So in my last few weeks of travel I spent some time coming up with a list of things that are just... different when youre travelling abroad. Let me know what you think of this list, Id really like feedback and expand it from fellow travellers. So heres the things wot I think about travelling in South east Asia.
- When youre a kid, you only ever want to sleep in the top bunk. When you rock up to a hostel you just hope that theres a spare bed on the bottom and hate the fact that there inevitably never is. (This one could be just me)
- Sitting eating alone at a restaurant with a book is actually not a sad thing to do at all.
- A 10 hour bus ride is no longer a big deal, you just get on with it.
- You 100% trust that the guy who doesnt speak english and shepherds you on the bus actually knows where you want to go.
- Crossing the Road (and surviving) becomes a highly refined skill, not an everyday occurence.
- You find yourself thinking things like "Oh my god, ive never seen so many bananas in one place".
- That mosquito net you brought almost never gets used.
- Sharing a room with someone you met 30 seconds ago becomes the norm.
- The concept of waking up when it gets light actually annoyingly makes alot of sence.
- The concept of busses that will 'leave when its full' will foever annoy time constrained westerners.
- You may only be able to speak a couple of words in their native language, but you can always tell when someone is talking about you.
- A free breakfast is a key factor when deciding where to stay.
- The 'Best Price' is never the best price.
- It never rains but it pours.
- Things you would never do at home do not seem risky here ( riding a motorbike with no helmet, standing on the back of a pickup as it hurtles through the countryside, that kind of thing).
- Dinner and Lunch becomes a variation of either noodles then rice, or rice then noodles.
- You make friends with someone without finding their name out hours/days later.
- Seeing monks using technology and doing un monk-like things will always be funny.
- You wish lonely planet writers would just get to the point.
- A smile will get you a long way.
- You have a love hate thing with Kareoke.
- You've never heard your name pronounced in so many different ways before.
So there you have it, the things that I thought of, please feel free to add to the list by leaving a comment.
My blog post about Burma, and Thailand will be reaching you soon!
Mark
No comments:
Post a Comment