Four Months, Five Countries
The Return: “Well, I’m Back…”
And here I find myself at the return. “Well, I’m back…” The last words of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and my current state of being. I am back from a journey of more than four months, five countries, and thirty thousand kilometers. The world has not ended. Vienna is still here. In the famous words of Buckaroo Banzai, “No matter where you go, there you are.”
Thailand
Bangkok, the gateway to Southeast Asia, and my second city. Then followed three weeks of crossing old paths and forging new ones. Things have changed in The Kingdom. The military runs the Land of Smiles, only partially hidden behind the image of the new king. Cannabis is legal. Pot shops are everywhere. But the charm of the Thai people is still alive, strong and welcoming. So it goes.
The Philippines
To fly into Manila is to enter the beast. I am no stranger to chaotic Asian cities, but Manila is a new game, and a tough one. There is charm to be found, but the search will not be easy. Dirty, loud, and poor, Manila is a challenge. The rest of Luzon is a retreat from the madness of the capitol city. Life is slow here, as slow as the buses. You will find many ways to eat pig. Many.
Singapore
There are ways to travel from Manila to Jakarta, Indonesia, but none of them are easy. So it was off to Singapore and a strange detour from reality. Singapore is as real as Disneyland, just as clean, and has more security cameras. Everything functions perfectly. Too perfectly. Remember Shrek and Donkey entering Duloc? That’s what I’m talking about. Be sure not to offend anyone’s morals. There are posters to remind you of this. However unreal, the food is great, Little India is a blast, and the transit system is one of the best in the world. Singapore: rest, recharge, regroup, then head on.
Indonesia
Indonesia is the world’s largest country made up solely of islands. 17,508 islands at last count. One does not visit Indonesia, not on a thirty-day visa. You pick a couple of islands and let the games begin. For most tourists, that means Bali and the Gilis. The Indonesian folks have a saying: “Bali is Bali.” as on not a real part of Indonesia. Instead of the Bali bars, we headed out into the wilds of Java and Sumatra. Hot, humid, full of great food, and often devoid of Westerners. In fact, once we hit Sumatra, we did not see a single Western tourist, backpacker, or ex-pat for more than two weeks. If you want to travel slowly and alone, Sumatra is your spot.
Malaysia
Welcome to everything is easy. Malaysia has an advanced infrastructure, which means travel by rail, bus, and ferry is easier than in almost any other Southeast Asian country. The food is fantastic, and folks are off-the-chart friendly. My first time in Malaysia will not be my last. Big city happenings in Kuala Lumpur, highland trekking in the Cameron Highlands. Provincial towns featuring foodie paradise and no tourists. Island tourist enclaves like Georgetown and Langkawi, well-traveled, but still fun. A bonus: Malaysia gives most Westerners a 90-day visa stamp on arrival. W00T!
Thailand Redeux
Closing the loop back to southern Thailand. Hat Yai, and Surat Thani, hidden gems that slip through the fingers of most tourists. Food fests and very hot days. We’re moving slowly, savoring the last few weeks. Jungle camps, bird watching, a lazy five days at a quiet beach. Inching north, back to the Big Mango. That last night, one more glorious pig-out at a night market. The long flight home, and the first shock of Northern Europe’s coldness.
Well, I’m Back…
Things to do, stories to write, a ream of notes to catch up on. Busy, busy, busy little Bokononist. More to come, My Lovelies. There are published stories to catch up on, a new collection of short stories, and so much more. Stay tuned to the MEF blog for more silly stuff…
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