Waiting for a midnight flight that will bring me from Hanoi to Tokyo - where a 9 hour layover will probably allow me a quick visit to the city! - then to L.A. and finally, Sacramento CA, I am going back to the memories that made this SouthEast Asia trip so unique.
I have no regrets, I haven't done extraordinary things, although I had extraodinary feelings.
From the clean, fancy, westernized center of Singapore, with its skyscrapers, expensive hotels and business districts, to the dirtiest, chaotic side streets in Hanoi, Vietnam, where you (seriously) can cross a road without watching, among a flowing stream of motorbikes, without somehow getting killed.
From scuba diving in Thailand, in some of the world's most beautiful dive sites, swimming around turtles, sharks and colorful fish, to walking Bangkok's streets, tasting suspicious food and sweating like shit even standing in line for the morning coffee.
From coming to Asia alone, without a person to motivate and inspire me, to getting out of here happy for what I had, sure of what I want and who I am chasing.
I haven't had a whole lot of time to spend over here, and I had to try to take the most out of it. Someone asks me why I haven't visited Chang Mai in Thailand, or the rest of Cambodia, or did Vietnam's coast. Well, time is limited, and we have to somehow manage it. My plans were more or less already written, and Canada is awaiting. I couldn't be too late. And you kinda take the most famous, renowned, attractive names on the map. That's why I happened to be in Bangkok, in Siem Reap, in Ha Long bay. Ok, then you can make up your mind about the places - you're cool with 3 days in Bangkok, Siem Reap is crowded like the Hell and Ha Long bay is foggy and, most of all, dirty everyday. You then know what to tell people, but you can't do that before you experience it first. That's how it works, and not just with travels.
Still, even though my grades for each place I visited might not be 10s, I enjoyed most of them for some reasons, and I have my share of wicked adventures, funny people on my shoulders.
I remember myself under 20 meters of ocean water trying to explain - of course by gestures! - my instructor (a crazy Italian fella aged 42) that I was literally imploding because I absolutely had to pee. Since there's no internationally accepted gesture to say "I need to pee" among scuba divers (at least, not that I know) , that was kind of an experience. Standing still, feet on the freakin bottom of the ocean, trying to pee inside my own swimsuit, was another experience. Luckily I didn't accomplish my goal that time.
I remember "scamming the scammers" in Bangkok. Oh heck that was fun! The day before they told me it was "Buddha day", so every tuktuk was riding you around for 40 bath. The trick is, they bring you to a tailor shop as soon as they have a chance, trying to have you buying something. Usually you can get out for good, buying nothing. Sometimes you buy. Sometimes you just piss drivers off with your "I don't give a shit" kinda face. Well, I tried scamming the scammers. Go out on the street, my goal is to get to the shopping center (MBK) and I pick up the first driver. "Hey, the hotel folks told me today's Buddha day, isn't it?", I start pretty confident. "Yes", he goes. Dammit, I was so right. I knew that was going to work. "Ok, so I want to visit all the temples, but first, we have to go to the MBK. I have to pick up a friend inside real quick, will be out in 5 minutes, then we can leave. Ok?" He adds something like "Ok but then you come with me to tailor shop, see shop, buy.." "Sure enough, I definitely need a new suit!" I say. Got the deal! Next thing you know is that we get to the MBK, we jump off, and disappear inside for some 34 hours. The tuktuk driver was never to be seen again and our wallets saved a couple hundred baths probably!
The thing I remember the most, well, you know it. I have so many sweet memories going around her that.. yeah, just can't, and won't tell them all. I miss the time we had. It's when you meet someone like this that you subscribe on that famous, "Into the Wild" sentence that goes "Happiness is real only when shared". Man. I miss her and I can't wait to see her smiling face again.
Bue hey, I'm North America bound so, let's stop for a second. For at least the next couple months - then, who knows - I'll be in the places I love. I miss the mountains, the snow, the fresh, chilly air that surrounds you in the morning, having you sitting on a chair out in the balcony - or better with me, on the tailgate of my truck - sipping on some hot coffee you just brewed. Miss the forests, the wildlife, the nature. Miss the peace that here appears so far, in that sense. I miss those places where I've already been, and those I still have to see. I can't wait to give a big hug to all my friends that live around there. My "family" down in Sacramento. My buddy Parker in Bozeman, MT. My friend Kristen in Kananaskis. It's gonna be fun, I know it!
It's time to go now, at least for dinner. I'll try to stay light tonight, noodles and seafood. I am already vomiting when thinking about the crappy food I'll be served on the plane on my way to California. Just can't stand that crap anymore!
I leave this part of the world with many more lines on my travel resume, many more friends, and a thumping heart.
I think I had it very good, over here!
I have no regrets, I haven't done extraordinary things, although I had extraodinary feelings.
From the clean, fancy, westernized center of Singapore, with its skyscrapers, expensive hotels and business districts, to the dirtiest, chaotic side streets in Hanoi, Vietnam, where you (seriously) can cross a road without watching, among a flowing stream of motorbikes, without somehow getting killed.
From scuba diving in Thailand, in some of the world's most beautiful dive sites, swimming around turtles, sharks and colorful fish, to walking Bangkok's streets, tasting suspicious food and sweating like shit even standing in line for the morning coffee.
From coming to Asia alone, without a person to motivate and inspire me, to getting out of here happy for what I had, sure of what I want and who I am chasing.
I haven't had a whole lot of time to spend over here, and I had to try to take the most out of it. Someone asks me why I haven't visited Chang Mai in Thailand, or the rest of Cambodia, or did Vietnam's coast. Well, time is limited, and we have to somehow manage it. My plans were more or less already written, and Canada is awaiting. I couldn't be too late. And you kinda take the most famous, renowned, attractive names on the map. That's why I happened to be in Bangkok, in Siem Reap, in Ha Long bay. Ok, then you can make up your mind about the places - you're cool with 3 days in Bangkok, Siem Reap is crowded like the Hell and Ha Long bay is foggy and, most of all, dirty everyday. You then know what to tell people, but you can't do that before you experience it first. That's how it works, and not just with travels.
Still, even though my grades for each place I visited might not be 10s, I enjoyed most of them for some reasons, and I have my share of wicked adventures, funny people on my shoulders.
I remember myself under 20 meters of ocean water trying to explain - of course by gestures! - my instructor (a crazy Italian fella aged 42) that I was literally imploding because I absolutely had to pee. Since there's no internationally accepted gesture to say "I need to pee" among scuba divers (at least, not that I know) , that was kind of an experience. Standing still, feet on the freakin bottom of the ocean, trying to pee inside my own swimsuit, was another experience. Luckily I didn't accomplish my goal that time.
I remember "scamming the scammers" in Bangkok. Oh heck that was fun! The day before they told me it was "Buddha day", so every tuktuk was riding you around for 40 bath. The trick is, they bring you to a tailor shop as soon as they have a chance, trying to have you buying something. Usually you can get out for good, buying nothing. Sometimes you buy. Sometimes you just piss drivers off with your "I don't give a shit" kinda face. Well, I tried scamming the scammers. Go out on the street, my goal is to get to the shopping center (MBK) and I pick up the first driver. "Hey, the hotel folks told me today's Buddha day, isn't it?", I start pretty confident. "Yes", he goes. Dammit, I was so right. I knew that was going to work. "Ok, so I want to visit all the temples, but first, we have to go to the MBK. I have to pick up a friend inside real quick, will be out in 5 minutes, then we can leave. Ok?" He adds something like "Ok but then you come with me to tailor shop, see shop, buy.." "Sure enough, I definitely need a new suit!" I say. Got the deal! Next thing you know is that we get to the MBK, we jump off, and disappear inside for some 34 hours. The tuktuk driver was never to be seen again and our wallets saved a couple hundred baths probably!
The thing I remember the most, well, you know it. I have so many sweet memories going around her that.. yeah, just can't, and won't tell them all. I miss the time we had. It's when you meet someone like this that you subscribe on that famous, "Into the Wild" sentence that goes "Happiness is real only when shared". Man. I miss her and I can't wait to see her smiling face again.
Bue hey, I'm North America bound so, let's stop for a second. For at least the next couple months - then, who knows - I'll be in the places I love. I miss the mountains, the snow, the fresh, chilly air that surrounds you in the morning, having you sitting on a chair out in the balcony - or better with me, on the tailgate of my truck - sipping on some hot coffee you just brewed. Miss the forests, the wildlife, the nature. Miss the peace that here appears so far, in that sense. I miss those places where I've already been, and those I still have to see. I can't wait to give a big hug to all my friends that live around there. My "family" down in Sacramento. My buddy Parker in Bozeman, MT. My friend Kristen in Kananaskis. It's gonna be fun, I know it!
It's time to go now, at least for dinner. I'll try to stay light tonight, noodles and seafood. I am already vomiting when thinking about the crappy food I'll be served on the plane on my way to California. Just can't stand that crap anymore!
I leave this part of the world with many more lines on my travel resume, many more friends, and a thumping heart.
I think I had it very good, over here!
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