Laos

Laos - there are only two words to describe this country and that is LAID BACK, to the extreme. Not talking about Tobago laid back....this place is on another level! The pace of life is so slow here that my time here left me questioning is it possible to be too laid back? It almost came across as borderline lazy to me, but it certainly is a beautiful and peaceful way to live life.

Laos people LOVE  a nap!

No one likes to work, no one hassles you to buy anything. Everyone just sits around their shops and take naps during the day. You can actually see them all sleeping as you walk past their homes with their doors open or napping in hammocks. It's as if they don't care about making money at all. It's a nice in the sense that you aren't bothered but sometimes can be frustrating if you are trying to do something or get somewhere. Guess you just have to appreciate the laid backness for what it is. We were told before coming how friendly the people are, but we only found this to be true outside of tourist areas. The men seemed to sit around with their friends drinking beer or looking after kids or riding bikes around while women seem to be doing all the work. Labour intense jobs usually done by men seemed to be done by the women here, like chopping coconuts, helping travellers unpack heavy bags and carrying lots of wood on their backs. Talk about gender equality. But this place is stress free - you never come across any bitterness or arguing. Everyone is happy and completely at peace. They probably age so well living this kind of life.

Feeling like a millionnaire at Laos ATM

Putting your feet up on chairs or tables while sitting is a big no-no in Laos and for someone who feels most comfortable sitting like that, I found it difficult to obey this rule. Shoes must always be removed as well before entering restaurants, homes and buildings. In Laos I felt like a millionnaire! The exchange rate is 8,000 kip to USD$1 so it was normal to withdraw 1,000,000 kip. For some reason though, money felt like it disappeared because it went so quickly but it was nice feeling like a millionaire for 2 weeks! The majority of land in Laos is jungle (85%) which is what makes this country's beauty. However, the Chinese are now leasing land in Laos to cut down trees for timber to sustain their population.
At the same time, Laos need the money to increase their standards of living. Tourism is starting to pick up now and we could see the construction going on in many places. Despite how nice the people are in Laos, we still faced many scammers and have come to accept its inevitable. Most of the people don't speak english and when you approach them some either ignore you or just smile.

Monks at the temple studying

We crossed the border from Thailand to Laos over the Mekong and took a slow boat to Luang Prabang down the Mekong for 2 days, overnighting in Pak Bang. The boat was very slow and the views quite repetitive for the 16 hours in all we spent on it. You really
begin to feel a bit bored after a while so a good book, music or someone to chat to helped pass the time. I actually liked the boat ride as I found it very relaxing. There were sights of children swimming on the sides of the river, locals fishing and driving by. The boat is for both locals and tourists so we stopped off in many little villages along the way to collect and drop off others. Despite the water being brown, it was still so beautiful and the colors against the green mountains made it different from all the other places we had been.

View from our window in Pak Bang

Pak Bang
We lucked out and stayed in a beautiful wooden cabana on the Mekong. I don't think I ever woke up feeling so content than that morning with the window open above our bed and the view of the clouds low down in the nearby mountains, the sounds of farm animals and boats going by. The night before when we arrived we were starving and excited to try some Laos food. We ordered a cucumber salad to share as a starter and were as soon as it touched our tongue we almost threw up. It was covered in fish oil and smelt horrible! The next morning we got breakfast served to our room for the first time on our trip which was nice. We took a slow boat again the next day and headed to Luang Prabang. Karen & I ordered tuna baguettes from our guest house to take on the boat to eat and I ended up getting sick from it towards the end of the ride. 

Luang Prabang

We lucked out again in accomodation on Luang Prabang and stayed at the Mekong Charm guest house which was all wooden, spacious and lovely people. As soon as we reached, I threw up my tuna baguette. Since then my appetite hasn't been the same and I havent been able to eat tuna again. I eat alot less now which is good cause I save money. Karen's friend Jason from South Africa met us in Luang Prabang for his two week holiday. We met up with him at a cool bar called Utopia which had mattresses overlooking the river, volleyball and a nicely landscapped setting.

As the Lonely Planet book states 'There are places that linger in the imagination long after you visit them', and this is exactly how I felt about Luang Prabang. There was something about that place that felt magical and timeless. It was extremely laid back and peaceful. Everything shut down by 11pm and in Laos everyone goes to bed early, waking up early so Karen and I enjoyed being grannies for our time here. The only places that serve alcohol after 11pm are the bowling allies but we didn't go to them. Despite all the town being built up with lots of beautiful french villas, there were hardly any cars and the roads were quiet. There were lots of monks in their orange garments around the temples. We rented bicycles for the three days we were there and rode around. The cuisine and shopping seemed to be quite upscale here and you could see this place is slowly becoming a popular spot, I think especially for honeymoons.

Waterfall

Luang Prabang Night market 

The night market and the arts and crafts markets were really cool as well but the waterfalls were definitely my highlight here. The Tat Kuang Si waterfalls which are 32km from the city. No one really spoke about them so I had no expectations, just thought it would be same old waterfalls I'd been seeing. This waterfall was breath taking and by far one of the best that I've ever got to swim in. It was completely surrounded by jungle and the water was menthol green and surrounded by limestone. The water was also cool but not too cold, perfect to dip in on a hot day. There were different levels you could walk up to and if you wanted you could make a trek and walk to the top. I jumped off one of the waterfalls a few times and swong off a big old beautiful tree on a rope into a pool of blue green paradise fresh water. The waterfall also had a bear nature reserve that rescues bears that are killed by chinese for something in their gall bladders that they use as medicine. Wish we stayed in Luang Prabang longer but with us being on a time limit we thought we had to leave and go explore other parts of Laos.

Renting bikes

I loved Luang Prabang, the only thing that was a downfall there was my boyfriend and I breaking up unexpectedly. I allowed it to put a damper on my travels for a few weeks. I wouldn't go into details on why we broke up but it's probably for the best. Not sure if we would get back together but we agreed to leave it for now and see how it is when I am in Trinidad. My heart felt sore and the last thing I wanted to do was spend the next 40 hours travelling to south Laos as we were heading to 4,000 islands near the Cambodia border. At that point I would have much rather been working busy all day than be travelling as I didnt want too much time on my hands to over think.
We took 2 overnight buses, one stopping in Vietienne and the other in Pakse. Yes we skipped the famous tubing party place Vang Vieng along the way. We didn't feel for that kind of scene although having just broken up I probably could have done with a good party to take my mind off things. I could count on one hand how many drinks I have had in the last 3 months since I started the trip and it feels good! The first bus we took was a nightmare - Karen and I had a tiny bed to share which was right next to the toilet in which the door for the didn't close properly so we spent our entire night being disturbed by people going to the toliet and us getting up to close the door ALL night. I don't know how this bus expects people to share that tiny bed especially if you were traveling alone and sharing with a stranger.

Vientiane

Laos national momument

For the day in Vientiane we got a room to keep our bags and shower. We went to see the most important national monument in Laos called the Pha That Luang. It was big and golden and a symbol of Buddhism religion. After this we went for a traditional Laos massage in a beautiful old wooden house outdoors. Since we have learnt Thai massage in Thailand, it was interesting to see the differences between a Laos and Thai massage. Many similarities between then but some strange differences but in the end the Thai massage I found much better.
We headed to Pakse on another overnight bus. Didn't sleep again for another night so when we finally arrived I felt exhausted, frustrated, hungry and time of the month. I was miserable also from the break up and I ended up in a petty argument with Karen. In my irrational state of mind, I walked off and went on my own. At that point I just wanted to be alone or to be home. It was the first time on my trip that I felt tired of moving around and wanted to quit. I knew once I got some food, sleep and time alone I would feel fine again. I got a boat to Don Khong island myself and Karen and Jason came and met me there later. Luckily, Karen was very understanding of my situation and was really mature in dealing with everything.
Don Kong

Rice farmer in Don Kong

Don Khong was very quiet, so quiet that we felt like we didn't belong here. When I say nothing happens here, I mean NOTHING! The biggest excitement for us would be a bike riding by or a boat passing by every few hours! Karen, Jason, myself and a lovely Austrian couple rented bikes and went driving around the island which ended up being one of my favourite days in Laos. We rode for 40km and took 5 hours as we stopped off many times to play with the children. I don't think I ever saw so many children in one day. There is obviously nothing better to do here than make babies. Again these children and people were the happiest I've seen and have nothing. Just more examples of why we don't need the things we have to be happy. As we rode past the villages, the kids spotted us from far and came running out to the road to wave and say 'saba dee' which means hello in Laos. Some of the kids were so excited they couldnt stop jumping up and down flapping their hands. Felt like a queen riding by and waving constantly, so much my hands got tired but I loved every minute of that day. We saw lots of workers in the rice plantations, pigs, cows, chickens, cats, dogs, ducks, wooden carts, farmers and cute little houses. Even saw men using buffalo to plough the rice plantaitions. No machines, just buffalo! Again, another place where these people have nothing but are so incredibly happy. The parents seem to spend so much time with their children and it just seems like the perfect place for a child to grow up. We stopped to drink some Beerlao (local beer) along the ride and in the end we saw the most amazing sunset I've seen on my trip. The sky was orange and set behind the water and houses and mountains.

With the kids in Don Khong

My least favourite thing about Laos would be the food. Maybe I wasn't adventurous enough but the local dishes I tried didn't go down so well. Karen and I tried the cucumber salad as our first local dish and we wanted to vomit! The shredded cucumber was soaked in fish oil! We did try some Mekong river fish which was also nice. Out of all the places I'd been, I found myself eating more western food than any other place. Maybe after three months the craving for my normal food is kicking in. I've mostly been craving cheese which south east asian people don't eat because most are lactose intolerant. Porridge is also a big craving as I used to eat that every morning.

Don Kon

Swimming in the Mekong - Don Kon

After two days on Don Khong, we took a boat to another island Don Kon which is much smaller and even quieter. Here we rented bicycles and rode to the Mekong waterfalls and the beach where we swam in the lovely brown coloured Mekong river water! Not as nice as the aqua water we same in Luang Prabang waterfall, but I still enjoyed it. Here we met Jonathan from Canada and Jake from Boston and five of us ended up having dinner on Don Det at a restaurant called Eden Garden which on a beautiful sunset point. Beautiful view and amazing food. The boys are both teachers in China so they shared lots of stories with us about life there which was very interesting. There is a big old bridge which connects Don Kon Don Det and eventually moved there as accomodation and food seemed much better. There are also the almost extinct irradaway river dolphins found here but we never ended up going to see them.

Don Det

The crew at Little Eden for sunset 

Here we did nothing but relax on hammocks, read, eat, lime and listen to music. I bumped into an american girl Anna who I met in Thailand and she joined us for our last day. We rented tubes and went down the Mekong River in the rain! I loved Don Khong because of the ride where we saw all the village children but Don Det was also really nice. Little Eden became our home - breakfasts, lunch and dinner. A bit pricey but the view, the food and the service was excellent. After a week in all on the islands, we said goodbye and got on a bus to Cambodia.

Almost every traveler I have asked about their favorite country in South East Asia - Laos has almost always been the response. You need to go there to see why. It's just so laid back, unlike anywhere else that I've been. Not even tobagonians can be as laid back! It's starting to really pick up with tourism so I am sure in 5-10 years it may be a very different place but I doubt anything could ever change its culture and slow pace (I hope).

Thailand

Thailand
A country with a bit of everything - Long tail boats. Thatched roof huts. The sounds of geikos. Beautiful beaches. Friendly people. Buddhism. Picturesque temples. Limestone mountains. Waterfalls. Rainforest. Monks in orange garments. Coconut trees. Good shopping. Lady Boys. Muay Thai boxing. Elephants. Spirit houses. Full moon parties. Thai massage. Food to die for. Cheap manis and pedis. A tropical paradise. Is there anything that this country does not have? I spent only three weeks here and did not want to leave. It's one of those countries where you definitely return, perfect for a memorable and cheap holiday so not surprised why it has become such a popular holiday destination today. I got to experience the beautiful beaches of the south, the bussling city of Bangkok and the rainforest and temples of the north.


Koh Phi Phi Island

Local Phi Phi fisherman

Snorkling off Phi Phi

Within minutes of arriving at Phucket airport in Thailand on my own, I met some other backbackers who were also looking for a hostel for the night before heading to Koh Phi Phi island the next morning. One of them was Matt from New Zealand who I ended up liming with for the next few days there. Stayed at the nicest hostel I had ever been in on Phucket. That night while walking to get some food, I heard the sound of a geiko for the first time. If someone didn't tell me it was a geiko I would have never known. And when I told other tourists, no one believed me. The noise just doesn't seem to match the reptile at all.  Sounds like it's saying the word geh-koh.

I had ten days in Thailand on my own before I would meet back up with Karen in Bangkok so I tried to get as much feedback on places so I could choose the best spots in Thailand. After seeing the movie 'The Beach' with Leonardo Dicaprio, I knew this island had to be on my list. It was also closer to Singapore so I could make my way up north very easily to Bangkok. We took the ferry the next morning and my first day in Thailand it was pouring with rain and I was sea sick. Not quite how I expected my first day in Thailand to turn out. The chinese girl sitting nearby vomiting in a plastic bag didn't help me feel any better! It sounded like gargling and when I looked to my right there was her boyfriend holding the bag for her to throw up...now that's what you call love! After two hours on the boat, we pulled into Phi Phi where you would see the many long tailed wooden boats in the bay and the infestation of tourists which seemed to have spoilt the beauty here. We were bombarded by locals for accomodation so we waited for the chaos to clear up before negotiating prices. We ended up at PP Sunset Pavillion which was at the end of the beach and furthest point from the Pier. It seemed very peaceful and away from the action until the night time when the party music from the bars on the beach blared until 3am. This gave us no choice for a 'quiet night' and became an excuse to go out every night.

Sunset at Phi Phi

Swimming off Phi Phi islands

My first day we walked down to the other end of the beach where there were some local fishermen who were very friendly and funny. He invited us in his little wooden hut on the beach where he smoked thai weed from a bamboo bong and sang thai reggae songs. The thai people love their reggae music and rasta colours which I loved. Sunsets on the beach were beautiful here and because it was low season, the beach was more quiet than usual. At night however it was filled with lots of young westerners who were always drunk and ready for a party. Felt a bit like spring break here. I went out every night in Phi Phi - the vibes were really good! Fire shows, skipping ropes on fire, dancing, good loud music, florescent lighting, mattress chairs all over the beach to sit down and take everything in. I could now see why Thailand is one of the most popular holiday destinations as it seems to have everything for the young crowds - beautiful beaches, good parties, cheap and lots of other young tourist who are looking for the same experience.

Maya Beach 

Monkey Beach

The next day we booked a half day tour to Phi Phi Lay island on the long tail boat. We met two beautiful Russian twin models Tatiana and Elena who were a breath of fresh air and filled with a really postive fun and upbeat energy. We first stopped at Viking Bay which had caves where people actually lived in. Then next was Monkey Bay which of course had lots of monkeys on it who are greedy for food. One monkey saw me throwing nuts from the boat and ran through the water onto the boat and literally sat on my lap scoffing down the nuts.  Then we were off to Maya Bay which is where the movie The Beach was filmed. Luckily there were not many people on the beach so it was peaceful and really beautiful, just like the movie. So this beach wasn't too good to be true after all. The picture on the blog speaks for itself and probably does not even capture the true beauty. After we went snorkling at Loh Samah Bay and Pi-ley Bay which was just as beautiful blue crystal clear waters surrounded by mountains.

Fire shows on Koh Phi Phi

Me, Matt, Tatiana, Elena

I enjoyed the day so much that I went again the next day and met up with the twins Elena and Tatiana on the same boat. They were good fun to be around as they were friendly and very down to earth. That evening we met them at Stone Bar for drinks and fire show. After three days on the island, I was ready to get out of this busy tourist island. I said my goodbyes to Matt and the girls and I booked my travel to go Koh Tao which is known for its nice beaches and diving. I went to research accomodation online and for some reason couldn't find anything good. Something last minute told me to change my plans and go to Koh Phangan and stay at The Sanctuary which was recommended to me by my friend Darah. Best decision I made on the trip so far! You'll see why....

Koh Phangan Island

Sunset on Haad Rin Bay - Koh Phangan

After a 2 hour ferry to Crabi, 3 hour bus ride to Sura Thani, 6 hour overnight ferry to Koh Phangan, half hour motorcycle ride across the island over hills at sunset, an argument with a tman and a ten minute long tail boat ride from Had Rin bay, I was finally seeing the light - paradise! I started to finally relax as we drove around the headland and pulled into 'The Sanctuary' what I soon found to be Heaven on Earth. Wooden huts up in the lush green mountain, limestone rocks all around the bay, crystal clear blue green calm water, dogs play fighting on the beach, hammocks on the porch and just one or two people tanning on the a lounge chairs. This is exactly what I was looking for. The Sanctuary is a retreat - a place for yoga, meditation, massage, healthy food, fasting, detoxing and cleansing. If you want to be alone, quiet and in peace with nature and yourself, this is the place to go! I didn't want to get a dorm bed to save money as I knew the next 2 months I would be sharing a room with Karen so I decided to treat myself to my own bungalow which was a quiet footpath up through the jungle. I took a cold shower in the outdoors designed in a way so no one could see me and then I took a nap with a pregnant cat sleeping next to me on my bed. I spent more time with this cat than any human being on the island. When I awoke, I had a nice healthy meal and a good foot massage. I felt lazy and almost skipped my meditation class at 6pm but 5 minutes before the class started, I somehow managed to force myself to go and was so glad I did because little did I know what it had in store for me.

The Sanctuary

A hollistic healer ran the class with only 5 of us. We sat in the Buddha temple surrounded by mesh and the jungle. All I could hear were the sounds of the frogs, geckos and insects in the background. Since the day was so beautiful, tthe teacher decided to go for a more free flowing heart to heart meditation type class. We closed our eyes and she began talking softly and slowly, making us aware of our body and the surroundings. She then started to focus on the heart, how it's been there from the day we were born, it has felt every feeling of happiness, sadness, love and pain in our lives. It beats for us, it loves us and knows what's best for us. You can ask the heart any question and it will give you the answer.

Follow your heart

I don't know what happened but within ten minutes of this class, I felt a tear fall down my right eye and then suddenly streams of uncontrollable soft tears were pouring down my face and I found myself crying  silently because I knew I had found my answer. My decision to take the job in Singapore  was a battle of my head vs my heart and this class was a sign that I should follow my heart. I started to think about what was more important in my life at that moment and now. Was it money, job and travel or was it family, friends, and settling down home? Once I asked myself this, the decision was already made. I felt such an overwhelming relief of happiness and love in my heart from knowing I had my answer. I opened my eyes after an hour, smiled to myself and thanked God for this sign. I could now really relax and enjoy the time with myself here. That was easy - first night at The Sanctuary and I found what I was looking for. I waited a few days to see if my mind changed, and it didn't so I sent the email to turn the job down. I felt a little bit of sadness, but I knew in my heart that I made the right choice. I don't believe there is any such thing as a wrong choice actually. Everything I have chosen to do in my life has all been a part of God's plan for me, a plan I always trust in. I know that moving back home will come with its challenges and it will not be easy but it's where I know my heart is and where I will be happiest. Once I am prepared to face the challenges and give it my best, it will be okay and everything will work out as it should. No regrets!

My bunglow

The Sanctuary really gave me ALOT of time to myself, maybe a little too much than what I expected as there were times I felt quite very alone, but in a good way. Something I probably needed to experience for a change. I ate every meal by myself, tanned on the beach, went swimming, slept alot, read my book, listened to music and went for walks alone.  It felt strange being with my own company for almost 4 days straight but it was nice. I had never felt so far away from everyone that I knew and for 2 days I had no phone reception so I had no communication with anyone else. I met a few nice people there from Norway and Germany, but no one I talked to for very long. I probably spoke to the cat more than anyone else! I was quite happy to take time out from always meeting people on this journey as I needed this. I took a boat ride, taxi, ferry, bus ride and taxi to Bangkok and after this time alone, I was really excited to re unite with Karen again after 2 weeks. We had lots of stories to catch up on!

Bangkok

Happy to be back travelling with Karen

Grand Palace - Bangkok

I shared a taxi with a girl from Norway to the famous Khao San road which is the crazy hectic place where all the tourists in Bangkok stay. There are stalls, hasslers, scammers, lady boys, alcohol, and lots of drunk immature westerners everywhere. I found it entertaining for the first day or two but then after that could not bare to be on it one more day! When I arrived at 6am, walking down Khao San road, I could see the night had now ended with people cleaning the streets from the parties the night before. I saw lots of drunk young men being

Buying food on Khoa San Road

Best Thai Food ever!

teased by prostitutes and Lady Boys. These lady boys look like good looking women - I can see why so many drunk men make the mistake of going home with one. I've heard so many horror stories about what happens to men who get completely drunk here and recall very little of their nights activities. No comment. I was still looking for our hotel that Karen booked and guess who I bumped into stumbling down the road drunk at 6am? - good ole Matt who I met in Koh Phi Phi. I walked up to him laughing at his drunken state and did not want to know what he was doing roaming these streets at this time. I met Karen and we met up with Matt, Vittorio (Matts friend) and Ilan who we met in India. All five of us spent the next few days in Bangkok together, a fun but mature group to lime with.

Khoa San Road

The crew liming with Thai locals in Bangkok

Thai boxing training 

The next few days in Bangkok were pretty repetitive - eating, shopping, liming, drinking, massages and failed attempts at bargaining. Shopping here was nothing like India where they love to bargain. Here they get insulted and very rarely lowered prices by much. Don't think there is much else to do where we stayed. Sightseeing in Bangkok seemed very expensive for a backpacker so we just walked around instead. There is lots to see from just browsing, we saw some cool thai boxing training going on which seemed intense. We also went to Pad Pong one night and watched the famous ping pong shows - which was quite disturbing. Women shooting ping pong balls out their privates so that customers can hit them with ping pong rackets. Really? That just felt really wrong. Women shooting darts out to pop balloons, women writing, outing candles, etc all with their privates.  Impressive skill but this should not be a profession for public display. Could never understand why any woman would choose a career like this, but I guess it pays the bills for them. At least they looked like they enjoyed it. I heard many of the shows, the women are sad and don't want to be there. They were very hassling and annoying as well, the entire time in there women were constantly trying to massage us and nag us for tips.  We didn't last longer than an hour before we got out of that 'shithole'. I will be honest, this was just something to tick a box, not something I actually wanted to do. Sometimes you just feel the need to experience something very different and this was one of them. As annoying as we found Khoa San Road, we found it hard to leave it!! For some reason, we just ended right back there, probably because it's where all the action is! Matt & Vittorio showed us a street stall where all the locals ate and it was the most amazing thai food. We watched her cook it from scratch, so fast, easy and cheap.

Getting a foot massage in Bangkok

Getting tattoo

I ended up getting a tatoo in Bangkok (so cliche yes I know) but always wanted something to symolise balance and tattoos here were cheap. Balance is something my father has always instilled in me since I was very young growing up and he has always helped me set goals in the different areas of my life. For a long time I struggled to find an abstract unique symbol that reflected this, so I ended up just getting the word 'balance' on my wrist. Balance is also something that a traveller struggles with as well because you are constantly off balance along the journey, experiencing new cultures and people in foreign lands. The tattoo will be a reminder as well of this trip which has and continues to be a big learning experience.

Chaing Mai

Elephant Nature Park

Karen and I were loving the thai massages so much, we decided we wanted to do a course to learn the technique. So we took a 13 hour overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai where there is a school that was recommended to us. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, north of Bangkok and also on our way to our next country Laos.The train ride was nice and comfortable, anything after India was luxury for us. Had a nice sleep until 8am we were awoken abruptly by loud annoying Thai people working on the train. They walked down the aisles shouting 'Wake up, Breakfast!!!' over and over, pulling people's curtains aside and literally tapping us to wake us up - VERY annoying. It's one thing to shout and wake someone up, but another to actually touch and tap someone, especially when it's done by someone NOT your mother and done to a non morning person like me! Karen was laughing at watching my reaction every time they came around as I looked as if I wanted to hit one of them. The train was still about five hours away from its destination so I didn't see what the rush was to disturb people in their precious sleep. Sleep is very sacred to me, my closest friends know that from how lovely I cope without it ;)

There was an alcohol ban in Chaing Mai for 2 days because of elections so alcohol wasn't being sold. We did find some guest houses that sold it secretly in coffee mugs. Not a big deal for me as I wasn't drinking. I haven't really drank on this trip and enjoyed the break. The next day I went to The Elephant Nature Park for abused, injured, handicapped and sick Asian elephants. You can go here for a day trip, stay overnight or volunteer for a week. They show you documentaries on elephants and how they are tortured and beaten into submission by humans, a video that had people in tears and walking out the room because it was so unbearable to watch. I got to feed these majestic creatures, bathe with them in the river and interact with them all day.
It was so interesting to hear the life story of each elephant and what each had been through. You could also see the different personalities of the elephants. I felt afraid at first being so close to them knowing they could crush me any minute, but as the day went on I became more confident and closer to them. The woman Lek who founded this reserve is an incredible woman who has devoted her life to saving elephants and building awareness of their endangerment. What an admirable life she has and I felt truly grateful to be part of this good cause for animals. Thank you Darah for recommending this place, it was a beautiful experience. Last night a group mof us went to the night market which was really nice - lots of cool things selling.

Since Karen and I enjoyed the Thai Massages so much, we decided to stay longer in Thailand and do a thai massage course for a week in Chiang Mai. Ilan who we met in India also did it with us. We stayed in the dorms on the school campus away from the tourist area so it felt like we were living there and we got the real Thai experience. It was also very cheap and we had easy access to fresh fruit juices and nice cheap local food which is all cooked in front of you. All of our interaction for the week was with locals - at the school, in the shops, at the markets. You could see how much nicer the people are outside tourist areas. The course was 9am-5pm so we were busy everyday but we enjoyed learning this new skill, something I hope would come in handy in the future. I was amazed at how much effort and energy thai massage takes as you use body weight for 2 hours. It takes alot of concentration to balance the right amount of weight, to keep the flow going and to memorise the over 100 steps for a full massage. We were literally sweating all day! But of course, you give them AND you also receive them. I couldn't believe how sore I was everyday from giving them. This was my exercise for the week.

White Temple

Chiang Kong temple

Cute dogs in Thailand everywhere

I found the cutest little puppies at this vet nearby so everyday after school I went to the vet to play with them. People left their dogs there while they went to school. For some reason, everyone in Chiang Mai seemed to have top breed CUTE dogs, so I found myself going puppy crazy.  At the end of the week, we had a test on our massage and received a certificate.

As soon as our course was over, we left Chiang Mai and headed to Laos. We stopped off at the White Temple which was very different looking from all the colourful or rustic temples we have seen.

We spent one night in Chiang Kong where there was another beautiful temple there, but this was my favourite so far. Golden buddhas, bright and colourful designs all over. Best part was that there was no one around. Just us and the temple so we stayed for an hour just taking pics and admiring the intricate detail that went into this place of worship. I am Catholic, but since being in Asia I have developed a true appreciation for the Buddhism faith and its principles. However, as much as I respect Buddhism, I know nothing could make me stop believing in my own faith.

I had 3 really nice weeks in Thailand - not enough to see everything but I was glad I got to do a bit of everything. I will definitely come back here one day. Crossing the border to Laid Back Laos...

Singapore

From Delhi, India to Singapore - not sure if I can think of a more drastic difference in environment than these two. From dirt to absolute cleanliness like you have never seen before. If I could describe Singapore in one word it would be 'Immaculate'. Everything there is clean, orderly and extremely efficient! The public transport runs perfectly - no food or drink allowed on it or you get fined SGD $500. The unemployment rate is ridiculously low, education is widely available to everyone and most of the people speak English quite well. Drugs is also punishable by death and as a result the crime rate is very low. The country is extremely developed and advanced, more than any country I've ever seen. It was such a shock to be there after India. 

When I got off the plane, the airport blew me away in terms of how spacious, clean and modern it was. There were computers everywhere with free Internet, free water and everything just seemed so easy and convenient! And I knew it was not because I just came from India. Taking the shuttle from the airport to my hostel I gazed out the window at the view of the tall sky scrapers, the water, the Singapore Flyer and thought wow what an incredible city! It felt a bit unreal, as if I was in a dream. I did find it a bit fake however, almost too perfect and somehow lacked character. There were malls on every corner and life here seemed to revolve around money, work and shopping!

Hostel - River City Inn

Clarke Quay

I arrived in a 26 bedroom dorm hostel in the city center called River City Inn where I stayed for 5 nights. It was near to where my American friend Brendan lived and worked so made it easy to meet up with him and I was also close to the tourist activities. Traveling alone doesn't feel as uncomfortable when you stay in hostels as it's easier to meet people and at this hostel I met many people from Scotand, Canada, Japan and England. I felt a bit old though as most people who travel are early 20s and still in school. I met Brendan that evening for dinner and he treated me to a nice steak meal. It was the second best steak I ever tasted, and this was after not eating meat for 6 weeks! It felt a bit heavy to digest but it was delicious. My body was screaming for protein after India.

Later on, he showed me around Clarke Quay which is a big tourist area on the water with lots of lights, action, bars and good nightlife. Singapore has many fun things to do like theme park Universal Studios and night safari etc. I didn't want to waste money on these things as everything seemed expensive after India so I stuck to simple activities that didn't cost too much. 

Married couple Gardens

The next morning I took the bus to the Botanical Gardens which was free and beautiful. You would never think you were in a big city being there - lots of lakes, green everywhere, trees, orchid garden and waterfalls. Many families and couples came here for picnics. There was one couple newly married having their photo shoot done as well. I have an obsession with taking photos of flowers so I was in heaven there snapping away at the beautiful orchids which is Singapore's national flower.

Orchid - national flower

On my way back, I missed my bus stop and got lost, started walking and ended up in China Town so I had a meal there. Traveling alone has forced me to slowly become comfortable with eating alone and doing things independently which I think is a good experience for anyone. I'm not sure I can do the movie theater alone yet but I'll get there one day.

Brendan's coworkers

The next day Brendan took me to his office and I met coworkers who are linked to DTCC, the company I worked for the last 6 years. We had lunch and I kept telling him how lovely Singapore was. Later that day he randomly asked me if I wanted a job in Singapore for an Client Onboarding position which he was recruiting for. A position I had 5 years experience with and connections to the joint venture company in the US. It was also paying better than my previous job.

Brendan & I on top Sky Bar

He took me that night to the top of Sky Bar, the tallest roof bar in the world and pointed out all the places in Singapore while offering me the package. I was jumping up and down in excitement to be given such an amazing opportunity - to live and work in Singapore one of the most developed countries in the world where finance is booming. It seemed too good to be true but I didn't jump to a decision right away. I needed to do my research and so he gave me a week and a half to decide. This opportunity threw my traveling really off balance as I was constantly battling in my head with the pros and cons. My heart and my head were not in sync. My head told me 'Take the job, it's an opportunity of a lifetime for work, travel, saving money, meeting new people and learning a new culture'. My heart on the other hand was telling me 'Melanie, you have wanted to move home for years - you will be happier there around friends and family and your love. Follow your heart, it knows what's best for you'.

Infinity Pool - Marina Bay Hotel

I knew this was going to be extremely difficult choice especially because I have been living away so long 12 years and the last year and half I have been in a long distance relationship with someone in Trinidad. I tried to continue with my travels and prayed to God everyday that he would give me a sign on what he wanted me to do. This was the last thing I expected to happen and I knew my life could go in such different directions through this one decision. Whatever choice I made, I knew I couldn't look back and regret. Only look forward! Embrace the challenge of the choice made and make the most of it.

Merlion - Singapore Trademark

Laksa - Malay & Singapore dish

That night on my way back to the hostel I helped a Japanese girl carry her suitcase up three flights of stairs to the dorms. We ended up talking and hung out together for the rest of my time in Singapore. I couldn't pronounce her name so I called her T. She was very gentle and sweet. I spent days with her and never felt the need to talk all the time. There was something about her where we hung out in silence and it wasn't ever awkward. She had just got a job in Singapore and moved from Japan. If I take the job, we agreed to get a place to live together. We both walked around the city and Boat Quay having meals together. I tried the Singapore dish Laksa which is a spicy noodle soup. We also went on top of Marina Bay Sands Hotel where there is an infinity pool high up overlooking the entire center city of Singapore. It was beautiful! We also visited the Merlion which is the symbol of Singapore. 

Add Boat Quay with T

View from Marina Bay Hotel

At this point I had ten days left till I meet Karen in Bangkok on June 18th. I needed to decide what I would do with my time. It was a liberating feeling deciding where I would visit next as I didn't have to factor in anyone else's opinions. I thought of Bali and Malaysia but in the end I chose Thailand islands as it was closer and cheaper. I really wanted to be on a beach so I could relax and think about my decision.
I booked my flight to Phucket, Thailand where I planned to get a ferry to Koh Phi Phi island. This was going to be my first time being completely on my own and not knowing anyone at all. It was scary but exciting as well. I had five things to accomplish there: meet new people, relax, go to Maya beach, have fun and decide on the job!