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Awesome Asia?
Culture shock! Easy understandable Australia-life is far away from Asia, apart from geographically ;) but that doesn't mean traveling isn't great here!!
So I arrived in Singapore airport (where I believe thy have carpet on the floor and is completely designed for shopping: flying is a side detail). I took an airport transfer that brings you to the door of your hostel (luxury!) where I entered the tiniest hostel I stayed in so far.
In Asia it is no problem to check in way before check-in time, and also no problem to hang on your bed the whole day when you checked out. Chill! My hostel had free breakfast (nutella & instant noodles!!) the WHOLE day, and the family running the hostel left at 5.00 pm and only came back the next morning.
And than I definitely overdid myself by first going into Chinatown, and than Little India. Because WOW, culture shock! I accidentally got myself into the grocery department of the locals, and had no idea if what I was looking at was fish, meat, vegetable or fruit. And if it was still alive.. So I panicked and ran to the McDonalds hehe.
Singapore was nice, but not really a backpackers city I think. It is quite expensive compared to the rest of Asia, and it mostly has massive shopping malls and big skyscrapers. There is also the Sintosa island, on which they built an amusement park and a fake 'beach' from which you look out onto the harbor and the massive freight ships. For those going to Singapore I'd recommend a chain cold Goncha, which makes the strangest cold tea mixes and are super delicious.
With a few new friends I carried my backpack to the lightshow at the Marina Bay, which was quite a spectacle involving water, lights and music. However, when it was over I only had veeeeery little time left for my 1 hour journey to the train station for my night train to Kuala Lumpur. I raced to the station, jumped in a cab for the last bit, and than arrived at a closed counter.. I desperately yelled for someone to come to sell me a ticket, only to see I was $4 short in cash on a $10 ticket, and I couldn't pay with card. So I begged the lady to wait for me, crossed this massive junction without looking, and reached the atm. Ran back, crossed without looking again, and got to the lady in time. Fjoe! The only victim was my wet towel that I had strapped to my bag, and I am sure it has taken some years off my life..
The night train was really just a train with rows of beds, and I managed to squeeze myself into my bed with only 1 cm short. Not bad! The trip was ok, didn't get much sleep because I was too afraid to miss my stop, as they didn't announce anything. But arrived safely and sound the next morning in Kuala Lumpur. And I instantly liked Kl! I love its food, the shopping, the drinks, the temples. Just as in Singapore the air-conditioning that is blazing in each building, shop and vehicle makes it super uncomfortable to step outside in 100% humidity and 35 degrees, but it couldn't spill the fun. Ate the very best chocolate chip cookies from Famous Amos, and climbed 300 steps to Batu Cave, which was quite impressive. The train system was super easy and I easily cruised around this big city.
And after another 2 nights I was flying to Vietnam!
I will not spoil too much on my Vietnam trip yet, as I will post another update in about a week I think. But it is such a cool country! The traffic in Hanoi is mindblowing, with 24/7 honking and motorbikes coming from every direction. As long as you don't show any fear or doubt, you can cross over in 1 piece (but with a shorter life span). Honking means about any clue you have in traffic. It means: I go left. I go right. I go straight. I am coming. I am stopping. I am going- A honk can pretty much mean anything that seems applicable, or not even.
Food is amazing though, especially if you go for one of the street food vendors with many locals having their dinner there. They only serve 1 meal, and as they speak 0 English you have no idea what meal that is, but in any way it will be delicious and mouth watering!
Also, not to forget, I am very happy to have Sophie by my side now. And still together with her we meet new people and hang around in groups, so I definitely have the best of both worlds!
We are now in Halong Bay, after our nights in Hanoi, and will go on our first night bus tonight to Hue.
More info on Vietnam next time, for now much love and cheers to everyone xxxx
- comments
Snoek Whahahahaha! Ik had helemaal een cartoonesk beeld van jou in paniek rennend naar de Mc, hilarisch! Ben blij dat je nu in een land bent waar je nog steeds niet weet wat je eet ;) OH en heeeeeel herkenbaar dat verkeer! Op een gegeven moment spreek je de taal-van-de-toeters, geen zorgen :P Veel plezier ennnn ook groetjes aan Sophie! LLL