I made it safely to Bangkok, Thailand after a very lenghty plane ride made up of a layover in Taipei and Kuala Lumpur. Of course, my original itinerary left out the Taipei layover so I was slightly irked but the very helpful Malaysians brightened the experience at the KL airport when they made sure I made my connecting flight.
Bangkok airport greeted me with an army of people offering highly inflated cab rides to my hostel. It was definitely a nice welcoming party to all the other scam artists that ensued today. I must admit they are talented in steering you away from your destination and afterwards trying to convince you to a way too cheap tuk-tuk ride that will eventually take you on a half-day unwanted shopping trip. Even some of the cab drivers were part of it too!
As a city, parts of Bangkok reminded me of a cleaner, calmer, more developed and more organized Manila. So far, I've enjoyed using the modes of transport ranging from a light rail system to water taxis on the river. That was a pretty neat experience.
Tomorrow afternoon I head off to the southern part of Thailand called Krabi province.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A Teaser to Thailand and the Philippines
41 days left before I board the plane, with my beloved backpack, to Thailand and the Philippines. WOW! I am really, really excited!!
So, why Thailand and the Philippines for 2008? Well, I've heard so much hype about Thailand that I finally decided to see it for myself firsthand. Unfortunately, I will only have eight short days to get a taste of the country. I'll spend those short days in Bangkok and around the Krabi area.
What about the Philippines? This one is easy- I was inspired after realizing very few backpackers venture out to that part of Southeast Asia and well, it really bothered me when I couldn't really tell my very own friends what the Philippines had to offer versus other countries like Cambodia and Vietnam.
While planning for my Philippines trip I came to smell the roses and learned very quickly how expensive going to semi-remote islands was going to be...geez...no wonder backpackers don't come out here! It is definitely beyond your average backpacker budget unless you have lots of time and patience for semi-reliable overnight ferry trips. Nevertheless, I see a better picture now but I hope to shed more light on this less traveled part of Southeast Asia...of course, unless you're Filipino or related to one.
So, why Thailand and the Philippines for 2008? Well, I've heard so much hype about Thailand that I finally decided to see it for myself firsthand. Unfortunately, I will only have eight short days to get a taste of the country. I'll spend those short days in Bangkok and around the Krabi area.
What about the Philippines? This one is easy- I was inspired after realizing very few backpackers venture out to that part of Southeast Asia and well, it really bothered me when I couldn't really tell my very own friends what the Philippines had to offer versus other countries like Cambodia and Vietnam.
While planning for my Philippines trip I came to smell the roses and learned very quickly how expensive going to semi-remote islands was going to be...geez...no wonder backpackers don't come out here! It is definitely beyond your average backpacker budget unless you have lots of time and patience for semi-reliable overnight ferry trips. Nevertheless, I see a better picture now but I hope to shed more light on this less traveled part of Southeast Asia...of course, unless you're Filipino or related to one.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Reflections on Cambodia & Vietnam
I’ve come to realize that I’ve always done a horrible job of sharing my travel adventures during my trip. So, here is my attempt to change what I consider to be a bad habit. Hopefully this will sort of make-up for past undocumented adventures.... 
TOP TWELVE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS:
Cambodia:
Being in Cambodia, with the exception of Siem Reap (think hotel constructions), was truly a t
rip down memory lane. I got a chance to re-live some of my childhood trips to the Philippine's countryside, or provinces as they are commonly referred to. Straw huts on stilts on the side of a ‘highway’ or ‘main road’ with people passing time, and off in the distance by the fields are water buffalos swatting flies with their tails.
One of the first things I noticed the moment I left the airport grounds on my hired tuk-tuk was the sign that said “water improvem
ent project sponsored by the government of Japan.” I later learned that Cambodia was full of various NGO’s involved in issues ranging from healthcare, landmine victims, orphaned children, water improvement, child sex industry, etc. Yes, there are a lot of pedophiles from around the world that go to Cambodia. At Rosy’s Guesthouse, I was lucky enough to have gotten some insight from an Australian doing volunteer work in Cambodia. Like she suggested, I visited Sunrise Orphanage, saw the kids perform some traditional Khmer dances and even got a tour of the orphanage. It was touching and humbling to see people care so much about work (grassroots) that truly affected lives.
The temples of Angkor were magnificent sights. I can only say that you have to visit them at least once in your life. Anthropologists have done a terrific job assembling them after Pol Pot disassembled many of the temples and the papers documenting their construction. I have to admit that a lot of
the temples began to look the same ('same, same but different' or 'same, same but better') after three consecutive days of temple sight-seeing....mind you under the scorching sun!
Khmer cuisine resembled Thai food quite a bit in a sense that they used coconut milk a lot. The national dish is called amok. My favorite dish was lok-lak, the Khmer version of steak, at Molophor Café. I also had the best shakes the entire trip at that café...the cashew nut shake was yummy!
Vietnam:
It was a very scenic country ranging from the Mekong Delta in the south, historic Hoi An village along the Central Coast and limestone karts jutting out of the water in Halong Bay or in the middle of rice paddies in Tam Coc. However, I was a bit disappointed in the beaches after being spoiled by a beach in the Philippines called Boracay.
I found myself using lots of body language or drawing pictures in order to communicate with the people. I have to admit that it was sometimes fun but frustrating trying to negotiate prices on paper and sometimes after so much chicken-scratch having to walk away with empty hands.
TOP TWELVE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS:
12.) Being asked if I was Cambodian, Vietnamese, Native American and Filipino on this trip but never just plain ol'American.
11.) The sheepish smile the Khmers gave while scratching their heads after starting a bargaining session with a price that was too low.
10.) Bargaining the price for my meal while it swam in a tank a few feet away.
9.) The Vietnam army veteran singing the “Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh” song inside what was once a secret hospital built inside a cave on Cat Ba Island.
8.) A Vietnamese woman that reached over to wipe off my run-away tear & afterwards called out about fifteen screaming little kids to cheer me up.
7.) How quickly the Khmer kids selling souvenirs scurried off after I finally learned how to tell them "no, thank you" in Khmer.
6.) The facial expressions of the boat crew while Chris and David started deep sea soloing (open water free rock climbing) in the Halong Bay area.
5.) Getting a flat tire on a motorbike and getting it fixed so it can explode again 10 km later somewhere in Halong City, Vietnam
4.) Climbing over rubbles of thousand-year-old rocks while bugs buzzed by your ears in the temple Beng Mealea.
3.) Sneaking/running past the guards after closing time to get in & climb up Angkor Wat for sunset.
2.) The ocean view from the hotel balcony/room on Cat Ba Island for $5 a night.
1.) Riding on the back of a friend's motorbike, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, hoping I had enough cat lives to make it alive through the rest of the trip.
11.) The sheepish smile the Khmers gave while scratching their heads after starting a bargaining session with a price that was too low.
10.) Bargaining the price for my meal while it swam in a tank a few feet away.
9.) The Vietnam army veteran singing the “Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh” song inside what was once a secret hospital built inside a cave on Cat Ba Island.
8.) A Vietnamese woman that reached over to wipe off my run-away tear & afterwards called out about fifteen screaming little kids to cheer me up.
7.) How quickly the Khmer kids selling souvenirs scurried off after I finally learned how to tell them "no, thank you" in Khmer.
6.) The facial expressions of the boat crew while Chris and David started deep sea soloing (open water free rock climbing) in the Halong Bay area.
5.) Getting a flat tire on a motorbike and getting it fixed so it can explode again 10 km later somewhere in Halong City, Vietnam
4.) Climbing over rubbles of thousand-year-old rocks while bugs buzzed by your ears in the temple Beng Mealea.
3.) Sneaking/running past the guards after closing time to get in & climb up Angkor Wat for sunset.
2.) The ocean view from the hotel balcony/room on Cat Ba Island for $5 a night.
1.) Riding on the back of a friend's motorbike, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, hoping I had enough cat lives to make it alive through the rest of the trip.
Cambodia:
Being in Cambodia, with the exception of Siem Reap (think hotel constructions), was truly a t
rip down memory lane. I got a chance to re-live some of my childhood trips to the Philippine's countryside, or provinces as they are commonly referred to. Straw huts on stilts on the side of a ‘highway’ or ‘main road’ with people passing time, and off in the distance by the fields are water buffalos swatting flies with their tails.One of the first things I noticed the moment I left the airport grounds on my hired tuk-tuk was the sign that said “water improvem
ent project sponsored by the government of Japan.” I later learned that Cambodia was full of various NGO’s involved in issues ranging from healthcare, landmine victims, orphaned children, water improvement, child sex industry, etc. Yes, there are a lot of pedophiles from around the world that go to Cambodia. At Rosy’s Guesthouse, I was lucky enough to have gotten some insight from an Australian doing volunteer work in Cambodia. Like she suggested, I visited Sunrise Orphanage, saw the kids perform some traditional Khmer dances and even got a tour of the orphanage. It was touching and humbling to see people care so much about work (grassroots) that truly affected lives.
The temples of Angkor were magnificent sights. I can only say that you have to visit them at least once in your life. Anthropologists have done a terrific job assembling them after Pol Pot disassembled many of the temples and the papers documenting their construction. I have to admit that a lot of
the temples began to look the same ('same, same but different' or 'same, same but better') after three consecutive days of temple sight-seeing....mind you under the scorching sun!Khmer cuisine resembled Thai food quite a bit in a sense that they used coconut milk a lot. The national dish is called amok. My favorite dish was lok-lak, the Khmer version of steak, at Molophor Café. I also had the best shakes the entire trip at that café...the cashew nut shake was yummy!
Vietnam:
It was a very scenic country ranging from the Mekong Delta in the south, historic Hoi An village along the Central Coast and limestone karts jutting out of the water in Halong Bay or in the middle of rice paddies in Tam Coc. However, I was a bit disappointed in the beaches after being spoiled by a beach in the Philippines called Boracay.
I found myself using lots of body language or drawing pictures in order to communicate with the people. I have to admit that it was sometimes fun but frustrating trying to negotiate prices on paper and sometimes after so much chicken-scratch having to walk away with empty hands.
Trying to understand the culture was a struggle because it was different from the type of ‘Asian’ culture I had grown up knowing. It’s something I can’t explain but one can only experience after having been to several southeast asian countries. Btw, the women's dedication to staying fair-skinned was well...something else.
One of my favorites about Vietnam was the food…it was succulent! Btw, the photo on the left is a specialty from the city of Hanoi called ca cha. Everything from the seafood to the pho and the fruits! To top it off, I even found a street food (made of soy beans) that I used to eat as a child in the Philippines!
It was a fabulous trip & I hope you would visit both countries at least once in your lifetime! Although, I've got to admit that neither country lured me in (okay so volunteer work in Cambodia would be cool)...not the same way I get nostalgia over Budapest...or have some of my roots in the Philippines...or remember Dubrovnik & Positano's charm.
One of my favorites about Vietnam was the food…it was succulent! Btw, the photo on the left is a specialty from the city of Hanoi called ca cha. Everything from the seafood to the pho and the fruits! To top it off, I even found a street food (made of soy beans) that I used to eat as a child in the Philippines!
It was a fabulous trip & I hope you would visit both countries at least once in your lifetime! Although, I've got to admit that neither country lured me in (okay so volunteer work in Cambodia would be cool)...not the same way I get nostalgia over Budapest...or have some of my roots in the Philippines...or remember Dubrovnik & Positano's charm.
Some of you might be wondering where to next year? The 7,000 + islands of the Philippines where I hope to reconnect with my roots and hope to show/tell you fellow adventurers & backpackers what secret(s) it has to offer…or who knows? I might just decide to keep it close to my heart...
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
The History of Hot Cross Buns
Grade five or fifth grade. Glue or paste? Pen or ballpen? Restroom or comfort room? Wait a second-I am supposed to be in grade four. My fifth grade teacher spoke too fast and I can't understand...youcansignuptolearnamusicalinstrument...tomorrow. Really? Tomorrow became today and a stout lady with curly hair came.
"We have trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, flutes, and even trombones." I went home confused. "Kuya, hwat du yu tink? Clarinet or saxophone?" He liked the saxophone and I chose the clarinet.
The first day of musical cacophony came. At least we will all start knowing nothing.
"Here are your music books. Today you will learn about the G-cleff, whole notes, half notes and rests. Then, you will learn the different notes you can play on your instrument. Afterwards, we will play the first song. It is called Hot Cross Buns..."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)