LEAVE // 03.03.2018 | 16:10 PM IST| HYDERABAD, INDIA ARRIVE // 03.03.2018 | 17:30 PM IST | GOA, INDIA TRANSPORTATION // AIR ASIA ACCOMMODATIONS // CASA SEVERINA HOTEL Where does one start? Arrived in Goa and my pre-booked cab driver was waiting as expected. After he ran over a dog on the 1-hour journey to the hotel, the trip was off to a great start. Woke early Sunday, knowing I only had a day to fully see the city and wanting to make the most of the time I had available. Then after debatinig if I should rent a motor bike or not, I decided to catch a cab and start my way to Aguada Fort. Bartering at the street and settling on a price of 400 for a single fare up to the fort and back, we set off. Now keep in mind, I mentioned "single" fare. As this is where events turn slightly sour. The driver pulled over 2/3 of the way to the fort and demanded another 400 + 800 to take me the rest of the way to the fort plus return as thats where he felt a single fare should end (Everything in Goa is priced at 2 people or more. My hotel was for occupancy of two, my cab from airport was for two, and so on. Nothing in Goa was for single, party of one). After a lot of loud "discussion" with the driver I had a choice. Either I paid 1200 to go less than 1/2 mile the remaining way and hopefully guarantee a return ride, only 400 and no return ride, or I was being forced out. I got out. Not realizing that I would have no cell service, no homes or businesses nearby, and no other cabs in the area picking up since by this point everyone either had a cab or ride up to the fort. Leaving me one, regretting I didn't rent a bike, two, now deciding to walk 2 miles back to town or .5 mile up a hill to the fort in hopes to catch a cab back down. The one thing I did not regret though was getting out of the cab. Since I was so close, I decided to go up to the fort and tempt my luck. The walk up was long, tough, and with full sun in a very humid area, I quickly ran out of water by the time I reached the top. Walking through the fort, sitting for an hour in the shade, then deciding to try for a ride back down, I went back to the parking lot and go cab by cab, asking if they could at least take me to the bottom of the hill. Each, of course, waiting for their booked fares to return declined my request. I was left with no other option, I started to walk. Buying a water before departing, I started to talk to myself as I walked down the hill. No, not to any voices! Only telling myself how stupid this was and I'll be lucky to make it back to town. You know, only the best type of mental encouragement that one should have in a situation like this. Doubt. The sun was in full at that moment. I had no communication with anyone. I was screwed. I didn't make it too far before a group of bikes went by and one stopped in middle of the road, blocking traffic, and asked if I needed a ride. Okay, normally this would be "stranger danger" and I should have declined, but I jumped on. I was in fight/flight mode. If anything, I could jump and roll from a bike. At least I was no longer going to be cooked by the sun any longer. Riding along, the guy introduced himself and mentioned he and his friends were visiting on a college break from Bangalore. He definitely sensed my hesitation on answering questions, but was quite curious how I ended up in the business of walking back from Aguada Fort. Stopping along the way, his friends caught up and each introduced themselves. They were indeed a group of young college students finishing their masters in law and visiting Goa on break. I agreed to go to lunch where they continued to discuss how I found myself walking. I couldn't have been more lucky to have them pick me up vs someone else. I was truly thankful. Dropping me back at my hotel and parting ways, I wasn't going to let the day be ruined and was planning to head to the beach. Waking up a couple hours later, not realizing I had even dozed off, the day was gone. The only beach within walking wasn't the nicest, but at least I saw sand. Heading out again, this time in the evening for food, walking along the road from hotel to main street, a passing bike came by and I felt a sudden jolt to my side as I found myself being forced into the brick wall next to me. I was just kicked. The guy on the bike looked back, smiling, as his friend, who was driving, sped on. Goa, at this moment, was definitely now in my top amazing places to visit. I spoke with the hotel that night, asking about a cab to the airport the next day. Unless I wanted to try my luck back at the main street (which went really well earlier) the only other option was to book through an online service. They gave me the same website as I booked for my arrival. Everything was confirmed, pre-paid, I was set to leave Goa as quickly as I could the next day. The cab was due to pickup at 14:00, which would get me to the airport nearly 2 hours prior to my flight deparature. Plenty of time, if the cab showed up. 2pm passed and no cab. Calling the company, it turns out they outsourced my cab pickup to another company. Telling me I would have to call this other company, Talixo, and figure out the details. The number provided was not even an India number, instead Belgium or something. I called back and again, they could not help me. Kept calling, hung up on. Finally reaching out to a friend in Hyderabad for help. Talking me through it, himself calling the company and getting the run around, I finally calmed down enough (from extreme frustration and anger) to think it all through. I now only had 45 minutes to spare to go 1 1/2 hours to the airport before they would not let me board. I went to the front desk and begged for a ride, agreeing (after they listened to my conversation with the cab company), paying another 1100, one of their service guys pulled a car around. This was going to be close. With the request of "drive fast", he got me to the airport in 55 minutes, later than they would typically allow for check-in, but I think the ticket agent could see it was not an option to decline me. I was getting on this flight! Now only having 1/2 hour to get through security and to the gate, and knowing AirAsia boards way early, departing early, fortunetly it was now slightly delayed. Instead of leaving at 4:55, I was now looking at 5:30. Enough time to sit, relax, headphones, and forget about this weekend all together. I was going back to Hyderabad. LEAVE // 03.05.2018 | 17:35 PM IST| GOA, INDIA ARRIVE // 03.05.2018 | 19:10 PM IST | HYDERABAD, INDIA TRANSPORTATION // AIR ASIA ACCOMMODATIONS // AVASA HOTEL [Now, there are a few things I did not list above. As a single female visiting Goa, there was also the constant whistling, cat calls, following, and the list continues. This is not a town to visit alone, at least in my case. I will not count Goa out from future visits. There is a lot to see there, but next time I will ensure I am accompanied and will not go alone]
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Before heading to Goa for a short weekend trip, there were Holi festivals taking part all over Hyderabad. So I decided to change my flight to leave Saturday instead of Friday, in hopes to attend one. Asking my favorite Hyderabadi's if any would like to partake in this 1/2 day adventure prior to heading to the office, fortunately two agreed. Can't say I have ever experienced anything like this before. Colors, rain dance, water dance, more colors, Bollywood music, and tons of people just having a general good time! And if I may add, no alcohol was involved. This was one of the most amazing experiences, and I was able to spend it with good friends, sharing many laughs. [The color took to my hair really well, days and many hair washings later its still multi colored and holding strong. If I would have known I would be sporting blue, yellow, magenta, and pink hair afterwards, I would have planned for them to strategically put the colors in a little more evenly throughout. hahaha] LEAVE // 02.13.2018 | 13:25 PM PST | PORTLAND, OREGON ARRIVE // 02.15.2018 | 08:40 AM IST | HYDERABAD, INDIA TRANSPORTATION // ALASKA AIRLINES | EMIRATES // VISA ON ARRIVAL LAYOVER // SEATTLE, WA | 2 HOUR // DUBAI, EAU | 8 HOUR 50 MINUTE (HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS IN DUBAI, 4 HOURS) ACCOMMODATIONS // IBIS It has been four weeks since my grandfather passed away unexpectedly. He was 88 years young. Full of life, laughter, and really bad jokes. Loved that man dearly, so this was trully heartbreaking news to receive. To add, it was sounding like I would miss his funeral as I was due to depart to return back to Hyderabad on Wednesday Feb 7th and his funeral was set for Thursday Feb 8th. While coming to terms that I would not have closure of his death, my father went in for a routine procedure that Monday and was immediately hospitalized and was in need of bypass surgery due to a full blockage. Not the easiest news to receive. I was a mess. In no way could I leave before my dads surgery. I needed to post-pone. Now set to leave on Sunday Feb 11th. Which gave me a chance to attend my grandfathers funeral and be there for my dads scheduled surgery on Friday. What more could happen in just a week, right? One of my dogs decided to quit eating for two days. Took him to the vet on Tuesday, only to find out he had another tumor that needed to be removed. Surgery was now set for Friday, same day as my dads surgery. Maybe I shouldn't have asked my previous question above. At this point I decided to go on bereavement leave from work. Rotating nights at the hospital, with my sister, to keep my dad company as he didn't want to be alone. Working late nights, early mornings, leaving office early, and not staying focused. Being on the verge of tears all week and barely able to hold them back anytime someone asked how I or my family was doing, I needed to take some time off. I had to keep it together. My family needed me to stay strong, not only for them but for myself. It was my turn to stay at the hospital the night before the big day. I made arrangements for my dog to be dropped off the next morning for his surgery, and I stayed with my dad while they did pre-operation procedures all night. No sleep, no food, and needles stuck all over his arms. Just an hour before he was due to be taken back his surgeon called in sick with the flu and it was now rescheduled for Monday. After much frustration, I post-poned my trip again. Now set to leave Tuesday Feb 13th. This time thinking to possibly cancel it all together. Something obviously didn't want me to go back to Hyderabad. Monday came and surgery was a go, they took him back at 4pm. I wasn't prepared for what I saw when we finally got to see him again at 1:30am. His body laying there, unconscious, with tubes and IV's. The nurse not taking us into consideration as he adjusted and moved the large tubes around that were sticking out from his chest, and then my dads body started to tremble. Was he cold? In shock? Worse, was he in pain? All I know is I stood watching, helpless, as his whole body shook vigorously. For this to be the last memory I had of him before traveling for 28+ hours, I was devastated. Silently shedding tears. This was tough. The journey back to India was long, too much time to be immersed with my own thoughts. Unable to shake the images I saw that morning. Not properly dealing with the events of the past couple weeks. Hiding behind work to stay distracted. Going back to India may have been a mistake. I've not recovered. HyderabadFinally landing in Hyderabad, 8:40am, Thursday February 15th. Wasting no time after arriving, checked into the hotel and headed into the office. I was extactic to see my Hyderabad friends again. They always have a way to lighten the mood. Many laughs.
After a couple days in the office, the first weekend had arrived. The weight of home had settled back in. In hopes to get a little peace of mind, I ventured out to Shri Puri Jagannath temple and Jublie Hills Peddamma temple. It was peaceful and helped ease some of the pain I was feeling at that moment. While attempting to be respectful to the Hindu methods (watching, observing, and mimicing what I see), I did get a chance to pull out my grandfathers photo and pay respect to him and made a wish for my dads recovery. [Next day my dad was released from the hospital to stay at my sisters house for the remainder of his recovery. Coincedence? Maybe. But I'll take it] Just over a week has gone by. Weekends are definitely the hardest. Spending 90% of my free time outside of the office alone. Again with my own thoughts, I have lost my strength and will. Waiting every evening to receive the most recent update from my mom on my dads progress and only to receive word that my other dog has fallen ill. As much as I thought I needed to escape, I may have left too soon. My heart feels torn here. Wanting to be in India enjoying every moment, but another part is feeling regret and pain. Here it's the end of another weekend and in an attempt to not let all of this to continue to overcome me. I randomly picked a spot on a map and headed there today, which just happened to be a large park about an hour cab ride from my hotel. Walking around. 90+ degrees. Kindly declining photo ops with my fans. I found a nice shady spot in the grass where I laid on my back, peacefully, and for 3 hours wrote to this point. I can already feel a heavy weight lifted. Maybe thats all I needed? Fingers crossed. *** The day after writing this, and after much deliberation, it was decided to put my beloved dog Mocha to sleep the following afternoon. After spending 13 of his 15 years with him, his health had deteriated enough that it was time. The hardest part was not the act of playing God, but being unable to say goodbye, holidning him one last time, and looking into his blind, toothless, crooked nose face. This was truly heartbreaking and the final piece that broke me. Many hours of tears, screams, and heartache. It was so hard to find the strength to move forward, especially being a world away. Drowning myself in work was not going to heal this wound. I needed to find peace in all of this. And I needed to find it quick LEAVE // 01.02.2018 | 13:25 PM PST | PORTLAND, OREGON ARRIVE // 01.04.2018 | 02:45 AM IST | HYDERABAD, INDIA TRANSPORTATION // ALASKA AIRLINES | EMIRATES // VISA ON ARRIVAL LAYOVER // SEATTLE, WA | 2 HOUR | DUBAI, EAU | 2 HOUR 50 MINUTE (2 HOUR DELAY LEAVING SEATTLE, LEFT ONLY 50 MINUTE LAYOVER IN DUBAI) ACCOMMODATIONS // LOCAL RESIDENCE The adventure started before even landing in India. From a 2-hour late departure out of Seattle, leaving only 50 minutes to get through Dubai airport, and then my Apple watch turned up missing through security after I was greeted with a special screening in a private room. Besides all that, I wasn't going to let it ruin the start of what could be one of the best experiences I've encountered in my travels. Hyderabad & AgraArrived, sleep deprived, no idea what day it was, and still upset I lost my Apple watch during my layover in Dubai. Hyderabad airport did not disappoint. What should have been a quick pass through to get my visa stamped took over an hour of standing in line and getting irritable over the constant impatience of others as they cut to the front. Finally getting through and greeted by my good friend Madhu (poor guy had been waiting for almost 4 hours for my arrival), I made it to India! Regardless if I was visiting for work, pleasure, or how much I have traveled over the years, I found myself slightly culture shocked the first couple days. Maybe because I usually depend on Rehan to be there to guide me, the lack of sleep, trying to get my bearings on timezone, or possible that I was staying in an apartment with Madhu's sister and family and it threw off my psyche [the amount of hospitality I received is something I could never explain, or thank them enough for. It was too much and I am forever grateful]. Everything was very surreal. After going into the office a few days, Saturday arrived and we were free to roam the city. Venturing out beyond the office, sightseeing, taking photos with my "fan club", and spending time with new friends. The city was way more chaotically beautiful and amazing than I had originally thought. Sightseeing with coworkers was like getting a private tour of Golkonda Fort, Charminar, Mecca Masjid, and Falaknuma palace. It made for a long day but worth fitting it all into a few hours. By evening, my sides started to ache from laughter while getting to know the guys from the office a little more. Not to mention the constant line of my fan club of school girls wanting to take photo's with me [I'm pretty sure I'm a famous face on Facebook/Instagram in India now. Red hair, fair skin, female roaming Hyderabad - like a Bigfoot sighting in the states]. Sunday was a little more laid back. Ramoji Film City is the largest studio complex in the world, filming many Bollywood/Tollywood favorites like Chennai Express, Diwali, Bahubali, Raees, and my first Bollywood movie 15-years ago... Devdas! Along with hundreds more that are also worth a mention, but for a much longer blog post. One theme in many that I did mention star the heart throb Shahrukh Kahn [heart skips beat] and maybe, just maybe, I stood in the same location as him. Back to work on Monday. Getting used to the daily routine of staying in a local apartment. Waking up, greeted with freshly made coffee, breakfast (consisting of Dosa), music videos playing on the TV, and kids getting ready for school. Bathing/showering by use of a bucket was a little different, but had a charm to it. I'm used to standing in a shower at home, letting the hot water trickle down, not moving, wasting a ton. Here it was very precise. Use only as much water as needed and become resourceful as to not get your clothes wet as the entire floor is now soaked. Many questions were had the first couple times I attempted to shower; do I stand? squat? how does one wash their hair? why doesn't the soap make suds with the water? How do I keep my red hair (that bleeds when wet) from staining the floor? I eventually got the hang of it and started to appreciate the simplicity of all of it. The days ahead were long. Going into the office, packed with training, then the evenings had their own full itineraries which helped to shed the day-to-day routine. From getting measurements taken for custom made sarees/blouses and shopping with Madhu's sister (never underestimate the bartering skills of a local). Wednesday evening was probably the most entertaining. Taking a fairy to/from the Buddha Statue of Hyderabad, their version of Statue of Liberty, while having locals start up conversation with me to practice their English. Then making it up to Birla Mandir Temple before they closed. Racing uphill, through a narrow street, passing by countless shops selling trinkets, bangles, and small souvenirs. Picking up the pace as we ascend the steps of the temple, barefoot, and leaving our cell phones with the "trusted" electronics check counter at the entrance. Attempting to look around as we were going up, the architecture was breathtaking. Intricately carved white marble, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. With an 11-foot granite carved statue of the deity under a lotus canopy. I don't pretend I know the traditions, rituals, expectations one is supposed to follow when entering a temple. Instead, watching, following the same, and paying respect to a Hindu God that I admit I would have to research the history of, but follow the motions of those around. After exiting prepare to sit on the marble floor outside, to feel the downpour of energy on your head and hands as God is sending energy in form of a blessing (or, generally, Hindu temples are located in a place where earth's magnetic waves pass through and the idol is placed in the center with a copper plate underneath that absorbs the earth's magnetic waves and radiates to its surroundings. Aka. Positive energy). Friday started as a normal day at the office and ended with taking an evening flight to New Delhi. The first step in the journey to see the Taj Mahal. Staying overnight, then catching an early AM train to Agra. Now, one may say to book your train tickets online except there's one major catch, you must have a local number in order to register for the site. Luckily I had one, but unfortunately even though I registered I was unable to book tickets due to the site crashing repeatedly. We took the chance and went to the train station that morning in hopes to find a train with availability. Risky since it was a festival weekend, but whats an adventure without a little added stress? Registration office is located upstairs to the left. Don't bother looking for signs, there are none. This is where you pay for a reservation for a train, any train, as long as you catch one within 3 hours. Then do not board the train, even though everyone else boarded, you must wait until you've been assigned a seat else you will be fined upon train departure from the station. Simple, right? Getting a seat in one of the sleeper cars, and me getting a lower bunk sleeper bed all to myself gave the ability to stretch my legs for the 3 1/2 hour journey. This was indeed the perfect way to go. Arriving in Agra, with a car waiting to take us to the hotel, we decided to book our tickets to see the Taj Mahal for the same day. The anticipation of seeing that great beauty was killing me. I was finally going to check off another modern wonder of the world, with only three more to go. And of course, the mausoleum did not disappoint. Its magnificent beauty, where no picture does it justice, and it is breathtaking to see in person. Amazing! The remainder of the day was more of a waste. Trying to get our cab driver to take us back to the hotel, instead being driven from one location to the next attempting to get us to buy something. It's like the India version of a timeshare. Avoid if you possibly can! Sunday was no different. Attempting to visit as many sights as possible, but also trying to battle the cab driver from taking us on another shopping tour, where we still did not buy anything. Approximately 30 miles outside of Agra is the city Mathura, believed to be birthplace of Krishna. We made multiple stops here on Sunday. One to walk through a labyrinth of streets, being closely watched, and that feeling if we took a wrong turn it may not end well for us, only for a quick walk through a small make-shift temple. Sitting on the floor in the back of the room, watching the "show". Next stop Kesava Deo Temple and the Shahi Eid Gah Mosque. And finally, before heading back to Agra was Shri Krishna-Balram Temple. One of the most eye pleasing temples we had seen all day. [Note: Remember to remove your shoes before entering these temples. It takes only a few seconds and its disrespectful not to. Why fight it?]. Driving back to Agra, and arguing with the cab driver to not stop at another detour, we arrive at Fatehpur Sikri. A large walled complex containing the Jama Masjid Mosque and Tomb of Salim Chishti. In order to enter the tomb, be prepared to lay a piece of cloth in the center and tie a string to the window and make three wishes... for a low cost of 1500 INR (and if you don't pay you will be hassled). That was all fascinating, but I couldn't shake an eerie feeling about this place. I know this was the location just a few months back where a couple was attacked for refusing to take a selfie with the locals, but just like any other Muslim landmark I'm always taken back at how rude they are. Its times like these that I have to put up my arms and prepare for the arm nudges, elbows, being shoved aside, and pinching of my arms as I pass. Frustrating to say the least. At least their architecture is beautiful, even though they are not. Arriving back to Hyderabad Monday evening after a long weekend and settling back into work mode. I have to be honest, I missed the honking, chaos, and people in Hyderabad vs the last couple days in Agra. Taj Mahal was amazing, but I could have done without most everything else. It was an early evening in Hyderabad and after a long day of travel, but all the same, made the most of the time still available... I made plans for Tuesday. There was still one specific thing I wanted to attempt, but had yet the opportunity. I wanted to ride on the back of a motorcycle through the heavy traffic. Tuesday, most of the team were still on holiday after the long festival weekend. So one of the guys from work that had not gone back to his village shifted his hours to take me around. How, you may ask? On his motorcycle, of course! With last minute shopping to do and a couple sights still to see, we set off into the hot scolding sun, me wearing a scarf in an attempt to cover the red hair, and the feel of the wind on my face as we swerved and narrowly squeezed between cars and other motorists. With, surprisingly, only one close call and testing that the brakes were in full working order, this was one of the best decisions I made. For me who would typically over calculate the safety measure of everything, it was exciting! We ventured out to Shilparamam, an arts and crafts village where you can find stalls and stalls of handicrafts, pedal boats, and huts depicting rural and tribal lifestyle and various artisans. Spending a good 3-4 hours then back on the bike headed to a different colony in search of kurta's for our coworker who was back at the hotel ill, then riding the metro to nowhere, and the city bus back to where the bike was parked. Only to stop for Egg Biryani on the return and teaching me how to properly eat with my hands [I've got to say, it actually makes the food taste way better. No metallic flavoring of the silverware. But still weird, like I'm playing with my food]. Back to hotel. Definitely the perfect ending to a three work journey. Many good laughs, good company, new founded appreciation for all things India, and most of all many I would gladly call a close friend. I'm going to miss Hyderabad. Wednesday was bitter sweet. Really sad to be saying goodbye to such a great group of people. Yes, I will get to work with them remotely, but in person for three weeks has been an amazing experience that I wouldn't trade in one moment for another. Laughs, hospitality, and forever gratefulness that I will take with me always. The Return HomeLEAVE // 01.18.2018 | 04:10 AM IST | HYDERABAD, INDIA ARRIVE // 01.18.18 | 13:41 PM PST | PORTLAND, OREGON TRANSPORTATION // ALASKA AIRLINES | EMIRATES LAYOVER // SEATTLE, WA | 2 HOUR | DUBAI, EAU | 2 HOUR 50 MINUTE (1 HOUR DELAY LEAVING HYDERABAD, LEFT ONLY 30 MINUTE LAYOVER IN DUBAI) Saying goodbye, heading to the airport at Midnight, 45 minute cab ride, and arriving with at least 3-hours prior to flight in anticipation for known delays at the airport. Only to arrive and breeze through all lines, security, and have enough time to take a 2-hour power nap before my flight would be ready to board. Waking up, looking up at the monitor, and seeing the dreaded word "DELAYED" flashing at me. Crap! I have a short connection in Dubai, and I have one stop I need to make before boarding my next flight. Recover my watch from lost and found! Yes, that is right. Dubai airport found my watch and was holding it for me. But now with a delayed flight out of Hyderabad I don't know if I will be able to reunite with my beloved Apple watch. Feeling a sudden rush of emotion I went for a walk. I had to make this work. Boarding the flight over an hour late, plane leaving the gate before everyone was seated, and taking off as the last person buckled in, we were finally on our way to Dubai. Looking at the estimated time, I would only have 30 minutes from the time of landing before the gate closed for my next flight. I got this... until realizing I would be landing in Terminal 1, Gate C7, and needed to go to Terminal 3, B36. Thats almost the entire length of the airport. Luckily lost and found was between Terminal 1 and 3, but now only having 20 minutes by the time the plane parked at the gate and me not planning to queue up with others who were catching the same flight and bypassing security lines, this was going to be a huge risk. I went for it anyways. Grabbed my backpack, synched it tight, and as soon as the plane door opened, I ran! Got through security without a hitch and to lost and found with 14 minutes left to spare. Unfortunately they took 10 minutes to locate the watch, leaving me 4 minutes to run 36 gates. Starting to feel the panic, I ignored the pain from running in sandals, 20+lbs on my back, a purse, and my jacket draped at my side, and many hours since I had last eaten... I was still running. My side started to ache, but I could see the gate and they were slowly closing the door. I was too late, I knew it, but to my amazement they saw me and waved me in, wished me a good flight, then told me to relax and get a drink on the plane. Door closed behind me. I can't believe I made it! And on top of that, I've been reunited with my Apple watch. I've missed my dear friend. Lets Talk FoodIn most cases Celiac Disease is always something I keep in mind when I travel, but this was not the case for India. The flours used are not made of wheat and other ingredients that I'm banned from having aren't used in Indian dishes (barley, rye, oats, etc). Most dishes I was expecting to have were curry based and could be served with rice. Now what I was not expecting was how many options there would actually be. Unlike in the states, there was no limit to my selection. It seemed no matter where we went it was not an issue. From many types of Dosa, soft pillows of Idly, a wide variety of Biryani, and many, many more. Happiness was definitely in my belly.
As many times as we have been to Hawaii, across multiple islands, this was one of many firsts. First time going to Hilo, first time swimming with manta rays, first time swimming with 50+ wild dolphins, first time not panicking each time I got in the water and a fish swam near. Hawaii will always be our go-to destination. Each time, experiencing something new.
Oh Athens! As much as I would love to write how speechless I was over the architecture, preservation of monuments, and overall beauty of the city, it is hard since our phone was stolen in the first half of the trip. Losing over half our photos, having to scramble to figure out where we were and how do we get back to the apartment, and now needing to buy a local SIM for our 2nd phone, holding onto that one with our lives. Don't bother reporting stolen property to the police. You will get nowhere. In fact, when you find a police officer on the street and ask where the nearest police station is, he most likely will have to ask somebody passing by (at least that was our experience). Outside of that, this trip was exhausting. Not only was the phone stolen, I was also dealing with an emergency occurring back home. Staying up all night to talk to doctors, sleeping for 1-2 hours, then walking around the city during the day trying to enjoy the few days we had left and not think about home. The hours and lack of sleep took its toll on me, but none the less, the trip was an emotional roller coaster. Feeling awe struck over the cities beauty, then being heartbroken in the evenings. I need to give the city another chance. [Update: Everything turned out for the positive at home. Was close, but everything is okay now] Hong Kong, Republic of ChinaLEAVE // 09.29.2017 | 19:59 PM PST | PORTLAND, OREGON ARRIVE // 09.30.2017 | 07:30 AM UTC | HONG KONG, CHINA TRANSPORTATION // AMERICAN AIRLINES & ALASKA AIRLINES LAYOVER // LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA // 3+ HOURS HOTEL // COURTYARD MARRIOTT Hong Kong, where there are millions of people crammed into a city no larger than Manhattan. Its such an exciting, lively, and vibrant city for many reasons that are hard to put into words. This was the first stop in our 17 day Asia tour. Lets begin. Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
In addition to the double decker tram, there's also a double decker bus that will take you to the airport. Luckily we got the front seat, top deck, and when we go across the bridges or around corners it gives somewhat of a sense of riding a roller coaster. So worth it. Hanoi, VietnamLEAVE // 10.04.2017 | 14:30 PM UTC | HONG KONG, CHINA ARRIVE // 10.04.2017 | 15:35 PM UTC | HANOI, VIETNAM TRANSPORTATION // VIETNAM AIRLINES // VISA ON ARRIVAL HOTEL // TIRANT HOTEL Arriving in Hanoi was not only a culture shock after spending three days in the busy city of Hong Kong, it was a shock to all senses. More to come on this topic (see Mid-Autumn Festival) First to note, Hanoi doesn't have the public transportation like we had in Hong Kong. Depending on how quick you want to get to the hotel and how much you're willing to pay, you do have the option of taking a taxi or bus. We chose bus. We took the new express bus #86 from the airport, where stops aren't clearly marked and some may or may not be posted on any website. So plan to keep a map up on your phone and know the general area you should get off. This was also the first moment I noticed the motorbikes coming into the picture. I'm not talking about a few here or there. I'm talking hundreds of motorbikes, everywhere, all directions. I saw this eight years ago in Bangkok, Thailand and two years ago in Beijing, China but I don't remember to this extreme. Many families were just piled onto one bike. A toddler standing on the floor of a vespa, with two parents and a baby smashed between them. Another had a baby asleep in a backpack (not a baby backpack either). Leaving the bus and starting the 1/2 mile walk to the hotel was something else to be experienced. Having a roller bag, no sidewalks, food vendors washing their produce on the sides of the street, and motorbikes flying past was all to be forever engrained to memory. Went around a corner and the Tirant Hotel lit up like a Vegas casino. We have arrived. Day 4
Day 5 This was a tough decision moment. Stay in Hanoi and absorb, take in the attractions, and explore the city, or take a row boat down river to Tam Coc, Trang An, or Halong Bay. Both Hanoi and the river sites are supposed to be extremely picturesque, but after last nights Mid-Summer Festival I'm a little hesitant thats how crowded the city typically is. As enticing as it was to go down river, we decided to stay and give Hanoi a chance. What this also means is we'll be returning to Hanoi again in future, specifically to explore the caves, rice paddies, and villages down river.
Getting to the airport was somewhat of an adventure, considering the airport express bus #86 doesn't have marked bus stops and its somewhat of a guessing game based on the website. So we headed out early to give extra time for a few wrong turns. 7am, walking through Old Quarter, as shops were setting up and women are crouched on the side of the road and in doorways washing produce and meat for the day. We weren't sure at first if we were standing at the right bus stop, again because its not clearly marked, but eventually the bus arrived and we were off to the airport. Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamLEAVE // 10.06.2017 | 10:15 AM UTC | HANOI, VIETNAM ARRIVE // 10.06.2017 | 12:10 PM UTC | HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM TRANSPORTATION // VIETNAM AIRLINES HOTEL // ROYAL HOTEL SAIGON Oh! We are back to a big city feel. Not usually my preferred to visit, but still very interesting. We are now in Saigon, or now Ho Chi Minh City, which has undergone many name changes and remains the largest city in Vietnam. The city has an old meets new charm, big city with a small city vibe, chaos and fast-paced but laid back, and then you have the architecture. Pagodas and Buddhist temples, mixed in with Colonial structures, and surrounded by skyscrapers and shopping malls. Slightly confusing at what theme they were trying to go with, but it seems to work. Day 6
Siem Reap, CambodiaLEAVE // 10.07.2017 | 16:25 PM UTC | HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM ARRIVE // 10.07.2017 | 17:30 PM UTC | SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA TRANSPORTATION // VIETNAM AIRLINES // VISA ON ARRIVAL HOTEL // BOREI ANGKOR From the first moment you step off the plane you know you've arrived somewhere way different. While Rehan was searching for a local SIM, I sat outside and watched as men came out of the airport, smoking a cigarette, with their women trailing behind carrying all the luggage. After a few exchanges of words, I can only assume the men were telling them to hurry up. I remember seeing Tuk Tuk's in Thailand. Small three wheeled vehicles that fly through traffic, and by getting in one you are taking a risk on arriving at your destination without dying in the process. So when Rehan asked if I wanted to take a Tuk Tuk from the airport I was a bit weary. Nevertheless, we flagged a nice fuchsia pink chariot down and started bartering. Of course, with me being the white skin that I am the fare was more than double. As we walked away, our fuchsia friend had a change of heart and agreed to our price. We piled in, secured our bags, and off we went. This Tuk Tuk was definitely quite different. It was some type of two bench-seat carriage, attached to the back of a motorbike. It was actually quite nice and pleasant. Day 7 It wasn't too late when we finally arrived at our hotel and finished checking in. The need to find food was slowly creeping up on us and according to Google maps it wasn't too far to something called "Pub Street". After following the map we quickly came to the realization that the recent monsoon weather they had flooded many of the streets, made ponds out of some, and Google hadn't recognized the road no longer existed. Or maybe it still did exist, just under a large amount of water. Seemed like a story you would read about unknown travelers straying from the path, down a dark ally, off the beaten path, and getting mugged! I'm sure we read warnings against doing something like this. We did eventually make it to Pub Street. After walking through mud, a bit dirty, but shaking that off and now enjoying a meal at what will soon be our nightly destination.
There was a great amount of anticipation to get to this point of the trip. We were about to see Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world. Now, for clarification, it wasn't the religious aspect that attracted me to this. It was the grandness and complexity of it. Something that was constructed in the 12th century was still standing and this well preserved. I have a weakness for ruins like this. This was going to be a grand day. We booked a Tuk Tuk for a full day and met our driver at 7am. After many days of studying the temple map, distance between temples, what to wear, what not to wear, packed lots of water, sunscreen, we were set. Most tourists go to Angkor Wat first, but our driver suggested to start at Bayon as there will be less people when you go in reverse order of the crowds. So we took his suggestion.
Day 9 Sadly leaving today, but there was still one temple we didn't get to see. We woke early and met our Tuk Tuk driver for a "quick" trip to this last temple. We were on a time crunch, as we needed to be back at the hotel no later than Noon to shower, check-out, and head to the airport, but going to see the temple was definitely worth the risk. The road was much longer, about 45 minutes, and a lot rougher than the trek to Angkor Wat. And at this point I was almost recovered from the heat the day before. We came a little more prepared and doubled the amount of water we had with us. The cool fresh air also helped, as we flew down dirt roads, around large pot holes, and through small villages where many of the houses were on stilts due to the amount of rain fall they get and to avoid flooding. This drive alone makes me want to visit Cambodia again and explore even more that it has to offer.
After we were dropped off the first day, Rehan had made arrangements with our Tuk Tuk driver later that evening to drop off laundry somewhere nearby. We were able to pick it up on the way back to the hotel which turned out to be less than a couple bucks. Really reasonable considering we had over a week of sweat drenched clothes that had taken on more than just an oder. We made it back at 11:45am, which gave us 15 minutes to shower, pack, and head down before our ride to the airport arrived. Kuala Lumpar, MalaysiaLEAVE // 10.09.2017 | 14:55 PM UTC | SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA ARRIVE // 10.09.2017 | 18:05 PM UTC | KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA TRANSPORTATION // AIR ASIA HOTEL // A LOFT There's a weird vibe in Kuala Lumpur, which I'm unable to quite put my finger on it yet but there is definitely something there. Not sure if it has to do with the combination of Rehan, whom is a Pakistani, and myself, red hair and fair skin, but it was an unfriendly sense of our presence. My guard was up as soon as I stepped out of the airport as my spidey senses were on guard.
Day 10 BATU CAVES Limestone caves located just North of Kuala Lumpur and made up of three main caves featuring temples of Hindu shrines. As you first approach, you can't help but notice the large statue of the Hindu God Lord Murugan, and then you notice the 272 steps you will need to climb to the top. Be cautious though, monkeys prey on helpless tourists and frolic around the caves. Do not carry food when climbing the steps (not even an energy bar in your backpack), do not make eye contact or smile at the monkeys, and keep hold of your belongings else you will find yourself, along with thousand other tourists, watching a monkey carry it away. After witnessing many monkeys attacking the backpacks of unknowing climbers, this is not a warning of what "could" happen, but a warning of what "will" happen if you ignore the warnings.
Don't get me wrong, Kuala Lumpur had a lot to offer. There was beauty all around us and it was an amazing city to venture through and experience. Unfortunately, besides the food poisoning that Rehan got again after visiting this city (twice he visited, twice he fell ill and spent half on the white throne), I couldn't shake that uncomfortable feeling I had when I first arrived. Kuala Lumpur is primarily Muslim. In this case, unlike many other Muslim cities I've visited, this was not a warm embrace. Men gawked at me in disgust, shoved, pushed, and despised my presence. Again, I'm still not sure if it was the combination of Rehan and I, or if it was only due to me, but my original instincts turned out to be accurate. I was not welcome here. SingaporeLEAVE // 10.11.2017 | 12:30 PM UTC | KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA ARRIVE // 10.11.2017 | 13:40 PM UTC | SINGAPORE TRANSPORTATION // AIR ASIA HOTEL // FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON SINGAPORE As much as I was dreading the possibility of intense heat, especially after Cambodia heat a few days before, it was actually quite pleasant. Listening to Rehan's stories of last time he went to Singapore and it being the most extreme humidity that he has ever experienced, this was not the case for our visit. While still on the plane, you can't help but notice the list of laws that are announced as you are about to land into Singapore. My favorite two were 1) Punishment by death if arriving into Singapore with drugs or drugs in your blood stream 2) Public caning if found littering, vandalism, or chewing gum. Wait what?! Chewing gum? That's a little extreme, but chewing gum is made of plastic and when disposed of will stay in a landfill FOREVER, but still... public caning? Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Macau, ChinaLEAVE // 10.15.2017 | 11:05 AM UTC | SINGAPORE ARRIVE // 10.16.2017 | 01:15 AM UTC | HONG KONG, CHINA TRANSPORTATION // MALAYSIA AIRLINE LAYOVER // KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA // 7+ HOURS HOTEL // COURTYARD MARRIOTT Day 15 travel, layover Day 16
Trek Back HomeLEAVE // 10.17.2017 | 18:10 PM UTC | HONG KONG, CHINA ARRIVE // 10.17.2017 | 21:01 PM PST | PORTLAND, OREGON TRANSPORTATION // AMERICAN AIRLINES & ALASKA AIRLINES LAYOVER // LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA // 2+ HOURS Day 17 Home After arriving in Reykajavik Saturday morning, July 8, walking around the town a short few hours before reaching the awake for over 24 hours and needing sleep, but still waiting before we could check into the apartment. Catching a quick nap before venturing out again in the "evening" at 2am, yet again at the amazement that it was still full sunlight. With the feeling as though I'm walking around a ghost town in an episode of Twilight Zone, waiting for sign of another life form, all while in a lucid state of confusion.
The nightly strolls around town became a normal occurrence. Visiting this magnificent country during their summer months, where it has 24-hours of daylight, and what they call the midnight sunset (where the sun is going down on one side and comes up a few seconds later on the other). Day two? Or is it three? Not sure anymore since the day and night blend together. There's no darkness, just slightly not so bright. Sleeping during the day, when most tourists would be out, and awake driving from waterfall, canyon, hot spring, etc in the evening. Only coming across a few people along our way, with the sense that we had the entire country to ourselves. Every day, walking around the town before we headed out by car. Looking down every alley and street and around every corner. I was on the search for graffiti. It wasn't like that ugly vandalizing of office buildings you would typically see. It was beautiful, thought out, and I couldn't get enough of it. We only ventured the southern part of Iceland, due to the restriction to return to Reykajavik each morning. There is still so much of the country we have yet to discover, not to mention the Northern lights do not show during the Summer months. We will return to this majestic country. There is still so much to discover. Dear Tokyo, Thank you for the lovely visit, but I'm still trying to digest what exactly I experienced. You are like Las Vegas, Thailand, and New York decided to have a baby, which they named "Tokyo". From the sensory overload of lights, sound, color, and all things shiny and flashy. One can only attempt to sit back to figure it out only to end even more confused than where they started. You are a lively city. Full of action and adventure. From the large Godzilla that greeted me from my hotel room window each morning, the serene walks through the Japanese gardens, to the Robot Show that left me scratching my head for days [a year later still trying to figure this one out]. You left me with much enjoyment and amusement that I'll talk fondly of for years to come. You are another city that I would love to visit again, if the opportunity arises. I only unwrapped the icing of what you have to offer and look forward to delving in a little more. Thank you Tokyo for opening my eyes to the true beauty of madness. Until we meet again.... Sincerely Kat - I have never been one to have the best of luck when traveling, from as simple as twisting my ankle on the first day in Montreal, food poisoning in Cabo San Lucas, to a flesh eating foot infection in Rome. None the less it doesn't slow me down. I push forward through the pain, bandage what needs to be bandaged, and ibuprofen as needed. It was all part of the experience, right? I got out of the habit years ago of keeping a blog of my day-to-day and random life-hacks. My old blog was never directly related to travel specifically, but seemed to incorporate trips and outings around Portland quite often. There was always something that occurred that was worth adding a bit of humor to a few readers routine. I have thought about the blogging days and out of all those posts I think the rendition of our Puerto Vallarta trip from 2008 is probably my all time favorite. Catching a parasite, surviving, and finding humor in my "near death" experience. This was also one of those rare occurrences that I could not push through the pain and continue. I had to take a knee and there was no taking that next step without that small voice in my head, "you are not going to make it!":
To add to the humor, Rehan wrote his own rendition of the trip. Without comparing notes or reading the other ones post, below was his version of the events that occurred those couple weeks. Same story, different perspective:
After all things said and done I obviously survived that glorious trip I called a "fast acting diet". It has been over nine years and we still talk about this trip, the events that unravelled during and after, and "wormy". Most of all, we have been back to Puerto Vallarta twice since then and have not had an issue. Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful city and has a lot to offer. They have updated the city to make it more tourist friendly, but they kept that old charm I fell in love with it back in 2008. The taco stands are still there, even with plastic over the plates, the nightclubs have changed, but thats to be expected, and the Malec'on has the same statues and photo-ops as before, if not even more now. The city is sweltering hot during the day, but comes to life with lights and color at night. I look forward to visiting there again. Each time, bringing a whole new adventure.
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