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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

On Sunday 9/7, after having a delicious breakfast included at my hostel of banana pancakes, I headed back to the Sultan's Palace, which had been closed yesterday.  This time I was able to get in and was treated to a performance by the Sultan's orchestra, who were playing some traditional Indonesian music.  It is enchanting in its own way, and very repetative.  After enjoying the music for some time, I headed into the courtyard to explore the Sultan's collection of artifacts.  On the way I was … [Read more...]

My favorite thing about Taxis in Singapore has to be how friendly the drivers are.  A close second is the fact that the lights on top of the cab will tell you if if a cab is empty or occupied, unlike in Chicago where the lights don't really mean anything.  Taxis are an important means of transportation for those living on Singapore island.  Owning a car is discouraged, due to the high population density, through the mandatory purchase of a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) which costs about $100K … [Read more...]