In the summer of 2013, a series of odd circumstances led to me travel through Southeast Asia on a solo backpacking trip. I started in Singapore and found my way through Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. This blog documents most of my travels during that trip.
Happy Fourth of July! Who would have thought that only forty years later an American would happily and peacefully be spending this holiday here? Circumstances change, that’s for sure. I am still in the lovely town of Hoi An, which is on a river and has a pedestrian-only old quarter that is simply charming. I … More Fourth of July in ‘Nam
The above quote is what I just said to the person on the computer next to me. To say such a thing out loud is rather redundant because I am grinning like a fool and clapping my hands. Anouk, my Belgian sister from the year in Yaso, is going to be coming to Thailand tomorrow!!! … More “I’m so happy!” — the email I just sent to mom and dad
Woe is ye, grumpy traveler! Without a paddle, off the map, up the wall! Since my last post I have been giddy, grumpy, and everything in between. But I’m here now! Here being Hue (pronounced Hway, short and fast. Think Stewie Griffin asking “what” and you get the idea.) Vietnam, a good distance south of … More I’m never gonna stop the rain by complainin’…
Currently I am in the Hanoi Backpacker’s Hostel – the central headquarters of Hanoi for loud, young, beer-loving backpackers. I just got back from the tour of Halong Bay, which was lovely though now that I am back and comparing prices I realize that I seriously overpaid for the two-night trip. Was it worth it? … More Time is on my side…?
The compound question that functions as the title of this post is one that I find myself asking with increased regularity. When the question is voiced, it is usually accompanied by a smile, headshake, and eyes to the skies. Take last night, for example. My new friends are Nigerian soccer players who live and work … More Where am I and how did I get here?
Just as soon as I arrived in Kuala Lumpur it seemed that it was already time to go. Of course that was my own doing, and I cannot say that I was disappointed to leave. The haze continued to worsen, closing some local schools and producing an effect on my physiology roughly equivalent to chain-smoking … More First 24 Hours in Vietnam
The colonial ties in Singapore are still strongly felt. Everyone speaks English, and some ties are still felt as this nifty motorbike parked in Little India may suggest. Teh C (tea with sugar and condensed milk) is a popular drink in Singapore. I tried this cup out of a cute cafe in the Arab District. … More Images of Singapore
My last days in Bali were perhaps the highlight of the trip so far. The day following my previous post I decided to get up early and book a ferry ticket to take me back to Bali from Nusa Lembongan. Upon landing, I marched through taxi stands and shuttle offers (only good for a minimum … More Bye bye Bali, Selamat datang ke Malaysia!
Two days ago I woke up with the roosters (not an unusual occurrence when there are so many around), packed my bags, and hopped in a shuttle bound for the top of one of Bali’s mountains. I was joined by a couple from Canada on their honeymoon (it was their one-week anniversary) and a gang … More Bicycles, banyans, boats
In Singapore, my copy of Lonely Planet’s Pocket Guide to Singapore was invaluable. The maps were excellent and most (but not all – a notable exception was half of the red circle line subway map was missing) of the information was good and up-to-date. I made much use of it. That said, Singapore is a … More Lonely Planet
Where in the world is Kelly? 