Well hello, dear followers
:). I wish I could say this in all the languages of the countries
I've visited so far, but unfortunately I haven't paid much attention
(most I remember is from Japan).
I don't know where to
begin.. I have seen so much already, that I feel like I've been away
for longer than I have. Started in Tokyo, Japan. I was there for a
total of 7 days and I stayed in a dorm room in Anne Hostel. The
location was perfect and so was the staff and the other travelers
that I met. It was a great start of my trip! Tokyo has many districts
and of course I aimed to see them all. With my booklet and the metro
map, I went on my way every day. Sometimes by myself and sometimes
with others. Every district is completely different from the next.
Tokyo has it all, modern, spiritual, authentic. Take Akihabara for
instance, the electric city. This is where you will find the manga
stores, the weird sexshops (where I found the -buy panties- machine
as seen on tv on 'spuiten en slikken'), also lots of pacinko &
slots (games that they love). I walked in a couple of them and the
noise, my god the noise..it's not only the sound of the metal coins
or balls you hear but they have to top it off with some loud music!
Then there's Asakusa, which I visited on my first day and there was a
temple, a nice streetmarket, a boattour so you could see some more of
Tokyo from a different view. And there was much more to see, luckily
I took about 500 pictures of it ;)!
It's really easy to get
around in Tokyo by metro/JR, just make sure you also check out if one
of the unlimited travel passes. They might be cheaper. It's funny how
many Japanese people 'sleep' in the metro or play games. I loved it
when I saw some reading a book, can't remember seeing that much back
home anymore! Most though is best seen on foot, that's why I walked
over 10km each day! Luckily the weather was great :). As for the
food, sushi, sushi, sushi, fish and my favorite GYOZA and Edamame (I
don't eat fish). I did go to a couple of Sushitrains, where I had
veggie sushi or chicken.
Then there's the people,
the people are so polite! They don't all speak english, but they will
still try to get you on your way with hand gestures. One guy even
walked with me for 20 minutes to help. Tokyo really started to grow
on me...but it was time to move on to Osaka!
Osaka is totally
different, people will sit next to you on the metro (in Tokyo they
would only if they really had to). I stayed in Toyo Backpackers, had
my own Japanese style room with shared bathrooms. Osaka has a couple
of things to that you must see but a couple of days is enough. I had
about 5. I met up with a dutch guy (that I met in Tokyo) for a day
trip to Kyoto where he was staying. I must say, Kyoto is amazing! I
wish I had more time there, but always a good reason to return. We
climbed mount Inari (over 4km one way), only because he convinced me
too and am I glad he did. It was amazing! After that we went to the
bamboo path which was very peaceful. And then I went back to Osaka.
The most impressive thing I have seen in Osaka, was the aquarium, it
was huge! They say it's the biggest one, it has about 5 floors and in
the middle of all of them is this huge tank with (whale)sharks,
stingrays and lots of other fish and around it on each floor were
different fish. But you could see the middle tank from 5 floors and
walk all around. It was so peaceful and it totally relaxed me. I was
almost mesmerized as I was the first time I saw a panda.
There is so much more to
tell, to share, to show about Japan.
Some interesting facts
- A lot of bicycles in Japan!
- When crossing the street, the stoplight makes a whistling bird sound
- There's a cart on the metro, just for women
- Japanese do not want to miss a day at work, even it they start at 2 (due to a Typhoon).
- Fruit is really hard to find, you'll find some apples and bananas but expensive!
Next stop, Hong Kong. I
arrived at the airport, took a bus, looked outside and already fell
in love. The city is so beautiful at night. I arrived at the hostel,
YESINN @ Causeway Bay, got a bed in a 21bed dorm..bed was taken so
they moved me to a 9bed female only dorm (and girls are so messy
yikes). Hong Kong is totally different from Japan. Again, there's a
lot to see but also a lot outside of Hong Kong Island. I did one day
in Macau (wish I had more time there), Kowloon Island (avenue of
stars and the 8pm laser show they do every day for tourists, temple
night market). The hostel's location was great. 24/7 supermarket,
7/11 (which are everywhere in Asia), a beautiful park to escape the
madness. And of course everywhere you go,
shopping...shopping...shopping...it is insane. I don't think there is
anyone there that will not buy something every single day. I did some
pubcrawls in HK, which were organized out of the hostel, great way to
meet people and discover HK nightlife! I loved the supermarket, fruit
fruit fruit and a bakery hehe. It was a great start of the day to get
a fresh fruit juice!
To get around in HK is so
easy. Again, trains that take you from A to B, but also trams,
busses, ferries. Their transportation system even won some awards for
being the most user friendly to foreigners (I think). So all and all,
I loved Hong Kong.
Then there's Bangkok! I've
been to Bangkok 3 years ago, but walking on Khaosan Road again, I
remembered how much I loved it! The atmosphere, the food, the
markets, the tuktuks and all so cheap! I stayed with Canadian Noor, a
girl I met a couple of years ago in Croatia (she was one of the
pubcrawl guides) who lives in Bangkok. It was a warm welcome :). On
my first night I went to Khoasan to meet up with an ex coworker that
was only in Bangkok that night, so that was fun! I didn't do much
else in Bangkok, just went out a couple of times, enjoyed the
fooooood and the beers ;) and of course the people!
After Bangkok came Koh
Phangan, an 8hour bus trip and another 4 on a boat. It's an island
that I've visited before as well. I had my own little bungalow with a
porch :) and there was great free breakfast, nice staff, a pool, a
bar, a private beach! But for the island itself, there's not much to
do, so I rented a bicycle for 24 hours and then added 2more days.
Other than that I did some sunbathing, walked or biked around a bit,
read my book, watched my shows and was waiting for the half moon
party. Half moon party was great, it's outside in “the jungle”,
but of course totally changed for the party. Before we left, you
could decorate yourself with some glow in the dark paint, I had
people that did it for me of course :). Party itself was a cool
experience, everybody was painted, had bright colored clothes on,
music was pretty good, so I had fun :)! After Koh Phangan, I went to
Koh Samui (another island), where I was in a bungalow at first but I
changed it to a hostel last minute and I am glad I did! Met some
great people on the first evening that convinced me to rent a scooter
and learn how to drive so I did the next day, with them of course!
And we went up and down the hills of beautiful Koh Samui, so glad I
did that! Next day we did the same, so much freedom with a scooter!
And at night, of course, we drank. Went out once, it was fun, haha, I
was reunited with my buckets in Thailand.
After the islands, I went
back to the big city, Kuala Lumpur. I must say, at that point I was
ready for a big city again. Arriving in KL, I took a shuttle bus that
dropped me off in front of the hostel. First time I had the top of
the bunk-bed, but it was fine. Met some great people, yes AGAIN! Did
lots together (sightseeing, dinner, etc) and at night, we
drank...there was a liquor store where you could get 3cans of beer
for 10RM (around E2,50) and after we usually went out or the other
way around. Didn't pay for any of my drinks, nobody really did, hehe,
so that was good :). I sang some songs with a band, did the easy
indonesian linedancing (Poco Poco) in the same bar, sang some more,
made people laugh! The guy from the hostel took us almost every
night. And KL has great foooood!! SATAY SATAY SATAY! The real one,
the one I had in Indonesia couple of years ago, I was sooo happy!!
Also tried Stingray..different..don't really know what to think of
it. And of course there was the family reunion! I have some family
that lives in KL for work and by coincidence her mom (who lives in
Arnhem too) was visiting in the same week, so we all had dinner
together, which is kind of weird when you're traveling so far away
but also really cool! Was good to see them after so many years (the
ones that moved to KL). I wanted to send some extra stuff home but
luckily the mom could bring it back to Holland for me.
And while I am adding
these words of the last two countries, I am sitting in Singapore on
my first night. The last country in Asia for a while. I will be here
for 7 days and will then go on to Australia, which means I have
almost been traveling for 2months when I leave Asia. It's crazy, the
days go by so quickly, especially when I'm having so much fun and
experiencing so many new and amazing things and meeting lots of new
people! Singapore at first sight is a LOT cleaner than KL and the
traffic is definitely more structured. Everybody has been telling me
that 7days here is too much, but after spending “too long” in KL
(7days) I think it's fine. Because life gets like everyday life, you
learn your way around, find your own favorites and oh did I forget to
tell you that there's Universal Studios, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari,
River Safari, pubcrawls, I thought on my first day, 7days will do
just fine :)!
I am at the airport while
I write this last bit, waiting for my flight to KL (where I transfer
to Melbourne), it has been delayed for about an hour but I should
still be able to get to my next flight in time. Just a little more
about Singapore, my hostel was located in Little India which was
different but fun. Lots of Indian men on the street at all times,
just hanging out or walking around. I had Indian food for the first
3days, which is more than I had in my life. Anyway, once you go more
into the city, you'll notice it is not as clean as expected but still
clean compared to some other Asian cities. There are signs everywhere
of what is forbidden (like smoking, no urinating, no littering,
etc.), which is kind of funny ;). Anyway I did a lot in Singapore, it
reminded me a bit of Tokyo...different district, modern, great train
system, a more expensive Asian city. I met great people here again
and saw amazing things! 7Days was perfect :D
And here I am, still in
disbelief that I am (finally) going to Australia. A bit sad to leave
Asia, but also very excited for Australia! I changed my visa, last
minute, from Working Holiday to Visitor. I figured I'll be with
family and friends and won't work (and don't have to either). This
way I can do a bit of exploring first and come back before I turn 30
(yikesss) to work in the city/cities that I like most. Am happy with
my decision, even happier it all worked out before I entered
Australia hehe. All I can think about now is BORDER SECURITY, but am
not worried...listening to some relaxing, Asian, classic tunes here
at the airport.
I'd like to close this
Asian chapter for now and open a next one on Australia! Hope you've
enjoyed reading it and there's so much more to share with you, but
I'll have to tell you some day :)!
Cheers!