“Your life is the sum result of all the choices you make, both consciously and unconsciously. If you can control the process of choosing, you can take control of all aspects of your life. You can find the freedom that comes from being in charge of yourself" -- Robert Bennett // Why don’t you join me and take a trip across the globe? Really, I’m serious. I know, I know. You’ve got a job and not enough vacation time, you’re paying back loans, don’t have a lot of money, have other commitments … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2013
September 29, 2013 2 Comments
September 29, 2013 3 Comments
How to get over your concerns with long-term travel
“Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.” -- Bill Cosby When I first made the decision to travel to Southeast Asia for 3 months on my own, I was excited. Excited about exploring the world on my own. Excited about eating wonderful food. Excited about meeting new people and learning about different cultures. As the trip approached, however, my excitement was joined by another emotion; an emotion that didn’t seem to belong and was quite unexpected. Fear. Fear? Yup! My mind … [Read more...]
September 24, 2013 Leave a Comment
9/23 – Quick update on where I have been and where I am going
It has been awhile since I have posted. A month into my trip, I have spent time in Singapore, Indonesia (Yogyakarta, Mt Bromo, and Bali) and Southern Thailand (Koh Tao). I am now enroute to Malaysia via train, where I'll spend a week traveling through Penang, Cameron Highlands, and Kuala Lumpur. I've sketched out a rough outline for the rest of my trip as well: --Malaysia for 1 week: Penang, Cameroon Highlands, Kuala Lumpur --Fly to Northern Thailand, spend 3 weeks in Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang … [Read more...]
September 17, 2013 4 Comments
9/16-9/17 – My overnight bus in Bangkok leaked … during monsoon rains
I would be flying to Bangkok, Thailand today, to catch an overnight bus into southern Thailand and on to the island of Koh Tao off the eastern coast of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand, where I planned to get PADI certified for scuba diving. I arrived from Kuta to Bali Airport (Ngurah Rai) Denpasar, and went through 3 separate security processes exiting Indonesia including payment of a departure tax but was still early, so killed some time at the airport, waiting for the departure screen to … [Read more...]
September 15, 2013 1 Comment
9/14-9/15 – Lounging in Kuta, Bali
After 2 very active days in Ubud, I decided to take a few days to relax in Kuta. You may have heard of Kuta beach; besides being one of the popular tourist spots in Bali with a long beachfront, surfing, 5-star resorts, and top-notch restaurants, it was the target of terrorist bombing in 2002 and 2005. The effects of those events are seen even today, with many police visible throughout the area and bomb inspections on all cars going into major facilities such as hotels. I walked along the … [Read more...]
September 13, 2013 3 Comments
Singapore – The price of safety and efficiency
Immediately upon arriving in Singapore I got my first taste of how serious Singapore takes efficiency. Literally, I walked off the plane to go to the bathroom and was greeted by a touch screen TV in the bathroom asking me to rate its cleanliness on a scale from 1 to 5. A nearby sign noted that the touch screen was sanitized regularly. A nearby information desk had a similar touch screen, asking to rate the level of service at that desk. Efficiency, and safety, are two attributes emphasized … [Read more...]
September 13, 2013 4 Comments
Singapore – Would you like coffee or tea?
Breakfast was included at my hotel. It was a buffet style meal with--and I'm guesstimating here--probably over 100 different dishes. Included in the breakfast were items from a myriad of cuisines: hash browns, french toast, panckakes and omelets: sushi and ramen soup; dim sum; tropical fruits; croissants; naan and curry; and many other items. Not surprising, given that Singapore is an amalgamation of many different cultures. Each morning when I sat down, a waiter would come to me and ask … [Read more...]
September 13, 2013 5 Comments
9/12-9/13 – Day 7 to 8 – Exploring Ubud, biking in rural Bali, … and ending up at the hospital
"Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants." -- Benjamin Franklin // My German friend and I woke up and hired a driver to take us around Bali island for the day. We arranged the driver through our hotel, and it turned out he was the brother-in-law of the hotel owner. Such was our introduction into the importance of family and community to Balinese people, which I'll discuss in a different … [Read more...]
September 13, 2013 2 Comments
Singapore – Chili Crab and Singlish
One evening in Singapore I met up with a friend from undergrad and his fiancee to get Chili Crab. In case you didn't know, Chili Crab is one of the most popular dishes to get in Singapore. Amidst a pool of spicy chili sauce, a succulent whole crab is cooked to perfection. Thanks to a custom in Singapore in which napkins are often not provided for meals (though moist towellets are), this is probably one of the messiers meals you can have. Think BBQ ribs, and multiply the messiness by a few … [Read more...]
September 11, 2013 6 Comments
9/10-9/11 – Day 5 & 6 – 2 (long!) days traveling by bus to Bali via majestic Mt Bromo, and lost amongst rabid dogs in Ubud
After a shower in the morning alternating between freezing cold and scolding hot, I left Yogyakarta for Bali, via a 2-day bus tour east through Java with an overnight stop at Mount Bromo. What could have been a peaceful journey through Java was instead me gripping the seats and trying not to watch as my driver weaved in and out of traffic using maneuvers I have only seen before performed by stunt drivers in action films. Come to think of it, if I committed a crime and was trying to outrun law … [Read more...]
