Back in Asia

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!