From Chinese women pushing me into bins of clothes to monkeys begging me for money, I just got back from the first leg of an incredible trip. Started off in the afternoon a few weeks back and took a plane straight to Hong Kong. As soon as I got off I realized what kind of visit it was going to be: crazy. Not "I am 23 and get drunk and call everyone 'dude' " kind of crazy, but crazy just because its China. Hong Kong is best described as a simple comparison to Chinatown, very similar...ha, who knew? The swarms of people and scammers and coldness(of the people) brings it all together to make it so uninviting at first. I was constantly pushed and reached over and yelled at by the locals, but apparently this is something to "not take personally". So instead of buying a pocket knife to fight back, I decided to try to get the most out of this overwhelming city. I met a few tourists and one guy, a Chinese tourist from Shanghai, who helped me get around for a day and actually enjoyed one of the best days together...did an incredible hike and saw the best view in all of Hong Kong...at a location called "The Peak". It overlooks the entire city/island and is breathtaking..literally, you are high atop a mountain and the fog/pollution are a danger. We hiked to the very top, past the tourist viewpoint, and snuck into a village area where we found an even more incredible view...took pictures then we were chased out. Besides this, I met a few more people...some who took me to Karaoke some who took me to eat bad food. Also did another hike to a place called "10,000 Buddahs"...where there are 12,800 different buddah statues dedicated to a special temple, another great hike and a nice day for another nice view. Hong Kong started off as overwhelming and I couldn't deal with the heat and people, but after I left I wanted to go back right away, it was a great experience and I loved the city.
From Hong Kong I hopped on a boat to go to a different country, far more interesting than flying....sometimes the trip there is more interesting than the destination. Especially around here where trains and dingy boats can take you to every nook and cranny of the continent...for near nothing! So I arrived in Macau, a country once owned by Portugal---VERY interesting to see a European influence in an Asian Country. It was great to see signs in Chinese, Portugese, and English....so interesting. And to hear Chinese people try to speak this Latin based language was a riot....to hear Chinese people speak is a riot anyway. I didnt spend long in this country, saw a few of the main attractions and met a few scammers who constantly approached me with some new inventive story or scam. The best part of the country was the Ruins of St Pauls Cathedral...you walk towards it thinking its a giant catherdral, but as you look it is only the front of it which remains.. a giant Facade. It was beautiful and this 500 year old piece of history really brought me a sense of appreciation towards those who fight/fought so hard for their country and for a better future/history.
After Macau I flew to Malaysia. Gosh I am getting tired of writing....okay lets make it easy. Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Another interesting country for reasons besides landmarks and historical sites. Who cares?, anyway this is a Muslim Country! The first I have been to so far so it was very interesting..and in some of the more rural areas, Im sure I was very interesting to them too. As for things to see, it didnt have much....but as for FOOD(the best part of traveling), it had MUCHO(not a Malaysian word)! Indian/Halal food is one of my favorite, Hommos and Naan bread has kept my figure in the outstanding shape it is today. This country is Muslim, meaning there is plenty of vegetarian food...im not a big fan of bad food, but my brother Phil loves it! I toured the city and met an Aussie who ended up spending a day with me and we did some of the tourist-y things...saw the once-world's tallest buildings-The Petronas Towers-, saw some amazing mosques, and saw the KL Tower, World's Tallest Cement Structure(where do they come up with these titles?)
From there I wake up at 4am to hop on a plane to Vietnam...really long story short(ya right), I ended up getting taken to the wrong airport, miss my flight, meet a guy who brags to me about Phuket, Thailand...and I join him. He wasssssssss right! WOW! This is where one of the James Bond's was filmed, it is rated in many magazines as the World's Most beautiful island..ect, ect. So I spent 4 days, which were supposed to be spent in Viet Nam, in Phuket. Went to Phi Phi Island, saw Monkeys swimming in the ocean, and got my hair braided on the beach while getting a massage under the sunset. Rented a motorcycle and toured the island for a day...and just enjoyed my remaining days after a long 2 week outing.
Now I am back in Bangkok, as I write this I am boarding a train to Chaing Mai. It is the Northern area of Bangkok and is known for its hikes and more relaxing/outdoorsy feel. I signed up for a Meditation class, a cooking class and some other stufffffffff. Then heading through Laos and through Burma,,,down back to Bangkok and down through Cambodia and up through Vietnam! Stoked! Hope it works out well...if not I will just google "cool travel story" and post it as my own.
Anyway. If anyone is still reading, I thank you. If anyone is not, I do not blame you.
xo
