Thursday, January 23, 2014

Throwin Dong

There's something really cool about Vietnam. It is so beautiful, with such history and tradition, and the people are so kind and friendly. But what's really fun is that everyone is instantly a millionaire here. The currency in Vietnam is the Dong (stop giggling, what are you 12?) and the conversion rate is 21,000:1. I took out two million Dong from the ATM the other day.... I felt very wealthy, but in more ways than one.




After saying goodbye to Elizabeth and Nick in Bangkok, Carinne and I flew to Hanoi Vietnam. We stayed in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. It was beyond charming and so beautifully. 

Unfortunately, it was much colder than we had expected. Ummm, isn't't all of Southeast Asia supposed to be warm? It was obvious we weren't the only tourist ill prepared. Every foreigner was strutting their new "Cambodia pants" and a knock off North Face jacket they bought in the Old Quarter. We spent the day wandering the city and visiting a few historical sights. Most interesting; the Hanoi Hilton POW prison.

The next morning we were picked up at our hotel by Kevin, our tour guide for our Halong Bay cruise. We spent two days and one night in Halong Bay with an eclectic group of fifteen. It was a great experiences and a lot of fun. We were returned to our hotel the following evening. A few hours later Carinne left for the airport to head back home.

I spent the next day in Hanoi by myself then went to the train station in the evening for an overnight train south to central Vietnam. I walked through the doors of the train station and pulled out the receipt I had been given when I booked the train.  I was told that I would have to pick up my ticket at the station. Just as I pulled it out the reciept this Vietnamese woman approached me and handed  me a ticket. I was really confused because she obviously didn't work at the station  (I assumed she was just workin/scammin the station, knowhatimsayin). I walked away from her which really upset her, but then was turned away by the chick at the ticket counter when I showed her my receipt. I tried to just go through the ticket check using my receipt but was literally pushed away by another woman. Lo and behold that first chick appeared behind out of nowhere, aggressively handed me the ticket and took my receipt out of my hand and dissapeared. Befuddled, I handed the ticket to the woman who had earlier brushed me aside, she punched the ticket and let me through.

So the mystery remains; who the fuck was that chick holding my ticket and how did she know who I was? Things just work out here.... Found my cart and cabin. My cart (or is it car?) is full of a French tour group. There are a few people not apart of the tour, but they make up the majority. My cabin mates were an older French couple (super sweet) and an older German man. Fine by me. I fit in well with the older crowd. I had two beers and a Dramamine and slept like a baby! I booked the 16 hour overnight train as a test to myself.



I can't say I passed with flying colors however. I made a mistake (it's only the 7th one I've ever made) however by getting off at the first major city thinking I had to switch trains. Wrong. But like I said earlier; things work out here. I was guided by a really kind Vietnamese man who helped me book a bus, held my backpack, and took me to the city center so I could wander around for the few hours before my bus left. When I returned he gave me coffee and tea while I played with his daughter.
I arrived in Hoi An in the early evening. Hoi An is a quiet and charming beach town. There is so much French architecture in Vietnam. That in contrast to the stretches of rice fields, animals grazing, bicycles, and traditional people make this place so exotic. The homestay I'm at is also adding to this amazing experience. It's family run and and they treat you like family. Last night another couple staying there (a Czech couple) and I cooked and ate dinner with the family. Such a great experiences and so special. Vietnamese people are so kind, helpful and friendly. I really have been blown away by them. My favorite was when an older man asked me where I was from. When I responded "the US" he replied "It's OK, it's in the past. We're good now."

Tonight I will take an overnight bus to Ho Chi Minh! I'll have a day to myself to get a lay of the land. The following evening my friend Liz (One of my best friends in Hangzhou) will be meeting me! A few days later we will meet up with Nora and Arthur (also dear friends from Hangzhou) and the four of us will travel through Cambodia and Laos!!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

same same

I couldn't be happier about my experience in Thailand. I was with a great group of people and I saw some of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen.

No one is allowed to be crabby in Krabi.
Traveling in a group can be risky. Everyone's always got their own agenda plus the lack of "alone time" can lead to crankiness. I was so happy to be with Elizabeth, Carinne, and Nick though. I even cried one night because I was so happy?

I think we got the most out of the country in the two weeks we had. After New Years in Bangkok (one that'll never be topped, so much so that I may be going to bed early next year) we experienced Chiang Mai in the north. The elephant trekking and tigers were such a magical experience. After that we island hopped.

Smiling tiger | Cobra | The grounds of our hotel in Chiang Mai
We started in Krabi. I would compare Krabi to Laguna Beach. It was a beautiful coastline with a calmer more mellow city. We tried to accomplish as much as we could in each city and I think we did a great job. We were all about the activities, which is key for me. Our first morning we hiked 1,273 stairs to see a big Buddha at Tiger Temple. We rinsed off at our hotel then got picked up by Kohp. Kohp was our rock climbing guide and new best friend.

"Box Money up to you"

Rock climbing outdoors (and not just outdoors, but an island in Thailand) was rad and a new experience for all of us, except for G.I. Joe Nick. We invited Kohp to join us for dinner and let him choose the spot. I'm pretty sure lightning stuck the power line across the street from the restaurant while we were eating... It was the perfect touch.

Perfect seat for a little monkey.

After Krabi we took a ferry to the island Koh Phi Phi. If Krabi was Laguna, Koh Phi Phi would be Tijuana. It's not that it was necessarily dirty or sketchy like Tijuana, it's just all bars. The town is just cramped streets/alleys. We felt like the old parents that went home early because all the bars and restaurants were too loud and busy. However, the small islets around Koh Phi Phi were unbelievable. We booked a day boat trip that takes you snorkeling and to a bunch of the islands (including Maya beach where The Beach was filmed). That day was one of my favorites. The color and temperature of the water was unreal.

Bamboo Island | Monkey Beach | Maya Beach | Viking Cave

The following day we ferried back to Krabi and had a private SUV drive us to the gulf coast of Thailand. The drive was really nice because we got to see a bit of the country, but also a little painful with a hangover.

The next island was Koh Pangan. I don't know what city it can be compared to... Santa Cruz? Koh Pangan is known for their full moon parties and mushroom shakes. An island that openly sells psychedelic drugs brings in a lot of hippies. We planned on being there for the half moon party (figuring it would be just as cool of an experience and less crowded). We rented motorbikes in the morning and cruised around all day. Seeing a new city on two wheels is my favorite way to explore. Unfortunately we had a minor accident. A cab was dented as a result and they were really trying to scam us/ get way more money out of us. Luckily we had Dad (aka Nick) to take care of us and handle it.

While Nick was in the bathroom we organized the drinks.

We made it back to our hotel and had some drinks to take the edge off. We planned on going to the half moon party that night, but lo and behold we're getting old. We stayed on the beach and had our own party. Big, crazy parties with strangers is loosing its appeal. Is that what you call maturing?

For the final leg of the trip we stayed on the island of Koh Samui. Koh samui was comparable to Waikiki? I don't really know what city to compare it to? It was so beautiful and laid back yet had all the modern amenities. I mean we had Pizza Hut for dinner the first night (the vegan's doing). The hotel we stayed at in Koh Samui was by far the nicest place we stayed. Dad totally planned that and saved the best for last. Oh yeah, did I mention Nick literally planned the ENTIRE trip for us (yes, I'm planning on marrying him). We had an amazing two bedroom villa with our own jacuzzi. It was the perfect end to an amazing two weeks.


Scuba diving | Temples | Lanterns | Dinner on the beach

One of the best parts of Koh Samui was the scuba diving. Elizabeth, Nick and I signed up for a discovery dive off of the island of Koh Tao. Nick and I have never dived before, and Elizabeth's recently gotten really into the sport, so it was really special to do this together. Our guide was an Austrian named Dan. He gave us all the basic info then we went into the water for some exercises (safety exercises, not water aerobics). After that we headed down about 36 feet. It was one of the coolest experiences. We were down there for about 40 minutes then came up for a lunch break. Dan told us that we were the best group he's ever had (we're winners and naturally great at everything we do?). On the second dive we were all so comfortable and had a blast! Something I will definitely do again soon.



Sunday, January 5, 2014

A New Adventure


The past year in China taught me so much not just about myself, but about the world. And while I really wasn't interested in staying in China, I also wasn't done learning about other parts of the world. So here I am about to start another adventure. I will be back backing for a few months in Southeast Asia. I have no set route and no set return date. Yes, I am scared.



I have to keep reminding myself that this is a vacation/adventure of a lifetime. I've been a bit apprehensive about the uncertainty ahead. I don't know where I will be going, or where I'll be staying. I don't really know why that's so scary to me? I guess it's just human nature to want stability, and that is something I'll be without. But like I said, this is a vacation and I need to think of it that way. If this turns out to be too much for me or not something I'm cut out to do, oh well. I'll book a flight back home. I also think that once I get out there all these fears will subside. Someone pointed out to me that if I could make it in China for a year then I can make it anywhere. I will somewhat agree with that.

So, while I'm trying to control these nerves I am beyond excited for what is to come. My sister asked me the other night what I hope to get out of this experience. Experience. There is no agenda here. I simply find traveling and other parts of the world to be one of the most valuable experiences.


It is however a bit of an unsettling life decision. I'll be turning twenty-eight this year, and while I know that isn't "old" I thought I'd be in a different place in my life. My expectations of adulthood where severely skewed by 90210 and romantic comedies. I always thought that you met your significant other in college, got your dream job right out of college, and by thirty had a house with 2.5 kids? So if that's the goal for thirty, backpacking in Southeast Asia may not be the best route to lock down a husband. But to be honest, I'm pretty stoked to be doing what I'm doing. While my childhood expectations may have been shattered, I feel like I am in the right place.


 I do constantly think about the future, marriage, kids, and that whole minivan. But common, yesterday I rode and elephant and played with/spooned a tiger. To be honest, I'll take that over breastfeeding. I know there's no rush. I need to just keep reminding myself to take it one day at a time and trust that everything happens for a reason and that it'll all workout. "What screws us up the most in like is the picture in our head of how it is supposed to be" know what I'm saying...

Riding Babar.

Oh yeah, the elephants and tigers you ask. Carinne, Elizabeth and I flew from LA last Friday and met Nick in Bangkok Thailand. Lucky for us he has been to Thailand many times and is making this trip very easy for us. I'm trying to get him to plan or come with me for the next six months. Bangkok was a nice buffer into Thailand. It's a big city, which isn't that exciting to me. I really enjoy the smaller cities that have more character. It was fun to see however and ring in the new year at a ping pong show in Bangkok (don't judge me). From Bangkok we flew up north to Chiang Mai. We stayed at an amazing boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet area. We settled in then went and explored the charming downtown are. The next day we accomplished all of our Chiang Mai goals: ride an elephant and cuddle with a tiger.

Sometimes all you need is a good cuddle.

It was such a special day. To be so close to such beautiful animals in such a beautiful country was magical. Thai people are so kind and happy, its amazing. Just smiling and being friendly... that's what they do. We are flying into Krabi where we will now begin our island adventures! The rest of our time together we will be on a few different islands throughout the south. I think the experience here will just continue to get better and better as we go!

Kiss of death.