Final Thoughts

For a moment I find it strange to hear the pilot announcing over the pa "... Welcome to Land of the Free and Home of the Brave ...", then I realized that I am really home.

I missed family, friends, and colleagues, and as I transition back to comfortable US lifestyle I have some final thoughts:

Even though I blended in pretty well in most of the countries (thanks to gradual darkening of my skin as I moved southward), I felt more “American” than ever in the foreign lands yet I still feel in-between culture here in the US.

As with every trip to culturally diverse countries, I come to appreciate what America has to offer: the freedom, the comfortable lifestyle. And at same time what disgusted me: the excessive obsession with work, material things, power, status, and anything big.

I truly going to miss the SEA and beyond: the cheap fresh juices and pastries of the tropic, efficient and widespread public trans of Japan, the fresh air of Borneo jungle, unique culture of Bali, friendly people of the countries (even Vietnam has few), the nature beauties, ancient ruins of Angkor, and fast diminishing and commercialized local culture/custom.

On this trip I have defended the America's freedom/democracy against communist/totalitarian sympathizers, joined the chorus of disdains for President Bush and Iraq fiasco, lamented about the world's eagerness to follow the footsteps of America's massive consumerism/materialism knowing this planet can't support everyone at that borrowed and temporary lifestyle, and sadden by the destruction of tropical rainforest by the corrupt governments eager to support timber companies and plantation owners that feed the voracious demands of developed countries

So where is my next long trip? Central America. When? I don’t know, definitely not this year. More Spanish class is the only thing certain.

Signing off……

Highlighs and disappointments

Highlights

• Angkor Wat**
  
• Fellow Travelers *
  
• Pinnacles Trek *
  
• Uncle Tan's Wildiness Camp
  
• Japan
  
• Passport stamps and foreign currencies
  
• Stone Forest
  
• Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek *
  
• Friendly inn/guesthouse/internet cafe girls
  
• Malaysia/Brunei friends' hospitality *
  
• HK photographer
  
• Hoi An, Vietnam
  
• Yangshuo, China
  
• Mulu caves *
  
• Insects and creatures of Borneo *
  
• Ubud, Bali *
  

Disappointments

• Vietnamese People *
  
• Drug use of local and foreigners in Laos *
  
• rude, spiting and cigarette smoking people of China/massive wave of tourists
  
• Mekong delta tour *
  
• deforestation in general
  
• accomendation in Borneo Malaysia *
  
• Cat Ba island stay (Halong Bay)
  

Just missed out highlight due to poor weather

• Taroko gorge, Taiwan
  
• Halong Bay, Vietnam
  
• Sapa, Vietnam
  

Final Stat

- typhoon: 3
- earthquake: 1
- flight taken: 25
- ferry/boat taken: too many
- kayaking: 2
- country/territory visited: 13
- country/territory driving on the left: 8
- long distance train (over 2 hours): 2
- bus/subway/train: countless
- longest non-stop plane ride: 13+ hours
- longest ferry ride: 5 hours
- longest train ride: 9 hours
- longest bus ride: 15.5 hours
- leech attacks: 6

Travelers along the road less traveled

Japan:
- couple Horshia (Japanese) and Nathan (seattle)
- Daniela (architect/dancer/trying acting now) from Portugal. In Japan for conference, and vacation.
- Andy, a car gear designer from London and Peter, a carpenter from SF

Hong Kong:
- Cinnie Chan and S.H. Lam, college students that were sitting at my table at a dinner place. It is common practice to place strangers in tables that have seats available since space is of premium in HK. They want to see my pictures when I get back to the states.
- Sunny, local photographer, cool dude showed me the tricks and spots for taking picture of HK harbor.

Yangshuo:
- Adam Lam (in transition) a fifth generation Chinese from SF. 3 or more month on the road. Update: after returning to SF, Adam is now in Southern China to start a new life there.
- Hiral(software consultant) from Chicago. Going on a 5 month trip.
- Ryan (software engineer) from Kansas City (Hiral's travel partner)
- Mai and Ulrick from Danmark. Grad students (to be teachers) with one course left. Cool couples.
- Amigo, a female (yes female) from Guangzhou vacation on her own. Met along with Mai and Ulrick on the boat ride down Lijing river. She got her English name from a soap from Taiwan. We did not want to ruin her happiness about her English name by telling her what it means and that it is a masculine word.
- Martin from US, PhD candidate.
- Ido, an interesting Athesist from Israel, yes Israel. I did not know that Athesist existed there!. He is a software engineer I think but gone back to school. He and bounch other travelers (Andreas, Tasha, Mikkel and 3 others I think - 2 Dans, 1 Irish, 1 Brazilian, 1 Australian) got so drunk one night. Well they apparently enjoyed it so much and with lots foolish picutures.
- Vivian? a Taiwanese Brazilan (work in marketing). Again I did not Taiwanese people existed in Brazilan, I know tons of Japanese immigrated there.

Guilin:
- Ruth from Ireland. I think she is a student. She is traveling with 5 other friends for 1 year to Asia, Australia, and South America. Paying part of the way by working in Aust. Update: Only Ruth remained in Australia traveling and working, she is planning to go home some time in Jan 07.
- A HK/New York Chinese bunkmate that is traveling around China. He and his friend smoked in our dorm, which is allowed in China. I gave them a health and moral lesson :) the friend wasn't very happy.
- A couple from Ireland? who lost one of their backback with all his cloth. He is fit-up with China, ready for Australia. I don't blame him. I would be the same if I were to be in China for as long as they did and lost everything.

Kunming:
- Well I met up with Adam (from Yangshuo), he is just chillin in this modern yet not so overwhelming city. No haze and first blue sky I saw in China. We had dinner at the muslim section of the town. He met with local college students and played basketball with them.

Lijiang:
- a Chinese couple from Shanghai, we meet on the ride from the airport and we shared lunch together. Very friendly even tried to help me to find the inn I had in mind before they get to theirs. We did not find the inn, must be closed.
- Adam again, the third time! After I came back from Tiger Leaping Gorge earlier in the evening, I just happened to be standing in the front of the place that I was staying and saw him walking by. He is going to Tiger Leaping Gorge the next day.

Tiger Leaping Gorge:
- Hector and Marc from Barcelona Spain: internet enigeer on 3-week vacation. Very fast hikers. We discussed Spain and Taiwan history and internal politics.

- Mr Ju: A member of communist party who is helping Hector and Marc arrange things. He strained his injured knee during the hike and was very slow after that.

- Mr Liu: Met him at Lijiang to goto TGL together, but I told him I would probably leave him soon after the hike since he is a middle aged smoker :)

- Y. Ji. Chen: on the same bus to TLG and we started togther with Mr. Liu who we lost after 30 minutes or so. He is pretty fast for a Chinese. But no match for westerners.

Dali:
- Bunch Israelis: Couple Naaman and Miri, Translator and Psychologist (just graduated). Naaman another Atheist! Apparent a lot people from Tele Vie are Atheist. We talked about Chinese culture and Israeli society.

- Mikkel and Andreas again (from Yangshou), they took a terrible 24 plus bus ride from Guilin. Mikkel throws up half the way. They both very tired when arriving in Dali and ready for sunny and warm weather of Thailand.

Kunming Part II:
- Mikkel and Andreas again (from Yangshou, Dali), they are leaving for Chang Mai, Thailand.

- Danish couples Martin and Kiva saw them at Stone Forest as well. Heading to Laos and then Vietnam.

Sapa:
- Shane from Ireland and Harold from Germany, we all took the long bus ride from Kunming to Hekou. Harold is heading to Hanoi for some sun.
- Inga, Dutch travel guide based in Hanoi. Guide Dutch tourists for Vietnam and Cambodia.
- Suri, Japanese cloth designer ? working in Hanoi

Hanoi:
- Shane Ireland (See Sapa)
- John, England, biking across Vietnam. He has been traveling around Asia for a while. He want to live in France when he get back because he encountered many good mannered French people! How come I did not met many in Paris? May be all the good mannered French people can't stand Paris itself and want to get away?
- Kate and Kelly from Connecticut and Indiana, childern welfare? Currently traveling around Southeast Asia (and been to South America already) for about a year.

Halong Bay:
- Shane again, my traveling partner from Sapa :)
- Denis and Laura, newly wed from Australia. He is Vietnamese origin. Saw them again in Hoi An
- Chris and Ann, couple from Oregon, she a school teacher and he a carpenter. Both quit their jobs and have been traveling for a while.
- Jeffery, Singapore. On a short holiday.

Hoi An:
- Shane again. Update: After his SEA trip, Shane went back to teaching English for about a month and headed back to SEA again!
- Saw Denis and Laura and few others from the Halong Bay tour.

Hue:
- Vicky Le & Desmond Quek, couple from Bay Area. she, Vietnamese Amercian (realtor), he, Singaporian American (system admin). Visiting relatives in Vietnam and sightseeing. Good coversation with them on the bus to and from Hue.

Saigon/Mekong Delta Tour:
- Clara from Australia, just finshed her degree in mining and environment. Visting Vietnam the second time, and to do some sighseeing and try to do voluteering work.
- Sachiyo, Japanese lived in Paris. Vacation in Vietnam and then visiting home in Nara, Japan.
- Ines, Germany. Just finished her degree in teaching, starts in Feb.
- Sherley & Lisa, funny Canadians from Vancouver Island. Waitress and home depot clerk. they have traveled to all contienents. All long trips. Many interesting stories. Their curent journey started in China. They have been traveled so much, and seen the worst and best, so nothing faze them any more. Sherley want to go back school (business) and hope to start a hostal one day.
- Mark and Yana from Germany, just graduated to become teachers in Feb. He a special ed teacher, and she a primary teacher.

Phnom Penh:
- Ines, Sherley & Lisa, Mark, Jana from Mekong delta tour
- Gil from South Africa
- English couple from Halong Bay/Hoi An

Siemp Reap:
- Ines, Sheiley & Lisa, Mark, Jana, and Gil from Phnom Penh. We had Thanksgiving dinner together. No turkey and pie though.
- Grant, soon to be HS teacher (one more semester) from Madison Wisconsin. Miscalculated number of credits he needed to graduate. Come up short, but he was already book his Asia vacation, so he need to go back to finish it up next year.

Vientiane:
- Iqnacio (aka Nacho) & Maria: a couple from Madrid; seem like a really nice couple. He is law clerk at a patent office and she an internet admin?? at an engery company. I met them again in Luang Prabang.

Vang Viang:
- Philip: chinese Australian (parents from Malaysia), 51 year old divorced father of 1, is partying hardy to make up the lost years. Pretty fun and knowledgable guy. Although I don't agree with him on politic and communism in China (he is pro-communinism). Pot smoker. He is traveling for extended period of time. Going to China next.
- Jacob: Czech Australian, 24 year old party animal; booze and pot and who knows what else.
- Kerry: Irish lady, also booz and drug.
- Nikki: Canadian from Vancouver who lived in Thailand for a while, but is chasing her dream man across border to here. Very strange lady who is out hunting everyday for a man (sugar daddy)
- Sylvia: dutch 32, the only really not smokers (tried one puff). She is traveling for a year in Southeast Asia and Australia/New Zealand. Seems to be pretty health person but I thinking she feels the peer pressure sometime.
- Danny and Tara: young American couple from Seattle: She is the controling kind. They claimed one of their traveler check was stolen, and then tried to walk away from paying their room (but got caught by the police and in the end they paid half for the room and get a free bus). Very immature behavior of them, dealing one wrong with another.
- Andy: an American; the true backpacker with the look to go with it.

Luang Prabang:
- The whole gang from Vang Viang minus Andy and Nikki. Nikki went to remote South Laos still in search of her sugar daddy. More booze and drug of course. The new addition to the gang Louise from Jonhansberg SA. She said no to the drug. Good for her!
- The cool Spanish couple Iqnacio & Maria
- Lawrance, Janice and their daughter from NZ. The parents have been traveling in South Asia for a while after they quit their jobs. And currently living in Thailand and taking this trip with their youngest daughter who is on break from Uni. Plan to go back soon and move/work in Australia. They are part some sort of relative new religion...

Bangkok:
- fun crew Sheiley, Lisa, and Jana from Cambodia

Sukhothai:
- English couple of Chinese ancestry. he a doctor and she a food health and safety inspector? On a two-week vacation

Mt. Kinabaru:
- Adam and group of Aussie HS students who come to borneo to do some work for the local tribes as part of their school curriculum, they are finished and just spending last few days having fun
- Fiona, Helen, Claire from UK: Helen in advertising, but going to become call girl recuiter in NY; Claire a mid-wife looking to move and work in Australia, may be NZ

Sandakan:
- Claire (a different one), Corala, Becky (English): fed up after about one year of working, decided to travel around the world. Seems like young people in their early to mid 20s get fed with work (real world) soon after school (controlled world). The baby boomers' kids have been sheltered and praised all their life and now entering the real world, they can't stand the criticisms and little hard work. Very sad.

Uncle Tan's Wilderness camp:
- Mary a massage therapist from Victoria canada
- Catherin and David (Italian) from NY: will traveling around for about 20 month. His sister come join them for this part of the trip
- Petra, Medelo, Marle, Manu: Dutches

Gum Gum:
- Jackie: a teacher from New Zealand that is teaching in Brunei; her daughters Hena (a uni student) and Selly came visit.
- Adam and Aussie students

Miri/Brunei:
Mr Hwang and family: friendly Malaysian invited to his home in Miri and Brunei. He was traveling with Mr. Lee from Sibu.

Mulu:
- Dominique: french traveling for about year
- Vincent: french traveling for about year as well
- Mr Wu and his nephew: Malaysian from KL. He, a physician and avid photographer
- Mary from Uncle Tan's Wilderness camp
- Two Malaysian girls: one working in Ottawa Canada, the other work in Forestry department in Malaysia

Sibu:
- Mr Lee and family from Miri: staying one night with his family. The daughter of Mr Hwang was staying with him (playmate with his own daughter)

Kuching:
- Mary from Uncle Tan's Wilderness camp

Ubud/Amed:
- Mary from Uncle Tan's Wilderness camp
- Jack originally from Hawaii but lived in Bali for over 20 years: retired formal sarong wholeseller? now just surf and travel around Bali in his van (sold everything) to catch the surf. Extensive knowlege of local culure as well out of the this world beliefs: UFO.

Amed:
- Neil (South Africa) and Ally (Taiwan): realestate agents that sell managed and gated property to foreigners as rental investment here in Bali. Now expanding their business to near by counries like Fiji. Previously they worked in Taiwan.

Singapore, the last stop

My last stop in my long journey.
The border crossing via the bus was an interesting exprience.
Everyone get off the bus to go through immigration on the Malaysia side and then get back on. The bus drove through the buffer zone and everyone get off again at singapore side, but this time with all the luggages. After that, everyone get back on the bus again.

It was kind of chaotic with many buses and people, and I was not sure what to expect in the beginning.

The weather in Singapore is probably the worst I have since the all day rain in Halong Bay Vietnam. It rained on and off all day. And on early morning of last day, it poured all the way to the airport.

The rain and cloudy weather did not get me excited to explore this city even though Singapore is lot bigger and greener than I expected and not like that of concret shopping city of HK. The comofort of Sheraton just a bit too nice after 3.5 month of sometime dodgy/dingy accomendation.

I spend my first afternoon exploring the main shopping street in Singpore - Orchard Rd. Many locals and visitors walk this area. Tons of department stores and food courts. I managed to find a place to eat and got some pastries as well.

After couple hours of wondering around that area and sky looked threatening, I headed back to my comfortable hotel for quick rest before going to the zoo for its famous night time safari. The rain started again as the bus approached the zoo, but it stopped short time later.

The whole entrance area are full of stores and food courts, just a bit too much for my taste. As for the actual night safari, it was pretty cool, you have the choice of walking the trail or taking a tram/walk/tram. Becuase of the rain, most pople opted for tram and walk. There are no fences (that goes for lions as well), and one get to see animal active in the night. O, the flying squirrels were cool, they fly when they feel like to and does not matter if you're standing in their way!

The safari also included trained animal shows, but it rained just when the show about to start and was cancelled as a result.

Next morning, it was so comfortable sleep, I woke up way past 8! The sky was still looking cloudy and threatening, so quickly ate my last cake and head out to the botanic garden for its large orchid display. There are so many type of orchids, I didn't even try to remember any of the names. They even have hybrids that were created especially for visiting dignitaries like Barbra Bush, Kofi Anna, etc.

After a quick lunch at an Orchard rd food court and a rest at my comfortable room, I was on my way to check out the colonial area of Singpore and Chinatown.

The colonial area is intersected by the Sinapore river with tall high rises and water front cafes and resturant and old colonial building. I took a river cruise as suggested by David (ex-Edge coworker, now back working in his home country). After the cruise I hung out at the colonial area for little bit and then headed to Chinatown.

Again rain started to come down hard again, and the area was partially closed in anticipation of the kick off for Chinese new year celebration that afternoon/night. So the street was especially crowded, and after fruitlessly looking for a bakery shop, I went back to my (did I said comfortable) room.

I promised to meet David at my room around 5:30.
David is still the same as I remembered. We catched up on what's going on in our life and Edge happening. He is going back school and working as teacher at local college. We continued our chat at dinner at a local eatery. Thanks David for the yummy seafdood treat, including sting ray. Another first along with snake in Vietnam :)

After saying our good-bye and packing up I went to bed around 10 so I can get up at 4:30 for my 7:20 flight home.

O, I have a hard time getting my Borneo purchased souvenir blow pipe clear the custom, apparently in Singapore it is considered as a deadly weapon. I am taking it out the country anyway who cares! Stupid regulation.....

One thing I noticed about Singapore is that it is not as orderly as one expected despite the strict rules and media hypes. People jay-walking etc. Japan is the most orderly country I ever visited by far and without too many strict rules.

Melaka

I arrived at Melaka around mid afternoon with good amount of sunshine.

After checking into my expensive (126 RM ~= $35) hotel in old Chinatown (see picture of the hotel) I was ready for quick tour of the city's historic sites.

A word on the Puri Hotel that I am staying in, it was an old Chinese house that was converted into a boutique hotel, some of the original structure is maintained.

Melaka has seen its procession of foreign conquerers since its founding in 1400 by an exiled Sumatran prince. It succumbed to Portuguese in 1511. Later on Dutch, then the British.

The city is really great to wonder around, with many colonial buildings/structure still intact, along with old neighborhoods. I enjoyed my short time here.

The old town's main square is surrounded by some historical buildings like: the Christ Church build by the Dutch in 1741 to commemorate a century of colonial rule in Melaka. The Stadthuys, build by the Dutch in 1600s for the governor of Melaka.

Anyway, tomorrow morning I'll leave for Singapore, the last country on my trip.

Kuala Lumpur

I arrived at KL airport for the 3rd time in less than a month. But this time I am actually going into the city. Actually I am visiting Malaysia for the 3rd time during this period as well. Making it the country I visited most often along with Taiwan.

The ride into the city and finding the hotel was trouble free.

I am staying at a little higher class hotel, but I did notice bed bug, so I guess I will be itchy for few more days.

The place I stayed is in between Chinatown and little India. The first night I went to Chinatown for dinner. I was so hungry, I pretty much stop at the first street side resturant. I ended up eating for 19.5 RM, which is way over my budget :)

Day two, I went for sightseeing in near by area.
I wanted to see orchid and hibiscus garden but it was closed till May for renovation so went to the near by bird park and butterfly farm. The bird park was pretty good except the caged birds part (not overcrowded or anything, just thought the birds could use more free space). Later on I went to the Petronas twin towers, once the highest building in the world. The building is well designed and pretty I think.
There is a big shopping mall in the ground floors.
It rained that evening so it prevented me from taking night picture of the building.

So what do I think of Kuala Lumpur?
This city looked modern, but its people still behind by the western standard. Motorbikes ride on the side walk (i have a stare down with motorcycle on the sidewalk), motorbikes run red lights (very frequent), people pee on the street.

Anyway I am heading to Melaka this morning, 3.5 days to go...