Fredag 21 Mars 2008
Have the last 10 days in south Thailand had some holiday from the backpacking. Of course I enjoy this way of traveling; you really get close to the culture in the countries you’re visiting, you meet many interesting people, it means freedom and loads of adventures where no day look like the previous one, you learn, become independent and develop a lot etc, but it’s not like having a long holiday!
Many times it’s very demanding always being on the go with a big bag on the back, trying to find information and comparing prices while constantly keeping safety in mind. People are more or less always on to you, you have to do many long and crappy bus rides, freezing showers and frugal accommodations. I don’t believe there is any backpacker that hasn’t dealt with blisters, hydration and frustrating border crossing. You read lonely planet as it was the bible, are walking around in the same clothes, get up at sun rise (6am) and are always bargaining your way around.
It has been incredibly nice with a few days of a slower tempo, less packing and challenges. Lately I’ve been hanging out and traveled with a cool Mexican surfer that I met at Ko Phangang. Have had lovely days at some fairytale, paradise islands where we have been snorkeling, kayaking, trekking in the jungle, gone on a sunset cruise and just relaxed with a Piña Colada under the palms! :P
Many times it’s very demanding always being on the go with a big bag on the back, trying to find information and comparing prices while constantly keeping safety in mind. People are more or less always on to you, you have to do many long and crappy bus rides, freezing showers and frugal accommodations. I don’t believe there is any backpacker that hasn’t dealt with blisters, hydration and frustrating border crossing. You read lonely planet as it was the bible, are walking around in the same clothes, get up at sun rise (6am) and are always bargaining your way around.
It has been incredibly nice with a few days of a slower tempo, less packing and challenges. Lately I’ve been hanging out and traveled with a cool Mexican surfer that I met at Ko Phangang. Have had lovely days at some fairytale, paradise islands where we have been snorkeling, kayaking, trekking in the jungle, gone on a sunset cruise and just relaxed with a Piña Colada under the palms! :P
Onsdag 19 Mars 2008 - Malaysia
It's so easy to get caught up in temporary things that don’t really matters. It can seem to be the world to do a good job at work or with studies, to have time to go to the gym and enjoy yourself, to see friends and how you look. We easily take food, a place to live, education and medical care for granted without thinking of how many people there are out there who fights hard every day for just surviving. To get anything to eat, find a pair of shoes to walk in and have somewhere to spend the night.
It can be extremely rough to see how cruel and unfair the world sometimes is. There are so much you wonna do when you see all homeless, sick, poor and handicap people. For me the worst thing is watching the children who are growing up on the street without a family or anyone supporting or taking care of them. When you see the 5 year old kids with broken and dirty clothes, trying to sell flowers or berries to cars who lines up when the red light turns on, or begging for money with a just born baby in their lap, you don’t know if you shall scream, cry or just close your eyes?!
It's not much you need to do to put a smile on a child's face, normally fill my bag with pens, lollipops, small balls etc in bigger cities to hand out. Can’t be anything better than see how they shine up - so grateful for so little, but at the same time you just feel helpless knowing how little difference it really makes. In Cambodia I though got the opportunity to sponsor 3 siblings I met on the street. Reduced the travel account dramatically but could never have done anything better than helping the two twin brothers and their younger sister who lost their mum on the field.
Although it sometimes is extremely difficult to travel, you get a bigger perspective and constantly get reminded of what really matters. How blessed you are over having 2 legs and arms, a bed and dont have to go around constantly hungry...
It can be extremely rough to see how cruel and unfair the world sometimes is. There are so much you wonna do when you see all homeless, sick, poor and handicap people. For me the worst thing is watching the children who are growing up on the street without a family or anyone supporting or taking care of them. When you see the 5 year old kids with broken and dirty clothes, trying to sell flowers or berries to cars who lines up when the red light turns on, or begging for money with a just born baby in their lap, you don’t know if you shall scream, cry or just close your eyes?!
It's not much you need to do to put a smile on a child's face, normally fill my bag with pens, lollipops, small balls etc in bigger cities to hand out. Can’t be anything better than see how they shine up - so grateful for so little, but at the same time you just feel helpless knowing how little difference it really makes. In Cambodia I though got the opportunity to sponsor 3 siblings I met on the street. Reduced the travel account dramatically but could never have done anything better than helping the two twin brothers and their younger sister who lost their mum on the field.
Although it sometimes is extremely difficult to travel, you get a bigger perspective and constantly get reminded of what really matters. How blessed you are over having 2 legs and arms, a bed and dont have to go around constantly hungry...
Söndag 9 Mars 2008 - Kambodja
The visit of Angkor Wat in Cambodia reminded of when we went to Machu Picchu in Peru. The two Wonders of the World are both lost cities of ancient civilizations that have lay forgotten beneath the jungle for centuries. Just as when going to the former capital of the Incas, I went up 4am to get to Angkor Wat before sunrise - hard to describe the view in words, so beautiful! :)
These incredible temple complexes are the biggest religious buildings in the world and represent one of the world’s most remarkable achievements. Was really impressive to see the huge temples, spectacular monuments, beautiful sculptures and places where movies as Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones have been shot.
Since the capital of the Khemer Empire is bigger than Stockholm in size, I had a cool motorbike guide that drove me around the whole day and gave me both interesting and scary facts in his best attempt of English. If you get the opportunity, I really recommend you to visit this Wold Heritage Site! ;)
These incredible temple complexes are the biggest religious buildings in the world and represent one of the world’s most remarkable achievements. Was really impressive to see the huge temples, spectacular monuments, beautiful sculptures and places where movies as Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones have been shot.
Since the capital of the Khemer Empire is bigger than Stockholm in size, I had a cool motorbike guide that drove me around the whole day and gave me both interesting and scary facts in his best attempt of English. If you get the opportunity, I really recommend you to visit this Wold Heritage Site! ;)
Lördag 1 Mars 2008 - Kambodja
Probably lucky that there are people more worried about me than what I am. When the leg became worse for every hour after the motorbike accident in northern Thailand I was almost forced to visit a hospital by worried parents and friends. I know that I'm kind of an adrenaline junkie who loves pulling the limits to the fullest with either extreme sports or other crazy adventures but this time it was actually not me driving, chancing or crashing.
I guess it was not very smart to hitchhike with an Aussie who paid more attention of impressing me than keeping his eyes on the road (and I’m sure he was on something) but the traffic in these countries are totally mad, you see plenty of accidents on a daily basis. I promise you, people are constantly driving against red (really no point of having the lights), driving on the pavements (you're not safe anywhere) and in the wrong direction of the road (sometimes you don’t know if the country has right or left handed traffic since no one are keeping their lanes).
You think you will be safer when you get out of the cities but here the roads are the dangerous part. Last trip between Luangprabang and Chiang Mai the road was a disaster as a result of the previous day’s rain; in the mountains it was so difficult to drive that we were close to go down the steep at two occasions, it fall down stones at the bus – one so big that it became a whole in the roof but the stone did luckily not go through, we got stuck in a water whole for 2 hours, and one of the bridges we passed was so old that we all sat screaming and praying when passing it, lol. And this is just one of all the rides in these countries, you don’t wonna know about all the jeep and truck bed rides...
It sometimes hurts when you always are seeking and trying out new adventures but if I never try I will never know and what not kills you make you stronger, right?! ;)
In normally cases everything sorts out fine but this time 2 days at the international, emergency department was necessary. Sounds worse than what it’s, I’m already back on my feet with the big backpack on!
Talk to you soon again!
I guess it was not very smart to hitchhike with an Aussie who paid more attention of impressing me than keeping his eyes on the road (and I’m sure he was on something) but the traffic in these countries are totally mad, you see plenty of accidents on a daily basis. I promise you, people are constantly driving against red (really no point of having the lights), driving on the pavements (you're not safe anywhere) and in the wrong direction of the road (sometimes you don’t know if the country has right or left handed traffic since no one are keeping their lanes).
You think you will be safer when you get out of the cities but here the roads are the dangerous part. Last trip between Luangprabang and Chiang Mai the road was a disaster as a result of the previous day’s rain; in the mountains it was so difficult to drive that we were close to go down the steep at two occasions, it fall down stones at the bus – one so big that it became a whole in the roof but the stone did luckily not go through, we got stuck in a water whole for 2 hours, and one of the bridges we passed was so old that we all sat screaming and praying when passing it, lol. And this is just one of all the rides in these countries, you don’t wonna know about all the jeep and truck bed rides...
It sometimes hurts when you always are seeking and trying out new adventures but if I never try I will never know and what not kills you make you stronger, right?! ;)
In normally cases everything sorts out fine but this time 2 days at the international, emergency department was necessary. Sounds worse than what it’s, I’m already back on my feet with the big backpack on!
Talk to you soon again!
Lördag 23 Februari 2008
The last days in north Vietnam was not really pleasant. A low pressure from Russia and China came down over the country and it became completely freezing, outside as well as inside. Although we slept with clothes and five blankets each, we woke up of being really cold. The restaurants and shops don’t have heating so after two days in Hanoi we just wanted to escape (have been traveling with three cool backpackers that I met in Hue lately, a couple and the guy's best friend). Also the ride and night at the Vietnamese border where we came 3am and didn’t get the stamps and visa sorted out before 8 following morning was kind of terrifying!
But love, love, totally love Laos! :)
The weather during our ten days here has been a lot better, the country side is indescribable beautiful, prices are unbelievable lower than in Vietnam, the people very friendly and helpful, and we’ve visited some unforgettable places.
We started with 2 days in the cozy capital Viantiene before continuing to "the backpacker's paradise" - Vang Vieng. Here we stayed at lovely bungalows at the river side for 3USD a night with an amazing view over the beautiful mountains, jungle, rice fields etc. The village is all about adventure and party for young backpackers. During the days you’re visiting caves, rock climb, kayaking, trek in the jungle and most popular of all tubing from early in the morning until the sun goes down. Along the river loads of bar/clubs are situated with cheap drinks, food and “happy treatments” as they say, djs and music, volleyball, pool, lianes down the water, diving towers etc.
Luangphrabang attracts more middle age travelers with fancier restaurants and guesthouses but we had a really good time at the Mekong River village. Here we rented motorbikes and went of for the country side, visited and swam in some beautiful waterfalls, crawled in caves etc. Really like Laos and would love to get back in the future but I guess it soon will be illegal to get completely drunk and jump down in a tire on the river between hippie places, although that's not why you love lovely Laos!
But love, love, totally love Laos! :)
The weather during our ten days here has been a lot better, the country side is indescribable beautiful, prices are unbelievable lower than in Vietnam, the people very friendly and helpful, and we’ve visited some unforgettable places.
We started with 2 days in the cozy capital Viantiene before continuing to "the backpacker's paradise" - Vang Vieng. Here we stayed at lovely bungalows at the river side for 3USD a night with an amazing view over the beautiful mountains, jungle, rice fields etc. The village is all about adventure and party for young backpackers. During the days you’re visiting caves, rock climb, kayaking, trek in the jungle and most popular of all tubing from early in the morning until the sun goes down. Along the river loads of bar/clubs are situated with cheap drinks, food and “happy treatments” as they say, djs and music, volleyball, pool, lianes down the water, diving towers etc.
Luangphrabang attracts more middle age travelers with fancier restaurants and guesthouses but we had a really good time at the Mekong River village. Here we rented motorbikes and went of for the country side, visited and swam in some beautiful waterfalls, crawled in caves etc. Really like Laos and would love to get back in the future but I guess it soon will be illegal to get completely drunk and jump down in a tire on the river between hippie places, although that's not why you love lovely Laos!
Fredag 15 Februari 2008
At the same time as the Brazilian Carnival last year we've now experienced the cheerful New Years week in Asia. Just as the carnival this is a week of celebrating and having fun, although it maybe not get completely as wild as in Rio de Janeiro.
People are dressing out here as well, they're having parades at the streets with music, games, dance, food and drinks but they also take time to visit temples with incense and flowers. The nights get busy with shows, firework, party etc. If you get the opportunity to take part of the Asian New Year - go, you'll have a blast! ;)
As a good finnish of many joyful days and crazy nights in Vietnam we had some lovely hours at a beautiful resort on the country side. Here we enjoyed hot springs, mudd bath, steamers, massage and fruit smoothies in jacuzzi - everything for 160.000 dong (ca 80skr, 6 pound)!
Now a long bus ride to Laos is waiting...
People are dressing out here as well, they're having parades at the streets with music, games, dance, food and drinks but they also take time to visit temples with incense and flowers. The nights get busy with shows, firework, party etc. If you get the opportunity to take part of the Asian New Year - go, you'll have a blast! ;)
As a good finnish of many joyful days and crazy nights in Vietnam we had some lovely hours at a beautiful resort on the country side. Here we enjoyed hot springs, mudd bath, steamers, massage and fruit smoothies in jacuzzi - everything for 160.000 dong (ca 80skr, 6 pound)!
Now a long bus ride to Laos is waiting...
Fredag 8 Februari 2008 - Nha Trang
The painful ride from Ho Chi Minh City was definitely worth - Nha Trang is completely lovely! Here I’ve had some amazing days with 30-35 degrees and clear sky from the moment I arrived. Through contacts from back home (the brother to a guy at the gym) I got free accommodation 3min walk from the beach and all the night places that is getting wild with young tourists after 9pm. But since it’s the New Year week (not New Years Eve this week - they are celebrating for a whole week, it’s mad) it’s not just backpackers that are partying hard all night long but also the locals.
Except nice hours in the crystal clear water or drinking cool cocktails (the prices make you buy few too many), I’ve been visiting some amazing paradise islands. The Thi Island where I ride ostrich – man they are quick, fed monkeys – sooo cute, pet deer and hugged elephants. The Orchid Stream Island where we did some trekking through the jungle to amazing waterfalls where we swam and jumped from cliffs. I went with cable car to the Winpearl Island where they had a huge water park, 3 times as big and fun as Skara - James and Zack went there 3 times, lol. And one day I went fishing and snorkeling at one island. I could definitely stay here for a couple of weeks but time to move on...
Rather regret what you did than what you didn’t!
Except nice hours in the crystal clear water or drinking cool cocktails (the prices make you buy few too many), I’ve been visiting some amazing paradise islands. The Thi Island where I ride ostrich – man they are quick, fed monkeys – sooo cute, pet deer and hugged elephants. The Orchid Stream Island where we did some trekking through the jungle to amazing waterfalls where we swam and jumped from cliffs. I went with cable car to the Winpearl Island where they had a huge water park, 3 times as big and fun as Skara - James and Zack went there 3 times, lol. And one day I went fishing and snorkeling at one island. I could definitely stay here for a couple of weeks but time to move on...
Rather regret what you did than what you didn’t!
Onsdag 6 Februari 2008
On the other side of the world, at a flight between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City, I meet an old school mate from Ronninge. It showed out that Jesper also is backpacking around in South East Asia at the moment so I ended up following with him when landing, since he already had a hotel booked in the city.
Although the countries are not very far from each other, everything is very different in Vietnam from Hong Kong - the weather, food, prices, people, transportation, culture etc.
In Ho Chi Minh I mostly travelled around with motor bike (good fun!) and enjoyed the city life in the 30 degrees heat. Me, Erik and Jesper visited many cool places; The Yellow Dunes, The War Prison, The cruel Tunnels, Mui Ne Beach, Fairy stream, a cool fishing village, many markets and bars etc.
But after 3 hectic days in Saigon it was time to move on up north with a journey that was everything from the last first class flight, a 15 hours bus ride in something that shouldnt be allowed to be called vichele. It was me and 30 other short, starring vietnameeses that filled the bus with everything from octupuses and fish in small plastic bags, to boxes with snakes and baskets with smelling spices, but I guess this is the real charm with backpacking!
Love from Vietnam
Although the countries are not very far from each other, everything is very different in Vietnam from Hong Kong - the weather, food, prices, people, transportation, culture etc.
In Ho Chi Minh I mostly travelled around with motor bike (good fun!) and enjoyed the city life in the 30 degrees heat. Me, Erik and Jesper visited many cool places; The Yellow Dunes, The War Prison, The cruel Tunnels, Mui Ne Beach, Fairy stream, a cool fishing village, many markets and bars etc.
But after 3 hectic days in Saigon it was time to move on up north with a journey that was everything from the last first class flight, a 15 hours bus ride in something that shouldnt be allowed to be called vichele. It was me and 30 other short, starring vietnameeses that filled the bus with everything from octupuses and fish in small plastic bags, to boxes with snakes and baskets with smelling spices, but I guess this is the real charm with backpacking!
Love from Vietnam
Lördag 2 Februari 2008
Could never have had a better start of my 9 week South East Asia trip than with sweet Ben in Hong Kong. Had some amazing days in the big city with cool sight seeing (visited the golden Buddha, the Peak, Jumbo Kingdom, Symptoms of Light etc), shopping (amazing markets and malls), good food (could stay here just for the food) and loads of great night life (Hong Kongers definitely know how to party)!
A huge thanks to Captain Bensen that not just took me to great places and let me stay with him in his lovely flat (a place with an incredible view over the city and ocean - have never seen anything like that view, many swimming pools, spa, gym, bowling and pool, golf and basket courts, bars etc in the building), but also fixed me a free, business class, flight ticket to Vietnam. Thanks to that I didn’t have to spend 2 days on trains in China to get to Vietnam but instead sat sipping champagne for 2 hours before landing in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Enjoyed myself to the fullest in Hong Kong and I definitely wonna go back in the future but now warmer weather and the big, week long New Year celebration are waiting in Vietnam! :P
A huge thanks to Captain Bensen that not just took me to great places and let me stay with him in his lovely flat (a place with an incredible view over the city and ocean - have never seen anything like that view, many swimming pools, spa, gym, bowling and pool, golf and basket courts, bars etc in the building), but also fixed me a free, business class, flight ticket to Vietnam. Thanks to that I didn’t have to spend 2 days on trains in China to get to Vietnam but instead sat sipping champagne for 2 hours before landing in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Enjoyed myself to the fullest in Hong Kong and I definitely wonna go back in the future but now warmer weather and the big, week long New Year celebration are waiting in Vietnam! :P
Måndag 10 Juli 2006 - Storbritannien
...vilket man inte kunde tro när man klev av flyget och titta ut mot det platta landskapet. Satt och snacka med två schyssta stockholmare på planet som såg lika fundersamma ut när vi klev av "har vi verkligen kommit rätt?"
Under en femdagars period var det strålande sol och på nyheterna varnade de folk varje dag om den extrema hettan, men (tyvärr) é det brittiska vädret tillbaka vilket jag tror alla vet vad de innebär...
Men om man bortser från vädret är allt verkligen toppen här!
Människorna jag delar hus med är väldigt trevliga, jag trivs med jobbet, det finns hela tiden en massa att se och göra, londonborna är väldigt öppna och sociala, och nattlivet går nog inte att jämföras med något liknande?!
Under en femdagars period var det strålande sol och på nyheterna varnade de folk varje dag om den extrema hettan, men (tyvärr) é det brittiska vädret tillbaka vilket jag tror alla vet vad de innebär...
Men om man bortser från vädret är allt verkligen toppen här!
Människorna jag delar hus med är väldigt trevliga, jag trivs med jobbet, det finns hela tiden en massa att se och göra, londonborna är väldigt öppna och sociala, och nattlivet går nog inte att jämföras med något liknande?!