Completing Asia

Day 427-430, January 28-31, 2012

The trip from KL to Singapore was a pretty quick one considering the distance. It probably helped that the bus up to the border had private TVs, much like an airplane. And it also had Wi-Fi connectability. That certainly helped pass the time fast. Crossing the border was a breeze and suddenly I was in the City-State of Singapore, the final stop on the Asia leg of my trip. I was lucky enough that a friend offered me to stay on his couch during my brief stay in the small island country. Considering I was going to Australia next, I was going to take any and all opportunities to stay for free/cheap.

Singapore Skyline

Singapore is quite a large city, but many of its best sites are located in relatively small area downtown. The Singapore Flyer, the worlds largest Ferris wheel, was one of my first stops. Because my time was short in the city, I did what I’ve started calling “Geocache tours” around the city. Basically, I use the geocaches to take me to the interesting spots. It works out great. And I don’t get lost, which isn’t great when you’re pressed for time.

From the Flyer, I walked up to the Bay area that is covered with iconic Singapore images. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the Merlion statue, the Helix Bridge(built to resemble a DNA Double Helix), as well as the Singapore skyline from the Bay were the major highlights. It’s hard to fully remember that you’re still in an Asian country considering that English is one of the main languages, and the city itself is insanely clean.

Helix Bridge with Marina Bays Sands Hotel

Singapore Merlion  

The city seems to come alive at night though. The Marina Bay Sands Hotel seems to have a laser light show. I saw it from a distance so don’t know if there was music attached. Walking along one of the river promenades, you’re surrounded by pub after pub after restaurant after restaurant. And each one is showing the exact same Australian Open tennis game on numerous flat screen TVs.

Way back in Europe, while doing some random research about Asia, I stumbled across the small little fact of Singapore having a Universal Studios. Anyone that knows me knows that I’m a junky for rollercoasters. Hell, I went to a theme park in Santiago and the one in Madrid I went to twice! So, on the Monday before I left, I headed out to Sentosa Island to try and get in. I say “try” because I had heard whispers around that tickets to the park can sell out. Which sounded really odd to me, but oh well. I was taking my chances I guess.

Getting in wasn’t an issue at all though. Yes, it was expensive, but it was totally going to be worth it. And it was. A few weeks earlier, the Transformers Ride had opened up so that was the first one I went on. Suddenly, being a single person at a theme park worked to my advantage as many rides had separate lines of “Single Riders.” I felt a little guilty as I strolled past the other people lined up in the regular line, but that guilt disappeared when I sat in my seat. If anyone has been on the “Amazing Spider Man” ride at Universal Studios Orlando, that’s basically what the Transformers ride is. Just with better graphics. And more explosions. And with Transformers. But no Shia Lebouf(Plus? Minus?).

The day at Universal was one of my favourites. I checked out the duelling coaster of Battlestar Galataca(sorry, but the Cylon side was the better of the two. Sorry Humans); the indoor, pitch black rollercoaster of The Mummy; the Shrek 4D film(Bug’s Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Honey I Shrunk the Audience at Epcot); Madagascar(boring, sorry); Lights, Camera, Action! Special effects show; and my all time favourite: Jurassic Park. Just walking into the line up for that ride, with the theme song of the movie playing brings goosebumps to my flesh.

And add to the fact that, up until I walked up to the ride I was under the impression that it was closed for renovations. Yup, that’s right, I jumped and squealed when I saw it was open.

I split that day up with a little hike around the island, which has been built up in recent years to be a major island attraction, with a few other theme parks, plenty of beaches, and hotels. For me though, the highlight outside of Universal was walking to the end of the island where a sign proclaims that to be the Southernmost Point of Mainland Asia. That was cool.

My final day in Singapore ended up being a wash out. Literally. I tried to head to Chinatown to check it out but got caught in a downpour that lasted for a good two hours. With no umbrella, I was stuck under an awning of a small business. A random stranger walking by actually ripped the cardboard box he was carrying in half for me to use as a makeshift umbrella. It was enough to get me to the nearest metro relatively dry so I could grab my stuff and head to the airport.

There’s a reason why Singapore’s Changi International Airport is constantly named the best Airport in the world. I found that out first hand the moment I walked in. Checking in to the flight was the smoothest I’ve had. There are so many service desks that the lines seem to just constantly move. Past security you have so many things to occupy your time. I saw signs for “nap rooms” and even a sign for a movie theater showing free movies. There’s even a two story tall, indoor butterfly park in the departures lounge. If I had known about half the stuff in the airport I would’ve gone there sooner to spend more time!

Asia is officially done for my trip. I’m sad and not ready to move on. But I’m excited at the same time as I will be meeting friends in Australia that I had met along the way. And best of all, I’ll be surprising my good friend Steve for his birthday. As far as he was aware, I was flying to Borneo.

The surprise is going to be epic!

Hanging in KL

Days 421-428, January 20-27, 2012

Ah, Kuala Lumpor, or KL as most people end up calling it. Home of the [once] tallest buildings in the world. Also home, briefly, to Dani and Jess of the Globetrotter Girls whom I had last seen up in Chiang Mai around New Years. My arrival in KL coincided with the ringing in of the Chinese New Year and a small gettogether of a few local travel bloggers the very night I arrived.

Photo via Lash Lash Travel

Tea Time in the Cameron Highlands

Days 418-420, January 17-19, 2011

On the suggestion of numerous people, including Lucy and Dumindor, I made the Cameron Highlands a must see stop on my little trip through Malaysia. In reality, I wasn’t sure what to expect but as the mini bus made it from the coast in Penang up into the interior, the landscape blew me away. Once again, the limestone karsts that are so numerous in Ha Long Bay once again showed up.

The Highlands of Malaysia are famous for their tea plantations. Because of the height of the highlands, the weather there is perfect for growing tea trees and other vegetables. And, like much of Malaysia, the British influence is strong here. This area only became a major tea growing area after the Britains showed up with their own love of tea. That love has now spread throughout Malaysia. So much so that, even though they produce tons upon tons of tea here in the highlands, they still have to import tea to keep up with the demand. As such, none of the tea made in Malaysia is actually available outside of the country.

An Island of Religious Mixology

Days 412-415, January 13-16, 2011

With my Dive Certification in hand, my job in Koh Tao was finished. I probably could’ve stayed and did my Open Water Advanced course as well and still make it to my train in Chumphon in time but considering that I fell asleep at 9pm the night we were celebrating, I took that as a sign that I was just too knackered to do anymore diving right away.

My next destination was the island of Penang in Malaysia. From Koh Tao it was a pretty easy journey. The trip on the ferry back to the mainland was a lot worse than the trip to the island a few days earlier. The typhoons in the South Asian Sea were causing massive waves up here in Thailand and most of the people on the ship were getting quite queezy from the rolls the ferry was making. We still managed to get to the mainland with lots of time to spare. And the train itself: I’m not sure how, or whether it was just standard on this particular route, but I managed to get a bed in the really new, air conditioned car. It made for a very nice journey.

Ferry to Penang

Chiang Mai Tweet-Ups

Day 399-403, December 31,2011 – January 4, 2012

At the start of my trip, oh so long ago, Chiang Mai was really just another Thai city on my list of ones I wanted to see. There was no real particular reason behind it, I didn’t know what there was to see or do in the city. That all changed probably around the beginning of October when I learned that Warren and Betsy of Married With Luggage were going to be settling down for a few months in Chiang Mai. Suddenly, I had a major incentive to go to Chiang Mai. A reason 1 year and 3 continents in the making.

The Slow Boat from Laos to Thailand

Days 396-398, December 28-30, 2011

When you’re in Northern Laos, or Northern Thailand for that matter, and you want to move to the next country, the method of transport you are most likely to take, because it’s a journey everyone raves about, is the slow boat down(or up) the Mekong. Sure, you can take the speedboat(it cuts the journey down to 6 hours) but the slow boat is a much more amazing experience I would imagine.

And while most people do the journey going from Thailand to Laos, Lucy, Janine, and I did it the less common, less busy way. Laos to Thailand.

I Went to Vang Vieng and Didn’t Tube!

Days 387-390, December 19-22, 2011

Vang Vieng, Laos is one of those places that almost seems to get trapped in a singular focus. Ask most backpackers or travelers about that town and they’ll all name the “must do” thing there: tubing. At home, tubing means being put in an inflated tire tube and pulled being the back of a speeding boat around the lake. Here, it means laying in an inflated tire tube, floating slowly down the Nay Som River, and getting drunk off your ass. At least a dozen bars are located on the rivers edge, pulling tubers in for free shots, cheap beer, and even cheaper buckets of whiskey cola.

Each of those cost $1.20

Swings, zip lines, and slides are also found in abundance at these riverside bars. I’m trying not to judge those that go strictly for that, but there’s enough deaths each year that you’d think people would realize that extreme alcohol + water + rocks + jumping in drunk = not a good combination. I had no desire to do the drinking and tubing mix. In my head, I was going to do the tubing, have a beer at one bar, and spend the rest of my time floating down the river taking photos. I had no idea that there was so much more to do in Vang Vieng than the tubing.

And I spent three days doing everything but tubing.

Visa Runs and Other Fun in Vientiane

Days 383-386, December 15-18, 2011

Can I be brutally honest right now? My main reason for blazing past Pakse after the 4000 Islands was so I could get to Vientiane and apply for my Thai visa and receive it before the weekend. I did not want to get stuck in the city over the weekend waiting for my passport to be handed back to me from the Thai Embassy.

Funny how things don’t always work out the way you planned it.

Vientiane, Laos

1 Out Of 4000 Isn’t Bad

Days 379-381, December 11-13, 2011

Located a mere 5-10 minute drive from the border with Cambodia, the 4000 Islands of Laos are, for the most part, peoples first or last stop on their trip in the tiny, landlocked country. At this section of the Mekong, the river widens enough to create dozens upon dozens of islands. Maybe not the 4000 that the name implies, but there are plenty to see. However, there are only three that are usually on anyone's itineraries or radar. Most of the other “islands” are too small or too temporary to hold any sort of infrastructure.

My bungalow

Travel Day–Kratie, Cambodia to Si Phan Don, Laos

Day 378, December 10, 2011

There is only one land border crossing between Cambodia and Laos and for the longest time it was a painful one to cross. While most other land crossings into Laos would have visas available on arrival, this particular one did not.

That all changed a few years ago and according to the owner of a restaurant in Kratie, it has had the effect of boosting business like crazy. More travelers are making the journey in that direction as it has become easier and more convenient. It is not without its challenges though!

The Bats and Dolphins of it All

Days 368-369 & 376-377, November 30-December 1 & December 8-9, 2011

Two small towns in Cambodia exist a slight ways off the beaten track. For the most part, people tend to ignore these in exchange for the war history in Phnom Penh, the magic in Angkor Wat, or the sun and surf in Soukanitville. And it is understandable why most people would leave these places off their “must see” list after going there myself.

Monk walking in Battambang

Don’t get me wrong, they’re both nice little communities, but they’re also very very quiet, with little to do but one or two sights. While the second, Kratie, has easy access to small Cambodian villages in which to visit, the first, Battambang, is really no more than a small city. Not much of a draw besides the “bamboo railway” and the “killing caves.”

After the Temples . . .

Besides the temples in the Siem Reap area, the city is also a pretty happening place for foreigners. I don’t think I have been to a town that is as touristy as this place. Because of the proximity to the temples, and the fact that they are one of the main reasons people come to Cambodia, it wouldn’t be surprising to find out that the majority of the local population works within the tourism industry in one way or another.

Case in point: Pub Street. Yup, an entire street in this little Cambodian town is called Pub Street. They even have street signs with that name on it.

And it is probably one of the reasons that I got drunk for the first time in a very long time on this trip. I blame Val. And Lucy. And Juno.

Ah, hell. I blame everyone.

The Temples of Angkor

November 25-29, Days 363-367

I only spent two nights in Phnom Penh that first time before I took off for Siem Reap in order to meet up with Val, a fellow travel blogger whom I had been chatting with for months through Twitter. I knew I would be coming back through Phnom Penh later so I wasn’t too worried about missing anything the first go around.

There are a multitude of options to get from the capital to Siem Reap, home of the Angkor Wat temple complex. Myself, Nicola and Juno, and Jens and Julia were all heading there on the same day on three different buses. And the journey is another one where paying a little more does mean a better experience. I paid a whopping $10 for a mini-bus ride to the town. Nicola and Juno, on the other hand, paid $9 for their bus ride. They left an hour before me, got in an hour later, and from the sounds of it, had the stinky ride from hell as a baby had messed their diaper at the beginning of the trip and the parents decided to change him on the bus and leave the diaper on board.

I slept the whole way in Air Conditioned bliss with a single stop for lunch halfway through.

Life and Death in Phnom Penh

November 24, December 3-7,2011. Days 362, 371-375

“Oh, you’re going to Phnom Penh? You’re going to need a few days to let it grow on you.”

Those were the first words I heard from someone about the capital city of Cambodia. I wasn’t entirely sure what they meant other than perhaps it is like most cities and needs time for you to find its charm. Coming from Vietnam, the differences were immediately striking. I found it smaller(because it was) and surprisingly cleaner. There was certainly rubbish, but there didn’t seem to be nearly as much as the cities in Vietnam. I’m not knocking Vietnamese cities, just merely stating something I’ve noticed.

Independence Monument in central Phnom Penh

But the whole “need a few days to let it grow on you” adage? It didn’t apply to me. As soon as I arrived I felt drawn to the city. And in the few days I spent there(split in-between a visit up to Siem Reap and Battambang), I easily found a city that I could live in and relax in.

From Vietnam to Cambodia over the Mekong Delta

My return to Ho Chi Minh City was really just to sign up for a tour into the Mekong Delta that would also end up taking me into Cambodia. I figure that it would be easier to do the border as a group than on my own. Plus, if I did it on my own, I still wanted to do the Mekong Delta and that would require coming back into Ho Chi Minh City anyways.

My time in HCMC was pretty laid back. I spent much of my time kicking back in the Vietnam version of Starbucks, Highlands Coffee. Iced coffee was amazing there and I ended up getting lots done on my Geocaching KMZ file(still not done but it’s building slowly). I was in the city when Vietnam beat Laos to win their Grouping in the Southeast Asia Games for football. I also took in a traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet show. I had no idea what was happening but it was still cute and fun.

Vietnamese Water Puppet Theater

What A “Hue” to Get Around

A long, and rather gruelling, 14-hour overnight bus ride from Hanoi brought me back into Hue. The last time I was here I only stayed for a day and a half as I was with Frank and Po at the time. This time I was alone, in a private room hotel. As I had already seen the Citadel the last time around, I decided to skip that, rent a bicycle for a few days, and take in the Royal Tombs that lay just south of the city.

The Capital Often Overlooked

**I am going to try something new with the photos on my blog, making them bigger in the first place so you don’t have to click for a larger image. Please let me know if you prefer this or the previous way I did things**

Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. Even though it is also the second largest city in the country, few people seem to come to Hanoi for little more than to escape to either Ha Long Bay or Sapa, or both. There are plenty of museums(none of which I actually went to) and things to see, but the two outer excursions tend to overshadow the city.

I found myself drawn into Hanoi as a place to relax before and in-between my trips into Ha Long Bay and Sapa. And with the help of an iPod app, I managed to meet a couple really cool guys to hang out with on my down time.

The Minority Villages of Sapa

Besides Ha Long Bay, Hanoi is a great jumping off point to explore the highlands around Sapa. Every hotel and hostel and guesthouse in the capital city are falling over each other to sell you tours to both these places. And while it could be argued that to really see Ha Long Bay with ease, one must go with a tour, Sapa can just as easily be done while on your own as on a tour. I opted to go for a tour as I was unsure of the ease of doing a homestay in the villages surrounding Sapa town on my own. And the homestay is essential I think to really get a feel for the area, and to see even more than you would.

Ha Long Bay

Ignoring, for a moment, the justifiable controversy surrounding the selection of the “New 7 Wonders,” Ha Long Bay still stands out as an amazing place. Of the seven places that have been named onto the new list, this one is one of the few that is actually deserving of the title in my opinion. I had already done a one day tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site with Po and Frank a few days earlier and it’s very apparent that four and a half hours is not nearly enough to really appreciate the beauty of the area. So, with that in mind, I set out to book a three day, two night tour of the bay.

Latching Onto Strangers

I feel kinda bad about my last post where I pretty much slammed the town of Dalat. At least it seemed that way. I was more slamming the tour I was on. Dalat itself seemed like a cute little town. I know the one thing that stuck out in my mind was how clean the lake in the middle of the town looked and how well groomed the walking trails were. Perhaps if I had gone to Dalat with a better attitude I would’ve enjoyed the town more. Check out Dyanne’s blog, the geocacher I had met in Sapa, for a better idea about Dalat once she moves there to teach English.

Leaving Dalat was an adventure in itself. The bus was . . . run down to say the least. Fumes filled it for the 4+ hour drive to Nha Trang where I had already reserved my seat on the bus to Hoi An. I would only have an hour changeover to make that bus. When the bus heading to Nha Trang pulled over with a flat tire, things looked dire.

Haha, I just rhymed!