My thoughts on the trip so far (more about me than the actual places I've been)
So I've been traveling for nearly two weeks now. Given I'll be traveling for 4.5 months, that's only 1 part of a 9 part journey. So far, I've visited three countries: Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. I forgot which one it is who has the king I'm not allowed to disrespect, so right now I'm just being careful to avoid disrespecting kings in general.
Everyone is always so surprised to hear I'm traveling alone.
"You're traveling alone?"
"Yes"
"Ooooooh!!!!" *makes surprised face* "You're very brave!"
...is it so bad for me to be traveling alone? Really? Is this very unheard of? For a reason?
I've been living out of my one backpack, and so far so good. Air Asia has a carry on limit of 7 kgs and certain dimensions. I didn't get to weigh my luggage before I left, but I did weigh it after I went shopping in Malaysia. 3.5kgs!!! I weighed it again in Singapore, and not only was it only 4kgs (I wasn't even wearing extra clothes to keep the weight down, even my hat was in there) but the bag also easily fit into the dimension frame. Meaning I totally do not need to worry about that!
I lost my phone, and that kinda sucks. But oh well. Just means I won't be receiving calls for a while. That's a little unnerving, especially since there's a high likelihood my grandparents will pass away while I'm gone, and my Dad doesn't use the internet. But, what more can I do? I care little about the phone (as nice as it was to have!) but mostly I'd like people to be able to reach me on my number. That means a sim card. I'll see what my options are to have a replacement sent to me if I leave the island without my phone. Other than that, I seem to have chosen wisely in what to take with me. I've bought three shawls/scarfs/wraps which have seen an incredible amount of use. They are everything from shoulder covers (for the South East Asian countries women should cover their skin), to skirts to tops to dresses to blankets. They're amazing and I have three which each serve a slightly different purpose. I've used everything in my backpack except for the thermal underwear/socks and second jumper, but that will come into play in Europe.
I'm slowly learning/figuring out what I want from this trip. I didn't really know, and this journey has mostly been one of self discovery. It's only the first two weeks so I can't really claim to much, but I think it will develop as time goes on. All I can do is experience things and then see what my body has to say about it. Listen, and understand.
So far, it seems like I don't really like big cities. Mostly, I dislike being surrounded by people. Specifically people who I feel I have to be on my guard towards. When I am walking with my backpack through a crowded marketplace/station where there are touts everywhere and taxis constantly trying to appeal to me, in a place where wages are low and I'm obviously a foreigner, I feel like I *constantly* have to be on the look out. For scams, for theft, for unscrupulous individuals. And worse, I have to be wary and careful of "helpful strangers". It really sucks having to be so damned careful, so on my guard and being unable to trust nearly anybody. It's stressful and I dislike being stuck in that situation for very long. Even harder when you've just arrived and you're trying to get your bearings to find your location. You're distracted and all the people in your way is more unhelpful than helpful. Especially, paradoxically, all those people who are trying to be 'helpful'.
I'm tired of having to be on my guard every time someone approaches me. And that happens a lot. I want to be friendly and I want people to be friendly to me without trying to scam me. The reality is not like this. Maybe this will help teach me how to be assertive in situations that warrant it. I'm often nice to the point of weakness and lack the backbone, so that would be good for me. Still, right now, it's a lot of energy.
It's just stressful. I like getting to my hotel because it often means I can drop my guard. Except I can't, because where I hope for a nice shower and toilet break, the toilets are messy or have no toilet paper and the showers are usually in the toilet (as in, the shower is over the toilet, so when you turn the shower on the toilet gets wet) and it's so fiddly.
I love places that have a warm shower and clean toilets with toilet paper. And I loved my stay on Langkawi Island in Malaysia... touts were few and far between, my room was lovely and clean and warm and welcoming, the people were friendly, and all I did was relax on island beaches and freshwater lakes and more beaches and sunsets. I didn't feel stressed and wasn't approached (too much!) and it was beautiful and I had everything I wanted. I rode a scooter and there weren't many vehicles on the road and I felt safe and it was just lovely.
I hated Penang (Georgetown) because it was full of people in a place that was dirty; rubbish was everywhere, bad smells abound, and touts were constantly calling out to me, even several dozen offers for a 'free taxi'... people just didn't leave me alone, and where they didn't, they were looking at me like I was rather unwelcome. I suppose I was imposing in their marketplace, which was crowded with people and things and vehicles, I just seemed in the way. The roads had no walkway, and cars, motorbikes and pedestrians all used the road without order. I always had to be careful and evasive of everything; cars and people, although that didn't stop me being approached by a local who gave me a tour, bought me lunch and kept trying to hold my hand, saying goodbye kissing both my cheeks. It made me so wary of other people and I was surrounded by them in an unsettling place. Even the hotel was a Chinese hotel that felt like it was part of some really dodgy business. I felt unsafe and was rather stressed. People seem to think highly of Penang and Georgetown as a site of culinary and historical importance. I saw the historical sites, and had a very delicious burger to be sure. But perhaps, it isn't a place I want to go in alone. And perhaps, sites like that are not what I'm looking for on this trip.
I keep thinking about what has happened so far on this trip, and really asking myself what I enjoyed. Not what I *think* I enjoyed, but what did I actually enjoy? Really? When was I happy?
When did I look around and decide I really liked this?
- When I was zooming around in a boat around the smaller islands around Langkawi. The boat bounced, I felt the wind in my hair and the water splashing around me, and saw the islands whizzing past. I enjoyed that a lot.
- Being the last passenger on a bus where the "last spare seat" was actually occupied by a small child that the driver didn't see. Bottom line, I got to sit in the seat right up front next to the driver. That was fun!
- Having lunch with a Thai family by the river. A little girl called out "hello!" to me. Often, shy parents encourage their children to speak with the foreigner. We couldn't really speak anything of the other person's language, but they ended up sharing lunch with me, including gifting me with an apple (which they even cut for me) and grapes. Towards the end, the little girl made a heart symbol and said a word that sounded like "hachai". I said it back and made the same symbol and she approved. Then she held up her fists and said "Muaythai", and I said it back. The family seemed to like me, even though they couldn't speak my language, and I couldn't speak theirs apart from "thank you".
What did I dislike?
- Big *crowded* cities where I constantly have to be on the lookout for people who may see me as a target or try to proposition me with various tricks, scams, or other 'offers'.
- People generally, particularly those who make noises like snorting. Although the more I put up with this the more I'm training a tolerating response.
- Toilets that charge you to get in, and then they're dirty, covered in pee and have no toilet paper. Why? What's the point? It would be cleaner for me to dig a hole.
I love how food is so cheap and accessible, you're never left wanting! Although you have to be wary of food standards, but I compare this to Europe and realise that while I can get meals here for $2AUD, if I want that in Europe I'm probably looking at a Mcdonalds cheeseburger.
I actually like sharing rooms in hostels with several bunk beds. Somehow, I feel safer. I also like having my own room but it depends on how nice it feels. If it doesn't feel nice, I feel uneasy on my own. In hostels, I don't feel alone.
I also like having access to the internet. It's a security thing that helps me. That's a major reason why I feel a little lost without my phone. It had information I could refer to, and ability to reach people if I had to. It was a security blanket, and it's gone now. But I'm a big girl, I'll do fine without it.
In all honesty, everything else is fine as long as as I return with my health.
I seem to enjoy natural scenery and simple pleasures more than seeing the touristy things. Or rather, the man made things, especially man made things designed for people to pay money to visit. I enjoy a free walk on the beach or trip to the waterfall over paying to go to the top of the city's tallest tower or paying to see their bird park. The appeal of the free things isn't so much that they are free but mostly because they feel nicer. They aren't coated in a profit motive from people who have money. It's just... more natural, more pleasant, and more for me.
But it's only been two weeks. I'm sure I'll figure it out as I go. It's something for me to do on my own. Sometimes I wonder if the internet is preventing me from doing that, which is why I'll be interested to see what happens in the long term without my phone. Maybe a cut from the internet would be a good idea as well. But it's early days yet, I'm curious about how I'll feel about this trip over the longer term.
That's all for now, I think. Not going to go into my thoughts of the actual places yet, this was more about my thoughts about the trip in general so far. Kylie out :)
Everyone is always so surprised to hear I'm traveling alone.
"You're traveling alone?"
"Yes"
"Ooooooh!!!!" *makes surprised face* "You're very brave!"
...is it so bad for me to be traveling alone? Really? Is this very unheard of? For a reason?
I've been living out of my one backpack, and so far so good. Air Asia has a carry on limit of 7 kgs and certain dimensions. I didn't get to weigh my luggage before I left, but I did weigh it after I went shopping in Malaysia. 3.5kgs!!! I weighed it again in Singapore, and not only was it only 4kgs (I wasn't even wearing extra clothes to keep the weight down, even my hat was in there) but the bag also easily fit into the dimension frame. Meaning I totally do not need to worry about that!
I lost my phone, and that kinda sucks. But oh well. Just means I won't be receiving calls for a while. That's a little unnerving, especially since there's a high likelihood my grandparents will pass away while I'm gone, and my Dad doesn't use the internet. But, what more can I do? I care little about the phone (as nice as it was to have!) but mostly I'd like people to be able to reach me on my number. That means a sim card. I'll see what my options are to have a replacement sent to me if I leave the island without my phone. Other than that, I seem to have chosen wisely in what to take with me. I've bought three shawls/scarfs/wraps which have seen an incredible amount of use. They are everything from shoulder covers (for the South East Asian countries women should cover their skin), to skirts to tops to dresses to blankets. They're amazing and I have three which each serve a slightly different purpose. I've used everything in my backpack except for the thermal underwear/socks and second jumper, but that will come into play in Europe.
I'm slowly learning/figuring out what I want from this trip. I didn't really know, and this journey has mostly been one of self discovery. It's only the first two weeks so I can't really claim to much, but I think it will develop as time goes on. All I can do is experience things and then see what my body has to say about it. Listen, and understand.
So far, it seems like I don't really like big cities. Mostly, I dislike being surrounded by people. Specifically people who I feel I have to be on my guard towards. When I am walking with my backpack through a crowded marketplace/station where there are touts everywhere and taxis constantly trying to appeal to me, in a place where wages are low and I'm obviously a foreigner, I feel like I *constantly* have to be on the look out. For scams, for theft, for unscrupulous individuals. And worse, I have to be wary and careful of "helpful strangers". It really sucks having to be so damned careful, so on my guard and being unable to trust nearly anybody. It's stressful and I dislike being stuck in that situation for very long. Even harder when you've just arrived and you're trying to get your bearings to find your location. You're distracted and all the people in your way is more unhelpful than helpful. Especially, paradoxically, all those people who are trying to be 'helpful'.
I'm tired of having to be on my guard every time someone approaches me. And that happens a lot. I want to be friendly and I want people to be friendly to me without trying to scam me. The reality is not like this. Maybe this will help teach me how to be assertive in situations that warrant it. I'm often nice to the point of weakness and lack the backbone, so that would be good for me. Still, right now, it's a lot of energy.
It's just stressful. I like getting to my hotel because it often means I can drop my guard. Except I can't, because where I hope for a nice shower and toilet break, the toilets are messy or have no toilet paper and the showers are usually in the toilet (as in, the shower is over the toilet, so when you turn the shower on the toilet gets wet) and it's so fiddly.
I love places that have a warm shower and clean toilets with toilet paper. And I loved my stay on Langkawi Island in Malaysia... touts were few and far between, my room was lovely and clean and warm and welcoming, the people were friendly, and all I did was relax on island beaches and freshwater lakes and more beaches and sunsets. I didn't feel stressed and wasn't approached (too much!) and it was beautiful and I had everything I wanted. I rode a scooter and there weren't many vehicles on the road and I felt safe and it was just lovely.
I hated Penang (Georgetown) because it was full of people in a place that was dirty; rubbish was everywhere, bad smells abound, and touts were constantly calling out to me, even several dozen offers for a 'free taxi'... people just didn't leave me alone, and where they didn't, they were looking at me like I was rather unwelcome. I suppose I was imposing in their marketplace, which was crowded with people and things and vehicles, I just seemed in the way. The roads had no walkway, and cars, motorbikes and pedestrians all used the road without order. I always had to be careful and evasive of everything; cars and people, although that didn't stop me being approached by a local who gave me a tour, bought me lunch and kept trying to hold my hand, saying goodbye kissing both my cheeks. It made me so wary of other people and I was surrounded by them in an unsettling place. Even the hotel was a Chinese hotel that felt like it was part of some really dodgy business. I felt unsafe and was rather stressed. People seem to think highly of Penang and Georgetown as a site of culinary and historical importance. I saw the historical sites, and had a very delicious burger to be sure. But perhaps, it isn't a place I want to go in alone. And perhaps, sites like that are not what I'm looking for on this trip.
I keep thinking about what has happened so far on this trip, and really asking myself what I enjoyed. Not what I *think* I enjoyed, but what did I actually enjoy? Really? When was I happy?
When did I look around and decide I really liked this?
- When I was zooming around in a boat around the smaller islands around Langkawi. The boat bounced, I felt the wind in my hair and the water splashing around me, and saw the islands whizzing past. I enjoyed that a lot.
- Being the last passenger on a bus where the "last spare seat" was actually occupied by a small child that the driver didn't see. Bottom line, I got to sit in the seat right up front next to the driver. That was fun!
- Having lunch with a Thai family by the river. A little girl called out "hello!" to me. Often, shy parents encourage their children to speak with the foreigner. We couldn't really speak anything of the other person's language, but they ended up sharing lunch with me, including gifting me with an apple (which they even cut for me) and grapes. Towards the end, the little girl made a heart symbol and said a word that sounded like "hachai". I said it back and made the same symbol and she approved. Then she held up her fists and said "Muaythai", and I said it back. The family seemed to like me, even though they couldn't speak my language, and I couldn't speak theirs apart from "thank you".
What did I dislike?
- Big *crowded* cities where I constantly have to be on the lookout for people who may see me as a target or try to proposition me with various tricks, scams, or other 'offers'.
- People generally, particularly those who make noises like snorting. Although the more I put up with this the more I'm training a tolerating response.
- Toilets that charge you to get in, and then they're dirty, covered in pee and have no toilet paper. Why? What's the point? It would be cleaner for me to dig a hole.
I love how food is so cheap and accessible, you're never left wanting! Although you have to be wary of food standards, but I compare this to Europe and realise that while I can get meals here for $2AUD, if I want that in Europe I'm probably looking at a Mcdonalds cheeseburger.
I actually like sharing rooms in hostels with several bunk beds. Somehow, I feel safer. I also like having my own room but it depends on how nice it feels. If it doesn't feel nice, I feel uneasy on my own. In hostels, I don't feel alone.
I also like having access to the internet. It's a security thing that helps me. That's a major reason why I feel a little lost without my phone. It had information I could refer to, and ability to reach people if I had to. It was a security blanket, and it's gone now. But I'm a big girl, I'll do fine without it.
In all honesty, everything else is fine as long as as I return with my health.
I seem to enjoy natural scenery and simple pleasures more than seeing the touristy things. Or rather, the man made things, especially man made things designed for people to pay money to visit. I enjoy a free walk on the beach or trip to the waterfall over paying to go to the top of the city's tallest tower or paying to see their bird park. The appeal of the free things isn't so much that they are free but mostly because they feel nicer. They aren't coated in a profit motive from people who have money. It's just... more natural, more pleasant, and more for me.
But it's only been two weeks. I'm sure I'll figure it out as I go. It's something for me to do on my own. Sometimes I wonder if the internet is preventing me from doing that, which is why I'll be interested to see what happens in the long term without my phone. Maybe a cut from the internet would be a good idea as well. But it's early days yet, I'm curious about how I'll feel about this trip over the longer term.
That's all for now, I think. Not going to go into my thoughts of the actual places yet, this was more about my thoughts about the trip in general so far. Kylie out :)