Returning to the Monotony

I`ve had the privilege of having the support of family, friends and boyfriend who have emotionally and financially supported me to be able to carve out a small fraction of my life to live my dream and travel. These experiences of the last 7 months may have happened alone but I couldn`t have done it without the support of all the people who surround me. When you travel there are days where you experience the highest-highs and others where you experience the lowest-lows. So to have people to listen when the days are good or bad is a blessing.

So now what... I come back with all these experiences, learnings and points of self-reflection, but what do I do with them when I live in a society of routine and monotony. First, I`m going to find the exploration in every day. When travelling every day was a new adventure, with new places to discover. So it`s about finding these new places and adventures in my own backyard. Second, it`s about creating a challenge for every day. When travelling I would always be challenging myself to do something new, be it try a new food or speak to a new person. These don`t have to be big challenges, but substantial enough that when I lay in bed every night I feel that I`ve accomplished something. Lastly, it`s about remembering and incorporating my experiences and learnings from my journey into things I do here.

So yes I may have return to a life of routine, but in challenging myself to find the new in every day, I hope I can get the same vigor as when I was doing it abroad.

Home is where you get a chance to reflect on where you`ve been

I`m on my way to my 12th country in 2016, which is the most familiar because it`s home. After 4 months of living abroad and 2 months of living out of a backpack, I am on my way home.

There is the well-known saying that "home is where the heart is", but I`ve left a small piece of my heart in some many of the places I`ve seen over the last 6 months. It`s in Singapore, that became home for a small fraction in time. It`s in the Phillipines, where shared experiences with friends transcend a solo journey. It`s in Indonesia, where you can find love in the most peculiar places.  It`s in Thailand, where I learned that not everywhere are humans and animals treated equal. It`s in Myanmar, where people can be so happy with so little. It`s in Cambodia, where I learned that historically significant events are something you have to dig to find and not rely on mainstream media to tell you. It`s Japan, where sheer kindness can transcend any language barrier.

These experiences have also taught me a lot about myself, as any solo journey should. I`ve learned that I`m physically stronger than I knew. Being able to carry a backpack and other luggage through subway stations and rocky dirt roads really makes you question how much you need the stuff that`s weighing you down.

I`ve learned that I`m smart. Yes I may have grades and degrees that already told me that, but smart takes on a whole new meaning when you`re just looking to survive. Smart is about being able to navigate roads, understand different financial and bartering systems and to open your eyes to new ways of doing things.

I`ve learned that I care. With each country I visited I really took the time to get to know the authentic country and people. A lot of the places I travelled have a mapped out tourist route, that shows you the picture perfect side of the country. But when you care enough to get to know the real side of the country, you learn so much more.

Lastly, I`ve learned that I`m brave. I never would have thought of this as something that would come out of this experience, but the more people I met throughout my time who looked at me with shock or admiration when I told them I was travelling alone really made me realize that not a lot of people would do this alone. But hey if I had not have done it alone, think of everything I would have missed out on...

Marveling in Hong Kong

Mid-day on Thursday I arrived in Hong Kong. Driving along the highway I was astounded by the architecture on the waterside. There were huge blocks of apartment buildings looking like they could house thousands of people. There were beautifully crafted bridges that looked more like sculptures than functional roadways. I arrived at the hotel to meet my friend Niko, who had been traveling India and China when we last parted ways in Krabi.

He had spent the previous day seeing some of Hong Kong, so under his guidance we ventured out to get some lunch and then headed to get out some markets. Our first stop was the ladies market, which lined a Hong Kong street. They sold everything from typical souvenirs to knock off bags. The market was pretty typical of others in South East Asia. After the ladies market we headed to the goldfish market, which was located in the same area. The goldfish market is exactly as it sounds. They have tanks and bags full of fish that you can purchase. We knew we were in the right area as the rest of the street was full of pet shops showcasing dogs, cats and other friendly rodents. Our last stop in the area was sneaker street. It is famous for housing stores of all the famous athletic shoe brands (Nike, Adidas, Rebook, etc.). Not only are there flagship stores, but also stores selling a plethora of other brands. There were about 4 stores that had Toronto as its namesake. After that we headed to a different area, to explore the Temple Street market which comes out at night. Very similar in nature to the ladies market selling souvenirs and all sorts of knock off name brand items.

From the Temple Street market we walked along the busy streets of Hong Kong to reach the waterfront where we had a panoramic view of the Hong Kong island skyline. At 8pm every night they have a light show where lights flash from some of the buildings along the skyline. We arrived in time to watch that, although I wasn`t that enthused by the display.

We got another great view of the skyline as we rode the ferry from the mainland to the island. We then reached central station where we were in search for some food. We stumbled across this American style eatery, which included an old silver trailer in the restaurant. We ordered burgers with a side of beetroot fries, which were very good!    

It was then back to the hotel where I got to enjoy the luxury feeling being in a hotel rather than the crowded hostel rooms I had been experiencing over the last few weeks. I managed to get one of the best sleeps of my time away, which was much needed for the busy next day we had planned.

When Niko and I were discussing stuff to do in Hong Kong before we had arrived, he suggested going to Disneyland. I really thought he was joking and had dismissed the idea, but then he expressed that he had never been so I thought why not go! Although probably not the most “cultured” day it was definitely a very memorable one.

We arrived at Disneyland shortly after it opened and were greeted on Main Street USA, the sights, the smells, the sounds of Disney just like I remember it! Our first sight was Donald and Daisy duck lined up ready to have their picture taken. So there we found ourselves standing in line with all the kids to have our picture taken with Donald and Daisy.

After we got some pictures we ran off down Main St. to find our first ride. As we were on our way the rain started coming down. We were still game for ride going in the rain, but when we reached the ride they notified us that it was shut down due to the typhoon warnings the rain had brought.

For the next 2 hours as the rain fell we rode all the indoor rides Disney had to offer. The other thing the rain brought was Mickey and Minnie out to entertain the children (or us) who had completed all the rides. We got to have our pictures taken with the mouses themselves!

Once the rain subsided we spent the rest of the day running ramped on the rides and meeting other Disney characters. As the evening fell we got to see the Paint the Night parade and fireworks over the castle before collapsing after a day around Disney!

Our final day in Hong Kong was spent climbing Victoria Peak on the tram. Although slightly cloudy, it was still cool to see the city from the highest point and ride the historic tram to the top.

We concluded the final evening with a visit to one of the many Michelin star restaurants that grace Hong Kong. We went to Ciak, which served Italian food. Certainly a once in a lifetime Michelin star experience!

It was a lot of fun having my travel buddy Niko back for a few days to explore Hong Kong with. 

Central Vietnam - Hoi An

Wednesday I flew into the city of Danang and made my way to Hoi An. Hoi An is an old historic town which is famous for 2 things: Tailors and Lanterns. 

Before even coming to Singapore I knew I wanted to get clothing made when I went to Vietnam, so I was very excited that Hoi An was the place to do it. After checking into the hostel I started my walk around the old down to find tailors everywhere! It seemed like 1 in 3 shops was a place offering to make you a new dress, jacket or skirt. After seeing all the tailors I knew it was probably best to do a bit of online research before choosing one. Of course this was best done over lunch of a typical Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich. 

After narrowing it down from my online research I headed to the marketplace where I met Bee. After talking and looking through books and pictures I wanted we came up with sketches for a business suit and 3 casual dresses. Next step was picking the fabric and taking some measurements before saying goodbye until tomorrow when I'd get to try on my new clothes. 

I then headed to the central market where food stalls with local women behind them were lined up. I had heard about the famous Vietnamese dish Cao Lao and it was time to give it a try. 

As I mentioned Hoi An is also very famous for their lanterns. When you walk along the street at night you can see many bringing light to the street. As well, the stalls at the night market sell them which makes for beautiful photos of all the intricately designed lanterns. 

Thursday I started off my day walking around the old town taking some beautiful photos (if I do say some myself). 

After an hour and a half walking around the sun beating down was a little to much and I headed back to the hostel for some air conditioning. After cooling off I hit the streets again for more photo ops and by then it was time to try my clothing. Although it required a few more alterations it was well on its way to becoming a success! 

After my fitting, I was walking around the old town, when I ran into a couple I met on my tour to Cu Chi Tunnel in Ho Chi Minh. Together we proceeded to look for a restaurant for dinner. We came across on called Streets, that was part of an organization that trained underprivileged youth in food preparation and restaurant service. Not only was the service outstanding the food was also really good! 

Friday, my last full day in Hoi An, started with a free tour of the countryside around the city. The company, Hoi An Mates, is run by students who have an interest in cultural exchange and volunteer their time to show tourists around. It was only me and my tour guide, Van, on the tour which was nice. We hopped on bikes and rode across the river to the countryside villages. Our first stop was a family home who weaved traditional Vietnamese sleeping mats. They let me get my hands in and give it a try! 

The next stop was a family temple; one of the largest in the area. One wall had the family tree which looked as though it contained over 1000 people, dating back for centuries. 

Our next stop, and one of my personal favourites, was a home where they made rice noodles. Although the actual batter is machine made, I got to try cooking and cutting the noodles! The fuel for the fire to cook the noodles is actually the husks from the rice grains. 

 

The final stop on our tour was a woodworking centre. There were about 10 men there working on a variety of beautiful, intricate carving projects. I also got to see a boat making yard, where wood is turned into beautiful traditional Vietnamese boats. 

On Friday evening, I had dinner at one of the most well known restaurants in Hoi An, Morning Glory. The chef from this restaurant has opened others in cities such as Las Vegas and Melbourne. The food was really good! 

I was lucky enough to be in Hoi An during the full moon, which meant a lantern festival was taking place. During the full moon all the shops along the waterfront turn off their lights, so the lanterns that line the water and the bridge are even more prominent. As well, you can purchase little lanterns which you cast off into the water as you make a wish. The best place to fully experience this festival is from the water, so I took a boat ride up and down the river where I got to cast my lantern and observe the many others floating in the water. 

On my last day in Hoi An, I joined a cooking class. The room was setup with different stations around the perimeter which showed different types of Vietnamese food and ingredients. I got to make a number of different dishes which I hope to replicate at home! 

After cooking, I got to take one last walk around the old town before heading to pick up my finished tailored clothes! Then it was off to the airport to catch my flight to Hanoi (which wasn't without delay of course). 

Exploring Ho Chi Minh

After a long 8 hour bus ride from Phnom Penh I made it to my final country in south east Asia, Vietnam. After crossing the land border between Cambodia and Vietnam I arrived in Ho Chi Minh city. 

When I got off the bus I was a little groggy and my phone wasn't working to tell me where I was in proximity to my hostel. So of course the next best thing to google is to actually ask someone local how to get there. The person I asked ended up being a taxi driver and was insistent that it was to far to walk. After the long bus ride I just wanted to get to my hostel, so I took the taxi. The hostel was down a little ally way so I managed to get a bit lost even from where the taxi dropped me off. 

When I got to hostel I met another Canadian and we went to dinner. We tried a traditional Vietnamese pancake type dish. You take the tried rice floor pancake along with lettuce, herbs and bean sprouts and wrap it in rice paper. It was a great first experience with Vietnamese food! It was over dinner that we were talking about trip in to Vietnam (ended up she was on the same bus as me). From the bus stop she walked to the hostel which took her around 10 mins walking. My taxi ride took 10 mins driving, which was when i started to question if I had been ripped off. Taxi drivers are known for taking tourists in circles to run up the meter. When it came time to pay for dinner, I then started doing the calculation of how much I had actually paid for the taxi. Ended up I was charged almost $50 Canadian for the 10 minute taxi ride. It was then I knew for sure I had fallen prey to one of the many tourist scams. 

After dinner we walked around the park headed towards the central market. Unfortunately by the time we got there it was closing up, but the walk offered a good perspective of the area. On our way back we were stopped by some local students who asked if they could speak to us to practice their English. This is quite a common request in major tourist spots around Asia. I usually oblige as long as I'm not in a hurry, ask I think the dedication they have to trying to learn the language is admirable! 

The next day I was off on another adventure around Ho Chi Minh. My first stop was a beautiful park in the city with cool sculptures and gardens. It was also a nice to see local people in their everyday life doing tai chi, having coffee, playing with kids. 

My next stop was the war museum. The front entrance was surrounded by planes, trucks and tanks used in the war. Inside there were a number of different exhibits explaining aspects of the war which included photos and artifacts. It was great to learn more about the war, however the museum was very one sided favoured towards the Vietnamese. 

I didn't know that the museum closed at noon for lunch, so I only had an hour there but probably could have used longer. As I reached my next destination, the independence palace I learned that all of the major attractions shut for lunch between 12 and 1:00. This gave me a good excuse to try one of the nearby restaurants I had read about. 

After lunch I reached the independence palace, which was home to the head of state (president) preceding and during the war time. One of the coolest things on display is the huge bunker that was used to protect the president, this family and other state members during the war. 

I love just walking around the city and stumbling across interesting sights. Following my visit to the palace I got to see the notre dame cathedral, Ho Chi Minh statue and square and old central post office. 

That evening I had told one of the students I had spoken to the night before that I would meet up with him again to assist him in practicing his English. 

On my final day in Ho Chi Minh, I headed out of the city on a tour to the Cu Chi Tunnels. The tunnels are one of the longest in the world and prevented thousands of Vietnamese deaths during the war, as it gave soldiers a place to battle without being seen. We got a chance to crawl through the tunnels. They are extremely small and claustrophobic, even though they have widened them to be "tourist size". It was great to be able to get to see another very historical part of Vietnam. 

 

The Remarkable Chang Mai

It`s funny how travel works. Initially when I was planning my trip Chang Mai wasn`t on the itinerary. I was struggling how to fit it in amongst all other destinations, both form a time and distance perspective. After some shuffling, I managed to figure out an itinerary where a trip to Chang Mai was possible. I am SO glad I did, as Chang Mai has turned out to be my favorite destination in Thailand.

Upon arrival on Tuesday, I was greeted by a very historical old town, surrounded by a moat with existing stone gateways at 4 ends of the old city. After dropping off my bag, I headed out to find something to eat. As I ventured down a small side street, it became very clear what Chang Mai was all about. The street contained a little market, a number of cafes, local food stalls and massage parlours. I found a little Thai food shop, where you could watch the cooking right in front of you. Little did I know this would become one of my favorite eateries in Change Mai.

On Wednesday, I followed an online guide and walked around the old town of Chang Mai, which contains a plethora of temples. I couldn`t even tell you the names of all the ones I saw, but they were quite amazing. Most of them followed a similar pattern, where at the front of the property there was a 'glitzy' temple containing a large gold buddha structure. At the back of the property there was an old stone temple structure. I visited about 5 temples in the morning all with beautiful features. At noon, I headed back to the hostel and stopped at a restaurant called The Salad Concept along the way. It was the perfect stop to enjoy a good healthy meal that I had been missing in the rice and noodle ridden country!

Once back at the hostel a group was headed to the Grand Canyon of Chang Mai. The Grand Canyon, is essentially a big quary with a lake in the middle that you can jump into off the cliff and enjoy a swim to cool off from the heat. I had the guts to take the jump just once, but enjoyed the rest of my time swimming in the lake.

I was really looking forward to my plans for Thursday. I had pre-booked a morning trip to an elephant sanctuary, which is one of the popular things to do in Chang Mai. Because there are so many options, I had done a lot of research to find one that was ethically conscious. I got picked up at 6:30 in the morning, before making the hour drive out of the city, a long a bumpy gravel road to meet the elephants. Upon arrival we were greeted by 6 elephants! There were 5 females and 1 male. The littlest elephant, YaYa, was 3 years old. The oldest of the bunch was in her early 50`s. One of the elephants was pregnant and they were expecting her to give birth within the next week.

We got changed into traditional Karin clothing and stuffed our pockets full of bananas and sugar cane for the elephants. It was then off to feed them. The elephants would take the food from your hand with their trunk and proceed to put it in their mouth. It was the coolest experience spending an hour feeding them, observing their behavior, learning about them from the guides. Each elephant had an individual care taker who looked after them and even slept over night with them. The elephants were so thankful for the food, I even got a hug and a kiss!

After all the food, the elephants needed a bath! Off we went to the river to bath the elephants. They even helped out using their trunks to spray water.

It was then lunch time for the humans, where we enjoyed noodles and fruit while we learned some more about the animals. After we were done, the fruit scraps were a perfect dessert for the elephants. They indulged in some pineapple and watermelon scraps and rinds. After another some final feeding, playing and cuddling it was time to say goodbye to the elephants.

It was such an amazing experience spending the day with the elephants. They are such gentle giants with an amazing demeanor and is definetley a day I will never forget!

After returning from the amazing experience with the elephants, I went for another wander around the old town. One of the experiences I have read about was Monk Talk. There are a few temples in the area that help the monks practice their english, by having foreigners come and talk to the monks. You can ask questions about their life, thai culture, buddhism or anything else of interest. I thought it was a great opportunity to ask some questions about Buddhism. It was a really cool experience to talk to a monk and learn about why they became a monk.

In the evening, I ventured with some others from the hostel to the night bazaar. The streets were lined with sellers hawking everything from clothing to electronics. It took about an hour to wander from one end to the other!

We then decided to partake in a Thai tourist tradition of going to a lady boy show. It was quite the experience, with performances varying from Rihanna to cabaret. The boys in the audience had quite the experience getting some personal shows.

One busy day was followed by another, as Friday was a full day of Thai cooking class! We visited a traditional Thai market to learn about some of the ingredients, before heading to the farm where the cooking class was held. At the farm we did some more learning about the ingredients that are grown there before starting into the cooking. We spent the day cooking 5 traditional Thai dishes. These dishes included coconut soup, pad thai, sweet and sour stir fry, green curry chicken and mango sticky rice. By the time I left cooking class my belly was busting with all the good food. Looking forward to applying these skills when I get home!

My last full day in Chang Mai was pretty relaxed. I started off the day with breakfast at my favorite cafe that makes their own yogurt and granola. I did some more walking around the old town looking in shops and taking photos of the street graffiti and other surroundings. I also stumbled across a massage place that I had heard a lot about. This massage place is different from the other 100+ in the city in that it employs ex-prisoners as the masseuses. I thought this was such a amazing initiative that I had to support it by getting a foot massage. The massage was actually so good that I fell asleep; talk about relaxing!

Saturday evening there is another market in the city. As we were on our way there the wind started to pick up. After getting past a few stalls the rain then started to come down, and the further we got down the track the more vendors packed up. With some souvenir shopping still remaining, we headed to the night bazaar that we had gone to the other night to see if we could pick up some last minute things under a more covered setting from the rain.

Sunday I awoke a little sad to be leaving Chang Mai and all its beauty. That didn`t stop me from embracing my last morning with all my favorite things. I enjoyed breakfast at my favorite cafe one last time, got a massage and had a lovely lunch at the Salad Concept. It was then time to hit the road and head to the airport.

It`s kind of ironic that the last place to be added on the itinerary becomes your favorite. I definetley think Chang Mai and I will be meeting again in this lifetime.

Saying Goodbye to Singapore

Today is my last day in Singapore. I ventured out into one last Indian Sunday to pick up some last minute things. Then it was time to say goodbye to the house and venture on the MRT to the airport one last time. As I wait for my flight at Changi Airport, it gave me some time to reflect on my time in Singapore. 

It feels like yesterday that I arrived and ventured into a new city. I still remember seeing Marina Bay and the flyer for the first time, driving over the bridge from the airport. Now it feels like I know Singapore like the back of my hand. There have been so many amazing experiences, and I`ve met so many amazing people here over the last 4 months! NUS has also been the most welcoming as a school. 

Singapore has surprised me a lot from the preconceived impressions I had. Although it has the glitz and glam of the most expensive city in the world, it also has a lot of deep rooted culture that has been fun exploring. 

Thank you for an amazing 4 months Singapore! See you again one day soon.