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I made it. Wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. The ticket lady totally screwed me, I paid the proce for a soft seat, but all I got was a hard seat in the middle of locals. So at least I went about in the local style (which I wonted but with a little bit comfort). And the train ride wasn't 30 hours, but 40. Oh well. After 20 hours I stopped looking at the watch and just focused on my Sherlock Holmes. It What was surprising, that I wasn't able to finish it while on the road.
Although I was sure I wouldn't be able to sleep, I did manage to get enough beauty naps. I think I woke up every five minutes, but I feel alright. And no pains whatsoever. I guess sleeping at the airport on anything has trained my butt muscles for this.
During the trip there are people selling food and they have a Vietnamese TV going almost all the time. It was funny seeing Gone in 60 Seconds with the worst dubbing ever. They all had only one woman's voice, never mind lip synking at all. Sometimes the people spoke whole sentences in English. Funny.
On the way I did meet a girl who spoke a little bit English, so we chatted for few hours. After that Nobody spoke a word except Hello and How are you. So if you want to take the train, bring company or at least learn few survival phrases of Vietnamese. It would've been great to talk with others. So all in all. not a bad trip.
Hmmm what else... Next to me was a family of four adults and three children. They were the noisiest bunch and I officially hate children now. The boys were cute, and all, but cheeeeeesssshhh why do babies cry about everything. EVERYTHING. Plus one of the kids got sick on my shoes just before we got to Ho Chin Minh. Like I wasn't feeling dirty enough. And the parents didn't even apologize, or try to say sorry, in any language. Oh and the parenting system here... When one of the kids started crying his mum was just mocking him. They didn't hit the children per ce, but there was some slapping. The kids seem to be more like dolls, who should behave just the way the parents wanted them to. So yeah, I felt sorry for the poor lil' bastards, but still. Please, please, people. Condoms are sold for a reason.
Ok that's it. Over and Out ->
Hanoi is really hectic town with 3.5 million people in it. Over half of the locals use scooters to get around and the traffic is really something. Not as bad as Cairo, but for example the street lights are there just for a show. Customer service reminds me of Finland, only it's a tad worse.
City itself is really colourfull and lively, the best here is just to sit in a cafe and watch people ging by. There are tourist sights, like the War Mausoleum, but I didn't go to any. To go to the mausoleum, the guests have to wear proper clothes (aka cover shoulders) and I was wearing too little clothing. It reminded me nicely of Penang. Anyways.
I am leaving Hanoi in 2 hours by the train. This means that I am going to sit on my ass for 40 hours. I was really excited until the second I bought the ticket. What the hell was I thinking!? This train trip better be worth all the hype in ze Internetz. There was no beds vacant so I got a seater with aircon. Total price was 650 000 dong and my nerves. Ok I'm just winding myself up again. If nothing else, at least it is going to be an experience . Good practice for the Siperia train trip. God.
Still homesick. I'm just calculating the time till I get back home. It's really annoying. Takes away all my enthusiasm.
You can do it in an easy way. Take a flight to Kuola Lumpur and from there fly to Hanoi. OR1. Take a night bus from Bus Terminal. Leave early. If the bus schedule says the trip takes takes 4 hours, it is going to take 5. So for example 10 pm bus works fine. And remember that we are living malaysian time, so the bus might leave a bit late (half an hour or so)2. Arrive to Kuola Lumpur at 4 and take taxi to bus terminal. There is two different busses going to LCCT (KL airport), aerobus and flyair. The fair is 8 RM and 9 RM. The later one is official, but second works just fine. They leave every hour.3. The flight to Ho Chi Minh leaves at seven so you might be a bit early. No worries. It's nappy time! (use AirAsia)4. It takes about an hour to reach Vietnam. If you are staying less than 15 days and are Finnish, you don't need a special visa to get in. BUT remember to print your ticket itibary back and forward. This is important, otherwise the guy might get upset5. Bring your itinary for Vietnam airline and check in. Itinary is once again, kinda important. Atleast remember what time your flight leaves. 6. Meet nice people in the aircraft and find out what to do and where to do it. Also rip all the free maps from magazines. Nobody is going to need them anyways.7. Arrive to the airport, take a taxi (250 000 Dong) and go search for a hostel. It helps if you ask random people. Hanoi Backbackers is good, it's close to Hoan Kiem Lake, on a small street behind Joseph's Church (7,5 dollars per night)Tadah! You're all set now
I arrived Kota Kinabalu at one a clock and walked to the hostel straight away. The walk to the hostel (BeacHouse) is really fast, just turn left from the lights and walk two minutes. The hostel itself is kinda basic, nothing too fancy. That is the reason why it has a nice relaxed athmosphere. The personel there is really nice and helpful so I definetly would recomend it to anybody.
On the first day I met up with Jamie, whom I knew from Langkawi. We were supposed to meet up with Mike too, but unfortunately he had to go back to KL before we arrived. After organizing our stuff we went to the city and later played ultimate with other people from the hostel (the hostel has organized some activities for the guests, like ultimate on the beach on the weekend and BBQ on thursday).
On Saturday we tried to plan a trip to Sandakan, but decided to stay in KK the whole time. Too bad, there are a lot of things to see near Sandakan, even more than in KK. It just would've been too much hassle to go there and back, so never mind. We ended up on a tour to see the Phosporus monkey, also known as dick head monkey. They were pretty cool, and we were lucky enough to see some water buffalos on the way. The tour started from this psychedelic cafe, which was in the middle of bumblefuck nowhere, but still really neat and managed to look like a English teahouse. After the tour we were supposed to be able to see fireflys, but almost none showed up. Oh, and I ended up buying the funciest bag in the world: a coconut bag.
The next day we went to the Sunday Market. They close down a steet and let the locals sell stuff without taking a fee during Sunday morning, which is kinda cool. They sold everything there, junk, bags, kites, cats, turtles, ect... I felt so sorry for the animals, because they had to stay in small smelly cages and not so few of them were obviously very ill.
Anyways after that we didn't do much. There was Ultimate again, but I was too lazy to play.
Monday we went to Mari Mari Cultural Village. We were able to see five different tribe houses and taste their food and wine. It was a blast. They also let us try the old school tampoline, use a blow pipe, make food and try their traditional rice wine. The whole trip was 150 RM and totally worth every penny. At the end of the tour they had few performances and we were able to try out the bamboo dance. It was great, the band was jamming with their gongs and whatnots, and the whole show just had a good wibe in it. It was exelente.
Jamie got sick during the trip so the last activity of KK was a trip to the local clinic. He got some pills (3 differend kind of tablets, some powder and liquid) so hopefully he'll start feeling better soon. The best part of the trip was a discovery of a new band (actually I think I've heard their name mentioned before but only now I actually heard their music): Architecture in Helsinki. I only have two words for it: controlled chaos. Brilliant
Like grief also change happens in a set pattern. When you go to a new place for a longer period of time, ze culture shock happens in 100% certainty. Some don't even notice it, some think that they are going crazy. The steps are:
1. honeymoon -everything's better than home
2. negotiation - everything's better back home
3. adjustment - everything's your new home
I never had step 1 or 2, I went straight to 3. I'm happy to be here, but never jumped over the roofs. Don't get me wrong, I AM thankful for this opportunity, I DO like it here, and I DO understand that this is the opportunity of a life time. Heck, I could imagine myself living here.
But alas, I am homesick.
It is completely normal but I feel guilty about it, which doesn't help at all. I don't expect anybody to understand, but it would be nice to get some understanding. This is typical, but also really, really annoying. I don't want to be whiny and sad. Not now. I'm going away soon enough. To other news: on Friday I'm going to Sabah and next week's Friday I'm off to Vietnam and Cambodia. The week after that we are going to Brunei and then it's my last week. Tomorrow I shall make a post about my daily routines. I promise you guys, it's going to be the best one yet!
All I have to say about Kuala Lumpur: it is. There is the outskirts, the center, and then some forrest. Whoopdie doo. The center looks like a copy of Canary Wharf, the suburbs look like well.. suburbs and the forrest has trees and more trees. If you guys need more information, turn to the tourist guide.
(I did meet some Ch'ng's friends there. They were great)
Here's what has happened within the past two weeks: Timo's parent's paid a visit, we went to Thailand and I had visit to Langkawi. I've lost the luxury of free internet access at the pool so now I have to drag my computer to the office. Oh the pain and suffering! And yes, I have my laptop with me. Not because I cannot survive without it, but because in the end of the day, I'm here to work. I know what you guys are thinkin! I do have a life here! (subjective, I got a new game as a birthday present, and finnished it in a less than a week)... Moving on!
I have only one word to describe Thailand: great. We only spent two days there, but it was very nice and surprisingly different when compared to Malaysia. The Malaysian mainland is mainly covered with two different kind of vegetation; paddy fields and palm oil trees (okok there's foresty areas somewhere over there). Thailand has a variation of gum trees and kinda rainforesty housing, atleast in southern Thailand. Also the cities are different; Hotyai is much more colourful but Penang has more capital.
I also went to Langawi. In the original plan I was supposed to spend two nights and three days, but then ended up staying a bit longer. The people I met were simply amazing. Cannot thank these people enough, Niamph, Lynn, Jamie, Mike, Marie, Jesper, Andrew(aka mum :P), oh my gosh, Ben and the Taiwanese girls, love you all to bits and I hope I'll meet you guys somewhere. I also wrote a diary while over there. So once again, here's almost uncencored bits of my private and exciting thoughts:
Day 1
Do you guys ever reminesence about those good old days? I know I do. Atleast my stomach used to work back then in the 90's!
So today I'm off to Langkawi. Woke up quite early after a night of rolling around, sweating, and feeling nouseous like an old rhino. Damn that last night's shrimp noodles!
Today's the first day I'm going to travel around Asia all by myself *insert the song here*. I know it will be ok, but I cannot help myself from being a bit scared and nervous. This is a good thing, I think, it just means I value my life and that I care. I like this feeling though. After arriving to the destination, drinking the first beer, and realising that you made it and you're still ok, is the best feeling in the world.
This nausea isn't though. ugh
--after few hours--
The ferry just left. I went outside to get some fresh air and to see how Penang disappears to the distance. I felt the wing whipping m face, salt water on my lips, and my head singing 'you are free'. This is the reason why I travel.
French trailers are shown in the telly. Next: Vin Diesel movie. Next: Langkawi.
Day 2
Last day was simply amazing. Half an hour after I arrived to the Zackry's Guesthouse, I was shuffed into a rental, and was sent off to a mangrove tour. That is how I met Andrew, Mike, and Maya, Ben, and (I'm so sorry, don't remember their names!) the Twainese girls.
Mangrove tour was really nice. For the first time I got to see Asian nature, almost untouched by man. We got to see pretty fishies, flying eagles, more fishies, bats(in a huge cave) and monkeys. One of the best moments of the tour was when I was sitting in the front of the boat and just watching the senery swoosh in front of my eyes
When we came back I had a nap and we were off to an Italian restaurant. It was located in the end of a pier so basicly we were eating on water. The view would've been beautiful, but too bad the sun had set before. After this started my craving for pizza.
So today started with a soggy theme. It seems that my stomach hasn't fully settled yet. Bah. Never mind. In Finland we have this saying 'nappia naamaan ja menox!' which seems to be my life filosofy. I had a pet during the night, a pretty black lizard, so I released it to the nature. Then I was off to have breakfast with the peeps. Atlast I was able to finnish the whole plate!
The main event of the day was island hopping. This time I went alone, but I met new people on the way. Some of them were also from USM which is quite funny coincidence. We started by going to the Pregnant Woman Island (shaped like a pregnant woman, d'oh) and to a sweet water lake in the middle of it. At the lake there were tons of crazy monkeys that some stupid tourists started feeding. We also had the change of trying fish therapy, which tickles like hell. Then we were off to see some more eagles and the final destination was this beach in the middle of nowhere. The sand was like white powder and the sea was blue like... a blue sea.
Day 4
No ferry's and no working visa. Internet banking passwords and whatnots are in Penang. Visa Electron is in Penang. I was feeling nauseous again in the morning, but now my stomach's settled a bit. Although I don't need them, but also all my ID's are in Penang. Fuck. This is what my friends call Marja's travelling style.
The main steps of my way are:
1. Take the wrong train/bus/tram
2. Don't be too sure where you are actually going
3. Don't take care of your travelling plans, like booking in advance exetera
4. Budjet? What is that?
5. Last but definetly not the least: make sure your visa stops working in the critical moment. Like when you need to stay extra nights and end up with 15 ringits(3 E) to survive with for two days. (not that little money here, but kinda scary anyway)
After that I got lazy. Of course everything ended up justn fine, visa's working now, and I got to spend one extra day at the hostel. Didn't want to leave anyways, so never mind. I'm still missing the time there, and hopefully I learned my lesson about organizing my shit properly. (ok this time I actually tried really hard, like tried to pay visa bill before the trip ectect.) But probably didn't learn anything :P
