Thailand

Is there order in the chaos? Or do we merely see patterns? This was the question I asked myself while trying to navigate a busy intersection. After three days of observing Thailand’s grand metropolis. On the surface it seems very caught up with the appearance of order. Look a little closer though and you what you have is far more interesting. Bangkok is warm yogurt.

Thailand is at the forefront of the emerging Asia market. You could be forgiven for thinking you were in Singapore while inside one of Bangkok’s many vast up market shopping malls. It feels strange that you can buy a meal for less than $1, in the same mall that is selling Lamborghinis. When you consider the average monthly wage is around $200 and unemployment is less than 7%. It makes you wonder who has the money to buy Prada and Ducati’s in the mall?

The Thais are well versed in getting money from tourists. It is socially acceptable and even encouraged to bump up the price for a ‘farang’. So expect to pay way above the price for things like Taxis, purchases in local stores and market stalls. Even with this in mind you can survive a day, fully fed and entertained in Bangkok for as little as $15.

Public transport is clean and cheap. You can traverse the city for the entire day and still spent less than $5. I have however heard some stories that the Sky train can be dangerous at night but I did not personally see any evidence to support this. A single journey on the MRT or the BTS will set you back around 60 cents. One thing to note is that eating and drinking is entirely prohibited. I really hope someone in National Rail is reading this and taking notes.

I also spent some time in Northern Thailand. I stayed at a farm retreat about 2 hours away from Chiang Mai. There I volunteered on the farm. I practiced meditation, yoga, and had some time to practice my own martial arts training. Accommodation, three meals a day, and tuition with meditation cost me $4 a day. Chiang Mai’s main pull is not the town itself but the myriad of activities available in the local area. Elephant sanctuaries, snake farms, tiger parks are all within in hours drive from central Chiang Mai. You can also partake in ATV driving, Bungee jumping, Zip lining, and shooting ranges are also offered. If that doesn’t tire you out, you should go hiking. There are many trekking routes available. Be sure to shop around.

Thailand boasts itself as the “land of smiles”. My experience doesn’t contest this. Though sometimes the language barrier posed a few challenges. Nothing that your smile couldn’t fix. The Thais are very social. Just don’t be fooled by the droves that have their head constantly buried in their smartphones. I also found their attitude towards publicly and shamelessly taking selfies as a great source of entertainment.

Regardless of the chaos. I can tell you one thing. You will love Thailand.  

Thailand

Myanmar

Myanmar is a country scattered with extravagant gold drenched pagodas. Sprawling rice paddies and towering mountains: where old Asia and the modern world have collided head on, at speed, without braking. But what hits you the most is the kindness of its people. There is a peaceful jolliness that resonates from its often very poor populace. They will often meet you with beaming smiles as you look on and cheerful singing when you are not.

My friend Julie and I spent our first couple of days in Yangon; A bustling city, streets dotted with old colonial buildings. Juxtaposed to the many much older golden monuments that filled the cityscape. Like most of Asia, the streets are lined with vendors selling everything from street food, clothes, to the latest smart phones. However unlike most other Asian cities, Yangon is devoid of motorbikes and mopeds. Somehow this did not make crossing the road any easier. Road rules are lax at best. It is a thriving eco system of its own. It is however a great case in favor of anarchy.

Our next stop was Mandalay - A vast city with an almost village like feel. Dirt roads, mismatched buildings - old and new, without uniform, side by side. A particular highlight was a chance encounter with a group of young monks. They provided us with a guided tour of some of Mandalay’s more famous pagodas. We shared an afternoon full of conversation with our newfound friends. We sat at the top of Mandalay hill and discussed our careers, our home countries, and our philosophies. After sunset they invited us back to their University where we saw their dorm rooms, their daily regime, and their love for pop music. They bought us cake and fetched us water while we answered many questions about our culture and asked more about theirs. ‘How do you feel?’ A question they asked on many occasions throughout the day. A question I feel, all too often overlooked in the west.

We left for Bagan, an area with more than 3000 temples and a distinct touristy feel. However this is far outweighed by its awe-inspiring views and intricate temples. Many hidden passages are to be found, if only you have the will and the flashlight to venture into the unknown.

Fashion in Myanmar is certainly worth a mention. Nearly all adults maintain a traditional dress. For the men this usually consists of a smart shirt with a skirt called a longyi The women either wear a similar skirt (folded once across the body.) or a dress. Some of the younger generation choose a much more western style with a Japanese influence. Jeans and Tshirts for the boys. Skirts and tops for the girls.

Eating in Myanmar is cheap and easy. Simple dishes are served with boiled rice encircled with small dishes of curry, sauces, and salads. All for less than $3. Vegetarians out there will need to consider and question a little more carefully. This is because often food comes with meat by default or is cooked with meat stock. Just ask, they are very accommodating and often have veggie options.

Transport is cheap. Prices for Taxis should be agreed ahead of time. I found that after some brief haggling fares settled about a third off of the original quote. Check with fellow travellers and your hostel before you venture off to your next stop. Buses are the long distance choice for most. Prices are currently around the $20 mark between Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan. An alternative is to take the train. Mixed reviews weighed my decision towards the bus service. This isn’t to say that this isn’t a preference for some backpackers.

Myanmar is a place of staggering beauty. As yet un-spoilt by the tourism machine that now plagues it’s easterly neighbour Thailand. You won’t come back to Myanmar for its dazzling Pagodas or its bustling night markets. No, you will come back to once again experience its cheerful, peaceful, and playful locals. I think Rudyard Kipling was quite right when he said ‘It is quite unlike any place you know about.’

Adventure Time

It was once said “a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step”. I've had this quote on my wall for the last 4 months. But as I sit in the airport about to start my own adventure this makes more sense to me than ever before.  Making the decision to leave was not the hardest part: but the process of leaving the people I care about the most. I dislike goodbyes. I wonder if I'll get used to them? 

I’ve been energised by the people who have been inspired, by even the idea of what I am about to do. This has even extended to brief encounters with everyone from taxi drivers to cashiers. There seems to have been an overarching theme. “I wish I’d done that” or “I wish I was brave enough to do that”. Fear it seems controls more people than I ever believed. Perhaps my actions will inspire at least one of these people to take the leap. Because if anything I’ve already proved that it’s possible. 

/End preachy, whiney post.

Next stop Myanmar, let the adventure begin!

To be continued....

New Year Travel Taster

I thought I'd see the New Year in from the south of France. I was not disappointed!

Monastery - Nice 

Marina - Antibes

The more expensive marina - Monaco

Choose Your Poison

There are two things that you shouldn’t linger on when planning a trip. First don’t spend too much time on the government travel advice website. It reads like the Daily Mail and will ensure that you only ever travel to the Spain to a five star hotel; where they only speak english and only serve cod and chips. The second is travel health advice. Honestly. This stuff makes for a depressing read. After I was done, I thought I was going to catch Ebola just from visiting Africa on Google maps.

Fortunately if you are a reasonable human being and understand that these are just risks. You should just mitigate the risks as much as possible by getting vaccines and taking the right precautions. I have an agreement with my travel nurse.  My job was to turn up on time. Her job was to stick me with as many thing as it took to ensure that I was suitably immune enough that I would be able to confidently lick any puddle in rural Asia and survive long enough to make it back to civilisation.

If you need travel advice stick to travellers forums. They’ll give you a much more rounded view on what to expect once you get there. Don’t bother reading the Daily Mail.GOV.

More to follow….

Choosing A Path.

"This wasn't something you decided in the last month or last year Tom. No, you made your decision long ago; when you first wonder what it would be like to a look upon an ancient ruin or gaze awe-struck at the sunrise over a mountain." I had a rather love hate relationship with the way Nadia always managed to put so elegantly, things that I failed to put into words. Despite my best impression of someone who wasn’t at all impressed with her gorgeous collage of adjectives. I smiled and thanked her.  She always knew what to say. Dammit.

There are currently two months to my predicted launch into the unknown. A trip starting in Asia I have been “planning” for the last three months. As procrastinators go I thought I was faring pretty well.  I’d so far managed to procure all manner of gadgets, but I had yet to work out the most important part. Where do I start? The problem, I decided was that I had the decision making skills of a puppy being released into a new home. In my thinly veiled defence I had come up with an ever-growing list of destinations that resembled no logical order. Perhaps I should just resign myself to the age-old technique of spinning a globe and stopping it with a single digit to determine a start point. Or better yet, throw a dart at a printed map. These are of course both terrible ideas. I’d decided long ago that I wouldn’t leave any big life choice to fate. I’m of the opinion that indecision left long enough is in the end a decision in itself. So it’s time to make a choice.