ASIA
October 2012: Dubai - United Arab Emirates
must... find... air conditioning
And I wasn't alone in this search... even the local Emiratis seemed to seek out cool air among the many ex-pats present in Dubai, driving to air-conditioned mega malls in air-conditioned cars before heading back to an air-conditioned home. In my experience, Dubai consisted of three completely different cities connected via a highway with nothing in between: Deira (old town, culture), Downtown Dubai (East meets West), and the Marina (speaks for itself). My cousins and their two boys, who moved here a couple of years prior, provided the excuse to make a stop here on the way to Kenya. Some of the experiences I wont forget include:
January - May 2010: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia
"and me... i still believe in paradise" - the beach
This is where it all started for me, the desire to fill a backpack and roam. With two best friends in Kevin and Rod and a 60 liter backpack, I went off, as many before me had, to explore South East Asia with no real itinerary or expectations of what to come. It was a trip of a lifetime. It was 18 weeks of a lifetime. A little red moleskin sits on my shelf, reminding me of the many tales (some more appropriate then others) and experiences the three of us had together!
Realistcally, this page could be filled with story after story after story... there are far too many! These are some of my more memorable moments and favourite photos along the way:
thailand
Despite the beautiful landscapes and generous people, Thailand lacked the mystery and serenity of some of its neighbours. Obviously tainted by the tourist industry and the influence of western countries, the parties and beaches were next level, but the culture was amiss!
+ getting dropped off on Khao San Road - culture shock
+ our first island retreat - Tiger Huts on Ko Chang and $8 shacks ten feet from the ocean break with the "Norswegians"
+ the Tree House parties on Ko Chang with the THT (tiger hut team)
+ Pattaya's deeply disturbing and transaparent sex industry
+ Jungle Trek in Chiang Mai with our guide Wood - we ate raw pig intestine/liver, frogs and river otter... hearty
+ Full Moon Party on Ko Pha Ngan
+ Scuba-diving certification and pirate parties on Ko Tao
+ Visiting the "Beach", hiking to witness the most majestic sunsets, and playing with Gibbons on Ko Phi Phi Ley and Don
cambodia
Cambodge. The 'bodge. Bo-Dya. Cambodia was very good at pulling on the emotional strings. The scars left by the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot Regime were still extremely evident in 2010. At one moment I was swooned by the temples of Angkor Wat, and the next sat speechless and depressed after tripping over human remains in the killing fields. The most unique and unfortunate country I've travelled through, and I would love to go back someday to see how the young population has progressed. The Temples were truly a wonder.
+ SCAM BUS across the border, even though we knew it was coming
+ Renting bikes, blowing tires, and getting lost among the temples in Angkor Wat
+ Getting approached by the many limbless victims of landmines throughout the city and temples
+ Walking the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng genecide museum
+ Riding scooters along an empty beach and through the town of Sihanoukville
Vietnam
Nam. Great country, great people, great coast line. I need to go back, as we never got to explore the North Coast and instead cut across to Laos dead center. That said, we took advantage of the south - and spent some generous time in some great beach cities and on some great day trips on the scooters. Hoi An was an absolute treasure, and its fair to say Lil' Wayne made one or two many cameo's for his own good.
+ Saigon sidewalk bars where Gramma's do all the work
+ Terrifying, praying to God bus rides
+ Nha Trang: Seafood Hot Pot, scooter ride to China Beach/Marble Mountain and Vinpearland - and a trip to the hospital for me
+ Hoi An: Getting suits made and rocking them in the bar, throwing Dong errrr-where to "A Milli", and sipping on the local Cao Lau soup
+ Hue: Finding KFC, the Imperial tennis courts in the Imperial City (no joke), and Michael Bolton music videos on our way to the club
+ Getting introduced to Vietnamese coffee (aka getting introduce to condensed milk in coffee)
+ Learning to bargain - like, really bargain
laos
Laos really did it for me. It seemed out of place, its own quiet little tranquil self, surrounded by the chaoticness of the countries around it. Every town (except for party town Vang Vieng - infamous for its now shut down river tubing) was quaint, quiet and peaceful, and the people went above and beyond to make you feel welcome. So many fond memories of this little country.
+ Renting scooters and going on an unguided three day ride through the Bolaven Plateau, having the best banana pancakes ever in Tad Lo, and swimming under waterfalls
+ Eating at the competing Indian restaurants in Pakse (Jasmine and Hasan) - both plating the best Tikka Masala I've ever had
+ Songthaew to Si Phan Don: sharing a vehichle with animals, very friendly seat partners, and hanging off the back for multiple hours
+ Si Phan Don: Mamma brining cold Beerlao riverside as we tubed past our guest house, crashing a local wedding and giving the Wedding Crashers speech, countless games of rummy, seeing the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins
+ Vang Vieng: enough said
+ The Unesco Heritage city of Luang Prabang: having a special conversation with a local buddha at one of the many Buddhist temples, dinner at Utopia, table tennis with the locals, and riding bicycles everywhere including the many night markets
+ The two day slow-boat trip up the Mekong River and writing "Mekongcation"; our own rendition of Californication
malaysia & indonesia
While Malaysia was a quick pit stop, Indonesia was supposed to be the vacation at the end of the vacation. But, while Kevin and Rod went straight to Bali, I flew solo to the island of Java. Java, put plainly, rocked. Minimal tourists, beautiful buddha temples, and delicious food. Indo has a lot to offer, and Java opened my eyes to that.
+ Kuala Lumpur: Petronas Towers bridge walk and randomly ending up at the Malaysia soccer leagues championship game with 100,000 locals
+ Yogkajarkta, Java: the smell of spice markets, sunrise at the world's largest Buddhist archaeological site Borobudur, prayer hour at Prambanan, and street side rice wrapped in banana leaf
+ Cemero Lewang, Java: a four hour, 2am hike up Cemero Lewang to witness a sunrise atop a Volcano
+ Kuta, Bali: Surfing, daily McDonald soft serve ice cream, and being interrogated by a sleeping cop after getting my wallet stolen in a bar
+ Gili Trawangan: bike rides around the island, the best fish and chips, and episode upon episode of Californication
