on a bus leaving Cambodia and going to Thailand right now.  Overall, I can say that I really liked Cambodia and of the 4 countries I've been on during this trip, it was my favorite.  The people were very nice - the hotel staff, Net - our tuk tuk driver, and Pau - karma in little girl form.  The food was delicious - Khmer cooking and especially the $1 street sandwiches.  The souvenirs were dirt cheap - $5 for two shirts and two scarves.  We were here for only 3 days, went to two museums, traveled across the country, saw a sunrise over ancient ruins, visited 9 temples and a landmine museum, saw the sunset over ancient ruins, went to a night market and bought cheap gifts, and enjoyed good food ... all that and I spent $99 of my $100 budget.  

I'm a bit sad that we didn't spend more time here, and I'm not sure what else I would see if I come back.  Not worth the visit just to hang out for me.  Today is a bus to Bangkok, another bus own south, then a ferry to Ko Tao.  Then it's a day over scuba diving tomorrow.

Cambodia gets high marks on the must visit scale!  

Last day in Indonesia

I've already forgotten all the bad parts of Malaysia, but I know that it wasn't worse than Indonesia. The only major things we did in our 6 days here was Borobudur an Prambanan one morning, Gunung Bromo another morning, and dinner with Surya. EVERYTHING ELSE was either waiting or transportation.

We spent 30 hours traveling and about 15 waiting. We covered the entire 500 mile stretch of Java in about 3 days. It was one of the most enduring weeks of my life (but that's cuz I'm writing it in the airport, just finishing up the trip).







I think Borobudur was the best thing I saw. Bromo was amazing, but the extent of human ability was much more fascinating. I would recommend someone to go see it, but not the way I did.

The worst parts were all the touts wearing you down from the second you step out if your room till the second you step back in. I can do without them. Complaining about traveling 9 hours on a train without AC sounds very posh I know, but sitting a small room in 85 degree heat, plus humidity, with the occasional breeze from a tiny crack of a window, all while being bothered by people trying to sell very pointless things ... it was tough and I hope I never have to do it again. If you ever do a long haul train ride in Indonesia, pay the extra $5 for Executive class. If you take Economy class, you won't even get a seat. We took Business class.

The feeling of not being safe is really hard to get a hold of. Part of it is being in a new country, part if it is my own prejudice, and part of it is a dark, shady, dirty bus station at night. I definitely appreciate the safety of Japan ... although I never really took it for granted.

Overall, I'm glad I got to see what I did, I'm glad karma kept me And my money safe, but I don't think I will ever want to come back to Indonesia again ... at least Java Island.

I hear Bali is supposed to be great.

Next stop, Cambodia ...

Last Day in Malaysia

So this is my last day in Malaysia. The first day was horrible with the humidity and no showering and everything, but in the end, it was pretty nice. The great times on Tioman island, scuba diving, the good food, great people, the near death experiences with the buses, crazy street vendors, and finally the last day with its bed bugs. They itch like crazy. I hope Indonesia will be just as fun, if not more fun. I don't know if I'll even come back to Malaysa, once is maybe enough, but as for now, goodbye Malaysia!

Last Day in Taiwan

Although there were parts of Taiwan that didn't agree with me, it's a favorite place of mine. I think many people would agree that the food is excellent and that it's one of the reasons why people come here. It's cheap and delicious.

It's easy to move around with the train system out here and there are a lot of things to see, especially the night markets (which are full of good food).

The best part of Taiwan was really having a local person as a tour guide. Josephine's friend Shirley was great. She would explain the foods, the sights, and a really great host. Tours of the Shilin night market, a couple hours of relaxing at her parents' house, taking us to eat at her aunt's restaurant, getting us free tickets to Iron Man 2. This trip couldn't have happened without her. It wouldn't have happened without Josephine either. It was also great seeing Lex and eating sausages with him. ;)

I'm going to miss Taiwan, but it's off to Malaysia ... with an overnight layover in Singapore.