I need to write. It has been too long. I have been here in HK for who knows how long now, but honestly enjoying it here. But at the same time trying my best not to let homesickness overcome me. I miss my friends. And I miss my family. But at the same time I am blessed to have this opportunity to spend valuable time with my amazing grandparents. Nevertheless, I cannot overemphasize how much I am looking forward to my mom coming here in......17 days. And to finally return home... and to finally be reunited with my friends back in SD is a moment that I think about every day. I have been thinking a lot about a certain person as well, and I start to wonder if distance is starting to take its toll on them. It's a challenge, and I can't help but question whether or not patience will hold out through til the end. I really hope it does.
Being here in HK, living a comfortable, quiet life with my grandparents gives me a lot of time to think. About what? School.. friends.. exchange... what's important to me... all of the above. I've never been so contemplative. So analytical. So thoughtful. I've also been reading. A lot. I'm on my fifth novel, and I must say that reading is what I look forward to doing every spare moment that I have.
But I saw a movie tonight. I went by myself. It is honestly one of my favorite things to do. It was a movie that touched me, and really made me think about life. It was passionate, heartfelt, relatable, and a movie that I intend to buy and watch many times over. I know whenever I see a movie that I really like, I say it's my favorite movie. But this is truly my all-time favorite movie. It's something you just have to experience for yourself. It's about love..and loss..and the struggles that we face through it all.
Of the many significant lines, my favorite: "One part of me says I'm not ready for this. The other part says, hold on to it forever."
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Reflections
My exchange program in Singapore has officially come to its end. Now that it is over, I have been reflecting a lot on the entire experience. Isn't it funny how it often takes the cessation of something to make us understand and appreciate its worth?
I can honestly say that the experience has changed my life. The places I have been to have opened my eyes to the indescribable beauty of the world, augmenting my curiosity and thirst to discover even more. I never knew that such places existed in the world. It only makes me wonder what other sights the world has to offer.
The people I met there, by chance, enriched the experience. Although the places were incredible, it was the people that made the journey to the locations worthwhile and truly memorable.
I came there, not knowing a single person. It was a huge leap of faith on my part, venturing to Asia on my own, but I was ready to take the plunge. I remember feeling scared. I remember the night before I came here, I turned to my mom and asked "Mom, what if I don't make any friends? What if I am lonely?" I now find myself surrounded by friends that I feel like I have known forever. I not only met some of the sweetest, most adventurous, kindest people on exchange, I have formed lasting relationships with them that I know will endure. I exceeded my own expectations of the kind of friendships I have made, and for that I feel exceptionally lucky.
But perhaps the most important thing I have learned on the program is the concept, and precious nature, of time. I have always been a person who is looking ahead in time - my life was always dominated by the future. Before one experience was over, I was already thinking about the next one, never truly living in the moment. I came there with the goal of learning how to truly just enjoy the moment I was in. Swimming in the middle of the South China Sea in the Philippines... climbing to the top of ancient Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia... going cliff jumping with my friends in Thailand... I have never felt true happiness like I did in those moments, where all problems, difficulties, worries, and skepticism about anything diminished, and I was left there, truly happy and grateful. Just me and the moment.
The time that I had in Singapore seemed too short, but i realize that because it was so short- really a mere a chapter in my life- it made it an even sweeter experience. Isn't it crazy how sometimes, it only takes one single person, out of the numerous that you may know, to make a lasting impact on your life? In a way, this experience was like that one person.
I'm looking forward to the ways in which I will apply what I have learned in Singapore to the situations, difficulties, and opportunities that I will encounter in the future. In the words of Sam, I've learned that life is all about perspective: you could be dealt the best hand or the worst hand - but I truly believe that it's the angle in which you look at it that makes all the difference.
I can honestly say that the experience has changed my life. The places I have been to have opened my eyes to the indescribable beauty of the world, augmenting my curiosity and thirst to discover even more. I never knew that such places existed in the world. It only makes me wonder what other sights the world has to offer.
The people I met there, by chance, enriched the experience. Although the places were incredible, it was the people that made the journey to the locations worthwhile and truly memorable.
I came there, not knowing a single person. It was a huge leap of faith on my part, venturing to Asia on my own, but I was ready to take the plunge. I remember feeling scared. I remember the night before I came here, I turned to my mom and asked "Mom, what if I don't make any friends? What if I am lonely?" I now find myself surrounded by friends that I feel like I have known forever. I not only met some of the sweetest, most adventurous, kindest people on exchange, I have formed lasting relationships with them that I know will endure. I exceeded my own expectations of the kind of friendships I have made, and for that I feel exceptionally lucky.
But perhaps the most important thing I have learned on the program is the concept, and precious nature, of time. I have always been a person who is looking ahead in time - my life was always dominated by the future. Before one experience was over, I was already thinking about the next one, never truly living in the moment. I came there with the goal of learning how to truly just enjoy the moment I was in. Swimming in the middle of the South China Sea in the Philippines... climbing to the top of ancient Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia... going cliff jumping with my friends in Thailand... I have never felt true happiness like I did in those moments, where all problems, difficulties, worries, and skepticism about anything diminished, and I was left there, truly happy and grateful. Just me and the moment.
The time that I had in Singapore seemed too short, but i realize that because it was so short- really a mere a chapter in my life- it made it an even sweeter experience. Isn't it crazy how sometimes, it only takes one single person, out of the numerous that you may know, to make a lasting impact on your life? In a way, this experience was like that one person.
I'm looking forward to the ways in which I will apply what I have learned in Singapore to the situations, difficulties, and opportunities that I will encounter in the future. In the words of Sam, I've learned that life is all about perspective: you could be dealt the best hand or the worst hand - but I truly believe that it's the angle in which you look at it that makes all the difference.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
2 DAYS LEFT
in the Garden City (aka Singapore).... aka the land of "ironies" (ie "no forced labor" yet requiring all men to attend National Service for 2 years)... the place that taught me so much about myself... and other people... the place that did wonders for my independence and pushed me so far outside my comfort zone.
There are only 2 days left here in the place that changed my life.. for the better. Please forgive me for my extreme nostalgia that I am feeling right now. I am so sad that this experience is coming to an end, yet so happy that it happened. In a way, it is good that it is ending, because 1 )all good things must come to an end eventually, right? and 2) it has made you truly appreciate the time you have left with people you care about. I look back on it all, and in the middle of the program it felt like such a long process, or time frame. And now that tomorrow is MAY SEVENTH (?!?!?!?!) it all seems so short.
I've never been so grateful for something in my entire life.. now I must find some motivation to study for the Human Motivation final that I have tomorrow (yet another irony). In less than 24 hours, my academic experience in Singapore will be complete. EEEEKK!!
PS. I will miss many many many things about Singapore, especially these girls:
{Forever Young}
However, I will NOT miss the insane amount of bug bites that I have right now. :(
There are only 2 days left here in the place that changed my life.. for the better. Please forgive me for my extreme nostalgia that I am feeling right now. I am so sad that this experience is coming to an end, yet so happy that it happened. In a way, it is good that it is ending, because 1 )all good things must come to an end eventually, right? and 2) it has made you truly appreciate the time you have left with people you care about. I look back on it all, and in the middle of the program it felt like such a long process, or time frame. And now that tomorrow is MAY SEVENTH (?!?!?!?!) it all seems so short.
I've never been so grateful for something in my entire life.. now I must find some motivation to study for the Human Motivation final that I have tomorrow (yet another irony). In less than 24 hours, my academic experience in Singapore will be complete. EEEEKK!!
PS. I will miss many many many things about Singapore, especially these girls:
{Forever Young}
However, I will NOT miss the insane amount of bug bites that I have right now. :(
Monday, April 26, 2010
Putting the Study in Study Abroad
is probably most difficult thing I have ever had to do in my life. I hate final exams. Especially in foreign countries.
In remembrance of those good ol' days when I worked at Sport Chalet for that one summer, I propose making a license plate that says "I'd Rather Be...TRAVELING" because right now the last thing I feel like doing is studying for these exams. I would even rather be taking a "shower" in the Philippines with cold, salty sea water in a hostel bathroom infested with bugs, cockroaches, hair, dirt, and years worth of grime again than study. Okay, that was a lie. But seriously.. I wish I was venturing off to some other random southeast asian country, as I am so accustomed to doing.
But no! I need to control my thoughts and not let them wander off to far distant beautiful places that the world is waiting for me to discover. I must stay positive in regards to these exams. And get focused. And study. Not only do I need to take these tests, I need to let people know that it isn't all just fun and games over here in Singapore when you go on exchange. Okay that was a lie too.
PS LAST MONDAY EVER HERE IN SINGAPORE.
I miss my exchange friends already... :(
In remembrance of those good ol' days when I worked at Sport Chalet for that one summer, I propose making a license plate that says "I'd Rather Be...TRAVELING" because right now the last thing I feel like doing is studying for these exams. I would even rather be taking a "shower" in the Philippines with cold, salty sea water in a hostel bathroom infested with bugs, cockroaches, hair, dirt, and years worth of grime again than study. Okay, that was a lie. But seriously.. I wish I was venturing off to some other random southeast asian country, as I am so accustomed to doing.
But no! I need to control my thoughts and not let them wander off to far distant beautiful places that the world is waiting for me to discover. I must stay positive in regards to these exams. And get focused. And study. Not only do I need to take these tests, I need to let people know that it isn't all just fun and games over here in Singapore when you go on exchange. Okay that was a lie too.
PS LAST MONDAY EVER HERE IN SINGAPORE.
I miss my exchange friends already... :(
Friday, April 16, 2010
Skepticism
"The State Department warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to the southern Philippine islands and urges extreme caution if traveling there. Sporadic violence throughout the Philippines is also possible before and after the May 10 national and local elections and the June 30 inaugurations.
...Kidnap-for-ransom gangs are active throughout the Philippines and have targeted foreigners.."
We have all decided that we need a game plan: we need to lie about where we are from when people ask. And really look mean and just not really talk to people. We considered talking in pig latin and saying we were from some unknown country. My friends are especially worried about me because I look white, while they are all asian. But we are all pretty touristy looking... Plus we are traveling with some tall white belgian guys so that is a dead give away... not good. We are all definitely feeling nervous... but trying to stay positive.
This is our last big trip together, all of us. The last hurrah. Exchange is coming to an end. And while it is extremely bittersweet, I am excited to move on to the next part of this crazy Asian Year and travel around with mom. And then go home. !!! Which will be craziness. Weirdness. Madness...
...Kidnap-for-ransom gangs are active throughout the Philippines and have targeted foreigners.."
We have all decided that we need a game plan: we need to lie about where we are from when people ask. And really look mean and just not really talk to people. We considered talking in pig latin and saying we were from some unknown country. My friends are especially worried about me because I look white, while they are all asian. But we are all pretty touristy looking... Plus we are traveling with some tall white belgian guys so that is a dead give away... not good. We are all definitely feeling nervous... but trying to stay positive.
This is our last big trip together, all of us. The last hurrah. Exchange is coming to an end. And while it is extremely bittersweet, I am excited to move on to the next part of this crazy Asian Year and travel around with mom. And then go home. !!! Which will be craziness. Weirdness. Madness...
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Life in 5 Short Chapters
Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost… I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit … but, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5
I walk down another street.
....One of my most favorite poems of all times.
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost… I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit … but, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5
I walk down another street.
....One of my most favorite poems of all times.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
This WOULD Happen...in CHIANG MAI...
I have officially been to three of the main cities of Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket (Koh Phi Phi) & Chiang Mai, and I must say how weird it is to be able to sit here and think of the differences and similarities of each distinct region of this beautiful country. I just got back from the craziest, longest, adventurous, and ever-eventful (FUNNY and FUN) trip with my 2 favorite girls: Sam and Yun. This Chiang Mai trip, aka The Ultimate Test of Optimism (we passed with flying colors) and The Trials and Tribulatons of What Is Called Chiang Mai. If getting there and getting back wasn't a journey enough, the actual trip itself, and the crazy things we did, were just as eventful. And it ALL started with the Yun-Taxi Cab Driver encounter......
GETTING THERE:
1. Last minute, due to (freakin) Air Asia's decision to change their flight time to an earlier one so that we couldn't make it from our Jetstar transfer flight in KL, we were forced to take a 5 hour overnight bus ride from Singapore to KL. We cabbed over on Friday night, and we were all already on edge due to frustrations with incompetent budget asian airlines, especially Yun. When the cab driver dropped us off at the bus station downtown, and REFUSED to give us change for a 50, Yun LOST IT. I have never in my life seen someone yell and go off on a cab driver like that. And he was definitely a creeper, just as a sidenote, with long nails and pedaphile glasses. Anyways, Yun refused to give him exact change, and he refused to give us change, so it was settled when he drove us to a 7-11 to get change, Yun hugged me breaking down crying, Sam told her to pull herself together and that "Big girls don't cry" (to which Yun replied "I'm not a big girl though!!!") and the driver eventually gave us our change. He actually threatened to call the police on us. Which would have been absolutely hilarious. I think he was just as scared as I was. Terrified, actually. Now, I find myself holding my breath whenever that girl speaks to a cab driver.
We got on our coach bus to go to KL through the night. The boarding and deboarding to go through immigration at Malaysia was a hassle. And we stopped at a small food court place in Malaysia for Yun to get some food (corn and a tea egg? lol) and asked Sam if she wanted something and she replied (in disgust, I might add) "UGHHH.....NOOO....!!!" and fell back to sleep. She can sleep anytime, anywhere, any place. It is truly incredible.
We finally arrived on the streets of downtown KL at 3am. Yes, 3 girls in downtonw KL at 3am. Being there fulfilled all of my expectations for KL. But that wasn't hard to do, being that they were so low. We haggled with these 3 taxi drivers for a ride to the airport. Half dead, we finally managed to get into what I remember to be the thinnest-doored car I have ever been in. The driver to the MOST RIDICULOUS airport I have ever been to took a while, and we got dropped off at KLIA. Which we later learned was the wrong terminal. After going to the bathroom (Which was really nice actually) and being confused by the gender-neutral sign ("WTF is that?! A guy or girl?" - Yun) and me exchanging my Baht for exactly 4.50 ringit (a $1 buffer for the bus ride ticket of course) we managed to get another cab to the other terminal,the LCCT terminal that we were supposed to be at. It was literally a 30 minute ride. Why is the same airport so disconnected? That is all we were wondering the whole time. That, and why the heck there was lightning...
We finally got there and had to talk ourselves up into dealing with the FREAKING air asia people, preparing ourselves to tell them that we were not going to pay an extra 150 sing for our flight. We waited in line and thank god we got the guy we did. Because he was so easy going and totally brushed the whole thing off. He asked if we wanted to switch our flights or anything (which we did) and we said it was just one big misunderstanding so he got it squared away and we walked away without having to pay a dime more.
I almost cried when we got to our gate. It was 6am and we were finally going to Chiang Mai! We recorded a crazy video of the chain of events that led us to where we were at that moment. Haggard, is all I can say.
We got to Chiang Mai at 830 am. We went to SK House, our guesthouse, which was very cultural and nice. We checked in and then immediately ate downstairs, where the sweet cook lady served us all the wrong items. And her face when she found out she had failed was pretty heartbreaking. We booked our next 3 days worth of activities.
Chiang Mai itself isn't that great. It's a bit...old and not much going on. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time, going to all of the different places.
DAY 1
-Tigers @ TIger Kingdom (all on crack)
- Longneck tribe (500 baht? SUch a rip off)
- Temple (under construction? And where Sam met her baby girl)
- Night market
DAY 2
- Elephant riding (Yun got charged by the baby one)
- Village visit (Yun bought 15 scarves...after saying she wasn't going to buy any)
- Walk to pretty waterfall
- Crazy intense long hike out in the middle of nowhere to nowhere
- Lunch (rice and veggies and pineapple)
- Bamboo Rafting (aka being the target of being thrown water at in buckets)
- Night market (lost Sam, temporarily)
DAY 3
- ZIP LINE! (Flight of the Gibbon...and we SAW real gibbons!)
- Khontoke Cultural Dinner and Tribe Show
That first day we were driven by that guy and his (girlfriend?) possibly to the Tigers, Longnecks, Temple, and Night Market in our own van. We each got our own row to lay down and sleep for the long rides. We tried to ask them to put on good music but that was a fail. lol
Tiger Kingdom was amazing. Except it was sad that the tigers were definitely on crack. I was first to go in the cages and pet them, which was nerve racking. But the first batch of big tigers were pretty much knocked out. So we had a photo shoot with them and then made our way to see the baby tigers. We wanted to hold them and take pics with them like the NUS boys but they wouldn't let us. So we settled for the medium tigers and played with them a bit. They were more lively. It was so crazy. I couldn't believe how beautiful their fur was, and their eyes too. It was weird to see and pet one in real life.
Next we went to the Longneck village. Where the random guy there charged us 500 baht to go in. Into a village?! We were so out of it though and tired and delirious that we didn't even argue just paid. Then later thought about it and were furious. But it was quite a sight seeing all of those women with the rings around their necks. Their heads looked detached. Sam said their heads fall off if you take the rings off.... but I don't think so. They were all pretty shy and willing to pose for pictures. I felt like they were really used to foreigners and people coming to see them.. so it kind of took the authenticity of it away. But it was still awesome. Plus I got my amazing embroidered bag (That the lady wouldn't bargain lower for, but I wanted it so badly I gave in). I couldn't take it off for the rest of the trip. And Yun said she didn't like it (thought the color was ugly) then the last night, she almost bought the exact same one!! Soo funny. Sam got a different long, colorful sling purse too.
Next we went to this big golden temple that was really pretty but was undergoing renovation. It was extremely hot. But I got a delicious pineapple for less than a dollar. We took jumping pictures in the temple..and even took some pictures with a whole bunch of monks.
We were SO tired by this time. But we were dropped off at this great night market there. It was the "weekend market" that EVERYONE talked about. We were starving, and ate at some random little Thai restaurant with elvis pictures all over the walls. lol
Then we went to the market and found a whole bunch of food there that looked good, but there were lots of flies and basically just looked like Hepatitis A waiting to happen. Although we ended up eating that food the next night. I had corn on the cob and fried rice and a mixed fruit drink shake off the street vendor. Luckily Im still alive and hepatitis A free.
We did lots of shopping at the night market. It was HUGE and absolutely crazy! So much to buy! Things were pretty cheap and the bargaining was pretty good. I didn't buy a lot though. Just a little cheap tank top and some jewelry for B and myself. The 3 of us got our friendship bracelets in different colors of course. I also got some really good rice/peanut granola mix thing that this lady was making on the street. It was the closest thing to granola I have had in a long time.
We went to bed that night killing mosquitos (ok, Yun killing mosquitos) and me hiding under the covers from them. And watching tacky Thai music videos and making up stories about what was happening in them. Absolutely. Hilarious.
The next morning we got up at 7 and got ready to go ride elephants. Lesson learned that day: Do not wear white shorts when you are A) going to ride elephants and B) going bamboo rafting. Because A) the elephants are not the cleanest animals and B) bamboo rafting in Chiang Mai Thailand entails standing on the raft, helpless, defenseless, for an hour, while all of the local Thai people throw, no, correction, HURL buckets of water at you. Therefore, leaving us SOAKED. Completely. The girls' passports were wet. And luckily thank GOD I didn't bring my camera. They thought it was hilarious though, throwing water at foreigners. It was "good luck" apparently. In that case, I will have good luck not only in this life, but in my next...
We tried to dry off which didn't work afterwards and we bought our only picture/proof of us on that bamboo raft as a keepsake.
But before this craziness, we went elephant riding which was absolutely hysterical. Our elephant was like a 19yr old teenage boy and all he did was eat the trees. And I'm pretty sure the seat-rope we had was absolutely useless. Anyways, afterwards, Yun got charged by the baby elephant, towards Mama elephant and almost off the cliff. THEN we almost bought the picture of us in the frame of the elephants but we were trying to bargain it down and some big African lady says "It's only 5 dollars". Then later she says to me "Sorry I didn't mean to offend you with that comment." But apparently she did. Yun wasn't a fan of her after that. And quite frankly neither was I.
Next we went to some other little village in the middle of who knows where. Our guise "Mr Hand" gave us a shpeel about how poor the people there were. And the whole time Yun is next to me whispering how much she is not going to buy from this village because the guide was trying to pity people into buying the scarves. And she ends up buying literally about 12 scarves!! She is so funny. The scarves were beautiful though. Very soft. I bought a pink one.
We then began a long trek to the waterfall, which was pretty! Then we walked for about an hour more in the heat and in the BOONDOCKS to this little village where I bought mom a pretty bracelet and the guide kept promising us that lunch was coming, but there was no civilization so I was really confused. We hiked for a long time..It was very remote. Finally we made it to the road and we went to this house where we ate white rice and vegetables and pineapple for lunch.
Next we did the bamboo rafting adventure then bussed back home. We took showers to get out of our WET clothes and then went to the night market. We ate there then afterwards got massages which were AWESOME (best one yet) and really funny because my lady of course was the one who rode in on her motorcycle (lol) and then went back to the guesthouse to sleep. The massage lady absolutely loved us though. It was cute.
The next day we slept through our alarms. And I somehow got up at 545 and got the girls up. We got ready in ,5 seconds flat and got in our bus to go to the FLIGHT OF THE GIBBON zip line that we paid 2000 baht for!! Go big or go home right? The guides were absolutely HILARIOUS..they kept flirting with Sam and Yun and I. All of them. And the other guide from the group in front of us hooked me on the zip line and pushed me to the next post, basically kidnapping me to the next tour group. As a joke, they would make me yell things in Thai to this Mr Typhoon. It was really funny.
The zip line as so fun! Long crazy zip lines across the rainforest. And we got to see gibbons (some monkey) and we heard them making this crazy noise. It was soo soo cool.
After wards we had another lunch of rice and veggies and chicken curry. We then headed back to the guesthouse and we showered and went to just hang out in the town. We also got massages again as well as pedicures (our tradition). God bless the lady's heart who had to take off my black nail polish. It took forever, Also, I bought a book there at a used book store. We got vanilla cones at McDonalds. And we checked out a temple.
We then went back to go to our cultural Thai dinner and dance show. We knew it was our van buy the guy eating food as a gesture lol. We got there and sat on the floor in the cultural center and they served us unlimited northern Thai cuisine. Fried chicken (Sam's favorite - she had about 7 orders) and rice (2 kinds!) and veggies and fried banana and this fried noodle things. It was delicious. And we got to watch the Thai women doing the cultural dance show. We even got invited to go up there and dance too!! After we watched another hilltribe show which was interesting. Lots of cool instruments and costumes.
Our last night in Chiang Mai was bittersweet. I loved every second of the trip. It was a crazy trip. And SO FUNNY. We came back a lot closer. Poor Yun, Sam and I pick on her so much. (Hair twirling, for example)
The last night Yun and Sam worked on their CQ presentation video which I was in (lol) and we had our last night in Chiang Mai. The next morning we got up and had some random Thai guy take us to the airport in the most non-legit taxi ever. It was pretty much just his car actually. I left my camera in the back seat and thank god he didn't drive away before seeing it! I slept in the airport, exhausted, waiting for the flight. To KL. FML.
We got to KL our favorite airport and stayed 6 hours there. It was actually really funny because we looked like death. And I felt like death too. OMG. We finally got on our delayed flight and flew back to Singapore at about 830 pm on Tuesday. I came back and pretty much died. lol
All in all, an amazing trip. And, honestly, wouldn't have changed anything about it. Because despite all the hassle, it's what made it all worth it. And gave us some of the hardest laughs, ever. Basically, anything that could go wrong, would, and DID go wrong. In Chiang Mai....
GETTING THERE:
1. Last minute, due to (freakin) Air Asia's decision to change their flight time to an earlier one so that we couldn't make it from our Jetstar transfer flight in KL, we were forced to take a 5 hour overnight bus ride from Singapore to KL. We cabbed over on Friday night, and we were all already on edge due to frustrations with incompetent budget asian airlines, especially Yun. When the cab driver dropped us off at the bus station downtown, and REFUSED to give us change for a 50, Yun LOST IT. I have never in my life seen someone yell and go off on a cab driver like that. And he was definitely a creeper, just as a sidenote, with long nails and pedaphile glasses. Anyways, Yun refused to give him exact change, and he refused to give us change, so it was settled when he drove us to a 7-11 to get change, Yun hugged me breaking down crying, Sam told her to pull herself together and that "Big girls don't cry" (to which Yun replied "I'm not a big girl though!!!") and the driver eventually gave us our change. He actually threatened to call the police on us. Which would have been absolutely hilarious. I think he was just as scared as I was. Terrified, actually. Now, I find myself holding my breath whenever that girl speaks to a cab driver.
We got on our coach bus to go to KL through the night. The boarding and deboarding to go through immigration at Malaysia was a hassle. And we stopped at a small food court place in Malaysia for Yun to get some food (corn and a tea egg? lol) and asked Sam if she wanted something and she replied (in disgust, I might add) "UGHHH.....NOOO....!!!" and fell back to sleep. She can sleep anytime, anywhere, any place. It is truly incredible.
We finally arrived on the streets of downtown KL at 3am. Yes, 3 girls in downtonw KL at 3am. Being there fulfilled all of my expectations for KL. But that wasn't hard to do, being that they were so low. We haggled with these 3 taxi drivers for a ride to the airport. Half dead, we finally managed to get into what I remember to be the thinnest-doored car I have ever been in. The driver to the MOST RIDICULOUS airport I have ever been to took a while, and we got dropped off at KLIA. Which we later learned was the wrong terminal. After going to the bathroom (Which was really nice actually) and being confused by the gender-neutral sign ("WTF is that?! A guy or girl?" - Yun) and me exchanging my Baht for exactly 4.50 ringit (a $1 buffer for the bus ride ticket of course) we managed to get another cab to the other terminal,the LCCT terminal that we were supposed to be at. It was literally a 30 minute ride. Why is the same airport so disconnected? That is all we were wondering the whole time. That, and why the heck there was lightning...
We finally got there and had to talk ourselves up into dealing with the FREAKING air asia people, preparing ourselves to tell them that we were not going to pay an extra 150 sing for our flight. We waited in line and thank god we got the guy we did. Because he was so easy going and totally brushed the whole thing off. He asked if we wanted to switch our flights or anything (which we did) and we said it was just one big misunderstanding so he got it squared away and we walked away without having to pay a dime more.
I almost cried when we got to our gate. It was 6am and we were finally going to Chiang Mai! We recorded a crazy video of the chain of events that led us to where we were at that moment. Haggard, is all I can say.
We got to Chiang Mai at 830 am. We went to SK House, our guesthouse, which was very cultural and nice. We checked in and then immediately ate downstairs, where the sweet cook lady served us all the wrong items. And her face when she found out she had failed was pretty heartbreaking. We booked our next 3 days worth of activities.
Chiang Mai itself isn't that great. It's a bit...old and not much going on. Nevertheless, we had an amazing time, going to all of the different places.
DAY 1
-Tigers @ TIger Kingdom (all on crack)
- Longneck tribe (500 baht? SUch a rip off)
- Temple (under construction? And where Sam met her baby girl)
- Night market
DAY 2
- Elephant riding (Yun got charged by the baby one)
- Village visit (Yun bought 15 scarves...after saying she wasn't going to buy any)
- Walk to pretty waterfall
- Crazy intense long hike out in the middle of nowhere to nowhere
- Lunch (rice and veggies and pineapple)
- Bamboo Rafting (aka being the target of being thrown water at in buckets)
- Night market (lost Sam, temporarily)
DAY 3
- ZIP LINE! (Flight of the Gibbon...and we SAW real gibbons!)
- Khontoke Cultural Dinner and Tribe Show
That first day we were driven by that guy and his (girlfriend?) possibly to the Tigers, Longnecks, Temple, and Night Market in our own van. We each got our own row to lay down and sleep for the long rides. We tried to ask them to put on good music but that was a fail. lol
Tiger Kingdom was amazing. Except it was sad that the tigers were definitely on crack. I was first to go in the cages and pet them, which was nerve racking. But the first batch of big tigers were pretty much knocked out. So we had a photo shoot with them and then made our way to see the baby tigers. We wanted to hold them and take pics with them like the NUS boys but they wouldn't let us. So we settled for the medium tigers and played with them a bit. They were more lively. It was so crazy. I couldn't believe how beautiful their fur was, and their eyes too. It was weird to see and pet one in real life.
Next we went to the Longneck village. Where the random guy there charged us 500 baht to go in. Into a village?! We were so out of it though and tired and delirious that we didn't even argue just paid. Then later thought about it and were furious. But it was quite a sight seeing all of those women with the rings around their necks. Their heads looked detached. Sam said their heads fall off if you take the rings off.... but I don't think so. They were all pretty shy and willing to pose for pictures. I felt like they were really used to foreigners and people coming to see them.. so it kind of took the authenticity of it away. But it was still awesome. Plus I got my amazing embroidered bag (That the lady wouldn't bargain lower for, but I wanted it so badly I gave in). I couldn't take it off for the rest of the trip. And Yun said she didn't like it (thought the color was ugly) then the last night, she almost bought the exact same one!! Soo funny. Sam got a different long, colorful sling purse too.
Next we went to this big golden temple that was really pretty but was undergoing renovation. It was extremely hot. But I got a delicious pineapple for less than a dollar. We took jumping pictures in the temple..and even took some pictures with a whole bunch of monks.
We were SO tired by this time. But we were dropped off at this great night market there. It was the "weekend market" that EVERYONE talked about. We were starving, and ate at some random little Thai restaurant with elvis pictures all over the walls. lol
Then we went to the market and found a whole bunch of food there that looked good, but there were lots of flies and basically just looked like Hepatitis A waiting to happen. Although we ended up eating that food the next night. I had corn on the cob and fried rice and a mixed fruit drink shake off the street vendor. Luckily Im still alive and hepatitis A free.
We did lots of shopping at the night market. It was HUGE and absolutely crazy! So much to buy! Things were pretty cheap and the bargaining was pretty good. I didn't buy a lot though. Just a little cheap tank top and some jewelry for B and myself. The 3 of us got our friendship bracelets in different colors of course. I also got some really good rice/peanut granola mix thing that this lady was making on the street. It was the closest thing to granola I have had in a long time.
We went to bed that night killing mosquitos (ok, Yun killing mosquitos) and me hiding under the covers from them. And watching tacky Thai music videos and making up stories about what was happening in them. Absolutely. Hilarious.
The next morning we got up at 7 and got ready to go ride elephants. Lesson learned that day: Do not wear white shorts when you are A) going to ride elephants and B) going bamboo rafting. Because A) the elephants are not the cleanest animals and B) bamboo rafting in Chiang Mai Thailand entails standing on the raft, helpless, defenseless, for an hour, while all of the local Thai people throw, no, correction, HURL buckets of water at you. Therefore, leaving us SOAKED. Completely. The girls' passports were wet. And luckily thank GOD I didn't bring my camera. They thought it was hilarious though, throwing water at foreigners. It was "good luck" apparently. In that case, I will have good luck not only in this life, but in my next...
We tried to dry off which didn't work afterwards and we bought our only picture/proof of us on that bamboo raft as a keepsake.
But before this craziness, we went elephant riding which was absolutely hysterical. Our elephant was like a 19yr old teenage boy and all he did was eat the trees. And I'm pretty sure the seat-rope we had was absolutely useless. Anyways, afterwards, Yun got charged by the baby elephant, towards Mama elephant and almost off the cliff. THEN we almost bought the picture of us in the frame of the elephants but we were trying to bargain it down and some big African lady says "It's only 5 dollars". Then later she says to me "Sorry I didn't mean to offend you with that comment." But apparently she did. Yun wasn't a fan of her after that. And quite frankly neither was I.
Next we went to some other little village in the middle of who knows where. Our guise "Mr Hand" gave us a shpeel about how poor the people there were. And the whole time Yun is next to me whispering how much she is not going to buy from this village because the guide was trying to pity people into buying the scarves. And she ends up buying literally about 12 scarves!! She is so funny. The scarves were beautiful though. Very soft. I bought a pink one.
We then began a long trek to the waterfall, which was pretty! Then we walked for about an hour more in the heat and in the BOONDOCKS to this little village where I bought mom a pretty bracelet and the guide kept promising us that lunch was coming, but there was no civilization so I was really confused. We hiked for a long time..It was very remote. Finally we made it to the road and we went to this house where we ate white rice and vegetables and pineapple for lunch.
Next we did the bamboo rafting adventure then bussed back home. We took showers to get out of our WET clothes and then went to the night market. We ate there then afterwards got massages which were AWESOME (best one yet) and really funny because my lady of course was the one who rode in on her motorcycle (lol) and then went back to the guesthouse to sleep. The massage lady absolutely loved us though. It was cute.
The next day we slept through our alarms. And I somehow got up at 545 and got the girls up. We got ready in ,5 seconds flat and got in our bus to go to the FLIGHT OF THE GIBBON zip line that we paid 2000 baht for!! Go big or go home right? The guides were absolutely HILARIOUS..they kept flirting with Sam and Yun and I. All of them. And the other guide from the group in front of us hooked me on the zip line and pushed me to the next post, basically kidnapping me to the next tour group. As a joke, they would make me yell things in Thai to this Mr Typhoon. It was really funny.
The zip line as so fun! Long crazy zip lines across the rainforest. And we got to see gibbons (some monkey) and we heard them making this crazy noise. It was soo soo cool.
After wards we had another lunch of rice and veggies and chicken curry. We then headed back to the guesthouse and we showered and went to just hang out in the town. We also got massages again as well as pedicures (our tradition). God bless the lady's heart who had to take off my black nail polish. It took forever, Also, I bought a book there at a used book store. We got vanilla cones at McDonalds. And we checked out a temple.
We then went back to go to our cultural Thai dinner and dance show. We knew it was our van buy the guy eating food as a gesture lol. We got there and sat on the floor in the cultural center and they served us unlimited northern Thai cuisine. Fried chicken (Sam's favorite - she had about 7 orders) and rice (2 kinds!) and veggies and fried banana and this fried noodle things. It was delicious. And we got to watch the Thai women doing the cultural dance show. We even got invited to go up there and dance too!! After we watched another hilltribe show which was interesting. Lots of cool instruments and costumes.
Our last night in Chiang Mai was bittersweet. I loved every second of the trip. It was a crazy trip. And SO FUNNY. We came back a lot closer. Poor Yun, Sam and I pick on her so much. (Hair twirling, for example)
The last night Yun and Sam worked on their CQ presentation video which I was in (lol) and we had our last night in Chiang Mai. The next morning we got up and had some random Thai guy take us to the airport in the most non-legit taxi ever. It was pretty much just his car actually. I left my camera in the back seat and thank god he didn't drive away before seeing it! I slept in the airport, exhausted, waiting for the flight. To KL. FML.
We got to KL our favorite airport and stayed 6 hours there. It was actually really funny because we looked like death. And I felt like death too. OMG. We finally got on our delayed flight and flew back to Singapore at about 830 pm on Tuesday. I came back and pretty much died. lol
All in all, an amazing trip. And, honestly, wouldn't have changed anything about it. Because despite all the hassle, it's what made it all worth it. And gave us some of the hardest laughs, ever. Basically, anything that could go wrong, would, and DID go wrong. In Chiang Mai....
Thursday, April 1, 2010
DEAR AIR ASIA:
I BLAME YOU as the source of my stress last night.
Original Plan: Fly with Jetstar to KL. Then fly with Air Asia from KL to Chiang Mai. Fail. Success. Fail. Then Success.
April 1, 2010, may have been the most unproductive, frustrating, stressful nights of my entire life. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the entire situation. I'm just glad it is over. For me to rehash the entire situation, and go over every minute detail (as I tend to do) would do absolutely nothing to help the situation. The good thing is that everything was solved (I demanded AirAsia refund us our money, and Yun demanded that they re-refund us our money, lol) And we are going to Chiang Mai, Thailand, as originally planned. And we haven't lost any money. But we had to spend some more to cover up for Air Asia's mistake. But it's okay. Breathe....Just breathe...
We were THAT close to booking Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka!!!! Can you imagine? It's like going to India. But not. And we all know that India is at the top of my list. Maybe I should look into studying abroad there? ...Oh boy.
But I booked the overnight bus tickets to KL for the 3 of us. And I went to Boon Lay Shopping Center, on a mission to pick them up. I was surprised at that little shopping place, and at how cheap everything was. It was like the run down, super cheap Asian version of Jurong Point. I liked it. I'll have to remember to go there more often.
Random Thought: I am missing my little sister. That tall, adorable little bean pole whose smile could light up any room. I wonder what she is doing right now. Well, I guess if it wasn't 3:40 am at home right now, she would probably be playing nerf guns, or bossing some boys around down the street.
I must get to work on this new paper I have to do. My life is ruled by these NTU papers. They never end. I feel like I have written more here than in my entire career so far at SDSU. Speaking of SDSU. How weird is it going to be when I go back? All of the white people. All of the frat boys. All of the sorority girls. All of the mexican food. I can't even really imagine what the adjustment is going to be like. Is everyone going to be the same? Are they going to think I am different? I really feel different, but it's hard to describe how. I am going to miss my exchange friends so much though. Because only they really understand and have experienced this whole crazy abroad thing with me. I'm going to miss the spontaneity behind everything. The failure to really plan for anything, yet deep down knowing that it will ALWAYS WITHOUT A DOUBT be absolutely amazing. The ability to just adapt to wherever, or whatever, you are doing. The beauty of exchange.
Original Plan: Fly with Jetstar to KL. Then fly with Air Asia from KL to Chiang Mai. Fail. Success. Fail. Then Success.
April 1, 2010, may have been the most unproductive, frustrating, stressful nights of my entire life. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the entire situation. I'm just glad it is over. For me to rehash the entire situation, and go over every minute detail (as I tend to do) would do absolutely nothing to help the situation. The good thing is that everything was solved (I demanded AirAsia refund us our money, and Yun demanded that they re-refund us our money, lol) And we are going to Chiang Mai, Thailand, as originally planned. And we haven't lost any money. But we had to spend some more to cover up for Air Asia's mistake. But it's okay. Breathe....Just breathe...
We were THAT close to booking Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka!!!! Can you imagine? It's like going to India. But not. And we all know that India is at the top of my list. Maybe I should look into studying abroad there? ...Oh boy.
But I booked the overnight bus tickets to KL for the 3 of us. And I went to Boon Lay Shopping Center, on a mission to pick them up. I was surprised at that little shopping place, and at how cheap everything was. It was like the run down, super cheap Asian version of Jurong Point. I liked it. I'll have to remember to go there more often.
Random Thought: I am missing my little sister. That tall, adorable little bean pole whose smile could light up any room. I wonder what she is doing right now. Well, I guess if it wasn't 3:40 am at home right now, she would probably be playing nerf guns, or bossing some boys around down the street.
I must get to work on this new paper I have to do. My life is ruled by these NTU papers. They never end. I feel like I have written more here than in my entire career so far at SDSU. Speaking of SDSU. How weird is it going to be when I go back? All of the white people. All of the frat boys. All of the sorority girls. All of the mexican food. I can't even really imagine what the adjustment is going to be like. Is everyone going to be the same? Are they going to think I am different? I really feel different, but it's hard to describe how. I am going to miss my exchange friends so much though. Because only they really understand and have experienced this whole crazy abroad thing with me. I'm going to miss the spontaneity behind everything. The failure to really plan for anything, yet deep down knowing that it will ALWAYS WITHOUT A DOUBT be absolutely amazing. The ability to just adapt to wherever, or whatever, you are doing. The beauty of exchange.
GOAL: ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA
...Never in my entire life will I ever forget this crazy, short, adventuresome, hilarious, and spontaneous trip to CAMBODIA (why is it impossible for me to type CAMBODIA in lowercase letters? haha)
It was a very different kind of trip. As in, only 2 of us (as opposed to a whole gang of people), no hair dryer, no blow dryer, no makeup, no suitcase. Only a few pairs of clothes, some undies, and a toothbrush. I mastered the art of "packing lightly" fitting anything I would need into one backpack (that I purchased at the good old Fairprice).
David and I made our way to the airport to catch our 6 something am flight. As we were standing at the check-in counter, he turned to me and said:
"Renee. We need to make a promise right now. That no matter what, even if things don't go our way on this trip, we are going to stay positive. No matter what."
We pinky promised and that is when I knew that I was in a for an amazing trip with one of my best friends here on exchange!
We flew to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We clarified that our number one goal was ANGKOR WAT. We would do anything and everything to get there. We didn't really have a plan. No Plan A. We were winging it 100%. But that is what life is all about sometimes, I guess. And I find that when you wing it, it turns out to be better than you ever imagined.
I was out of control giddy when we arrived. Not only did I get an awesome Visa for my passport, there were so many pictures advertising the essence of Cambodia: Angkor Wat. We got through immigration and got a tuk tuk with the world's happiest man as the driver. I was laughing unstoppably, for no real reason. Perhaps it was because of the craziness of it all. Me, sitting in a tuk tuk. Driving down the road. In Cambodia. On a Saturday morning. With a backpack. A friend. And a mission.
He took us to some random bus company place where we bought bus tickets to Siem Reap. We had one hour til our 10 am bus left. It was supposed to be a 6 hour bus ride. We walked around the streets of Phnom Penh for awhile. It was full of exhaust. Speeding cars and motorbikes and tuk tuks and trucks. Random monks walking down the street. Lots of people. And lots of people selling the always-fun Hidden Objects Book. That David and I found came in real handy on 6 hour bus rides. Well, that and hang man and tic tac toe and cambodian version music videos of american songs. :)
We went into some underground little shopping places that were very dirty and jam packed full of things like shoes and non essentials. There were lots of little local food stalls and women getting their hair done. It was so strange to see women getting hair dye jobs and hair cuts underground, and not in a salon.
We got on the bus (with our favorite British family who was quite possibly the coolest family I've ever seen) armed with our "R Cookies" that were delicious and we were off. The British family was hilarious. Or maybe we just thought they were. I think I was more obsessed with listening to the little girl's accent. She could say anything, like "toilet" or "fart" or "butt" and in her little British accent she would still sound so proper. lol
Anyways. The bus ride wasn't really all that bad... We slept for some, and occupied ourselves with intense hang man and tic tac toe games. The views from the bus window were incredible. But not in a good way. The houses, the neighborhoods, the fields, the dirty river water... it was so sad. It's pretty much exactly what you think of when you think of Cambodia.
We stopped for lunch at this local place with gross squatter toilets but I had no choice so I had to squat-it! I didn't eat the food there, it definitely had food poisoning written all over it. But David ate his ginger chicken that had too much ginger. WE got back on and didn't get off the bus til we were in Siem Reap at 4pm. The bus dropped us off in some sketchy, random, where-the-hell-are-we reaction kind of places. The drivers of tuk tuks bombarded you when you stepped off, and we got this guy to tuk tuk us to our "Good Kind Guesthouse" (although he really wanted us to stay at his guesthouse). GK guesthouse was pretty nice! Run by an old kinda creepy looking french man and his cambodian wife. We decided to upgrade and pay the extra 5 dollars that night to stay in a larger air con room with hot water. Now THAT is living the luxurious lifestyle, eh?
We rented our bikes ($1 per day) that looked like they had gone through both the world wars, and off we biked around the streets of Siem Reap. It has a river running right thru the middle of it with the road on either side. We made lots of stops along the way to the Old Market, taking random pictures. I love traveling with David because 1) I can pretty much boss him around 2) he is always willing to take a picture of me (kind of like my personal photographer) and 3) he is very patient.
We stopped at this hotel restaurant place, STARVING. We got completely ripped off for that stupid meal. All we got were 2 spring rolls, white rice, and fish. And it cost waay too much (for Cambodia).
We finally got to the night market place where we parked our bikes and walked around. We saw so many great cheap food places, it was definitely one of those moments where you kick yourself. And wish you were hungry. We walked around and bought a few things. I tried to find something for Sam but couldn't find anything. I got myself a yellow Cambodia t shirt though. We also got our feet bitten by a million little fish. We fed them, really. All of our dead skin cells. It was such a weird sensation! It tickled for the first 5 minutes. Then it kinda felt good after. And it cost like 2 dollars for half an hour. We walked around more and did shopping at the Siem Reap Night Market. It was awesome!
We also got massages. Cheap Khmer massages for 5 bucks for 1 hour. It was amazing. And the ants crawling on me didn't even bother me. Who have I become??
That was also the night that I got told to F*** off by this young cambodian boy who was trying to sell me a book. He literally followed us around while I was drinking my 50 cent pineapple smoothie for about 20 minutes. I have never been talked to like that before, and it left my jaw hanging. I felt bad. But slightly offended at the same time.
We went back to our Good and Kind guesthouse and took a "shower" with shower being in quotes because there was no shower. It was literally bathing yourself with the shower head in the middle of the bathroom. I had no comb or anything for my hair. So it just air dried. All natural is the way to go right?
We went to bed, fell asleep just talking about how crazy we were. I fell asleep about 12 or1 am. And we had our alarms set to get us up at 330am. David said he barely slept. Especially because I kept waking up and ordering him to get up and turn down the air con lol.
We got up at 330 and threw on some clothes then rushed out the guesthouse to ride our bikes the 20 minutes to Angkor Wat temples! The streets were so dark. I was so tired. Yet high on adrenaline. I was so excited. Yet unsure at the same time. We were the first ones there. We bought our ticket for $20 US at 445 am. We then biked to Angkor Wat temple. We also did some exploring, to try to find the spot on the mountain away from Angkor Wat where Susana went to see the sun rise. It was a fail. Instead we found this old temple that we climbed up in the pitch black dark. It was extremely creepy. Especially when a bat flew by.
We went inside what seemed like huge castle gates to the huge Angkor Wat grounds. It was Beautiful. Incredible. Breathtaking. But I must say that in retrospect, it was not necessarily Angkor Wat temple that was so great. But it was the adventuring around on the bikes all day, exploring temples, exploring houses, exploring it all, that was so memorable and great.
We watched the sun rise over the back of the Angkor Wat temple. It was remarkable.
Next we decided to save Angkor Wat til the end. Because everyone and their brother would be exploring it now. So we set off and did these temples:
1 - Big Face Temple (My favorite)
2 - Random Temple things in the middle of nowhere
3 - Deceivingly large temple (so big!!!)
4 - Angelina Jolie Temple - ancient trees and roots
5 - Corridor Temple
6 - ANGKOR WAT
We biked around all day, in the blistering heat. We found dozens of beautiful old beaten path trails, surrounded by trees. It was beautiful. Maybe the best word to describe it is incredible. We would pass by random little houses (if you can call them that) and little shacks and just get off our bikes and check them out. Besides getting chased by some mean dogs, it was pretty cool. Especially going and seeing the cutest little kids at these few houses in the middle of nowhere. They were so little and cute. We gave the 2 boys $1 US dollar each and they were so so happy. The smiles on their face were priceless. And they even did the little head bow after. Soooo cute. I made David promise that one day when we are successful and working and financially stable we are going to donate to those families in Cambodia.
We ate some lunch (I decided to eat a fresh spring roll? Am I crazy?) and luckily did not get food poisoning. By the time we were done with all the other temples, we returned to do Angkor Wat, sweaty, exhausted, but nevertheless anxious. We parked our bikes (after getting hounded, of course, by all of the kids begging us to buy stuff from them) and made our way to the Big Temple. It was humongous. And it seemed like it was a huge compilation of all the best parts of every other temple there. The long corridors, the gargantuan-ness.. In order to get up to the top we had to wait in line and I had to rent some clothes. We climbed up (literally) and walked around the top. The view was amazing. And the inside was beautiful, with ancient Chinese inscriptions and detailed carvings into the walls. To think that someone worked so hard and meticulously on those same carvings on the walls all of those years ago...
David and I sat there, exhausted, but feeling good. We looked at each other. And the look we exchanged said it all. "Mission accomplished." There were no words that needed to be exchanged.
Leaving the temple was difficult. We walked around a bit more. I climbed up some steep steep stairs to sit and chat with some of the monks. So cool.
We got back out to our bikes and biked back to Good Kind. We showered very quickly and then rode back to the market place to have a quick dinner. We ordered some really good cheap food and 2 shakes each (I got pineapple of course). We shared a really greasy pancake thing with chocolate and banana made off the guy's little street grill. We then biked back and waited (forever) for the tuk tuk to come get us and take us to the bus station to get on our 7 pm bus back to Phnom Penh.
The bus was..not the most comfortable but I would have preferred it to the little dirty room we stayed for 4 hours in Phnom Penh. We slept pretty much the whole 5 hours on the bus. David was getting annoyed with me and my always wanting to get my camera... and my annoying habit of taking the earplug out of his ears lol. The bus lurched to a stop a few times on the way, where my heart skipped a beat and I seriously thought we were going to die.
We arrived at Phnom Penh beyond tired. Of course, we had to bargain with the tuk tuk drivers to take us to our Sunday Guesthouse. The guy took us for 4 bucks. And it really wasn't that far. Driving around those streets at 1am on a Sunday night was very sketchy. Let's just say I would NEVER EVER want to be there stranded alone at that time. Well, at anytime for that matter lol.
The little shoebox that we stayed in for the next 4 hours was mosquito infested. It was the source of my 12 mosquito bites on my legs. We didn't even change out of our clothes, just laid down on the bed and I curled up and tried to take a nap. The air and fan were on crack, and it would be freezing then really hot all night. And I insisted on sleeping with the bathroom light on. Because I was just so scared. And delirious.
We got up at 6 am to the guy banging on our door. I was so out of it, I didn't even know where we were. I had dreams of being home that whole time. And then I would wake up and realize I was in Cambodia. CAMBODIA!
We waited to pay the boss, who came out with no t shirt, some fat Cambodian man who literally just woke up. We paid 13 bucks for the night (which was a rip off) and took a tuk tuk to the airport. Nevermind that our flight didn't leave for 3 more hours. I just had to get out of that place.
It was one smoggy bad-air ride to the airport. I couldn't breathe from all the exhaust! I think my lungs came back a bit darker from that ride. I was looking forward to eating the huge apple I had been carrying around the whole trip, and when I took it out to eat it I dropped it on the airport ground. Perfect.
So we had our nice "humble" breakfast (again) of crackers and then waited for our flight. The next few hours are a blur in my memory, I was so tired. But I remember a huge group of Chinese people waiting to go to China and playing cards int he airport. And I remember thinking, I love asian people.
We landed back in Singapore and took the MRT back to NTU. Longest ride of my life. I was STARVING so even though I had class soon, we stopped off at some stop and found some food. David and I ate in silence because we didn't have energy to speak. I'm pretty sure I looked like hell too. But no matter! We got back to Boon Lay and I grabbed the 179 bus to go straight to Canteen A so I could go straight to Human Motivation lecture at 130 to 330. I met my friend on the bus too, and we went to together to class. She couldn't believe that I had just landed from Cambodia and was going straight to class. Again, she let me use a pen and paper and I somehow survived class then went home and...I have no idea what I did after that. Shower? Sleep? I probably uploaded my photos. Knowing me. haha
All in all, the best trip of my life. Isn't it funny that sometimes, the best things in life, are unplanned, unsuspecting, and totally done on a whim?
It was a very different kind of trip. As in, only 2 of us (as opposed to a whole gang of people), no hair dryer, no blow dryer, no makeup, no suitcase. Only a few pairs of clothes, some undies, and a toothbrush. I mastered the art of "packing lightly" fitting anything I would need into one backpack (that I purchased at the good old Fairprice).
David and I made our way to the airport to catch our 6 something am flight. As we were standing at the check-in counter, he turned to me and said:
"Renee. We need to make a promise right now. That no matter what, even if things don't go our way on this trip, we are going to stay positive. No matter what."
We pinky promised and that is when I knew that I was in a for an amazing trip with one of my best friends here on exchange!
We flew to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We clarified that our number one goal was ANGKOR WAT. We would do anything and everything to get there. We didn't really have a plan. No Plan A. We were winging it 100%. But that is what life is all about sometimes, I guess. And I find that when you wing it, it turns out to be better than you ever imagined.
I was out of control giddy when we arrived. Not only did I get an awesome Visa for my passport, there were so many pictures advertising the essence of Cambodia: Angkor Wat. We got through immigration and got a tuk tuk with the world's happiest man as the driver. I was laughing unstoppably, for no real reason. Perhaps it was because of the craziness of it all. Me, sitting in a tuk tuk. Driving down the road. In Cambodia. On a Saturday morning. With a backpack. A friend. And a mission.
He took us to some random bus company place where we bought bus tickets to Siem Reap. We had one hour til our 10 am bus left. It was supposed to be a 6 hour bus ride. We walked around the streets of Phnom Penh for awhile. It was full of exhaust. Speeding cars and motorbikes and tuk tuks and trucks. Random monks walking down the street. Lots of people. And lots of people selling the always-fun Hidden Objects Book. That David and I found came in real handy on 6 hour bus rides. Well, that and hang man and tic tac toe and cambodian version music videos of american songs. :)
We went into some underground little shopping places that were very dirty and jam packed full of things like shoes and non essentials. There were lots of little local food stalls and women getting their hair done. It was so strange to see women getting hair dye jobs and hair cuts underground, and not in a salon.
We got on the bus (with our favorite British family who was quite possibly the coolest family I've ever seen) armed with our "R Cookies" that were delicious and we were off. The British family was hilarious. Or maybe we just thought they were. I think I was more obsessed with listening to the little girl's accent. She could say anything, like "toilet" or "fart" or "butt" and in her little British accent she would still sound so proper. lol
Anyways. The bus ride wasn't really all that bad... We slept for some, and occupied ourselves with intense hang man and tic tac toe games. The views from the bus window were incredible. But not in a good way. The houses, the neighborhoods, the fields, the dirty river water... it was so sad. It's pretty much exactly what you think of when you think of Cambodia.
We stopped for lunch at this local place with gross squatter toilets but I had no choice so I had to squat-it! I didn't eat the food there, it definitely had food poisoning written all over it. But David ate his ginger chicken that had too much ginger. WE got back on and didn't get off the bus til we were in Siem Reap at 4pm. The bus dropped us off in some sketchy, random, where-the-hell-are-we reaction kind of places. The drivers of tuk tuks bombarded you when you stepped off, and we got this guy to tuk tuk us to our "Good Kind Guesthouse" (although he really wanted us to stay at his guesthouse). GK guesthouse was pretty nice! Run by an old kinda creepy looking french man and his cambodian wife. We decided to upgrade and pay the extra 5 dollars that night to stay in a larger air con room with hot water. Now THAT is living the luxurious lifestyle, eh?
We rented our bikes ($1 per day) that looked like they had gone through both the world wars, and off we biked around the streets of Siem Reap. It has a river running right thru the middle of it with the road on either side. We made lots of stops along the way to the Old Market, taking random pictures. I love traveling with David because 1) I can pretty much boss him around 2) he is always willing to take a picture of me (kind of like my personal photographer) and 3) he is very patient.
We stopped at this hotel restaurant place, STARVING. We got completely ripped off for that stupid meal. All we got were 2 spring rolls, white rice, and fish. And it cost waay too much (for Cambodia).
We finally got to the night market place where we parked our bikes and walked around. We saw so many great cheap food places, it was definitely one of those moments where you kick yourself. And wish you were hungry. We walked around and bought a few things. I tried to find something for Sam but couldn't find anything. I got myself a yellow Cambodia t shirt though. We also got our feet bitten by a million little fish. We fed them, really. All of our dead skin cells. It was such a weird sensation! It tickled for the first 5 minutes. Then it kinda felt good after. And it cost like 2 dollars for half an hour. We walked around more and did shopping at the Siem Reap Night Market. It was awesome!
We also got massages. Cheap Khmer massages for 5 bucks for 1 hour. It was amazing. And the ants crawling on me didn't even bother me. Who have I become??
That was also the night that I got told to F*** off by this young cambodian boy who was trying to sell me a book. He literally followed us around while I was drinking my 50 cent pineapple smoothie for about 20 minutes. I have never been talked to like that before, and it left my jaw hanging. I felt bad. But slightly offended at the same time.
We went back to our Good and Kind guesthouse and took a "shower" with shower being in quotes because there was no shower. It was literally bathing yourself with the shower head in the middle of the bathroom. I had no comb or anything for my hair. So it just air dried. All natural is the way to go right?
We went to bed, fell asleep just talking about how crazy we were. I fell asleep about 12 or1 am. And we had our alarms set to get us up at 330am. David said he barely slept. Especially because I kept waking up and ordering him to get up and turn down the air con lol.
We got up at 330 and threw on some clothes then rushed out the guesthouse to ride our bikes the 20 minutes to Angkor Wat temples! The streets were so dark. I was so tired. Yet high on adrenaline. I was so excited. Yet unsure at the same time. We were the first ones there. We bought our ticket for $20 US at 445 am. We then biked to Angkor Wat temple. We also did some exploring, to try to find the spot on the mountain away from Angkor Wat where Susana went to see the sun rise. It was a fail. Instead we found this old temple that we climbed up in the pitch black dark. It was extremely creepy. Especially when a bat flew by.
We went inside what seemed like huge castle gates to the huge Angkor Wat grounds. It was Beautiful. Incredible. Breathtaking. But I must say that in retrospect, it was not necessarily Angkor Wat temple that was so great. But it was the adventuring around on the bikes all day, exploring temples, exploring houses, exploring it all, that was so memorable and great.
We watched the sun rise over the back of the Angkor Wat temple. It was remarkable.
Next we decided to save Angkor Wat til the end. Because everyone and their brother would be exploring it now. So we set off and did these temples:
1 - Big Face Temple (My favorite)
2 - Random Temple things in the middle of nowhere
3 - Deceivingly large temple (so big!!!)
4 - Angelina Jolie Temple - ancient trees and roots
5 - Corridor Temple
6 - ANGKOR WAT
We biked around all day, in the blistering heat. We found dozens of beautiful old beaten path trails, surrounded by trees. It was beautiful. Maybe the best word to describe it is incredible. We would pass by random little houses (if you can call them that) and little shacks and just get off our bikes and check them out. Besides getting chased by some mean dogs, it was pretty cool. Especially going and seeing the cutest little kids at these few houses in the middle of nowhere. They were so little and cute. We gave the 2 boys $1 US dollar each and they were so so happy. The smiles on their face were priceless. And they even did the little head bow after. Soooo cute. I made David promise that one day when we are successful and working and financially stable we are going to donate to those families in Cambodia.
We ate some lunch (I decided to eat a fresh spring roll? Am I crazy?) and luckily did not get food poisoning. By the time we were done with all the other temples, we returned to do Angkor Wat, sweaty, exhausted, but nevertheless anxious. We parked our bikes (after getting hounded, of course, by all of the kids begging us to buy stuff from them) and made our way to the Big Temple. It was humongous. And it seemed like it was a huge compilation of all the best parts of every other temple there. The long corridors, the gargantuan-ness.. In order to get up to the top we had to wait in line and I had to rent some clothes. We climbed up (literally) and walked around the top. The view was amazing. And the inside was beautiful, with ancient Chinese inscriptions and detailed carvings into the walls. To think that someone worked so hard and meticulously on those same carvings on the walls all of those years ago...
David and I sat there, exhausted, but feeling good. We looked at each other. And the look we exchanged said it all. "Mission accomplished." There were no words that needed to be exchanged.
Leaving the temple was difficult. We walked around a bit more. I climbed up some steep steep stairs to sit and chat with some of the monks. So cool.
We got back out to our bikes and biked back to Good Kind. We showered very quickly and then rode back to the market place to have a quick dinner. We ordered some really good cheap food and 2 shakes each (I got pineapple of course). We shared a really greasy pancake thing with chocolate and banana made off the guy's little street grill. We then biked back and waited (forever) for the tuk tuk to come get us and take us to the bus station to get on our 7 pm bus back to Phnom Penh.
The bus was..not the most comfortable but I would have preferred it to the little dirty room we stayed for 4 hours in Phnom Penh. We slept pretty much the whole 5 hours on the bus. David was getting annoyed with me and my always wanting to get my camera... and my annoying habit of taking the earplug out of his ears lol. The bus lurched to a stop a few times on the way, where my heart skipped a beat and I seriously thought we were going to die.
We arrived at Phnom Penh beyond tired. Of course, we had to bargain with the tuk tuk drivers to take us to our Sunday Guesthouse. The guy took us for 4 bucks. And it really wasn't that far. Driving around those streets at 1am on a Sunday night was very sketchy. Let's just say I would NEVER EVER want to be there stranded alone at that time. Well, at anytime for that matter lol.
The little shoebox that we stayed in for the next 4 hours was mosquito infested. It was the source of my 12 mosquito bites on my legs. We didn't even change out of our clothes, just laid down on the bed and I curled up and tried to take a nap. The air and fan were on crack, and it would be freezing then really hot all night. And I insisted on sleeping with the bathroom light on. Because I was just so scared. And delirious.
We got up at 6 am to the guy banging on our door. I was so out of it, I didn't even know where we were. I had dreams of being home that whole time. And then I would wake up and realize I was in Cambodia. CAMBODIA!
We waited to pay the boss, who came out with no t shirt, some fat Cambodian man who literally just woke up. We paid 13 bucks for the night (which was a rip off) and took a tuk tuk to the airport. Nevermind that our flight didn't leave for 3 more hours. I just had to get out of that place.
It was one smoggy bad-air ride to the airport. I couldn't breathe from all the exhaust! I think my lungs came back a bit darker from that ride. I was looking forward to eating the huge apple I had been carrying around the whole trip, and when I took it out to eat it I dropped it on the airport ground. Perfect.
So we had our nice "humble" breakfast (again) of crackers and then waited for our flight. The next few hours are a blur in my memory, I was so tired. But I remember a huge group of Chinese people waiting to go to China and playing cards int he airport. And I remember thinking, I love asian people.
We landed back in Singapore and took the MRT back to NTU. Longest ride of my life. I was STARVING so even though I had class soon, we stopped off at some stop and found some food. David and I ate in silence because we didn't have energy to speak. I'm pretty sure I looked like hell too. But no matter! We got back to Boon Lay and I grabbed the 179 bus to go straight to Canteen A so I could go straight to Human Motivation lecture at 130 to 330. I met my friend on the bus too, and we went to together to class. She couldn't believe that I had just landed from Cambodia and was going straight to class. Again, she let me use a pen and paper and I somehow survived class then went home and...I have no idea what I did after that. Shower? Sleep? I probably uploaded my photos. Knowing me. haha
All in all, the best trip of my life. Isn't it funny that sometimes, the best things in life, are unplanned, unsuspecting, and totally done on a whim?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
I HATE MOSQUITOS
with a passion. I am talking about a genuine and utter and deep disdain for them. My legs have exactly 12 mosquito bites on them, thanks to the $7 hostel that I stayed at in Cambodia. I slept for about 4 hours on that bed. And woke up as the main entree for those disgusting little suckers.
In class, they itch. I walk, and they itch. All they do is itch. And it's weird because normally mosquitos don't like my blood. But these Cambodian mosquitos are willing to get any meal they can, I guess. Which is just my luck.
Did I mention that I have found a new sugary addiction? Being frozen yogurt deprived has led me to pursue other forms of temporary unhealthy obsessions. At home, it ranges from mom's homemade granola to frozen yogurt. In Singapore, it has ranged from pineapple (currently still ongoing), Hershey's chocolate kisses, McDonald's vanilla cones, and the one I am currently suffering from: chocolate covered raisins. Is that gross? I feel like not many people would like them. But for some reason I find them delicious. I am eating/popping them into my mouth like it's no one's business. Seriously, this cannot be healthy. And of course, I am supposed to be doing some homework but my mind is just out of control right now. Completely unable to concentrate. And I find the best cure is to just write (and eat vast quantities of chocolate raisins), even if it is about something as insignificant as chocolate covered raisins. But isn't it the little insignificances of life that make it interesting? I would say so.
MOVING ON: I was hoping to get to talk to Manny today. But that was a fail. I am truly missing that boy so much. There's just something about him...
But I talked with some of my friends back home today. Heather updated me on her life (her new military boyfriend)...and Brieanna's life (her new acting career)... Jessica updated me on her life (new Italian boyfriend who she says is an "angel") Also talked to Ronnie, who is in a similar situation (in terms of significant others). At this rate, I'm going to find out that Staci got a boyfriend too. So basically everyone is either falling in love or becoming famous, all while I am on the other side of the world. That would happen.
But it IS almost spring time at home though, right? (In Singapore, it's summer all year round, so I am unaccustomed to the term "seasons") So I guess love is in the air..and meanwhile, I am in southeast asia, where apparently the only thing in the air are bloodthirsty mosquitos.
In class, they itch. I walk, and they itch. All they do is itch. And it's weird because normally mosquitos don't like my blood. But these Cambodian mosquitos are willing to get any meal they can, I guess. Which is just my luck.
Did I mention that I have found a new sugary addiction? Being frozen yogurt deprived has led me to pursue other forms of temporary unhealthy obsessions. At home, it ranges from mom's homemade granola to frozen yogurt. In Singapore, it has ranged from pineapple (currently still ongoing), Hershey's chocolate kisses, McDonald's vanilla cones, and the one I am currently suffering from: chocolate covered raisins. Is that gross? I feel like not many people would like them. But for some reason I find them delicious. I am eating/popping them into my mouth like it's no one's business. Seriously, this cannot be healthy. And of course, I am supposed to be doing some homework but my mind is just out of control right now. Completely unable to concentrate. And I find the best cure is to just write (and eat vast quantities of chocolate raisins), even if it is about something as insignificant as chocolate covered raisins. But isn't it the little insignificances of life that make it interesting? I would say so.
MOVING ON: I was hoping to get to talk to Manny today. But that was a fail. I am truly missing that boy so much. There's just something about him...
But I talked with some of my friends back home today. Heather updated me on her life (her new military boyfriend)...and Brieanna's life (her new acting career)... Jessica updated me on her life (new Italian boyfriend who she says is an "angel") Also talked to Ronnie, who is in a similar situation (in terms of significant others). At this rate, I'm going to find out that Staci got a boyfriend too. So basically everyone is either falling in love or becoming famous, all while I am on the other side of the world. That would happen.
But it IS almost spring time at home though, right? (In Singapore, it's summer all year round, so I am unaccustomed to the term "seasons") So I guess love is in the air..and meanwhile, I am in southeast asia, where apparently the only thing in the air are bloodthirsty mosquitos.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Random Ramblings
I am trying to pack for Cambodia. Can you even call it packing? More like throwing a few pairs of shorts, tops, some underwear, and my toothbrush into my backpack. I also had to exchange my sing money for US money because apparently that's what they go for in Cambodia. It was weird to see US money again. Whenever I hold one of those green dolla bills I feel like I'm carrying gold. Especially in Vietnam.
This past week, ever since I went to Vietnam, I have been so tired, as if a bus hit me. Then the driver reversed and ran over me again. My hypothesis is that it is from many many many too many countless nights of going out. Oh and southeast asia country hopping. Running every morning. School. Ok well more like feeling the pressure-of-school and not doing too much about it. Sometimes everything seems surreal, like it is all a dream.. I'm not really in Singapore, living this crazy lifestyle. But then I look over and see my I Love Bali t-shirt...My plane ticket stubs...My Singapore ID card...12 different types of currency sitting on the table...and I know this aint no dream baby!
I must be honest though. I'm definitely enjoying every second here. But I'm people-sick. No, not homesick, but people-sick. I want to make that clear. Because there is a difference. Feels like I haven't seen my mom in 10 years. Yet she looks 10 years younger...it must be the long shiny mane she is growing out. Or my little poochie, who I'm sure is taller than me now. I miss my BFF, emphasis on the B (you know who you are!)...and manny...who i adore....and heather and brieanna.. and my mel ho. But I'll see them all very soon. It is only a matter of time. I just hope they all have the patience to deal with my reverse culture shock. ie What's that? That's a fork, Renee. What's that? That's a toilet seat cover. What's that? That's a white person.. ha jk. But you know, things like that.
Today I needed some time alone. I find I really need that, no matter if I'm at home or here. But especially here because I feel like I am incessantly surrounded by friends. Which I love, but sometimes I just need to be alone. Went for a walk with my ipod to canteen A to grab some dinner. I really want to like canteen 9. But every time after I eat there I feel like I want to throw up. I think it may be from seeing the worker cooks chopping up their vegetables on some wooden block in the back alley. Or maybe it was because there was the hair in my food, that the lady scooped out and put a new spoonful of vegetables to replace it. Perhaps I should eat their nasi goreng. But after eating it for literally every meal in Bali..I just can't bear any more of it. But I swear I am going to go through withdrawal without cant A's hot sauce. This hot sauce blows Sriracha out of the water. Anyways, after I ate, near the random Indian businessmen...and the random Chinese businessmen... who I hope are professors but who knows? I took the bus to JP to grab some last minute essentials before I leave in the morning. Like some US money.. and some fruit and crackers for the trip.. and a backpack. I still have no clue why I didn't bring my backpack here..
For the first time, Fairprice wasn't crowded. I thought I was in the wrong store at first. No one was running into me. No random smells of people rushing by. No looooooong lines down the aisles? Huh? I was shocked and confused. No loud buzz of chinese chatter. But I smelt the durian and knew I was in the right place (I think I just threw up).
I had a minor heart attack yesterday. When I found out that grad schools will be looking at my grades here at NTU. Which I hope won't be straight D's. Especially since I got my first D on a college quiz that I have EVER gotten in my life! And I promise will be the last, because the feeling of uneasiness and disappointment and failure was way too much for me to handle. San Diego Renee almost had a heart attack..So I signed on to Web Portal, to check my transcript. It took me about 10 minutes to remember what the hell my Red ID number was. Or what it was a Red ID was for that matter. Then I checked out all the classes I need to take next semester...checked my grades...stuff like that. It made me feel a bit better, but not much.
So the moral of this long, pointless, rambling story featuring my complaints and whining about my NTU grades is that I need to stop slacking and get my school act together. And study. Much more. And stop saying that and then not following through! Because it is just causing way too much stress for me. How students don't care about school and grades and college is beyond me. I tried it for about 3 months and now am freaking out. It's the cognitive dissonance talking here..
Anyways, I need to finish my Vietnam stories and put them up, before I forget them all. Which I do believe would be an even greater disappointment than getting straight D's.
This past week, ever since I went to Vietnam, I have been so tired, as if a bus hit me. Then the driver reversed and ran over me again. My hypothesis is that it is from many many many too many countless nights of going out. Oh and southeast asia country hopping. Running every morning. School. Ok well more like feeling the pressure-of-school and not doing too much about it. Sometimes everything seems surreal, like it is all a dream.. I'm not really in Singapore, living this crazy lifestyle. But then I look over and see my I Love Bali t-shirt...My plane ticket stubs...My Singapore ID card...12 different types of currency sitting on the table...and I know this aint no dream baby!
I must be honest though. I'm definitely enjoying every second here. But I'm people-sick. No, not homesick, but people-sick. I want to make that clear. Because there is a difference. Feels like I haven't seen my mom in 10 years. Yet she looks 10 years younger...it must be the long shiny mane she is growing out. Or my little poochie, who I'm sure is taller than me now. I miss my BFF, emphasis on the B (you know who you are!)...and manny...who i adore....and heather and brieanna.. and my mel ho. But I'll see them all very soon. It is only a matter of time. I just hope they all have the patience to deal with my reverse culture shock. ie What's that? That's a fork, Renee. What's that? That's a toilet seat cover. What's that? That's a white person.. ha jk. But you know, things like that.
Today I needed some time alone. I find I really need that, no matter if I'm at home or here. But especially here because I feel like I am incessantly surrounded by friends. Which I love, but sometimes I just need to be alone. Went for a walk with my ipod to canteen A to grab some dinner. I really want to like canteen 9. But every time after I eat there I feel like I want to throw up. I think it may be from seeing the worker cooks chopping up their vegetables on some wooden block in the back alley. Or maybe it was because there was the hair in my food, that the lady scooped out and put a new spoonful of vegetables to replace it. Perhaps I should eat their nasi goreng. But after eating it for literally every meal in Bali..I just can't bear any more of it. But I swear I am going to go through withdrawal without cant A's hot sauce. This hot sauce blows Sriracha out of the water. Anyways, after I ate, near the random Indian businessmen...and the random Chinese businessmen... who I hope are professors but who knows? I took the bus to JP to grab some last minute essentials before I leave in the morning. Like some US money.. and some fruit and crackers for the trip.. and a backpack. I still have no clue why I didn't bring my backpack here..
For the first time, Fairprice wasn't crowded. I thought I was in the wrong store at first. No one was running into me. No random smells of people rushing by. No looooooong lines down the aisles? Huh? I was shocked and confused. No loud buzz of chinese chatter. But I smelt the durian and knew I was in the right place (I think I just threw up).
I had a minor heart attack yesterday. When I found out that grad schools will be looking at my grades here at NTU. Which I hope won't be straight D's. Especially since I got my first D on a college quiz that I have EVER gotten in my life! And I promise will be the last, because the feeling of uneasiness and disappointment and failure was way too much for me to handle. San Diego Renee almost had a heart attack..So I signed on to Web Portal, to check my transcript. It took me about 10 minutes to remember what the hell my Red ID number was. Or what it was a Red ID was for that matter. Then I checked out all the classes I need to take next semester...checked my grades...stuff like that. It made me feel a bit better, but not much.
So the moral of this long, pointless, rambling story featuring my complaints and whining about my NTU grades is that I need to stop slacking and get my school act together. And study. Much more. And stop saying that and then not following through! Because it is just causing way too much stress for me. How students don't care about school and grades and college is beyond me. I tried it for about 3 months and now am freaking out. It's the cognitive dissonance talking here..
Anyways, I need to finish my Vietnam stories and put them up, before I forget them all. Which I do believe would be an even greater disappointment than getting straight D's.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
A Taste of Vietnam (SAIGON)
HO CHI MINH CITY. Or should I say Saigon? I prefer Saigon, as did most of the Southern Vietnamese..especially that guy who sold me that yogurt stick ice cream on the street. Oh, and our crazy intense tour guide of course.
Probably one of the coolest, tastiest, and most unique trips I have ever been on in my life. I didn't know what to expect. So first I guess I'll start with the Pho (first things first, right?): It was real, authentic, not loaded up with MSG like at home, leaving you thirsty hours later. Overall, the ethnic variety of the food was surprising. I ate 2 really delicious Indian meals (love that curry!) and a really nice Thai meal (another green curry!) From Mediterranean to Japanese to Malaysian, the city literally had it all. Now if only I was able to muster up the courage to try the local street food (sitting on the small baby stools and tables of course). Or at least the dinosaur egg, crocodile, or snake that they offered during the tour lunch..
The Vietnamese culture was overwhelmingly strong. It was a feeling that is hard to describe..it seemed to be in the air, the smells, the sights, the people, the noises, everything. Experiencing a different Asian culture (a YELLOW one) was unforgettable. Next on my list is the Japanese. Then Koreans. Then I think I will have them all covered...
We left on Friday morning. The group of 6 was divided into 3: Me, David and Andrew (Team Tiger) and Amanda, Roel and Tommy (Team Jetstar). Unfortunately, I have no team pride, due to Tiger's delays and...utter unreliable-ness.
David failed to apply for a Vietnam visa, and realized this when he got to the airport and wasn't let on the airplane, thus leading to his decision to pay 200 sing to change his flight to a later time, apply for a visa online and rush it, then wait for it to process, then come over separately on Friday night.
This left Andrew and I waiting for our flight for a few extra hours, and making me regret getting up so early and paying extra for that taxi. But what are you going to do? Like so many other times on exchange..you just have to breathe and let it go...
After reviewing some key Vietnamese phrases that Andrew had written down, we boarded and flew to Vietnam. The process of getting your Visa and paying and filling out the form was..very unorganized to say the least. But honestly, I wasn't surprised. I was a bit scared of the really intense Chinese-Canadian girl who was yelling at the office worker lady to get her visa. Rude, so rude.
Anyways, we finally got past immigration and were in SAIGON! I couldn't believe how nice and clean the airport was too. Andrew and I bargained with a cab driver over the price. He anted $15 US to take us to the hotel. We laughed. Andrew said $6. He laughed. After some intense bargaining, and walking away..the man settle for $10 US. We later found out that that was a complete rip off, but again...live and learn right?
Driving through the city was awesome! All the motorcycles, and people wearing those face masks...The city was more developed than I thought it would be, yet still old in some parts. We finally got to our hotel ("CHERRY HOTEL. C-H-E-R-R-Y") and found Amanda, Roel, and Tommy waiting in me and Amanda's room watching cartoons. The guesthouse we stayed at was pretty nice! Definitely not bad for about 15 bucks a night. The only negative was that smell...(hahaha)
The 4 boys stayed at the Mai hotel literally around the corner. For the rest of our first day there we just walked around exploring the city, and the boys scoped out places to get their suits. The streets were very dirty. Really made me grateful for the no littering laws of Singapore. Although maybe there is a happy medium...where you can't litter...but you don't get caned and fined if you do....
However, I must say that the very first thing Andrew and I did when we got there was GO EAT PHO from PHO 2000 down the street because we were absolutely STARVING. And, typical me, I ordered a pineapple smoothie. I am not exaggerating when I say that I eat pineapple every day here. Southeast asian tropical pineapple is heavenly. But the pho was not as tasty as at home...but it definitely tasted more authentic. And Bill Clinton ate there in the year 2000. Which, now that I think about it, is probably why they gave it that number? Hmm..
Amanda and I wandered off a bit from the boys, checking out the city. And pissed off an old woman trying to sell us t-shirts. I bargained her down to $1 US per t shirt. But Amanda and I thought it was too early to start buying things!
We found the boys in the tailoring store that we would return to about 13 times that trip. They picked out the fabric for their suits. And Andrew was very impressive with the pictures and notes he had taken for the EXACT look he wanted for his suit. They got them for $150 per suit. I tried on a beautiful green jeweled dress that was about $50 US. And Amanda tried on a classy black one. But neither of us could afford it, being that we would have blown ALL of our money on these dresses. And we had more important things to buy with it. Like coconut candy for example.
We ate dinner that night at this huge food court place. Again, any type of asian food you could imagine. I settled for Indian, of course, while the boys ate about 3 dishes each of food. And Andrew is pretty much a human garbage disposal. It is shocking how much that boy can eat. I bought some chocolates at the vietnamese grocery store..and Amanda and I had some ice cream cones from some fast food place that would literally be the offspring of McDonalds and Burger King if they decided to have a child.
We went to the Ben Thanh market, but didn't stay too long. It was great just walking around the city. Jaywalking in Vietnam is intense. All the motorcycles and cars honk ALL THE TIME and dodge you as you go across the street. I felt like some rebellious child, with all of these opportunities to break what would be a criminal offense in Singapore, like jaywalking.. littering.. spitting... eating on public transit.. we were like teenagers who go to college and get their first taste of freedom and go nuts.
Amanda and I, exhausted, got ready for bed and watched tv! It was all pretty much in Vietnamese though, except for one Australian music channel station that played the same 5 music videos over and over and over. We stayed up talking extremely late, talking about literally everything and everyone. It was hilarious. We finally fell asleep and got about 4 hours before the alarm went off at 5am (which we thought was 6am) and we found ourselves getting up and getting ready to go running. Yes, running in Vietnam while on vacation at 5am. Probably not the best idea we have ever had, but whatever. We sneaked down the stairs, where the people who worked there were sleeping on the couches. We tried to wake them up by subtly talking louder, but it didn't work. Finally the guy got up and unchained the front door. We set foot out to run on the dark streets of Vietnam. It was a bit sketchy..to say the least..But we ended up finding some little park thing and ran around it 15 times. Yes, 15 times. And it was pretty funny when Amanda steppe don some crazy fast squirrel that ran across the sidewalk.
We got back, alive, and took showers (in the bathroom that flooded) then ate some of the delicious breakfast downstairs. We ate about 15 of those little baby sandwiches that they serve in little triangles. What is it about those triangles that make them so much better then when they are cut in squares? I'm convinced that when kids don't eat, parents should just cut the food into triangles and they will eat it..
We met with the boys and took the tour bus over to the station, where we boarded our main bus which was ironically not as nice. We met our tour guide, Mr Lovely, who told us that his face is "lovely" which is where he got his name. He is obviously humble too! Our first stop was as the Vietnamese Handicapped Handcrafters place, where we saw the assembly line and makings of various Vietnamese arts, like boxes..paintings..everything. It was incredible. And it was very sad watching how hard and poor those workers were. I was tempted to buy some painting or something, but it was way overpriced.
Next we headed over to the Mekong River to get aboard our boats! It was a long trek out there on that bus. But I really do not mind long bus rides. They can actually be pretty fun! We arrived at the delta and the water was very brownish and murky. We got on our boats and cruised a bit to change to another smaller boat, and take it down into the jungle parts of Vietnam. It was surrounded on either side by huge green trees, a very beautiful scene! It was very relaxing. And seeing the boys playing and jumping in the water was pretty cute. We arrived at this hidden place in the jungle, where we watched the Vietnamese women there making coconut candy. Now, I will be the first to tell you that I hate coconut. But, I tried it anyways, and this candy was absolutely delectable! So delectable that I bought 3 packs of it (2 chocolate coconuts and 1 peanut coconuts) - I finished nearly 1 of the packages before the trip was even over. It tasted somewhat like saltwater taffy, minus the salt water flavor. Sooooo good.
Then Mr Lovely showed us a real honey bee nest thing, followed by us having a tea party and drinking real honey tea, which was SO sweet I couldn't drink more than 1 sip (and I LOVE sweets). Then a young boy brought out a huge snake for people to hold (and give him tips for) and I was the FIRST one to do it! The snake was cool at first, then it started to kind of hiss at me and I got freaked out so I gave it back..
We took the long leisurely boat to eat lunch, at this school place. Actually I do not know where we were but there were lots of school kids around eating and playing with crocodiles and stuff. They served us a plate of white rice, some meat, and vegetables. But they had a menu consisting of dinosaur eggs...crocodile...eel...frog..all kinds of things that I could never even think of trying! The boys weren't brave enough to try any thing either. Which really disappointed me.
I went and saw some crocodiles afterwards..then bought a whole pineapple for the lady to cut up for me for less than a dollar. It was the sweetest pineapple ever! We ate the pineapple and discussed relationships and how to guess how long a couple has been together just by looking at them on our way to go take a more personalized, really Asian boat ride somewhere else along the Mekong to see the traditional song and music of some Vietnamese people. It was here that we got to eat some tropical fruits (although I wolfed down only the pineapple) and they sang some Vietnamese music and played some instruments I have never even seen before. I bought a bag that I later regretted, so the next lady bought it off of me in exchange for the one I wanted from her! And it was here that Mr Lovely came up to me and TOLD me that I was half asian and half Western, although he didn't know what asian..and that I was a half-breed. Pretty funny guy, right?
We took the boat back to the main area to go to the bathroom, and while I was in the bathroom (gotta love those southeast asian squatters) I came out and everyone was gone. Everyone. I was so scared. I went out into the parking lot..searching for the bus..couldn't see any tourist. All I wanted to see was a white person, some person looking lost too..anyone. Just when I was considering how I would get back, I saw Mr Lovely running towards me...I ran towards him too, so thankful to see his Lovely Face! I now understand why they say his face is so lovely! I apologized because the bus was waiting for me...and asked him "What can you expect from half-breeds?" which made him laugh pretty hard.
By the time we got back from the long bus ride, we were STARVING. Amanda and I had eaten nearly 70 of those coconut candies, and we dying for real food. We decided to eat at this little Indian restaurant, that was probably some of the tastiest Indian food I have ever eaten. Nevermind that at EVERY meal my food is ALWAYS the last to be served, although it is always the easiest to make...but it was well worth the wait.
Next we went back from District 7 to District 1 to get the boys suits. They were SO excited. But only to be let down when they heard that they werent ready yet. Amanda and I went back to our rooms to rest a bit before possibly going out later, but she ended up studying for her Chinese quiz while I passed out. Later, I took a shower and fell asleep at about 9pm. The boys came at 11 pm to get us, but I was dead asleep. And Amanda told me the next day that I was sleep talking to her. I really am my mother's daughter...
The next morning, the alarm went off again at 5am. This time, it was way more difficult to get up and run. I literally stood up and just stood there. A zombie. Dead to the world. Amanda was like "Let's just sleep 1 more hour and do it at 6" so I threw my running clothes down and passed back out in bed. 1 min later I was like "No Amanda, let's just go now!" so we got up and did our loops again, this time, however, make it clear that we went 16 times around!
We got back and again enjoyed tons of triangles and pineapple and such..and then we got picked up to go to our half day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, which I would say was my favorite part of the trip!
On the way, we stopped again at a different handicrafter place, this time with even more workers and paintings. Then we got to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where we first watched a video underground in a big dirt room, informing us of the background, from the Vietnamese point of view, of the Vietnam War and what these tunnels were used for. It was very interesting hearing such a different perspective on the war. Our tour guide was also a soldier in the war for the South (non-communist) side for Vietnam.
After watching the video we began our walking tour through the tunnels. We were shown a bunch of trap devices that the soldiers used that were strategically placed throughout the jungles. In school, we would always learn about guerrilla warfare, but actually going and seeing it and experiencing it was insane. We even got to try to go down in a tunnel (Where they would then place the opening over their head and hide underground). I was small enough to go in, but it was quite hard trying to get back out!
My favorite part was obviously when we got to actually go down IN the tunnels, just like how the soldiers did. It took them 5 hours to walk/squat through them for 3 miles. They were SO small, dark, claustrophobic, humid, and a bit creepy. At some points I couldn't see where I was going, just squatting along sweating through the tunnel that you could barely move in. I stayed in the whole time with some random guy on the tour who followed me! I felt much safer with him behind me.
Afterwards, we got to eat tapioca and tea, which is what the soldiers ate EVERY day while they were out. Even their kitchens were underground, and the tour guide told us that they would cook only very early in the morning or very late at night. They were very very sneaky, these Vietcongs..
After the tour ended, we were all very very dirty and sweaty. But no matter! We went back and decided to eat at this great Pho place that had all kinds of great food. I got some fresh spring rolls and pho which had the freshest vegetables and flavor I could imagine! The lady even gave us free dessert, 1 being a chocolate cake, and the other being some vegetable croissant thing...it was actually pretty good!
Amanda and I reluctantly tried this yogurt stick dessert thing on the street for 5000 dong. We bought it off some guys who were selling it off a motorcycle. It was the best tasting dessert I have had in a loooong time.
We decided to spend our last half day in HCMC doing as much as we could. We went to the Vietnam War Museum, which was mainly pictures and big tanks, but I really learned so much. We also tried to go to the Reunification Palace, which was closed by the time we got there. We then walked down to the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was near a huge park and a huge building that we still don't know what it was. A post office? A train station? Who knows? But I sent my family a postcard there, and in the park happened to come across a big group of Vietnamese teens sitting down singing happy birthday with a cake for a friend. I proceeded to take a picture of them, trying to be subtle, but they saw and started posing. Also, the girl near the stature trying to sell us stuff really insulted Roel, which was hilarious, asking him why he was bald? I won't tell you his response. lol. We ate dinner at a great Thai restaurant, where I ate the best green curry of my life. David was literally SWEATING BULLETS from his Wild Spring Curry...Amanda and I got cheap ice creams from the Circle K afterwards because we always crave something sweet after eating Asian food. We went back to get their suits - where the women again tried to get me to buy the beautiful green and gold dress and the black one for Amanda - and then returned to the hotel. I was exhausted, but still went with the boys to the night market. It wasn't very cheap, and they weren't willing to bargain very much. I sat with the boys while they ate their 6th meal that day at 11pm - enjoying their last Vietnamese meal of real pho and beer (And the spring rolls Andrew never got - he had the WORST luck with food on this trip!)
The next morning we flew back to Singapore. I thought Tiger was going to screw me over again and have such a delayed flight that I would miss my 130 class. Despite our delay, I got back just in time and was able to cab back to NTU and go straight to class with my suitcase. I borrowed a pen and paper from my friend and took notes for 2 hours, then while walking home with my luggage, it started to POUR. Perfect timing of course. So I somehow made my way back in the rain, lugged the suitcase up to the 6th floor, and came back soaked. Oh well. It was all worth it.
Overall, I was awed by the people and culture of Vietnam. How a country, so fresh from war, could still be full of optimistic people.
It was a great learning experience, truly opening my eyes to the different perspectives of war and hardships. I absolutely loved Vietnam, and am now dying to go back to Hanoi with mom this summer. You can never have enough Pho.
Probably one of the coolest, tastiest, and most unique trips I have ever been on in my life. I didn't know what to expect. So first I guess I'll start with the Pho (first things first, right?): It was real, authentic, not loaded up with MSG like at home, leaving you thirsty hours later. Overall, the ethnic variety of the food was surprising. I ate 2 really delicious Indian meals (love that curry!) and a really nice Thai meal (another green curry!) From Mediterranean to Japanese to Malaysian, the city literally had it all. Now if only I was able to muster up the courage to try the local street food (sitting on the small baby stools and tables of course). Or at least the dinosaur egg, crocodile, or snake that they offered during the tour lunch..
The Vietnamese culture was overwhelmingly strong. It was a feeling that is hard to describe..it seemed to be in the air, the smells, the sights, the people, the noises, everything. Experiencing a different Asian culture (a YELLOW one) was unforgettable. Next on my list is the Japanese. Then Koreans. Then I think I will have them all covered...
We left on Friday morning. The group of 6 was divided into 3: Me, David and Andrew (Team Tiger) and Amanda, Roel and Tommy (Team Jetstar). Unfortunately, I have no team pride, due to Tiger's delays and...utter unreliable-ness.
David failed to apply for a Vietnam visa, and realized this when he got to the airport and wasn't let on the airplane, thus leading to his decision to pay 200 sing to change his flight to a later time, apply for a visa online and rush it, then wait for it to process, then come over separately on Friday night.
This left Andrew and I waiting for our flight for a few extra hours, and making me regret getting up so early and paying extra for that taxi. But what are you going to do? Like so many other times on exchange..you just have to breathe and let it go...
After reviewing some key Vietnamese phrases that Andrew had written down, we boarded and flew to Vietnam. The process of getting your Visa and paying and filling out the form was..very unorganized to say the least. But honestly, I wasn't surprised. I was a bit scared of the really intense Chinese-Canadian girl who was yelling at the office worker lady to get her visa. Rude, so rude.
Anyways, we finally got past immigration and were in SAIGON! I couldn't believe how nice and clean the airport was too. Andrew and I bargained with a cab driver over the price. He anted $15 US to take us to the hotel. We laughed. Andrew said $6. He laughed. After some intense bargaining, and walking away..the man settle for $10 US. We later found out that that was a complete rip off, but again...live and learn right?
Driving through the city was awesome! All the motorcycles, and people wearing those face masks...The city was more developed than I thought it would be, yet still old in some parts. We finally got to our hotel ("CHERRY HOTEL. C-H-E-R-R-Y") and found Amanda, Roel, and Tommy waiting in me and Amanda's room watching cartoons. The guesthouse we stayed at was pretty nice! Definitely not bad for about 15 bucks a night. The only negative was that smell...(hahaha)
The 4 boys stayed at the Mai hotel literally around the corner. For the rest of our first day there we just walked around exploring the city, and the boys scoped out places to get their suits. The streets were very dirty. Really made me grateful for the no littering laws of Singapore. Although maybe there is a happy medium...where you can't litter...but you don't get caned and fined if you do....
However, I must say that the very first thing Andrew and I did when we got there was GO EAT PHO from PHO 2000 down the street because we were absolutely STARVING. And, typical me, I ordered a pineapple smoothie. I am not exaggerating when I say that I eat pineapple every day here. Southeast asian tropical pineapple is heavenly. But the pho was not as tasty as at home...but it definitely tasted more authentic. And Bill Clinton ate there in the year 2000. Which, now that I think about it, is probably why they gave it that number? Hmm..
Amanda and I wandered off a bit from the boys, checking out the city. And pissed off an old woman trying to sell us t-shirts. I bargained her down to $1 US per t shirt. But Amanda and I thought it was too early to start buying things!
We found the boys in the tailoring store that we would return to about 13 times that trip. They picked out the fabric for their suits. And Andrew was very impressive with the pictures and notes he had taken for the EXACT look he wanted for his suit. They got them for $150 per suit. I tried on a beautiful green jeweled dress that was about $50 US. And Amanda tried on a classy black one. But neither of us could afford it, being that we would have blown ALL of our money on these dresses. And we had more important things to buy with it. Like coconut candy for example.
We ate dinner that night at this huge food court place. Again, any type of asian food you could imagine. I settled for Indian, of course, while the boys ate about 3 dishes each of food. And Andrew is pretty much a human garbage disposal. It is shocking how much that boy can eat. I bought some chocolates at the vietnamese grocery store..and Amanda and I had some ice cream cones from some fast food place that would literally be the offspring of McDonalds and Burger King if they decided to have a child.
We went to the Ben Thanh market, but didn't stay too long. It was great just walking around the city. Jaywalking in Vietnam is intense. All the motorcycles and cars honk ALL THE TIME and dodge you as you go across the street. I felt like some rebellious child, with all of these opportunities to break what would be a criminal offense in Singapore, like jaywalking.. littering.. spitting... eating on public transit.. we were like teenagers who go to college and get their first taste of freedom and go nuts.
Amanda and I, exhausted, got ready for bed and watched tv! It was all pretty much in Vietnamese though, except for one Australian music channel station that played the same 5 music videos over and over and over. We stayed up talking extremely late, talking about literally everything and everyone. It was hilarious. We finally fell asleep and got about 4 hours before the alarm went off at 5am (which we thought was 6am) and we found ourselves getting up and getting ready to go running. Yes, running in Vietnam while on vacation at 5am. Probably not the best idea we have ever had, but whatever. We sneaked down the stairs, where the people who worked there were sleeping on the couches. We tried to wake them up by subtly talking louder, but it didn't work. Finally the guy got up and unchained the front door. We set foot out to run on the dark streets of Vietnam. It was a bit sketchy..to say the least..But we ended up finding some little park thing and ran around it 15 times. Yes, 15 times. And it was pretty funny when Amanda steppe don some crazy fast squirrel that ran across the sidewalk.
We got back, alive, and took showers (in the bathroom that flooded) then ate some of the delicious breakfast downstairs. We ate about 15 of those little baby sandwiches that they serve in little triangles. What is it about those triangles that make them so much better then when they are cut in squares? I'm convinced that when kids don't eat, parents should just cut the food into triangles and they will eat it..
We met with the boys and took the tour bus over to the station, where we boarded our main bus which was ironically not as nice. We met our tour guide, Mr Lovely, who told us that his face is "lovely" which is where he got his name. He is obviously humble too! Our first stop was as the Vietnamese Handicapped Handcrafters place, where we saw the assembly line and makings of various Vietnamese arts, like boxes..paintings..everything. It was incredible. And it was very sad watching how hard and poor those workers were. I was tempted to buy some painting or something, but it was way overpriced.
Next we headed over to the Mekong River to get aboard our boats! It was a long trek out there on that bus. But I really do not mind long bus rides. They can actually be pretty fun! We arrived at the delta and the water was very brownish and murky. We got on our boats and cruised a bit to change to another smaller boat, and take it down into the jungle parts of Vietnam. It was surrounded on either side by huge green trees, a very beautiful scene! It was very relaxing. And seeing the boys playing and jumping in the water was pretty cute. We arrived at this hidden place in the jungle, where we watched the Vietnamese women there making coconut candy. Now, I will be the first to tell you that I hate coconut. But, I tried it anyways, and this candy was absolutely delectable! So delectable that I bought 3 packs of it (2 chocolate coconuts and 1 peanut coconuts) - I finished nearly 1 of the packages before the trip was even over. It tasted somewhat like saltwater taffy, minus the salt water flavor. Sooooo good.
Then Mr Lovely showed us a real honey bee nest thing, followed by us having a tea party and drinking real honey tea, which was SO sweet I couldn't drink more than 1 sip (and I LOVE sweets). Then a young boy brought out a huge snake for people to hold (and give him tips for) and I was the FIRST one to do it! The snake was cool at first, then it started to kind of hiss at me and I got freaked out so I gave it back..
We took the long leisurely boat to eat lunch, at this school place. Actually I do not know where we were but there were lots of school kids around eating and playing with crocodiles and stuff. They served us a plate of white rice, some meat, and vegetables. But they had a menu consisting of dinosaur eggs...crocodile...eel...frog..all kinds of things that I could never even think of trying! The boys weren't brave enough to try any thing either. Which really disappointed me.
I went and saw some crocodiles afterwards..then bought a whole pineapple for the lady to cut up for me for less than a dollar. It was the sweetest pineapple ever! We ate the pineapple and discussed relationships and how to guess how long a couple has been together just by looking at them on our way to go take a more personalized, really Asian boat ride somewhere else along the Mekong to see the traditional song and music of some Vietnamese people. It was here that we got to eat some tropical fruits (although I wolfed down only the pineapple) and they sang some Vietnamese music and played some instruments I have never even seen before. I bought a bag that I later regretted, so the next lady bought it off of me in exchange for the one I wanted from her! And it was here that Mr Lovely came up to me and TOLD me that I was half asian and half Western, although he didn't know what asian..and that I was a half-breed. Pretty funny guy, right?
We took the boat back to the main area to go to the bathroom, and while I was in the bathroom (gotta love those southeast asian squatters) I came out and everyone was gone. Everyone. I was so scared. I went out into the parking lot..searching for the bus..couldn't see any tourist. All I wanted to see was a white person, some person looking lost too..anyone. Just when I was considering how I would get back, I saw Mr Lovely running towards me...I ran towards him too, so thankful to see his Lovely Face! I now understand why they say his face is so lovely! I apologized because the bus was waiting for me...and asked him "What can you expect from half-breeds?" which made him laugh pretty hard.
By the time we got back from the long bus ride, we were STARVING. Amanda and I had eaten nearly 70 of those coconut candies, and we dying for real food. We decided to eat at this little Indian restaurant, that was probably some of the tastiest Indian food I have ever eaten. Nevermind that at EVERY meal my food is ALWAYS the last to be served, although it is always the easiest to make...but it was well worth the wait.
Next we went back from District 7 to District 1 to get the boys suits. They were SO excited. But only to be let down when they heard that they werent ready yet. Amanda and I went back to our rooms to rest a bit before possibly going out later, but she ended up studying for her Chinese quiz while I passed out. Later, I took a shower and fell asleep at about 9pm. The boys came at 11 pm to get us, but I was dead asleep. And Amanda told me the next day that I was sleep talking to her. I really am my mother's daughter...
The next morning, the alarm went off again at 5am. This time, it was way more difficult to get up and run. I literally stood up and just stood there. A zombie. Dead to the world. Amanda was like "Let's just sleep 1 more hour and do it at 6" so I threw my running clothes down and passed back out in bed. 1 min later I was like "No Amanda, let's just go now!" so we got up and did our loops again, this time, however, make it clear that we went 16 times around!
We got back and again enjoyed tons of triangles and pineapple and such..and then we got picked up to go to our half day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, which I would say was my favorite part of the trip!
On the way, we stopped again at a different handicrafter place, this time with even more workers and paintings. Then we got to the Cu Chi Tunnels, where we first watched a video underground in a big dirt room, informing us of the background, from the Vietnamese point of view, of the Vietnam War and what these tunnels were used for. It was very interesting hearing such a different perspective on the war. Our tour guide was also a soldier in the war for the South (non-communist) side for Vietnam.
After watching the video we began our walking tour through the tunnels. We were shown a bunch of trap devices that the soldiers used that were strategically placed throughout the jungles. In school, we would always learn about guerrilla warfare, but actually going and seeing it and experiencing it was insane. We even got to try to go down in a tunnel (Where they would then place the opening over their head and hide underground). I was small enough to go in, but it was quite hard trying to get back out!
My favorite part was obviously when we got to actually go down IN the tunnels, just like how the soldiers did. It took them 5 hours to walk/squat through them for 3 miles. They were SO small, dark, claustrophobic, humid, and a bit creepy. At some points I couldn't see where I was going, just squatting along sweating through the tunnel that you could barely move in. I stayed in the whole time with some random guy on the tour who followed me! I felt much safer with him behind me.
Afterwards, we got to eat tapioca and tea, which is what the soldiers ate EVERY day while they were out. Even their kitchens were underground, and the tour guide told us that they would cook only very early in the morning or very late at night. They were very very sneaky, these Vietcongs..
After the tour ended, we were all very very dirty and sweaty. But no matter! We went back and decided to eat at this great Pho place that had all kinds of great food. I got some fresh spring rolls and pho which had the freshest vegetables and flavor I could imagine! The lady even gave us free dessert, 1 being a chocolate cake, and the other being some vegetable croissant thing...it was actually pretty good!
Amanda and I reluctantly tried this yogurt stick dessert thing on the street for 5000 dong. We bought it off some guys who were selling it off a motorcycle. It was the best tasting dessert I have had in a loooong time.
We decided to spend our last half day in HCMC doing as much as we could. We went to the Vietnam War Museum, which was mainly pictures and big tanks, but I really learned so much. We also tried to go to the Reunification Palace, which was closed by the time we got there. We then walked down to the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was near a huge park and a huge building that we still don't know what it was. A post office? A train station? Who knows? But I sent my family a postcard there, and in the park happened to come across a big group of Vietnamese teens sitting down singing happy birthday with a cake for a friend. I proceeded to take a picture of them, trying to be subtle, but they saw and started posing. Also, the girl near the stature trying to sell us stuff really insulted Roel, which was hilarious, asking him why he was bald? I won't tell you his response. lol. We ate dinner at a great Thai restaurant, where I ate the best green curry of my life. David was literally SWEATING BULLETS from his Wild Spring Curry...Amanda and I got cheap ice creams from the Circle K afterwards because we always crave something sweet after eating Asian food. We went back to get their suits - where the women again tried to get me to buy the beautiful green and gold dress and the black one for Amanda - and then returned to the hotel. I was exhausted, but still went with the boys to the night market. It wasn't very cheap, and they weren't willing to bargain very much. I sat with the boys while they ate their 6th meal that day at 11pm - enjoying their last Vietnamese meal of real pho and beer (And the spring rolls Andrew never got - he had the WORST luck with food on this trip!)
The next morning we flew back to Singapore. I thought Tiger was going to screw me over again and have such a delayed flight that I would miss my 130 class. Despite our delay, I got back just in time and was able to cab back to NTU and go straight to class with my suitcase. I borrowed a pen and paper from my friend and took notes for 2 hours, then while walking home with my luggage, it started to POUR. Perfect timing of course. So I somehow made my way back in the rain, lugged the suitcase up to the 6th floor, and came back soaked. Oh well. It was all worth it.
Overall, I was awed by the people and culture of Vietnam. How a country, so fresh from war, could still be full of optimistic people.
It was a great learning experience, truly opening my eyes to the different perspectives of war and hardships. I absolutely loved Vietnam, and am now dying to go back to Hanoi with mom this summer. You can never have enough Pho.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Paper From Hell
I try to live my life by the rule of: Learn from your mistakes. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. Especially for people like me, who make decisions like eating Indian food the night before a race. Or taking a nap 20 minutes before youre supposed to leave for it.
These past 2 days (after my race fiasco on Sunday) have been characterized by pure exhaustion. Yesterday was Monday, aka Day 1 of 3 of intense 10 page essay writing for my positive psychology class. This never ending essay from hell is due on Saturday, but because I'm conveniently leaving for Vietnam Friday morning, am forced to have it done by Thursday.
Now, don't get me wrong. I have been planning on writing this essay for a long time. My intentions for getting it finished were definitely for the best. But my actions failed me. Yet again. San Diego Renee would have had this done a month ago. But Singapore Renee is different. But can you blame me? You can probably understand how going to Bali, or taking a weekend trip to Thailand, can get in the way of accomplishing your school goals. For the first time all semester, I have experienced school stress; maybe it really is the stress of getting the paper done by a deadline. Or perhaps it is the stress that comes with re-learning what it means to have to write a legit paper: Focusing. Not procrastinating. Knowing what you're supposed to be writing about. An attention-span that lasts more than 3 minutes and doesn't resort to Facebooking.
Anyways, I spent all of Sunday cooped up in my room writing the first 2 pages of my essay. Yesterday, I spent all day and night in the library working on the next 3 pages of the essay. I didn't meet any of my friends for 2 full days, which is like an eternity when you're on a serious time-limited exchange program. They were wondering what happened to me, where their San Diego girl had gone. Little did they know her life was being taken over by a paper...
Delirious, and dazed, I walked home after the library closed, and somehow made my way into bed. Today, after class, I went to the library to finish another 2 pages. For the record, I spent 2 hours working on these 2 pages...pouring my heart...soul...brain power...and okay the best BS I have into it. Then, as I go to leave to meet my group for a project, I didn't save my essay, and the last 2 pages I had just done were gone. Lost. Finito. To the Singaporean computer gods. I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach. Nausea overwhelmed me, and I felt like I was going to pass out when suddenly--
***Flashback, to the SDSU library, last semester, where the SAME EXACT THING happened to me as I was writing some other crazy essay. For DA (PSYCH 410) I'm guessing. Who knows? But I failed to save it, and it was lost on the library computer, and I pretty much wanted to end my life. But I had to suck it up and rewrite it, and promise myself to never be so stupid again. Clearly, I broke that promise.***
After the group meeting, where the local Singaporean girls told me to go and try to recover the file on the computer, I wandered back to the library, full of despair and sorrow. 2 hours of my life wasted. After Zami gave me his sympathy ("Are you okay? You look really depressed") and David made a few clicks to try to find it, I officially gave up trying to save it, and decided to rewrite it. My anger was seething through my skin as I channeled it into my paper-writing and I ended up writing more pages than I had previously. After my next class, I returned to the library to finish the paper (yes, all 10 pages) by 9pm.
Unfortunately, I could not tell you what I wrote about. And after trying to reread and edit those 10 pages of legit BS, I was bored by page 2 and stopped.
Therefore, I would like to say that the lesson learned is to always save your file before you exit out of word. But perhaps it's more honest if I say that the best BS writing comes out when you are extremely angry. And that, my friends, is what living and learning from your mistakes is all about.
These past 2 days (after my race fiasco on Sunday) have been characterized by pure exhaustion. Yesterday was Monday, aka Day 1 of 3 of intense 10 page essay writing for my positive psychology class. This never ending essay from hell is due on Saturday, but because I'm conveniently leaving for Vietnam Friday morning, am forced to have it done by Thursday.
Now, don't get me wrong. I have been planning on writing this essay for a long time. My intentions for getting it finished were definitely for the best. But my actions failed me. Yet again. San Diego Renee would have had this done a month ago. But Singapore Renee is different. But can you blame me? You can probably understand how going to Bali, or taking a weekend trip to Thailand, can get in the way of accomplishing your school goals. For the first time all semester, I have experienced school stress; maybe it really is the stress of getting the paper done by a deadline. Or perhaps it is the stress that comes with re-learning what it means to have to write a legit paper: Focusing. Not procrastinating. Knowing what you're supposed to be writing about. An attention-span that lasts more than 3 minutes and doesn't resort to Facebooking.
Anyways, I spent all of Sunday cooped up in my room writing the first 2 pages of my essay. Yesterday, I spent all day and night in the library working on the next 3 pages of the essay. I didn't meet any of my friends for 2 full days, which is like an eternity when you're on a serious time-limited exchange program. They were wondering what happened to me, where their San Diego girl had gone. Little did they know her life was being taken over by a paper...
Delirious, and dazed, I walked home after the library closed, and somehow made my way into bed. Today, after class, I went to the library to finish another 2 pages. For the record, I spent 2 hours working on these 2 pages...pouring my heart...soul...brain power...and okay the best BS I have into it. Then, as I go to leave to meet my group for a project, I didn't save my essay, and the last 2 pages I had just done were gone. Lost. Finito. To the Singaporean computer gods. I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach. Nausea overwhelmed me, and I felt like I was going to pass out when suddenly--
***Flashback, to the SDSU library, last semester, where the SAME EXACT THING happened to me as I was writing some other crazy essay. For DA (PSYCH 410) I'm guessing. Who knows? But I failed to save it, and it was lost on the library computer, and I pretty much wanted to end my life. But I had to suck it up and rewrite it, and promise myself to never be so stupid again. Clearly, I broke that promise.***
After the group meeting, where the local Singaporean girls told me to go and try to recover the file on the computer, I wandered back to the library, full of despair and sorrow. 2 hours of my life wasted. After Zami gave me his sympathy ("Are you okay? You look really depressed") and David made a few clicks to try to find it, I officially gave up trying to save it, and decided to rewrite it. My anger was seething through my skin as I channeled it into my paper-writing and I ended up writing more pages than I had previously. After my next class, I returned to the library to finish the paper (yes, all 10 pages) by 9pm.
Unfortunately, I could not tell you what I wrote about. And after trying to reread and edit those 10 pages of legit BS, I was bored by page 2 and stopped.
Therefore, I would like to say that the lesson learned is to always save your file before you exit out of word. But perhaps it's more honest if I say that the best BS writing comes out when you are extremely angry. And that, my friends, is what living and learning from your mistakes is all about.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A Race (in itself) To The Starting Line
Running a race in Singapore was on my list of things to do before I die (I mean, isn't it on everyones?), and it has now officially been completed, although about 12 hours ago, I may not have been so sure...
Let's go back to last night, Saturday night, the night before the 16K race that Amanda, Brooke, Allie and I planned to run together. Yes, the one that I haven't been training for AT ALL. If only going on 3-4 mile runs every morning in a different country (with a SLIGHTLY warmer climate than home) would have fully prepared me for the big 10-miler, I may have been more confident about the run. Therefore, despite my unpreparedness to run the miles (kilometers, I mean) I decided to also not be prepared when it came to getting enough sleep.
Due to my new mindset of "living in the moment" I went to eat with Shermaine and her friends at Bakit Timah, a local, Indian, outdoor food place with food as local as local gets. Let me just say that eating Indian food (and I mean REAL Indian food) the evening before a race is not the wisest idea. Anyways, I had a few sips of the Indian Lasi mango-yogurt-ice concoction before I couldn't take any more. It was so overwhelmingly sour because of the different type of dairy that they use in their yogurt. May I also add that I haven't eaten or drank any dairy for 3 months (besides some ice cream and some eggs) so the sour yogurt that tasted like it had gone bad didn't agree well with my poor tummy. Next, instead of getting the mix veg curry which sounded delicious, I was talked into getting a spinach-cottage cheese gravy curry instead...Moreover, we ordered a bunch of chicken, red, green, and yellow, to top it all off. May I also mention that I barely eat any chicken here, because it is rarely white meat or served without skin or bone. However, I ate the chicken last night, which my stomach also didn't appreciate very much. MISTAKE #1
But it was great to get to talk to Shermaine, who is an NTU student but went on exchange for a semester at SDSU. Someone who could relate to my undying love for Yogurtland, and the beautiful SDSU campus, and the convenience of living next to Ralph's was pretty cool. Among the culutral differences we could name, here's what I remember: Toilet Seat Covers, Passivity/Direct, Fro Yo, Being Tan/White, Gum, Riding on the wrong side of the road, etc.
After the somewhat unsettling meal, I had a terrible stomach ache. And it only augmented when our friend decided to eat an entire Durian. It was at that point that I was fully prepared to throw up, for the smell of durian (onions+butt) is deadly. Stay away. FAR far away.
When they dropped me off at hall 13, I felt very sick. But I pushed it to the side when I met up with the girls (Sam, Yun, Julie) and we went to JP to do some shopping. We have found our new favorite store, Cotton On, which sells the cheapest cutest clothes. We met up with the NUS boys to go and see the 9:40 pm showing of Alice in Wonderland (which was, amazing, by the way. A real 9.1/10) MISTAKE #2
By the time I went to bed last night, it was almost 1am. Please keep in mind that I had to wake up at 430am to meet the girls in the taxi at 5am then go to Boon Lay to catch the 530am bus ride to Pasir Ris. Also it is important to note that the race was on the complete opposite of the Singaporean island (East Side). And that we, here at NTU, are on the COMPLETE WEST SIDE. The boonies. Literally.
I set my phone alarm for it to go off 5 times in case I didn't wake up. I also was planning on giving Amanda her bib number and shirt when we met in the cab. After my 4 1/2 hour nap, I woke up to the alarm, feeling queasy from the Indian food but still ready to go run. I brushed my teeth, got changed into my Singaporean singlet and shorts (the standard NTU outfit) and facebook chatted with Amanda at about 445am, telling her I would meet her down at my bus stop at 510am. Bored, and freezing, in my room, I decided to lay back down and "doze off" for a few more minutes before I had to go down and catch the cab with them. MISTAKE #3
One hour later. I wake up, startled. I look at my clock, which reads 550 am. Yes, I had "dozed off" and fallen asleep for an hour. Frantic. Panic. Stress. And cuss words overwhelm my brain. I jumped up from the bed, grabbed my stuff, and FLEW out the door. I still had Amanda's number and shirt to give to her! Yet it was almost 6 am, and our race was supposed to start at 650am. And it was on the complete other side of Singapore.
Amanda calls me from Allie's phone. She tells me that they had waited for me at the bus stop but that I wasn't there so they had to leave to catch the bus (which I paid 2 tickets for). It was still completely dark outside, and I was all alone. I almost started crying, thinking I was going to not only miss my race, but that I let down Amanda! She gave me the number of the taxi reservation company and I called for a taxi. It came in 5 minutes and it was the nicest old Chinese man ever. I told him in a panic that I needed to go to Pasir Ris ASAP. He told me roads were closed down for the run I was doing, but he could get me there in 30 minutes if he drove fast. So while the driver booked it, I came to terms with my stupidity of going back to sleep and screwing everything up. I imagined what Matt would tell me in this situation, and I told myself that this was just life and I would make it.
As we pedaled to the metal, I called Amanda apologizing and stressed and upset and she told me to breathe and calm down. We arranged to meet at the Bag Check In stand near the starting line. The taxi ride cost me 29 sing dollars, which I was not very happy about. But sometimes in life, you just have to suck it up and pay for it I guess.
So there I was, running as fast as I could through the dark streets of Singapore, desperately searching for the starting line. I finally found it, and heard it, and saw all the runners in their matching red singlets, and I sprinted over to find the 3 girls getting ready to run. The girls race started literally 3 minutes after I got there and gave Amanda her number and checked in my bag. We began the race! Amanda and I ran together for the first half an hour then I broke off and wanted to go faster. There were stairs...and lots of sweaty people (it was SO humid) and it was an out-and-back course. Even though I was planning on just running it for fun, my competitiveness got the best of me and I had to play catch up and pick off as many girls as I could while passing groups and groups of guys. I ended up doing the 10 miles in 1:17, which is better than I thought I would get but definitely slower than my time would have been at home. It was a sub 8 minute mile pace, and the most I had run was maybe miles since I've been to Singapore, so I guess it wasn't too bad.
I have NEVER IN MY LIFE sweated as much as I did this morning at this race. I looked like I had just gone swimming. We all did. It was hilarious. And in the goodie bags, they gave us a bottle of "energy maximizing" pills, which was very very ironic...
We MRT'd back home ($3) and Amanda and I had a one-track mind of just getting home and showering. That shower was probably one of the best showers I have ever had in my life.
I am now sitting on my bed, contemplating taking another nap, but this time without the worry about needing to wake up for anything. My body is pretty tired but not too bad. And I have tons of homework to do, but I just needed to blog about this chaotic morning running fiasco. Welcome to my life...
Registration fee for Northeast run: 38 SG dollars
Last minute taxi ride to starting line on opposite side of island: 30 SG dollars
1.5 hour long MRT/bus ride back home: 3.80 sing dollars
Being in a sea of a million asian runners in Singapore: Priceless.
<3
Let's go back to last night, Saturday night, the night before the 16K race that Amanda, Brooke, Allie and I planned to run together. Yes, the one that I haven't been training for AT ALL. If only going on 3-4 mile runs every morning in a different country (with a SLIGHTLY warmer climate than home) would have fully prepared me for the big 10-miler, I may have been more confident about the run. Therefore, despite my unpreparedness to run the miles (kilometers, I mean) I decided to also not be prepared when it came to getting enough sleep.
Due to my new mindset of "living in the moment" I went to eat with Shermaine and her friends at Bakit Timah, a local, Indian, outdoor food place with food as local as local gets. Let me just say that eating Indian food (and I mean REAL Indian food) the evening before a race is not the wisest idea. Anyways, I had a few sips of the Indian Lasi mango-yogurt-ice concoction before I couldn't take any more. It was so overwhelmingly sour because of the different type of dairy that they use in their yogurt. May I also add that I haven't eaten or drank any dairy for 3 months (besides some ice cream and some eggs) so the sour yogurt that tasted like it had gone bad didn't agree well with my poor tummy. Next, instead of getting the mix veg curry which sounded delicious, I was talked into getting a spinach-cottage cheese gravy curry instead...Moreover, we ordered a bunch of chicken, red, green, and yellow, to top it all off. May I also mention that I barely eat any chicken here, because it is rarely white meat or served without skin or bone. However, I ate the chicken last night, which my stomach also didn't appreciate very much. MISTAKE #1
But it was great to get to talk to Shermaine, who is an NTU student but went on exchange for a semester at SDSU. Someone who could relate to my undying love for Yogurtland, and the beautiful SDSU campus, and the convenience of living next to Ralph's was pretty cool. Among the culutral differences we could name, here's what I remember: Toilet Seat Covers, Passivity/Direct, Fro Yo, Being Tan/White, Gum, Riding on the wrong side of the road, etc.
After the somewhat unsettling meal, I had a terrible stomach ache. And it only augmented when our friend decided to eat an entire Durian. It was at that point that I was fully prepared to throw up, for the smell of durian (onions+butt) is deadly. Stay away. FAR far away.
When they dropped me off at hall 13, I felt very sick. But I pushed it to the side when I met up with the girls (Sam, Yun, Julie) and we went to JP to do some shopping. We have found our new favorite store, Cotton On, which sells the cheapest cutest clothes. We met up with the NUS boys to go and see the 9:40 pm showing of Alice in Wonderland (which was, amazing, by the way. A real 9.1/10) MISTAKE #2
By the time I went to bed last night, it was almost 1am. Please keep in mind that I had to wake up at 430am to meet the girls in the taxi at 5am then go to Boon Lay to catch the 530am bus ride to Pasir Ris. Also it is important to note that the race was on the complete opposite of the Singaporean island (East Side). And that we, here at NTU, are on the COMPLETE WEST SIDE. The boonies. Literally.
I set my phone alarm for it to go off 5 times in case I didn't wake up. I also was planning on giving Amanda her bib number and shirt when we met in the cab. After my 4 1/2 hour nap, I woke up to the alarm, feeling queasy from the Indian food but still ready to go run. I brushed my teeth, got changed into my Singaporean singlet and shorts (the standard NTU outfit) and facebook chatted with Amanda at about 445am, telling her I would meet her down at my bus stop at 510am. Bored, and freezing, in my room, I decided to lay back down and "doze off" for a few more minutes before I had to go down and catch the cab with them. MISTAKE #3
One hour later. I wake up, startled. I look at my clock, which reads 550 am. Yes, I had "dozed off" and fallen asleep for an hour. Frantic. Panic. Stress. And cuss words overwhelm my brain. I jumped up from the bed, grabbed my stuff, and FLEW out the door. I still had Amanda's number and shirt to give to her! Yet it was almost 6 am, and our race was supposed to start at 650am. And it was on the complete other side of Singapore.
Amanda calls me from Allie's phone. She tells me that they had waited for me at the bus stop but that I wasn't there so they had to leave to catch the bus (which I paid 2 tickets for). It was still completely dark outside, and I was all alone. I almost started crying, thinking I was going to not only miss my race, but that I let down Amanda! She gave me the number of the taxi reservation company and I called for a taxi. It came in 5 minutes and it was the nicest old Chinese man ever. I told him in a panic that I needed to go to Pasir Ris ASAP. He told me roads were closed down for the run I was doing, but he could get me there in 30 minutes if he drove fast. So while the driver booked it, I came to terms with my stupidity of going back to sleep and screwing everything up. I imagined what Matt would tell me in this situation, and I told myself that this was just life and I would make it.
As we pedaled to the metal, I called Amanda apologizing and stressed and upset and she told me to breathe and calm down. We arranged to meet at the Bag Check In stand near the starting line. The taxi ride cost me 29 sing dollars, which I was not very happy about. But sometimes in life, you just have to suck it up and pay for it I guess.
So there I was, running as fast as I could through the dark streets of Singapore, desperately searching for the starting line. I finally found it, and heard it, and saw all the runners in their matching red singlets, and I sprinted over to find the 3 girls getting ready to run. The girls race started literally 3 minutes after I got there and gave Amanda her number and checked in my bag. We began the race! Amanda and I ran together for the first half an hour then I broke off and wanted to go faster. There were stairs...and lots of sweaty people (it was SO humid) and it was an out-and-back course. Even though I was planning on just running it for fun, my competitiveness got the best of me and I had to play catch up and pick off as many girls as I could while passing groups and groups of guys. I ended up doing the 10 miles in 1:17, which is better than I thought I would get but definitely slower than my time would have been at home. It was a sub 8 minute mile pace, and the most I had run was maybe miles since I've been to Singapore, so I guess it wasn't too bad.
I have NEVER IN MY LIFE sweated as much as I did this morning at this race. I looked like I had just gone swimming. We all did. It was hilarious. And in the goodie bags, they gave us a bottle of "energy maximizing" pills, which was very very ironic...
We MRT'd back home ($3) and Amanda and I had a one-track mind of just getting home and showering. That shower was probably one of the best showers I have ever had in my life.
I am now sitting on my bed, contemplating taking another nap, but this time without the worry about needing to wake up for anything. My body is pretty tired but not too bad. And I have tons of homework to do, but I just needed to blog about this chaotic morning running fiasco. Welcome to my life...
Registration fee for Northeast run: 38 SG dollars
Last minute taxi ride to starting line on opposite side of island: 30 SG dollars
1.5 hour long MRT/bus ride back home: 3.80 sing dollars
Being in a sea of a million asian runners in Singapore: Priceless.
<3
Friday, March 12, 2010
C's Get Degrees?
This week has consisted of exhaustion. I think that all of the craziness that happened in Bali has finally caught up to me. Even when I get a full 8 hours of sleep, I am still tired. It's as if when I go on these trips, I have one big huge shot of adrenaline that lasts me the entire time, then I get back to Singapore and drop dead. Then come back to life long enough to book another trip. Next I go through the motions of school...eat some canteen food...run...go out for ladies night...then before I know it I am off again on another adrenaline rush. The lifestyle of the exchange student!!
This last Monday was Christina's 21st birthday. We went to Cafe Iguana, a Mexican restaurant at Clarke Quay. Everyone ate their body weight in chips and salsa. I don't want to see another tortilla chip or salsa for the rest of this exchange. Or my life for that matter. Clearly the little waitress lady and the manager guy were getting upset at how often we requested more (about every 4 minutes). I finally met Fernanda's boyfriend, who came all the way from MEXICO to visit her! He might be one of the funniest, I-dont-care-what-you-think, goofiest guys ever. His random spanish words, and the way he said them, were hilarious. And they are clearly very in love.. It was very cute.
Of course it started POURING right before we left!! It's the singaporean curse to start raining as you are literally on your way to your birthday party!
This week has been rather mellow. Meeting up with Jenny and Melody to discuss our travels (Both girls are such rebels in their own right)...and of course meeting up with Sam and Yun and Julie, and the boys. Tommy came back from his extended leave of absence to HK and Taiwan to see his girlfriend. And my Poa Poa. Who gave him a red pocket. When I saw him again after 3 weeks, he was skinnier and cut his hair. My jaw dropped.
But it is weird because now that T is back, Big D is in Australia. So it's been a long time coming since DDTRR has been together officially. And even when we go to VIetnam next weekend - little D won't be with us (he is anti-vietnam, although he is vietnamese and doesn't know it). Hopefully we can all go to HK at the end of exchange together though.
I talked to Ron today, and we had a GREAT conversation. I do miss my dear brother. But he seems to be okay occupying himself ;)
I have really been missing my friends back home a lot lately. At least I have been keeping up to date a bit with them via facebook messaging and what not. I am going to be traveling so much in these upcoming weeks, so I have to get so much schoolwork done...but focusing here is SO much harder than at home. I have the mindset of an SDSU frat boy when it comes to school: C's Get Degrees! What have I become?
This last Monday was Christina's 21st birthday. We went to Cafe Iguana, a Mexican restaurant at Clarke Quay. Everyone ate their body weight in chips and salsa. I don't want to see another tortilla chip or salsa for the rest of this exchange. Or my life for that matter. Clearly the little waitress lady and the manager guy were getting upset at how often we requested more (about every 4 minutes). I finally met Fernanda's boyfriend, who came all the way from MEXICO to visit her! He might be one of the funniest, I-dont-care-what-you-think, goofiest guys ever. His random spanish words, and the way he said them, were hilarious. And they are clearly very in love.. It was very cute.
Of course it started POURING right before we left!! It's the singaporean curse to start raining as you are literally on your way to your birthday party!
This week has been rather mellow. Meeting up with Jenny and Melody to discuss our travels (Both girls are such rebels in their own right)...and of course meeting up with Sam and Yun and Julie, and the boys. Tommy came back from his extended leave of absence to HK and Taiwan to see his girlfriend. And my Poa Poa. Who gave him a red pocket. When I saw him again after 3 weeks, he was skinnier and cut his hair. My jaw dropped.
But it is weird because now that T is back, Big D is in Australia. So it's been a long time coming since DDTRR has been together officially. And even when we go to VIetnam next weekend - little D won't be with us (he is anti-vietnam, although he is vietnamese and doesn't know it). Hopefully we can all go to HK at the end of exchange together though.
I talked to Ron today, and we had a GREAT conversation. I do miss my dear brother. But he seems to be okay occupying himself ;)
I have really been missing my friends back home a lot lately. At least I have been keeping up to date a bit with them via facebook messaging and what not. I am going to be traveling so much in these upcoming weeks, so I have to get so much schoolwork done...but focusing here is SO much harder than at home. I have the mindset of an SDSU frat boy when it comes to school: C's Get Degrees! What have I become?
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