Sorry for the late update
I am home back in L.A after nearly 6 months of travel. Ill update and post photos/blogs after the new year.
Dec 242011
Nov 222011
Koh Tao, Thailand
Koh Tao is a still island resting in the gulf of Thailand and is the smallest and most north of the three populated islands in the region. World famous for its scuba diving, it is the second most popular place in the world to get scuba certified. Even the scuba certification board – SSI’s South East Asian Head Quarters is based off this small island. I arrived on the island after the full moon party and signed up for a 4 day open water scuba course – The course was 9000 thai baht [$300USD] and included accommodation. Continue reading »
Nov 222011
The monthly tradition of celebrating the Full Moon is not actually a Thai tradition at all. In the late 80’s some travelers decided to have a party to celebrate the full moon. The location they choose was a tranquil bay that was surrounded on two sides by ascending hill tops and overlooked the gulf of Thailand, facing east, on the southern tip of Koh Phangan Island. The Moon rises over the calm cove and sets on the other side of the island. As the night goes to rest the start of the new day begins with the sun rising over the ocean where the moon had once been; quite a beautiful site. Now a days this monthly tradition draws over 10,000 tourists and party goers each month. Continue reading »
Nov 152011
One day and not this day, I will write about my motorcycle adventures throughout Vietnam. I have a 6 week story that could fill a small book, but instead I will delay that and continue on with my blogs digressing from my 2 month hiatus.
Cambodia –
I wasn’t sure what to expect going to Cambodia, one thing I didn’t expect where the Casinos. I saw about 6 they were usually within walking distance from the major border crossing and made “Old Vegas” look like it was just built. Because I was in transit in and out of the countries both times I saw the Casinos, I never had the luxury of gambling at one of this fine establishments. Another interesting thing about Cambodia is their monetary currency. They use some currency that is 4,100 R to $1USD. But everywhere you go has prices in USD [United States Dollar]. And most people prefer to use USD, even the atm dispense USD. Some places you go such as Angor Wat, only accept USD. So I just kept being awesome and used my home currency.
Continue reading »
Oct 162011
I bought a motorcycle. A Honda Win 110. I have been logging hours on the bike and covered about a 1000 kilometers in the past two weeks. I will update once I am in a location long enough to sit down and type up my adventures. Until then.
Oct 022011
Cat ba Halong Bay
This famous place in northern Vietnam is truly one of the worlds wonders. It is comprised of hundreds of island sprouting out from the ocean forming large atolls several meters above sea level. Picture an island that is 10 meters high with sheer cliffs. The Hostel I was staying at “ Hanoi Backpackers” offered a 2 night 3 day cruise, for $150. Way out of my budget, plus it just sounded like a drunk western booze cruise. Not exactly what I care to spend my money on. I choose the cheaper route, doing it on my own. I when to the local bus stop and bought a ticket to the island. The all-inclusive ticket actually involves a 3.5 hours, a 1 hour boat ride, then an other 45 min bus into town – total cost – 190,000 dong roughly $9 USD. I then managed to find a hostel for $5 it was called “Le Pont” haha, very French sounding. Fortunately for me this 12 bedroom dormitory was completely empty for $5 USD I got a huge room with a giant 42 inch TV on this island all to myself. Continue reading »
Oct 022011
Sept 15th
Vang Veing, Laos
A calm day; I got my Vietnam visa and bus ticket to Hanoi worked out. I wasted $20USD using the online visa on arrival service because apparently that only works if you fly. Lame. I had to get mine overnighted down to the embassy and back and it cost me $66USD. I meet some local kids working at a hostel playing cards, so I asked them to teach me with their broken English and sat and played with them for a while. They were playing a heart/poker style kind of game. I started a new book as well “Steve-o” from jackass. I also watched the USA beat Russia in Rugby. I took this time to catch up in my seldom used journal. Even though I don’t always use it, I like the tangibility of a hand written memories. I leave for Hanoi on the 18th, until Vietnam.
Oct 022011
Sept 6th
Chaing Mai – Thailand
After the trek I rested the next day and dedicated it to planning and budgeting. I counted all my money in stocks, cash and the bank and have about $1500 USD. Hopefully that will be $500 a month over the next 3 months. I have reserved $500 for a flight from Singapore to Aussie so I don’t count that in the $1500. Noom convinced me to stay for the SpicyThai 5th anniversary which I am glad I did. I wrapped up the 6th by packing my stuff. Paying for my Lao trip and closing up my tab.
Sept 7th
SpicyThai 5th Anniversary
At around 9:30am a Buddhist monk arrived to bless the house. He chanted and prayed. He then blessed some string and dipped it in holy water, giving it to all of the men in the house. Buddhist monks shouldn’t touch women – too much temptation. After the monk left we had a small break before the games begun. We had the bright idea to dress up for the games and I wore a ridiculous outfit. The games were composed of a picture scavenger hunt, egg walk and an Easter-egg hunt type game through the yard. Also an odd version of mini golf involving an egg plant, a bucket, two people and a pingpong ball. My team won – obviously. We were handsomely rewarded with a full bottle of absolute vodka. Drinking and laying around we just hung out reaping the plunder of our victory until dinner. We all had matching t-shirts and dined at a 5 or 6 course selection of great authentic thai food. It was delicious. After dinner we went out to the same club area as the previous weekend. Congregated around the Reggae bar. I Danced and enjoyed myself. It was a good time and I am glad I decided to stay the few extra days to go to the party.
Oct 022011
I wrote it in 3 part blocks so you could read along chronologically. I can’t upload the pictures for a couple more weeks. Ill do my best to get them up soon.
Aug 31st
Bangkok – Thailand
Aug 282011
For those who actually read this blog you may or may not know, I am very well “connected”. I have a netbook, nook, and an Ipod – just for this trip alone. At home I rarely go 24 hours without somehow being interwoven through the World Wide Web. As I am embarking on my journey, discovering this portion of the world, I bring that connection with me. I haven’t spent more than 48 hours without checking either my Facebook, Blog, or E-mail. In this day and age we live in it isn’t that big of a deal, but I would like to challenge myself while I am on this journey. Because I have been afforded this opportunity I want to take full advantage of it. Paradoxically I want to do what some many other people in this world do, but I as a young American have difficulty comprehending and preparing myself for. I will have to take drastic measures to assist me along the way. And even though I want it to be so, I can’t imagine doing it 100% so I am going to give it my best and shoot for around 95%. I am going to Disconnect. My lent starts today. Fourty Days. No Internet. I am going to be leaving my computer in Bangkok as I make my way through Northern Thailand, Laos, North Vietnam, Down south to Saigon, Over to Cambodia and then back again to Bangkok; A journey through South East-Asia, alone and disconnected from the world I know. I will be changing my facebook password, email password and will not know them until I get back to Bangkok. There will be NO WAY to check them; I am hoping this will alleviate some of the anguish and temptation of just checking once. I will not be uploading pictures; I will not be updating my blog. I will be hand writing in a journal, which upon my safe return; I will type up to share with you all. Although I would like to say I am 100% without internet that would be a lie, but I would like to think I will be 100% alone and on my own. I have come up with some exceptions for use of the internet while still maintaining my communication silence.
- The use of Hostel World to book my Hostels
- The use of Couchsurfing.com to meet other travelers
- The use of my Nook and its E-book library to buy and download more books [Thanks Mom]
- And finally and most importantly, tracking the 2011 World Cup of Rugby.
I will try to maintain these four simple things as my only use of the web. It is amazing how hard I think it is going to be to be so free. The irony is quite prevalent. I have trouble knowing or anticipating the lack of having a method of communication with the world I knew. I grew up with the internet. It grew up with me. The internet offers me tranquility, humor, news, information, and the best method of maintain relationship. But for this one time in my life and possibility the last time, like my family, friends, and people I knew, I will too, leave the internet behind.
To My Parents: I have yet to inform you of my intention and by the time you read this it will be too late. I will be on the train north. I hope you don’t worry too much, I will be safe, smart, and cautious. I love you. Talk to you in 40 days.
Los Angeles Time