During the 184 days I have been travelling, I have covered 7 different countries, stayed in 50 cities and towns, covered 34,112 km in travel distance, made friends with countless amazing people, seen and done so many incredible things, learnt a lot about myself and the different countries I visited and eaten way too much rice and noodles.
Singapore
My first stop, Singapore, was a good transitional few days - going from home to a not-so-different-from-home country was a good start. The two things I enjoyed most about Singapore was the cityscape - having a drink at the Marina Bay Sands overlooking the awesome skyline was a great night - and BetelBox hostel's food tour was a tremendous indulgence in Singaporean cuisine.
Favourite city: Singapore (duh)
Favourite hostel: Betelbox (once again, only saw one)
Favourite dish: Chilli Crab
Malaysia
While I only really saw Kuala Lumpur on my first trip to Malaysia, it is a great city to visit. The highlight for Malaysia however was actually the hostel - Reggae Mansions. This renowned party hostel still holds a special place for me, with its great rooftop bar and amazing hostel amenities.
The night I spent out at the Helipad bar was also very memorable day. Having undistrubed, outdoor 360 degree views of the skyline was unbeatable.
City: Kuala Lumpur
Hostel: Reggae Mansions
Dish: Nasi Lemak
Japan
Without any doubt, Japan is still my favourite country I have visited in Asia. While having spent a total of six weeks there (four on my first trip and two this trip), I still cannot wait to go back and see more of this crazy, unique and beautiful country.
One of the best days of my entire trip was in Japan - visiting the snow town of Yuzawa. This was the first proper time I had ever seen and touched snow in my life, and is a day I will always cherish. Ascending to the top of the skiing mountain and looking out over the rolling snow covered mountains while I drank a beer was just mind-blowing.
City: Osaka
Hostel: J-Hoppers Osaka
Dish: Katsu-don
Thailand
Thailand is a backpacking Mecca. I would struggle to think of anyone I have met that has been to South East Asia without spending time Thailand. The country thrives on Western tourism, and as a result, backpacking through is effortless. In the large number of popular tourist cities, everyone speaks English, it's easy to get around and there is always plenty to do.
The highlights for me in Thailand are many. Firstly, Koh Tao and diving. I never would have thought that I would enjoy learning to scuba dive so much; flying out I had no real intention of doing it, mainly due to cost, but given my wonderful parents paid for it as my birthday present, it was a chance I'm glad I got. It is really another world down there, and with every dive I have done I have been enjoying it more and more!
Secondly, riding the Mae Hong Son loop on my rented CRF250 motorbike. This was both another fantastic way of seeing the beautiful northern Thailand scenery, but also incredible fun. Stopping at the waterfall on the way from Mae Hong Son town to Pai and holding a gibbon was one of the most surreal experiences I have had this trip.
Scaling the Sathorn Unique ghost tower was easily the best thing I got to do in Bangkok. The fact that there is a totally derelict abandoned skyscraper that you can bribe the security to visit is awesome.
While it wasn't one of the best nights I had in Thailand, I have to mention the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. Being able to party with a few of my closest friends from back home in a crazy eclectic environment will not go unforgotten.
I also have to mention the food. Nowhere I've visited in South East Asia has food that can come close to Thai food. After spending two months in Vietnam I went back to Thailand and ordered a fried rice (like I had done in Vietnam), and was blown away - it was an explosion of flavour compared to Vietnamese fried rice!
City: Pai
Hostel: Spicypai
Dish: Thai Green Curry
Cambodia
Cambodia is noticeably the poorest country I have visited in South East Asia, but despite this fact the people are both very happy and friendly. Those that can speak English are always joking around with tourists, not taking life too seriously, which I enjoyed.
While Angkor Wat was great to see and its surrounding temples exciting to explore, it was not what I look back on the most when I think of Cambodia. Funnily enough, my birthday on the Siem Reap Pub Crawl was one of the best memories I have of Cambodia. The games that the organisers made people play were both crude and hilarious, and a lot of free drinks were consumed... "can I have a free bucket for my birthday?" ... "alright, sure".
Secondly, the beaches in Cambodia are just stunningly beautiful. I rate the beaches in Cambodia much higher than any I have seen in Thailand; the water is just too perfect, the scenery and sunsets just too breathtaking to pass up seeing. I have also never been so relaxed as I was on Koh Ta Kiev, the stunning undeveloped island adorned by cheap beach hut bungalows.
A worthwhile mention was the Killing Fields audio tour outside of Phnom Penh. This was a truly eye-opening look into what was going on in the world so recently - the total relentless brutality that was completely hidden from the West is crazy to consider.
City: Sihanoukville
Hostel: Indigo on Otres
Dish: Mango Salad
Vietnam
Vietnam is a spectacular country to visit, and was very easy to find myself spending two whole months there. The street food is unbeatable - Banh Mi baguettes! - and the landscapes and scenery are truly breathtaking. Vietnam is also the cheapest country I visited in SEA - ridiculously cheap beers (even free in Hanoi!), cheap tasty food and dirt cheap hotels to be found throughout the country.
The Honda Win. Vietnam was the country that I learned to ride a motorbike on and I was instantly in love. The freedom gained from riding a motorbike from the south to the north of the country cannot be matched. Being alone out on the open roads with nothing but your music and your thoughts was a great time for me on the trip. You are also put in places that far less tourists would visit, as you ride through small country towns and stop in hotels for somewhere to sleep; this enables a far greater appreciation for how the people of the country actually react towards foreigners, rather than being inundated by tourists, you are a novelty for these people.
Canyoning in Dalat was definitely a highlight for me, beside riding the bike through. Abseiling down a 30m waterfall while getting pummeled with water was exhilarating. Dalat itself is also an awesome town; plenty of tasty places to eat and drink, great climate being higher up in the mountains (it was actually cool at night!), and a bunch of cool stuff to see.
City: Dalat
Hostel: Easy Tiger
Dish: Banh Mi
Laos
While I didn't spend all that much time in Laos, the time I did spend there was great fun. The country is actually more expensive than I would have thought, with accommodation, food and drinks all costing more than Thailand for the most part. That said, I am very glad I went!
Ziplining through the jungle on the Gibbon Experience was simply incredible. Spending the day soaring through the air, sometimes hundreds of metres above the ground, and the night staying in a treehouse some forty metres up is a childhood dream come true.
Tubing in Laos is also some of the most fun I have had this trip. Floating down the river on a truck inner tube, only to be pulled into a bar and drinking yourself silly with 150+ other backpackers is definitely a great day out!
City: Vang Vieng
Hostel: Treehouse on the Gibbon Experience
Dish: Chicken Sandwich
==
Looking back, I have had an incredible six months. I wouldn't change what I have done for anything and have absolutely no regrets about quitting my job and leaving my safe lifestyle behind. Travel really is the one thing you spend money on that makes you richer.
I cannot wait to see what Europe and the rest of the year has to offer!
Wonderful story Jas. Great to see you and spend time with you in London
ReplyDelete