Somehow, some way, I've found my way to Bangkok.
To say I'm jetlagged would be a gross understatement.
And I think I'm booked on a tour group tomorrow. What the heck?? This should be interesting.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Road to Southeast Asia: Prologue - The Big Boy Trip
Things happen for a reason.
I was supposed to leave for the Philippines in April, followed by a week in Thailand. I was all set to book my flights, when our trip fell through. I was crushed.
A month passed, and I was feeling it the itch. I sat at my desk at work, dreaming of Thai massages, when I thought, "Screw it, I'm just gonna go."
I was obsessed. I went on Kayak for a week straight, looking up flights till 2 AM. I mapped out my itinerary, scrapped it, made a new one, scrapped THAT, went back to my original plan, then went with Plan C.
Click. One flight booked. Click. There's another. Click. Wait, I need to book hotels! Click. Click. Click!!
And here I am, about to embark on a two-week solo trip to Southeast Asia.
This is my Big Boy Trip. No companions to lean on to do the dirty work. I have to ask for directions. I have to interact with the locals. I have to find my way across the mountains of Chiang Mai. I have to seek out the secluded beaches of Phuket on my own. I have to navigate the streets of KL. It's on me. This is the trip where I gut it out, suck it up, and go.
I will have friends and family in Bangkok to guide me. Apart from that, I am on my own. Two years ago, this was unthinkable. Today, it's all I think about. I want to approach this trip with open eyes. With boldness.
Enough writing.
Let's do this.
I'll be back in two weeks, with pictures, stories, and maybe even videos(!) to share. If I'm able, I will update.
Cheers.
I was supposed to leave for the Philippines in April, followed by a week in Thailand. I was all set to book my flights, when our trip fell through. I was crushed.
A month passed, and I was feeling it the itch. I sat at my desk at work, dreaming of Thai massages, when I thought, "Screw it, I'm just gonna go."
I was obsessed. I went on Kayak for a week straight, looking up flights till 2 AM. I mapped out my itinerary, scrapped it, made a new one, scrapped THAT, went back to my original plan, then went with Plan C.
Click. One flight booked. Click. There's another. Click. Wait, I need to book hotels! Click. Click. Click!!
And here I am, about to embark on a two-week solo trip to Southeast Asia.
This is my Big Boy Trip. No companions to lean on to do the dirty work. I have to ask for directions. I have to interact with the locals. I have to find my way across the mountains of Chiang Mai. I have to seek out the secluded beaches of Phuket on my own. I have to navigate the streets of KL. It's on me. This is the trip where I gut it out, suck it up, and go.
I will have friends and family in Bangkok to guide me. Apart from that, I am on my own. Two years ago, this was unthinkable. Today, it's all I think about. I want to approach this trip with open eyes. With boldness.
Enough writing.
Let's do this.
I'll be back in two weeks, with pictures, stories, and maybe even videos(!) to share. If I'm able, I will update.
Cheers.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Objectives - Thailand/Malaysia
I want a massage. A cheap, Thai massage that last for hours.
I want to eat the street food at the local market and pray that I don't get diarrhea.
I would like to bust out of my introverted bubble and try to engage more with the locals. I hear Thais are friendly. And they smile a lot. This bodes well.
I would like to haggle at least once.
I want to rock a Karaoke Bar in Bangkok.
That's about it, really. I'm sure I'll do a lot more when I'm there. I'll leave that up in the air.
I want to eat the street food at the local market and pray that I don't get diarrhea.
I would like to bust out of my introverted bubble and try to engage more with the locals. I hear Thais are friendly. And they smile a lot. This bodes well.
I would like to haggle at least once.
I want to rock a Karaoke Bar in Bangkok.
That's about it, really. I'm sure I'll do a lot more when I'm there. I'll leave that up in the air.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Dancing
Big ups to Matt Harding, for putting together this video.
What a great example of taking your God-given gift of dorky dancing and using it to make the world a better place.
Well done, Matt.
What a great example of taking your God-given gift of dorky dancing and using it to make the world a better place.
Well done, Matt.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Slow Traveler
Every travel blog out there has lists of their own. "10 Things To Do In Rome", "20 Beers to Try in Malaysia", "52 Must-See Spots in Andorra". I love these lists. They get my mind going. They get me in the Travel Zone.
Do I do these lists? Not really.
The last thing I want to do when traveling is go off a list. Then the trip becomes a quest. And when there's 100 things to do on the quest, it becomes a race. And unless there's a million dollars and a guy named Phil waiting for me at end, I'm taking my time, thank you very much.
I'm a slow traveler. I like standing in a town square and people watching, taking in everything. I'd rather stroll than walk. I hate being rushed from place to place. This is why I don't do well with set itineraries.
I cover less ground than most people, and I miss out on some sights. I'm OK with that. The worst thing to feel on a trip is rushed.
But for a million dollars, I can make some adjustments...
Do I do these lists? Not really.
The last thing I want to do when traveling is go off a list. Then the trip becomes a quest. And when there's 100 things to do on the quest, it becomes a race. And unless there's a million dollars and a guy named Phil waiting for me at end, I'm taking my time, thank you very much.
I'm a slow traveler. I like standing in a town square and people watching, taking in everything. I'd rather stroll than walk. I hate being rushed from place to place. This is why I don't do well with set itineraries.
I cover less ground than most people, and I miss out on some sights. I'm OK with that. The worst thing to feel on a trip is rushed.
But for a million dollars, I can make some adjustments...
Setbacks
Reading this article from LP got me thinking.
From the article:
Travel should involve just a little struggle, a few annoyances, a bit of frustration.
Queuing for overcrowded buses, sleeping in smelly dorms, spending hours guarding packs on cold railway platforms these are all part of the complex mix of excitement, boredom and hassle that makes seeing the world such a joy.
...Throwing yourself into confusing and confronting situations and seeing how you cope, is what makes life, and travel worth experiencing.
These sentences sum up my general travel outlook.
The way I see it is, no setback during your travels is so grand that you can't endure it. Take Machu Picchu. At no point during the hike did I think, "Man this feels awesome!" It didn't. The first day sucked, the second day was no better, and by the last day, I was a bearded, constipated mess.
But the point is, I survived. With tales to tell. With pictures and memories to share.
I'm not asking you, Fellow Traveler, to actively look for difficult situations in your trips. They'll be sure to find you. And I'm not saying that all travel is difficult, because even the hard-core travel junkies need respite.
What I am suggesting is that when you do find yourself stranded at the airport, or late for your overnight train, take a deep breath and relax. You'll pull through it. These things come with the territory. They teach you patience. They build character.
As much as traveling connects you with the world, it connects you with yourself too.
From the article:
Travel should involve just a little struggle, a few annoyances, a bit of frustration.
Queuing for overcrowded buses, sleeping in smelly dorms, spending hours guarding packs on cold railway platforms these are all part of the complex mix of excitement, boredom and hassle that makes seeing the world such a joy.
...Throwing yourself into confusing and confronting situations and seeing how you cope, is what makes life, and travel worth experiencing.
These sentences sum up my general travel outlook.
The way I see it is, no setback during your travels is so grand that you can't endure it. Take Machu Picchu. At no point during the hike did I think, "Man this feels awesome!" It didn't. The first day sucked, the second day was no better, and by the last day, I was a bearded, constipated mess.
But the point is, I survived. With tales to tell. With pictures and memories to share.
I'm not asking you, Fellow Traveler, to actively look for difficult situations in your trips. They'll be sure to find you. And I'm not saying that all travel is difficult, because even the hard-core travel junkies need respite.
What I am suggesting is that when you do find yourself stranded at the airport, or late for your overnight train, take a deep breath and relax. You'll pull through it. These things come with the territory. They teach you patience. They build character.
As much as traveling connects you with the world, it connects you with yourself too.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
For Your India Trip
India is definitely on my list of places to go. Here's a link to other links to get you started on planning.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
iPods On a Plane
"United Airlines announced this morning that it is the first US airline to offer an iPod connector for its in-flight entertainment systems. The systems feature an iPod dock—naturally compatible with the iPhone—which connects it to the 15.4-inch LCD screen for viewing video content as well as listening to music, all while charging the iPod's battery."
Thank GOODNESS.
read more | digg story
Thank GOODNESS.
read more | digg story
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