QUIT JOB! BUY TICKET! GO!

Good news

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:58:19 -0700

Terribly sorry for my long absence. I got back from traveling last year and just could not keep the posts coming. However, I will be continuing my travels in September a which will mean more content will be coming. And in the mean time, I want to finish all the reviews and posts that I never got to from my trip last year.

And the best part of this all is that I am building my own website to keep a more robust account of my travels and just life in general. I want to include quality reviews, tips, ideas, and tools to not only inspire others to travel but to do some other cool stuff too. So stay posted for the official launch.

a message to my dear followers

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:55:05 -0700

Let me begin by saying how wonderful you have all been. Your support has been a much appreciated blessing. And so it is sad for me to say that my trip is coming to a close. This does not mark the end of my posts as I still have much left to say and many places left to review, but it does mean one thing. As you may or may not notices or cared, my posts have become less frequent. Keeping the blog updated has become more work lately and I really want to end my travels well so for the time being, I am putting the blog on hold. I will be continuing it after I return home an the good news about that is that I will be working from my computer so the typing will be much easier and I can upload all of my pictures from my good phone. J will end with this, my greatest pleasure would come from inspiring others to travel. You don’t have to follow my footsteps, but just get out there. If you do go along my route or just have general inquiries, please ask me and I will be glad to help.

Check out the sweet pic phil got of me handling a yellow banded...

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:39:27 -0700

Check out the sweet pic phil got of me handling a yellow banded krait.

onewayticketphil:

My crazy buddy Austin found a poisonous snake in the animal viewing hide bathroon in the middle of the Taman Negara Jungle. We’re miles from any civilization aka help if we were to get bit. So of course he grabs it by the tail and starts to drag it out.

Mui Ne, Vietnam

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 06:53:00 -0700

(Sigh) I hate writing reviews about places I didn’t really enjoy because everyone’s experience is unique and I think tons of people would really like this place. Its not that I didn’t like it, I just had to spend took much time there and would rather have just skipped it entirely. It just wasn’t my kind of place.

A lot of this things to do here revolve around the ocean because it is just a small beach city. However, while the kite surfing is supposed to be great, there isn’t really much sand to lay out on because most o the time the water runs all the way up to the concrete beach or the wall the lines the edge of the beach. In fact, unless you plan on staying in a nice hotel with a pool to just hang out by, the only thing I found worth while was riding a bike down to the Fairy Stream. This is actually a cool little sandy stream that you can walk right up. The ankle deep water leads you for about twenty minutes until you get to a small waterfall. The waterfall itself isn’t too spectacular, but the walk there is pretty awesome with a combination of red and white sandstone cliffs shooting up on either side and lined with bright green vegetation. A pleasant experience for sure. The only other activity option I know of was a trip to the red or white sand dunes. I decide to skip this.

The food in Mui Ne was another story. Because it is right on the sea, and there are many fisherman, the options were incredible. The seafood options were always fresh and cheap, but other options ranged to lizards and even things I have never seen before. Its fun to walk by the tanks and take a peek at the days options. Most of these restaurants, unfortunately, were a bit expensive for a travel budget so we found ourselves walking east along the road to get out of the touristy area. The best option in my opinion because you pass many little food stalls that serve almost exclusively this very tasty soup with a side of quail eggs. It usually cost just over a dollar and was well worth it.

I can’t comment on the place I stayed because it was brand new and didn’t have a name. Also, while I was there, a national holiday was going on so every other place jacked up the price ridiculously. It was basically our only option. So I will end with this; Mui Me can be a nice place to hang out if you want to spend a little more and stay in a nice hotel with a pool and a great view. Otherwise, I think it can be skipped.

"You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will..."

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:49:56 -0700

“You’ll seldom experience regret for anything that you’ve done. It is what you haven’t done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it. Value your present moments. Using them up in any self-defeating way means you’ve lost them forever.”

- Wayne Dyer

Pics from our Mekong Delta tour. First is a sunset shot at our...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 06:30:00 -0700

Pics from our Mekong Delta tour. First is a sunset shot at our hone stay. Second is at our lunch spot where they served crocodile, eel, turtle, ostrich, and snake.

My brother came to visit me in “Motorbike City”

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 05:33:10 -0700

My brother came to visit me in “Motorbike City”

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 05:17:24 -0700

Ho Chi Minh, or Saigon as the locals still call it is basically the capital of southern Vietnam. It is an incredible, bustling city with tons to do and see. Just make sure you get some practice crossing busy streets because this city has definitely earned its nickname; Motorbike City.

I spent about a week here and really enjoyed my time. This relatively long stay allowed me time to check out two hostels, both of which I recommend. The first was Saigon Backpackers. The whole place was very nice, new, and clean and it cost me $8 a night for a dorm bed. The pros were; free breakfast before 10, a pool table (though very small), TV with movies and games, wifi in the rooms, and best of all, access to a refrigerator and kitchen. It is in an alleyway which might be hard to find, but at the end of this alley there is a small market for meats and produce. The second place I stayed was called Kim’s place. I moved primarily because it was $2 cheaper, and though not nearly as nice, I was happy to stay there. The owner is a very kind and funny lady, but she is a little crazy about cats. I first learned this when I was showed my room on the fifth floor and a different cat was lounging on each level, wearing a ridiculous ladybug or ballerina costume. I thought this was hilarious. Anyway, this place also had free breakfast before 9, AC, and it was closer to the backpacker area. They also were kind enough to give me a free lunch when i walked down at the right time. They had just sat down with a huge order of some of the best duck i have ever had and asked, “You want some?” You bet your sweet, cat-loving ass I do. I would stay there again.

One advantage to being in the backpacker area is that you’re close to everything. There are parks, a cathedral, a big market, water puppet theater, and the War Remnants Museum all within walking distance. Albeit, a long walk, but you can make one big loop and see it all. I highly recommend the war museum. It takes a couple hours to see everything, but its pretty amazing. Some people told me it was highly anti-American, but I didn’t think so. Those sentiments are due to the fact that a couple exhibits, the prison, propaganda, and war crime ones, shed a bad light on Americans but these are all part of one countries history and should not be forgotten. Personally, I didn’t find them offensive, just historical articles and I believe that is how they are meant to be taken.

Moving on, Saigon offers a couple tour packages as well. You can go to the Cu chi tunnels which looked cool, but I decided to skip out on this. Instead, I went for the Mekong Delta tour, two days with a homestay. If you want to do this, Kim’s. Guesthouse gave me the cheapest price, but I don’t recommend it. It was one of those assembly line tours that offers too many experiences to fit in a day, and there are like 10 other tour groups doing the exact same thing. I will say this though, it was a very good deal for what you get and it could be a lot of fun to some people, but I prefer a more unique experience. Now I’m sure I didn’t cover everything there is to do in Saigon but its a big city so give me a beak. I want to move on to food.

If you want really good pho, there is a place at the northern end of the block from Kim’s GH with some really good stuff. I found places that were cheaper, but none better, and its only $2.50. On the other hand, if you want a place with many dishes that are all delicious and that same price, I’ve got it. This time, going to the southern end of the block from Kim’s, hang a right a just a couple doors down is a place called Lam. The wok stir fried dishes are amazing.

Beyond all that, the only thing I can mention is drinks. Vietnam by far had the cheapest options for drinks out of everywhere I have been. From Lam, turn around and head the other way toward crazy buffalo. You will see a few places that are packed with people huddled as close as can be on little plastic chairs. 20 cent glasses and 50 cent bottles. After all that sight seeing, go ahead. You’ve earned a beer or two…maybe ten.

Cambodiaa Recap

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 19:37:50 -0700

I have heard many people ramble on about how much they liked Cambodia, and I wish the case was the same for me. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Not to say it was bad, but I came here after Laos, my favorite country so far, so everything was a step down. However, I will say that even with my expectations too high, Cambodia was a cool place. The people there are quite friendly and helpful, but come off a bit shy as well. It takes a bit for them to open up, but once they do, that are very charming. Another aspect of Cambodia that is specific to this country is the remaining effects of the Khmer Rouge. It is a terrible part of their history whose rippling effects can still be seen today. Mich of the architecture, traditions, and general culture has been destroyed beyond repair. The fact that these people get on so well is a tribute to their character. Definitely a place worth going. One thing that is great about the country is that there are just a few must stops so you can do it very quickly. My recommendation is 2 weeks, but it can be faster if you’re short on time or longer if you want to take it slow like I did.

My Favorites..

City; Probably Sihanoukville. While it doesn’t offer much as far as cultural experiences and I honestly think you can skip it completely without missing out on much, I spent the most time here because its cheap and its on the beach. The parties can be a bit much, but the islands are perfect to get away and chill out for a while.

Local: This ones easy. Mr. Delicious from Sihanoukville. Rarely do we encounter people so fine.

Traveler: Another easy one. Kevin from Holland. Met him in Sihanoukville (notice a pattern?) Then again in Siem Reap and it was always good times.

Traditional food: Lok lak. Its a marinated beef dish which doesn’t sound like much, but the sauce it came with was the shit.

Activity: Getting my scuba cert in Sihanoukville.

Restaurant: Thida restaurant in Siem Reap.

Traveling is awesome. And I hope most of my blog posts reflect this. However, I’d like to take a...

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 09:00:42 -0700

Traveling is awesome. And I hope most of my blog posts reflect this. However, I’d like to take a minute to touch on a more serious subject. Which is the first mass genocide that comes to your mind? Ok, I admit its not a pleasant subject, but go with it for a minute. Can you think of a time in recent world history where a whole type of people was being collected and systematically killed for such cause as ethnic cleansing? Well yes, there is at least one that jumps to the front of most people minds, but if you’re thinking of the same one I am alluding to, you’re talking over fifty years ago. However, a quick minute on Wikipedia can show you dozens more recent examples. Some I have heard about, and some I admittedly have not, but I was especially surprised to learn about one while on my travels that I have never even heard a whisper of. Now, I don’t consider myself an expert by any means on world issues, but I don’t think I am entirely oblivious. This recent discovery was before my time yes, but still the fact that I had never heard of it took me by surprise.

A three month span in which 3 million people were systematically caught, imprisoned, and killed for the sake of ethnic cleansing. This happened around forty years ago when the leader of Cambodia decided to “purify” his people at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. I don’t think I’m the only person who never heard about it, and though it may still seem like a long time ago, the Cambodian people eventually overthrew and took back their own government, forcing their old leader an his army to live in the jungle, but the old government was still held a seat in the UN up until 1993.

The Khmer Rouge worked in such secret that even its people didn’t know about its happenings. It managed to take over the capital city of Phnom Penh by claiming that the country was under attack and it was for the safety of the people. From this station, the Khmer Rouge was able to create such infamous, now historical sites as the killing fields and the S-21 of Phnom Phen, as well as numerous other similar fields or caves around the country.

The damage inflicted by this group went far beyond the millions of people affected. Even such aspects as history, religion, traditions, and foods were destroyed beyond repair. Even the world famous Angkor Wat was not safe from their work. Thousand year old statues have had to be rebuilt because the faces were smashed off. What lasted the test of time was thrown away in mere instants at the command of one man.

My point here isn’t to ramble on about how sad an event in history can be though. My point is to share how incredible it is how well the people of Cambodia have recovered. Sure you can see the ripples still today in several facets of life, but looking at their faces would have you believe otherwise. It is a country full of kind and caring people.

At this point, Im not sure where exactly I was going with this post, but I just wanted to express my thoughts and gratitude for the Khmer people. I also would encourage anyone considering traveling to this wonderful country to read up on the history a bit. There is much there and I believe you will have a much richer experience if you do so.

Photo

Fri, 08 Jun 2012 08:15:41 -0700

Every country in southeast Asia has artful, colorful, and...

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 17:30:37 -0700

Every country in southeast Asia has artful, colorful, and interesting money. But I think I liked the money in Cambodia best.

Siem Reap’s one and only Batman. If you’re lucky...

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 03:54:09 -0700

Siem Reap’s one and only Batman. If you’re lucky enough to find him, grab him. He offers the best deals on tuk tuk tours to Angkor Wat or wherever you may want to go…and c’mon…Batman.

Why I Love my Travel Bud

Thu, 31 May 2012 08:52:33 -0700

Phil: "Alright, I'm going to make a phone call.
But stay stoked on life.
It's intoxicating.
You...intoxicate...me.
Peace."

Me: "Haha. Alright man. As long as you do the same for me. Peace out."

If you would like to follow Phil as well, his page can be found at www.onewayticketphil.com

Angkor Wat

Thu, 31 May 2012 04:58:36 -0700

Angkor Wat

Giant Buddha and millions of bats pouring out at the bat cave in...

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:51:49 -0700

Giant Buddha and millions of bats pouring out at the bat cave in Battambang, Cambodia.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Sun, 27 May 2012 09:55:52 -0700

Obviously, no trip to southeast Asia is complete without a trip to Siem Reap. In the off chance that you don’t know, Siem Reap is the city that plays host to Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. And while this alone is enough reason to visit this major city in Cambodia, it offers plenty of other reasons to spend some time there as well.

While in Siem Reap I stayed at a place called Garden Village Inn. It’s very popular so you should have no problem finding a tuk tuk driver that knows where it is. One of it’s main attraction is the fact that you can stay in a “dorm” for $1 a night. But you get what you pay for. Its basically a row of beds, outside, on a raised platform, each with a mosquito net. They were all booked when I got there, so I ended up staying in one of their rooms and payed $3 for myself, and $2 each when Phil finally caught up with me and shared the room. Not a bad deal if you ask me. Now, this place is huge, has tons of people, and really felt cool, but for some reason I didn’t really meet that many people. I think it has all the right pieces, but in the wrong place. The only thing I can attribute this to is that the layout is a bit off. They have a really cool bar/restaurant area and a rooftop lounge, but their both on the third floor. It makes for a really nice view, but in my experience, often times people just want to take a peek in to see if anything is happening at the bar. If nothing is going on, they’ll move on. The fact that you have to climb 3 sets of stairs to just check it out is a bit off-putting. I think because of this, there was a lot of missed opportunities. Some of the most social places I have stayed have the bar/restaurant on the first floor, in a high traffic area. Sometimes even right in the lobby. However, there was one thing that I did absolutely love about this place and was a major redeeming factor. They have their own little soccer field. I only got to play on it twice, but it was so much fun and it’s so easy to get a game together. Overall, I would recommend staying here for sure. Unless it’s the hot season in which case it will be unbearable and you should just shell out some more for an A/C room.

On your way towards the city from Garden Village Inn, you will find our hands down favorite place to eat. There is nothing that clearly shows its name, and even so, we saw three to four different names for the place. The most common was Thida, but it should be the first place on the right. It should be directly across the road from an Aussie restaurant that has a sign saying they have veggiemite. Most of the meals cost $1.50 but every one I tried was delicious. The family that runs it is very kind and will often bring out extra plates of home grown mago (the most delicious I have ever had) for their customers. On the other hand, if you’re just looking for cheap drunk food,there are a ton of small street stands just before Pub Street that have good rice and noodles late at night. Besides them, the only other food that readily comes to mind is the only Mexican food place there right off Pub Street. I got some really good, close to authentic tasting tortilla soup there.

Finally, the reasons to come to Siem Reap. Angkor Wat is the obvious number one. It costs about $20 plus around $12-16 for a tuk tuk for a 24 hour pass. You could ride bikes there if you’re feeling fit, but I don’t recommend it. Its not too far, but its a lot of walking around and it can get really hot. The ride back would suck. Instead, my recommendation is to look for the Batman tuk tuk, nice guy and apparently he only charges $3 a person (and come on…its a freakin Batman tuk tuk). Meet him a day early and plan for him to pick you up for sunrise at Angkor Wat. It takes around 6 hours, so this way you get a good view and you avoid the heat of the day. If you find yourself getting overheated, have the tuk tuk stop at every bathroom and soak your shirt. Its awesome. Don’t wear white. Finally, I’ll say this, you don’t really have to pay to see it. If you ride a bike you can just ride through and most of the sights have ticket checkers, but I only got asked twice. You don’t really NEED one most of the time, but I do recommend it.

The only other unique thing I think you could do in Siem Reap is go to a floating village. I passed, but given more time, I think it would be cool. Other than that, I think I’ve pretty much summed it up, but don’t quotes on that (I know some asshole will say that I missed a ton of stuff).

The Bamboo Train Experience

Fri, 25 May 2012 06:10:13 -0700

Wind rushes by as you hear the sound of the motor running. You shift a bit in your seat trying to get comfortable but you cant. It could be the firm bamboo platform you’re sitting on or it could be the fact that nothing is keeping you in, or nature out. Nothing keeping you from falling out into a mess of scrapes, bruises, and probably a few nights in a hospital. That’s just what you need;to be bedridden in some shithole hospital in Cambodia.

“Ven I heard bamboo train, dis is not vut I expected,” your German neighbor says jokingly. And he’s right. It’s not what you were expecting either. You were thinking a set of parallel bamboo tracks and a small, 100% bamboo cart sort of like one of those old carts you see running through coal mines in movies. Something that just puts along at its own pace. A novelty for tourists. A Disneyland ride. Not this. Just a small bamboo platform sitting on top of a set of steel train wheels sitting on top of steel tracks with a gas engine running it. Whatever.

If you’re honest with yourself, It’s actually kind of nice despite the fact that it matches your expectations in no way at all. The engine gives it a surprising amount of speed so the wind provides an escape from the otherwise unbearable heat. It’s nice following the tracks into the distance where the earth meets the sky. The two steel lines stretching into infinity, surrounded by thick walls of bright green brush trimmed back on either side. But the brush isn’t trimmed in any tactful way you’ve seen before. It looks like the person in charge of trimming is either blind or epileptic. Sure the job gets done, but there’s no pattern. No precision. Suddenly you see it. The green outline of a bamboo platform and its passengers sitting exactly where you sit now, running up and down this same track thousands of times, and keeping the bushes at bay with each pass. Just as you see this, one bush reaches out out its tiny, crooked arm to grab your shoulder but only manages to leave a small scratch.

The bushes begin to thin out and you catch glimpses of the rice paddies flying by on the other side. Just as your eyes narrow in effort to make out the images on the other side the landscape bursts into view. Finally, through this break in the brush, you get a glimpse at the immensity of the fields around you. Your eyes begin to scan every direction, trying to take in the entirety of this sudden flood of visual stimulus. You try to take in everything closest to you as quickly as your eyes can move and your brain can comprehend. You work your way further and further into the distance which seems never-ending. Further and further you let your eyes wander into the distance. Every previous notion tells you that your eyes have a visual limit. That you can’t see into forever. Still, it doesn’t stop you from trying. Then, just before you reach the point that you’re sure is the end, its gone. Gone into a rushing green flash. Gone as suddenly as it had come.

For an instant, you had let yourself get lost in the moment. You snap back to reality when a tiny, scratchy green arm licks you across the cheek. Your head whips forward just in time to see another arm reaching out for you. This time it’s going for your eye but you manage to dodge it like Ali in his prime.

The familiar sound of the motor running and the steel touching steel fades back in before you realize it had ever faded out in the first place. You become aware of just how zoned out you were just ten seconds ago, and the most articulate thing you can say to your German neighbor to express this profound moment of yours is, “Wow. Life’s pretty cool, huh?” What a jackass.

In another moment you see a cow flash by, but by this point your eyes are trained to be a little sharper. In this small instant you’re able to take in the look on its sad, narrow face. The veins running up and down its noticeably long, thin legs. The outline of its skeleton protruding from its all white, malnutritioned body. You notice every obvious and subtle detail that distinguishes it from any cow you have ever seen back home. Another opportunity to fall back into your head about how different this world is than your own. Another metaphor.

This time, before you have a chance to get lost in your own thoughts, a noticeable change attracts your attention. The bushes and fields are beginning to pass more slowly every second and the engine begins to quiet. You look around for a reason or a sign that you have reached your destination and there is none. Instead, directly in front of you is another little bamboo platform, on two sets of steel wheels, with a gas motor, a local “conductor,” and two other white faces staring back at you with the same stupid, blank, confused look on their faces.

At this point, the two locals begin shouting at one another and pointing fingers. The four white faces continue to look between each other and the locals with the same dumb expression. Within minutes, an agreement is reached and two of the four confused white faces are told to remove themselves from the bamboo platform and stand aside. The two local men then lift the bamboo off to the side, remove the wheels from the tracks and push the remaining two confused white faces past. Everything is returned to its original order and the two parties continue on their route. The four white faces still looking as dumb and confused, and the two locals as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

“Wow. Life’s pretty cool huh.”

"Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more..."

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:06:20 -0700

“Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.”

- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Check out the cool stuff that Phil, my travel buddy did during...

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:32:02 -0700

Check out the cool stuff that Phil, my travel buddy did during our small separation…