Ill briefly give my 2 cents about each country and my time there. Following each summary, I will tell you what I learned. Enjoy!
India
It seems like India was an eternity ago but it wasn’t. I still often reflect about my time there… my life changing experience in a country where 1.2 billion people live. You can’t really say you’re a backpacker unless you’ve done India. And when you decide to go, it’s a test. It’s a test to see how much you can tolerate (in every aspect). How many homeless and disabled people can you say no to? How long can you go without getting Delhi belly? What are the worst hotel conditions you can handle? But India is also a land of love. The Indians have a lot of love to give. They don’t turn their back on family and once they decide they like you and can trust you, they will immediately consider you family. It’s truly inspirational; especially coming from America where we are the land of independents (you can put me in that category too). India taught me A LOT and will always have a special place in my heart.
- · Every Indian man has a mustache
- · You are never clean… EVER!
- · Make sure you have chai tea as often as possible. It’s phenomenal!
- · India’s trains are, well, interesting…..
- · Don’t let strange men fart on you during an arti
- · They have by far have the craziest drivers in the world, just be prepared because you will freak out at first
- · Hindi’s love to dance and listen to music… anywhere!
- · You will have diarrhea every other day
Thailand
I wish I would have spent some more time in northern Thailand, as well as Laos and Vietnam. But I suppose I can save that for another trip. That’s the good part! To consider going back to this part of the world is simple. All you need to do is book the plane ticket! That’s where most of your money is going to disappear. I spent more on my plane ticket there then I did 6 weeks going from northern Thailand to Singapore. How you can you resist the opportunity to not go back to “Land of Smiles”? Ya, it’s impossible. However, one thing I would like to mention was the fact that Heather and I backpacked during their monsoon season, though thankfully the weather did not interfere with any of our plans. And it only “really” rained while we were in Koh Phi Phi. I am so grateful that Mother Nature was kind to us because only a few weeks after we left Bangkok, there was massive flooding in the city causing thousands to lose their lives and homes. Please give your thoughts to those who have suffered from this terrible natural disaster.
- · Has the best food!
- · Bow before greeting any local
- · The Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan is the greatest party on earth
- · Sangsom… the whiskey of choice for our buckets. And only $5!
- · The islands sadly have very little Thai culture left
- · While I absolutely loved Bangkok, it has very poor air quality so be prepared for a possible asthma attack
- · It’s sometimes very difficult to tell a beautiful Thai women from a ladyboy
- · Chang beer kicks the sh!t out of Heineken
Malaysia
Malaysia was by far the biggest surprise of the trip. Heather and I crossed the Thai-Malay border and immediately there was a shift in scenery and culture. Malaysia is very modern but still maintains their own distinct culture. The Muslim religion being a big part of it. I know some friends back home would be a little weary about coming here but honestly, you have NOTHING to worry about! I’ve been lucky enough to have already visited Egypt, Turkey, and Morocco before, and what I’ve learned is no matter what Muslim country you go to, it’s always the same friendly people. I’ve met more hostile westerners then Muslims (if any). The Malay people are warm and welcoming and I would go back in a heartbeat.
- · Way more modern than you think!
- · Has some of the best islands in the world i.e. Perhentian islands
- · Unfortunately, you may get food poisoning
- · Don’t miss the Petronas Towers at night… WOW!
- · If you catch a bus, bring a translator book so you can figure out what happened if it gets a flat tire
- · Israelis are not allowed to come here (political bullsh!t)
Singapore
Singapore is an impressive country/city full of life. I saw about 3 days of Singapore before I got sick with food poisoning and spent almost 2 days in the hospital. Consequently, I didn’t get to see as much of this magical city as I would have liked. However, in my short time, I noticed the wonderful mix of cultures living peacefully together. I'd argue the fact that Singapore is more diverse than America. But that’s what makes our two nations so great. The melting pot allows for many to be successful where the otherwise wouldn’t have had an opportunity to do so in their home country. And while it is my opinion that their government is too strict and overbearing, they do manage to allow everyone to live in peace. And that’s something very rare in our world today.
- · Have the best hospitals in South East Asia
- · More culturally diverse than America
- · Don’t chew gum… or you’ll be fined
- · If you’ve got some extra cash… stay at the Marina Sands Resort
Indonesia
I almost feel bad saying I was in Indonesia because I really only saw one part of it… Bali. Bali is by far the most touristy island and completely different from the rest of the country. The Balinese have their own culture and in some parts, their own language. Fortunately Heather and I made the most of our stay and were able to explore the majority of this enchanting island and then some. In a way, Bali was an experience of “bests”. Kuta beach had the best nightlife out of all the places we went. Ubud had best culture. Amed had the best black beach. The Gili islands had the best snorkeling. Uluwatu had the best surf. How can you go wrong by coming here? You can’t! There is something for everyone, just make sure you get a chance to experience it before it is completely over run by the western world.
- · When in Kuta, go to Skygarden for free drinks and appetizers from 10-11 every night!
- · Don’t rent a moped unless you wanna end up in the hospital
- · Sip on a Bintang while watching the sun go down on Kuta beach as often as possible. They never get old
- · Don’t skip out on Ubud
- · Earthquakes can occur at any time!
- · Costs an arm and a leg to hike up Mount Anjung with a guide
- · If you’re a female, you may get groped… several times
- · Uluwatu has the best surf… but only for professionals!
All in all, I honestly feel blessed to have experienced so much. I’m truly a better and smarter person then I was 3 months ago. Its amazing what travel can do to your outlook on life and lifestyle. We all continue to better ourselves each day, but when you travel, that process is exponentially accelerated. You learn so much about yourself and your capabilities. You can do things you never thought possible. i.e. go to Australia on a whim. The sky is the limit and you control your destiny.
Ironically, the more of the world you see, the larger it becomes. There is so much out there to see and do, and I don’t want to waste my time missing it. I refuse to let my crusade end in Indonesia which is why I’ve decided not to return to California. After 3 months of traveling, I’ve met people of all nationalities raving about the work opportunities in Australia. America is still in the midst of a recession and jobs are not as prevalent as they once were. I am hoping for some new doors to open for me (and if I get a chance to see a new and exciting English speaking country, then I’m all about it) to take me on a new and unmarked path. I know my family and friends are disappointed that my return is postponed, but I can assure you, this is what’s best for me at this time in my life. I have nothing holding me back and opportunity is knocking at the door. Let’s see what Brisbane has to offer!
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