7 planes, 8 days -- otherwise known as my way back to Canada! In the interest of saving money, I bought the cheapest flights I could find to make my way home. Now that it's time to actually take them, I have to wonder whether saving money is worth all the extra time I'll be wasting in airports. On the plus side I'll get more stamps in my passport! My crazy itinerary is as follows:
June 21st: Denpasar - Jakarta
June 22nd: Jakarta - Singapore (arrival 5pm)
June 23rd: Singapore - Manila (departure 6am, which means I get to enjoy a night in Singapore airport!)
June 23rd: Manila - Osaka (5 hour layover in Manila, to my great dismay -- definitely not my favorite city)
June 29th: Osaka - Tokyo - Chicago - Montreal (3 flights, arriving a few hours after my departure with over 20 hours of travel in between, that's the date line for ya!)
Then I get to rest a about a week and then it's time for yet another flight to get home to Vancouver, arrival on July 7th! It's a good nervousness I think.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Cooking class
Today M. and I took a Balinese cooking class! Listed bellow are five of the recipes we learned how to make. (We learned two others, a soup and a black rice pudding that didn't work my world. Let me know if you want the recipes for them though.) The recipes are all approximate since I was taking notes while our teacher was cooking.
M. and I found that most of the dishes were too salty, so feel free to cut down the amount of salt. Also, they don't cook with many vegetables here, so feel free to add more to the recipes! Finally, all recipes are vegetarian since neither of us cook meat, but I'm sure you can add whatever meat you'd like to most of these. Each recipe makes one large portion.
Gado-Gado
Boil water, cook your favorite veggies in it. We used: carrots, potatoes, green beans, bean sprouts.
Using a mortar and pestle (or a food processor I guess), crush together:
1 cup fried salty peanuts
2 large garlic cloves
1/2 tsp shrimp paste (optional)
1 small hot chili
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
once crushed add:
about 7 tbsps water added a bit at a time until the sauce is the right texture (liquid and lumpy)
1/2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
juice from 1/4 of a small lime
Deep fry tofu and tempe for about 3 mins. Mix the veggies, protein, and sauce together.
Urap-pan
Boil water, cook your favorite veggies in it. We used: green beans, bean sprouts.
Using a mortar and pestle, crush together:
2 large garlic cloves
1 1/2" turmeric root
1/2" galengal root
1/2" ginger root
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 small chili
once crushed add:
1 cup shaved fresh coconut (not sweetened)
Fry the mix on high (no oil) for about 30 seconds then add the veggies and fry for another 2 minutes or so.
Indonesian Curry
Using a mortar and pestle, crush together:
2 large garlic cloves
1/2" turmeric root
1/2" ginger root
1/2 tsp shrimp paste
3/4 tsp each of salt and sugar
1 small chili
Heat 2 tbsps of oil on high. Add 2 shallots thinly sliced, cook for about 2 minutes. Add the spice sauce and 1 1/2 cup of water. The sauce is now very liquid. Add tempe (cut into bite size pieces, or add any veggies/protein you want).
Wait until boiling, then add:
1 lemongrass (young one, use white part, add in whole)
1/2 tsp salt
Cook for about 6 minutes (until the tempe isn't hard anymore) then add:
"coconut water" -- they make it themselves in the following way: take 1/4 cup shaved fresh coconut, mix with water from the pot, press the coconut to wring out the water, then add the water back to the pot.
Tahu Goreng Sambal Tomat
Deep fry tofu (takes about 5 minutes).
Using a mortar and pestle, crush together:
1 big chili (not too spicy, remove seeds and slice into thin pieces first)
3 large garlic cloves
1 tsp each of salt and sugar
1/2 tsp shrimp paste
Once crushed add:
2 tomatoes sliced thin
Heat 2 tbsps oil and add the spice sauce, mix constantly for about 1 minute. Add deep fried tofu and 1/4 tsp each of salt and sugar. Cook for about 2 minutes.
Nasi Goreng
Using a mortar and pestle, crush together:
2 large garlic cloves
1/2" turmeric root
1 shallot (thinly sliced)
1/2" galengal root
1/2 tsp each of salt and sugar
Heat 1 tbsp oil and 1 thinly sliced shallot and the spice mix. Then add in order: 1 egg, 1 cup cabbage, 2 cups cooked rice, 1/2 tsp each of salt and sugar. Mix constantly. Once the rice is added, mix it in by squashing the rice to the bottom of the pan to brown it (use high heat).
Ingredients:
M. learning how to use the mortar and pestle:
Enjoying our creations!
M. and I found that most of the dishes were too salty, so feel free to cut down the amount of salt. Also, they don't cook with many vegetables here, so feel free to add more to the recipes! Finally, all recipes are vegetarian since neither of us cook meat, but I'm sure you can add whatever meat you'd like to most of these. Each recipe makes one large portion.
Gado-Gado
Boil water, cook your favorite veggies in it. We used: carrots, potatoes, green beans, bean sprouts.
Using a mortar and pestle (or a food processor I guess), crush together:
1 cup fried salty peanuts
2 large garlic cloves
1/2 tsp shrimp paste (optional)
1 small hot chili
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
once crushed add:
about 7 tbsps water added a bit at a time until the sauce is the right texture (liquid and lumpy)
1/2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
juice from 1/4 of a small lime
Deep fry tofu and tempe for about 3 mins. Mix the veggies, protein, and sauce together.
Urap-pan
Boil water, cook your favorite veggies in it. We used: green beans, bean sprouts.
Using a mortar and pestle, crush together:
2 large garlic cloves
1 1/2" turmeric root
1/2" galengal root
1/2" ginger root
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 small chili
once crushed add:
1 cup shaved fresh coconut (not sweetened)
Fry the mix on high (no oil) for about 30 seconds then add the veggies and fry for another 2 minutes or so.
Indonesian Curry
Using a mortar and pestle, crush together:
2 large garlic cloves
1/2" turmeric root
1/2" ginger root
1/2 tsp shrimp paste
3/4 tsp each of salt and sugar
1 small chili
Heat 2 tbsps of oil on high. Add 2 shallots thinly sliced, cook for about 2 minutes. Add the spice sauce and 1 1/2 cup of water. The sauce is now very liquid. Add tempe (cut into bite size pieces, or add any veggies/protein you want).
Wait until boiling, then add:
1 lemongrass (young one, use white part, add in whole)
1/2 tsp salt
Cook for about 6 minutes (until the tempe isn't hard anymore) then add:
"coconut water" -- they make it themselves in the following way: take 1/4 cup shaved fresh coconut, mix with water from the pot, press the coconut to wring out the water, then add the water back to the pot.
Tahu Goreng Sambal Tomat
Deep fry tofu (takes about 5 minutes).
Using a mortar and pestle, crush together:
1 big chili (not too spicy, remove seeds and slice into thin pieces first)
3 large garlic cloves
1 tsp each of salt and sugar
1/2 tsp shrimp paste
Once crushed add:
2 tomatoes sliced thin
Heat 2 tbsps oil and add the spice sauce, mix constantly for about 1 minute. Add deep fried tofu and 1/4 tsp each of salt and sugar. Cook for about 2 minutes.
Nasi Goreng
Using a mortar and pestle, crush together:
2 large garlic cloves
1/2" turmeric root
1 shallot (thinly sliced)
1/2" galengal root
1/2 tsp each of salt and sugar
Heat 1 tbsp oil and 1 thinly sliced shallot and the spice mix. Then add in order: 1 egg, 1 cup cabbage, 2 cups cooked rice, 1/2 tsp each of salt and sugar. Mix constantly. Once the rice is added, mix it in by squashing the rice to the bottom of the pan to brown it (use high heat).
Ingredients:
M. learning how to use the mortar and pestle:
Enjoying our creations!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Camping out
M. and I spent the last two days walking around Taman Bali Barat National Park (near Gillimanuk). We had to hire a guide, Yanto, would led us through a bunch of different forests. We saw an evergreen forest, a monsoon forest, a savanna, and a rain forest -- which wasn't very green since we are in the middle of the dry season. A big bonus is that we got to spend the night camping in the savanna for a night!
Yanto also pointed out many animals to us. We encountered macaques once again; luckily, this time they ran away from us instead of towards us like they did in Ubud! We also saw black monkeys, a very large squirrel that looked more like an red panda with a really long tail, a few deer, a snake without a head (an eagle had just eaten it) that still moved about, and quite to my distress Yanto saw a wild boar! (Luckily I didn't spot it, though I did hear it wandering around.)
The hike ended on the second day around lunch time at a lovely Balinese Hindu temple. From Gillimanuk we took a bus to Lovina, on the north side of Bali.
Yanto also pointed out many animals to us. We encountered macaques once again; luckily, this time they ran away from us instead of towards us like they did in Ubud! We also saw black monkeys, a very large squirrel that looked more like an red panda with a really long tail, a few deer, a snake without a head (an eagle had just eaten it) that still moved about, and quite to my distress Yanto saw a wild boar! (Luckily I didn't spot it, though I did hear it wandering around.)
The hike ended on the second day around lunch time at a lovely Balinese Hindu temple. From Gillimanuk we took a bus to Lovina, on the north side of Bali.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
CanadaPost nightmare
Yesterday was a long, hard, frustrating day. After two days of surfing (and lots and lots of bruising), M. and I decided to take a day off from the beach and do some shopping. We headed out to Denpasar's big art market early in order to get some "lucky morning prices". The Balinese feel that they're first sell of the day will bring them luck, so they will bring down their prices a lot faster than later on in the day. Then, once they make the sale, they use the money earned to bless the rest of their merchandise by running the money over it. Getting prices to go down is an essential part of shopping in Bali, you can usually get the price down to less than half it's original! (and still... you're probably paying way too much!)
Anyways, we armed ourselves with a lot of patience and tenacity and did all of our shopping in one morning -- hours of haggling, over-packed stores upon over-packed stores, dodging the 'over-friendly' helpers that simply need to bring us to their friend's store of the best prices -- but we survived!
The next step in our plan was to send ourselves packages with all the gifts and souvenirs we bought. A lot easier said than done. We headed to Denpasar's main post office where I had previously sent myself a package on our first day here (full of New Zealand's winter gear). The line moved fast and we started packing up our purchases when all of a sudden we learned that sending packages to Canada was a no-go. Why? Nobody could say. I remembered that my aunt had mentioned that Canada post was going on strike, so we figured that might be it. Meanwhile, we had 5 kilos each of purchases that simply couldn't fit in our backpacks. Yikes. The next few hours were spent hopping in and out of cabs going from one post agency to another (UPS, FedEx, etc. types). Unsurprisingly, these were way over priced: 300$ per package! Another dead-end.
Frustrated and quite defeated we made our way back to Legian, too tired even to surf. Instead we decided to go find an internet cafe in order to purchases plane tickets we need in order to get home. Of course, most of the sites were either out of order or they didn't accept internet purchases. Arrgh!
Still, all this has a happy ending. This morning we woke up, went surfing, managed to send our packages using Canada post (the strike was a local thing that didn't affect international packages, we just needed to convince the Indonesians to accept our parcels, hopefully they arrive safe and sound!), and bought our plane tickets using a travel agent. All before 1pm. Now that's a great turn around! Sorry for my earlier rant.
Anyways, we armed ourselves with a lot of patience and tenacity and did all of our shopping in one morning -- hours of haggling, over-packed stores upon over-packed stores, dodging the 'over-friendly' helpers that simply need to bring us to their friend's store of the best prices -- but we survived!
The next step in our plan was to send ourselves packages with all the gifts and souvenirs we bought. A lot easier said than done. We headed to Denpasar's main post office where I had previously sent myself a package on our first day here (full of New Zealand's winter gear). The line moved fast and we started packing up our purchases when all of a sudden we learned that sending packages to Canada was a no-go. Why? Nobody could say. I remembered that my aunt had mentioned that Canada post was going on strike, so we figured that might be it. Meanwhile, we had 5 kilos each of purchases that simply couldn't fit in our backpacks. Yikes. The next few hours were spent hopping in and out of cabs going from one post agency to another (UPS, FedEx, etc. types). Unsurprisingly, these were way over priced: 300$ per package! Another dead-end.
Frustrated and quite defeated we made our way back to Legian, too tired even to surf. Instead we decided to go find an internet cafe in order to purchases plane tickets we need in order to get home. Of course, most of the sites were either out of order or they didn't accept internet purchases. Arrgh!
Still, all this has a happy ending. This morning we woke up, went surfing, managed to send our packages using Canada post (the strike was a local thing that didn't affect international packages, we just needed to convince the Indonesians to accept our parcels, hopefully they arrive safe and sound!), and bought our plane tickets using a travel agent. All before 1pm. Now that's a great turn around! Sorry for my earlier rant.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Surf's up!
After trying in vain to find a good surf spot away from the crowds of Kuta, M. and I gave in and settled in Legian (a stone throw away from Kuta) for a few days. Walking the Aussie-crowded streets looking for a cheap hotel didn't much endear us to the place, but our first sight of the beach and the great surfing waves quickly changed our minds.
We rented surfboards for four days, today being the first. This morning we got our first taste of the waves, and they seemed to be a lot bigger than we experienced in Hawaii. I had trouble standing up on my board, which was smaller and a lot slipperier than the ones we used in Waikiki. Still, we persevered and this afternoon we were a lot more successful! Hopefully we will keep getting better and we'll leave Legian surfing professionals... :)
We rented surfboards for four days, today being the first. This morning we got our first taste of the waves, and they seemed to be a lot bigger than we experienced in Hawaii. I had trouble standing up on my board, which was smaller and a lot slipperier than the ones we used in Waikiki. Still, we persevered and this afternoon we were a lot more successful! Hopefully we will keep getting better and we'll leave Legian surfing professionals... :)
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sapit
A 15 minute ride in a fishing boat, a 15 minute ride in a horse-drawn carriage, an hour ride in a bemo (small van overfilled with people, animals, fruit, vegetables, eggs...), a lunch break, another 15 minute ride in a bemo, a 3 hour ride in a bus, and a final 30 minute ride in yet another bemo and BAM just like that we arrived in Sapit... Written out like that it sounds horrible, but in reality our first day of public transport went by quickly and easily. The locals were helpful and good humored when we called them on their crazy tourist prices. The long rides were made pleasant by good music and beautiful scenery. And the destination -- well, that alone made up for all the hassle!
Sapit is a small village at the foot of Mount Rinjani, a sacred volcano for both the Sasak and Balinese people. It's surrounded by fields, rice terraces, a dominated by the volcano. The place is surprisingly free of tourist influence and the locals reminded me of the Filipinos of Tacloban City. The children ran after us, playing the universal game of hide-and-seek with M. and I, much to our own amusement. English was almost non-existent and we learned a fair bit of Bahasa Indonesia to be able to communicate.
We stayed at the only homestay in the area, Hati Suci. Our host, T., was one of the only locals with a good hold of English. He was enthusiastic, generous, and incredibly genuine. He invited us to join him on two outings. The first was a "hair-cutting" ceremony for a newborn baby that lived a thirty minute scooter ride away. The ride over there was a big part of the thrill! We never actually got to see the baby, but the food we were served was incredible. M. and I had our first taste of jackfruit -- in a curry! Yum! The second outing was the following day, we went to a wedding reception in Sapit. There was live music, dancing, and more food! All in all, I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to get a peek of "real" life here in Indonesia.
Rice cooking at the wedding reception
Sapit is a small village at the foot of Mount Rinjani, a sacred volcano for both the Sasak and Balinese people. It's surrounded by fields, rice terraces, a dominated by the volcano. The place is surprisingly free of tourist influence and the locals reminded me of the Filipinos of Tacloban City. The children ran after us, playing the universal game of hide-and-seek with M. and I, much to our own amusement. English was almost non-existent and we learned a fair bit of Bahasa Indonesia to be able to communicate.
We stayed at the only homestay in the area, Hati Suci. Our host, T., was one of the only locals with a good hold of English. He was enthusiastic, generous, and incredibly genuine. He invited us to join him on two outings. The first was a "hair-cutting" ceremony for a newborn baby that lived a thirty minute scooter ride away. The ride over there was a big part of the thrill! We never actually got to see the baby, but the food we were served was incredible. M. and I had our first taste of jackfruit -- in a curry! Yum! The second outing was the following day, we went to a wedding reception in Sapit. There was live music, dancing, and more food! All in all, I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to get a peek of "real" life here in Indonesia.
Rice cooking at the wedding reception
Friday, June 3, 2011
Gili Air
Gili Air is one of three small islands off the west coast of Lombok, Bali's neighbouring island to the east. M. and I decided to head there to get away from the hassle and business of Ubud, and we were well rewarded. The beaches were beautiful, the water an incredible shade of turquoise, and the noisy touristic crowds thinned out. Gili Air is a small island: you can walk it's circumference in about an hour and a half! The beach is populated by small simple bungalows and tourist-catered restaurants. The food wasn't too special, but the scenery more than made up for it!
We spent our days lazing around on the beach, snorkeling, and getting to know the locals. Indonesia is made up of a bunch of islands and different tribes. The Sasak tribe is the one found on Gili (and most of Lombok). Their typical dress is similar to the Balinese: a sarong with a top. The differences that I saw are that the Balinese add a scarf-belt and the men also wear a head scarf. We haven't had the courage to do a day of shopping yet: it takes a lot of energy to haggle! Still, I'm keeping my eyes open and planning already my shopping spree...
We spent our days lazing around on the beach, snorkeling, and getting to know the locals. Indonesia is made up of a bunch of islands and different tribes. The Sasak tribe is the one found on Gili (and most of Lombok). Their typical dress is similar to the Balinese: a sarong with a top. The differences that I saw are that the Balinese add a scarf-belt and the men also wear a head scarf. We haven't had the courage to do a day of shopping yet: it takes a lot of energy to haggle! Still, I'm keeping my eyes open and planning already my shopping spree...
Friday, May 27, 2011
Back in Asia
I'm now in Ubud, a "typical" Balinese village with M. We met up at Denpasar airport on the 25th and spent our first two nights in Bali at a very posh hotel in Sanur. While M. battled her jet-lag (there's 12 hrs time difference between Montreal and Bali), I battled the heat and humidity. All the progress I had made during my time in the Philippines and Malaysia was lost in wintery New Zealand! My hair also had trouble readjusting to the heat so I decided to get it braided!
After our days of rest, we headed to Ubud, which, though it's a village, is more lively than Sanur was! Here we treated ourselves to a fish spa:
We also went to see a traditional Balinese dance. I was very impressed by the intricate foot and hand work as well as how they moved their heads and shoulders. The costumes were a sea of color and the hall was breathtaking. A very nice evening activity indeed!
This morning we went to the Monkey Forest, named because of the 300 macaque monkeys that live there. The monkeys were way too accustomed to humans for me. Some other tourists even let them sit on their shoulders and play in their hair... fleas anyone? The forest itself was lush and humid and beautiful. The stone work, which is found just about everywhere here, were works of art in themselves. Then I was chased out of the forest by an over eager monkey. It hissed and then ran after me! Scary business indeed for one who isn't an animal fan!
After our days of rest, we headed to Ubud, which, though it's a village, is more lively than Sanur was! Here we treated ourselves to a fish spa:
We also went to see a traditional Balinese dance. I was very impressed by the intricate foot and hand work as well as how they moved their heads and shoulders. The costumes were a sea of color and the hall was breathtaking. A very nice evening activity indeed!
This morning we went to the Monkey Forest, named because of the 300 macaque monkeys that live there. The monkeys were way too accustomed to humans for me. Some other tourists even let them sit on their shoulders and play in their hair... fleas anyone? The forest itself was lush and humid and beautiful. The stone work, which is found just about everywhere here, were works of art in themselves. Then I was chased out of the forest by an over eager monkey. It hissed and then ran after me! Scary business indeed for one who isn't an animal fan!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Diamond Harbour
My last stop in New Zealand. I was here for a few days, WWOOFing at a yoga/meditation retreat center. It was an interesting experience. The words "spiritual materialism" come to mind. Still, I had a good time there and it was a nice way to book-end my kiwi experience. The food was healthy and yummy. The views from my hut were incredible and every morning I woke up to a sunrise. The surrounding walks and country side where lush. Another interesting fact about this spot is that it was just a 10 minute ferry ride away from Lyttelton, which is the center for the Christchurch earthquake. One of my WWOOFing tasks was to go to the Lyttelton farmer's market to get the week's groceries. Walking the streets, I got a first hand view of the quake's destruction. It was an eerie experience. There were still aftershocks to be felt over at the retreat center, but nothing to worry about.
From here I look forward to a night spent on Christchurch Airport's floor waiting for my 6am flight to Brisbane, where I have an eight hour layover before flying to Denpasar. I'm sure that Bali will be worth it!
From here I look forward to a night spent on Christchurch Airport's floor waiting for my 6am flight to Brisbane, where I have an eight hour layover before flying to Denpasar. I'm sure that Bali will be worth it!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Otago Peninsula
Today I spent the afternoon on a wildlife tour of Otago Peninsula. We were lucky to have a beautiful sunny day, with just enough wind to make my cheeks rosy. The drive from Dunedin to the peninsula in itself was beautiful.
Our first stop was at the only mainland albatross colony in the world. We were told that we’d have to be really lucky to see an albatross… and I’m happy to report that our luck held! I saw three birds flying and they truly are beautiful and humongous! Their wings span 3 meters! From there we drove to the Yellow-Eyed penguin colony. On the way we saw a baby sea-lion that was really cute. We got to the penguin colony right around sunset and I have to admit that I spent most my time looking at the sky.
Still, I saw quite a few penguins emerge from the sea and waddle over to the hills. We also saw very large male sea lions and a big fur seal colony with lots of pups.
Therefore, on the animal front it was a good day. However, what I will remember most is standing on a cliff, surrounded by farmlands, under a gorgeous ever changing sky. The sunset colors were incredible, the clouds were magical, and I felt truly blessed to have witnessed it all!
Our first stop was at the only mainland albatross colony in the world. We were told that we’d have to be really lucky to see an albatross… and I’m happy to report that our luck held! I saw three birds flying and they truly are beautiful and humongous! Their wings span 3 meters! From there we drove to the Yellow-Eyed penguin colony. On the way we saw a baby sea-lion that was really cute. We got to the penguin colony right around sunset and I have to admit that I spent most my time looking at the sky.
Still, I saw quite a few penguins emerge from the sea and waddle over to the hills. We also saw very large male sea lions and a big fur seal colony with lots of pups. 
Therefore, on the animal front it was a good day. However, what I will remember most is standing on a cliff, surrounded by farmlands, under a gorgeous ever changing sky. The sunset colors were incredible, the clouds were magical, and I felt truly blessed to have witnessed it all!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Routeburn Track
One of the Great Walks of New Zealand, and it was great indeed! I set off with four other backpackers that I met at different points along the West Coast. I was glad for the company because the track looked much harder than the Queen Charlotte. Higher mountains, colder temperatures, and most importantly no water taxis which meant that I had to carry all my supplies on my back. Food planning was a bit more complicated but I managed to keep weight to a minimum. The weather was more cooperative this time around. I got less wet, though the evenings were very cold -- no heaters during the low season!
Staying in huts instead of hostels was a great experience. I got to really "detach" myself from the "civilized" world. No electricity, no hot water, no heating, no running water (so no showers or flushing toilets) but lots of fun! Luckily one of my travel companions had a little camp stove so we kept warm by making lots of tea.
The views this time around were spectacular. The track went up to Harris Saddle. When in the saddle we were surrounded by all sides by the Southern Alps. Living in Vancouver I am no stranger to beautiful mountains, but still these were breath-taking! Part of the track led us into Fjordland, the home of the thousands of waterfalls that makes Milford Sound famous. The rain that fell on Day 2 was a blessing in disguise: we got wet, but the waterfalls were full and plentiful.
After the trek, we spent the night at Milford Sound. We awoke to a snowy day... I was so happy that I didn't have to finish the trek in the snow! This is a video I took on the bus on the way back to Queenstown.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Wanaka
Finally a few days of great weather! It’s incredible how seeing the sun can change your outlook. This is a great little town on the edge of a beautiful lake, surrounded by the Southern Alps. The only down side is that I wasn’t able to find a spot to go WWOOFing. Winter has arrived and so farm work seems to have disappeared. I hope to find a farm once to get to Otago.
I spent the first afternoon sitting on the beach enjoying the sun and catching up with some reading and writing. Then I went to this amazing funky theater with L., a fellow Canadian that I met on the ferry to the South Island. The cinema was fully licensed, served a full menu, and made freshly baked cookies for intermission! To watch the movie you get comfortable on old comfy couches… or L. and I got to sit in an old yellow car! It was a great fun time and the cookies were to die for.
The second day was spent outside walking around part of the lake with a bunch of people I met in the hostel. The weather was cooperative, the sun was out, the mountains were beautiful, and the lake was shinning. Fall has arrived with a bang; the leaves are colorful and the air is chilly.
I spent the first afternoon sitting on the beach enjoying the sun and catching up with some reading and writing. Then I went to this amazing funky theater with L., a fellow Canadian that I met on the ferry to the South Island. The cinema was fully licensed, served a full menu, and made freshly baked cookies for intermission! To watch the movie you get comfortable on old comfy couches… or L. and I got to sit in an old yellow car! It was a great fun time and the cookies were to die for.
The second day was spent outside walking around part of the lake with a bunch of people I met in the hostel. The weather was cooperative, the sun was out, the mountains were beautiful, and the lake was shinning. Fall has arrived with a bang; the leaves are colorful and the air is chilly.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Franz Josef Glacier
Today I went on a glacier hike up Franz Josef Glacier! Yes, I do see the irony. A Canadian that heads far south just to go walk on a pile of ice… Still, this was probably one of my best days yet on this trip! The whole surroundings were breath-taking. The glacier itself was intriguing, always changing; I never got tired to observing it. Our guide was funny and knowledgeable which made the whole day more fun. I don’t really know how to describe this experience, so I’ll just let the pictures I got speak for themselves!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Queen Charlotte Track
Day 1: Buzzing bees (15 kms: Ship’s Cove – Endeavor Inlet)
With good intentions and lots of enthusiasm I set out on the Queen Charlotte Track. The water taxi dropped me off at Ship’s Cove, a place that Captain Cook (not Hook!) used many times as a spot to clean off the bottom of his ship. The great advantage of the QCT are the water taxis. They schlep your bags around from hostel to hostel so that all you have to carry is your day-pack. Of course, my day-pack was quite loaded with food, but still – it wasn’t as heavy as my big backpack!
The track began by climbing up a hill to give stunning views of Malborough sounds. Then it was an easy walk through a beautiful rain forest. I saw my first short-beaked kiwi – a Wika I think – and was very excited about the encounter. Further along the track I was momentarily thrown by a long buzzing sound. Thinking there was a helicopter overhead I tried to spot it through the trees. Then to my great surprise, I realized that I was surrounded by bees! (To be fair they may have been wasps…) It seemed like they were harvesting sweet sap off these very black trees. Quite a stunning sight!
I spent the first night at Furneaux Lodge where I had to cook my supper in the closed backpacker’s lodge. It was a bit creepy to be all alone in the building, especially since I had just finished watching The Fellowship of the Ring – Orcs are creepy!
Day 2: Sunny day! (13 kms: Endeavor Inlet – Punga Cove)
A nice easy walk, blue skies, and beautiful views. This was a great day on the track. I spent the night at Punga Cove Resort, which has beautiful grounds looking out over the sounds. Having finished the walk by 2pm, I was able to laze around on a long chair just enjoying the view.
Day 3: Torrential rain (25 kms: Punga Cove – Portage Bay)
Waking up to rain is always depressing. Knowing that this was the longest day of the trek was even more disheartening! I spent two hours debating whether I should take the water taxi to my next destination or whether I should risk the weather and set out. In the end I decided to go for the trek. In retrospect, I’m proud that I did – even though it may have cost me my iPod! (It got wet through my raincoat and stopped working… it’s now in a bag of brown rice, which may somehow save it. Keeping my fingers crossed really really hard!)
There isn’t much to say except that it was a very wet day. I learned that the threshold for my raincoat and hiking boots is somewhere between the 5 hour and 6 hour mark. Before that I’m nice and dry underneath, afterwards I’m wet, cold, and soggy. Arriving at Portage was incredibly rewarding. I treated myself to a very large plate of fries which I ate in front of a wood burning fire trying to warm up. Yummy!
Day 4: Stunning views (23 kms: Portage Bay – Anakiwa)
To my great happiness, on the last day I woke to an overcast sky but dry sky. I set out with high spirits up the hill from Portage Bay to the track. From there it was uphill again for at least an hour. All the rain from the previous day made the track very slippery and it was a hard climb. However, the views from the top were incredible! After the long way up, the rest of the walk was much easier. It passed through a few farms at times, which made for stunning vistas. The rest was spent in the rain forest or along a ridge with more beautiful views.
All in all it was an amazing time! Definitely recommendable to you all!
With good intentions and lots of enthusiasm I set out on the Queen Charlotte Track. The water taxi dropped me off at Ship’s Cove, a place that Captain Cook (not Hook!) used many times as a spot to clean off the bottom of his ship. The great advantage of the QCT are the water taxis. They schlep your bags around from hostel to hostel so that all you have to carry is your day-pack. Of course, my day-pack was quite loaded with food, but still – it wasn’t as heavy as my big backpack!
The track began by climbing up a hill to give stunning views of Malborough sounds. Then it was an easy walk through a beautiful rain forest. I saw my first short-beaked kiwi – a Wika I think – and was very excited about the encounter. Further along the track I was momentarily thrown by a long buzzing sound. Thinking there was a helicopter overhead I tried to spot it through the trees. Then to my great surprise, I realized that I was surrounded by bees! (To be fair they may have been wasps…) It seemed like they were harvesting sweet sap off these very black trees. Quite a stunning sight!
I spent the first night at Furneaux Lodge where I had to cook my supper in the closed backpacker’s lodge. It was a bit creepy to be all alone in the building, especially since I had just finished watching The Fellowship of the Ring – Orcs are creepy!
Day 2: Sunny day! (13 kms: Endeavor Inlet – Punga Cove)
A nice easy walk, blue skies, and beautiful views. This was a great day on the track. I spent the night at Punga Cove Resort, which has beautiful grounds looking out over the sounds. Having finished the walk by 2pm, I was able to laze around on a long chair just enjoying the view.
Day 3: Torrential rain (25 kms: Punga Cove – Portage Bay)
Waking up to rain is always depressing. Knowing that this was the longest day of the trek was even more disheartening! I spent two hours debating whether I should take the water taxi to my next destination or whether I should risk the weather and set out. In the end I decided to go for the trek. In retrospect, I’m proud that I did – even though it may have cost me my iPod! (It got wet through my raincoat and stopped working… it’s now in a bag of brown rice, which may somehow save it. Keeping my fingers crossed really really hard!)
There isn’t much to say except that it was a very wet day. I learned that the threshold for my raincoat and hiking boots is somewhere between the 5 hour and 6 hour mark. Before that I’m nice and dry underneath, afterwards I’m wet, cold, and soggy. Arriving at Portage was incredibly rewarding. I treated myself to a very large plate of fries which I ate in front of a wood burning fire trying to warm up. Yummy!
Day 4: Stunning views (23 kms: Portage Bay – Anakiwa)
To my great happiness, on the last day I woke to an overcast sky but dry sky. I set out with high spirits up the hill from Portage Bay to the track. From there it was uphill again for at least an hour. All the rain from the previous day made the track very slippery and it was a hard climb. However, the views from the top were incredible! After the long way up, the rest of the walk was much easier. It passed through a few farms at times, which made for stunning vistas. The rest was spent in the rain forest or along a ridge with more beautiful views.
All in all it was an amazing time! Definitely recommendable to you all!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
New Plymouth
Beautiful, beautiful place. Situated on a peninsula, surrounded by the ocean, back-dropped by mount Takanaki, I feel so lucky to have landed here!
The farm is a 45 minute walk from town, 20 minute walk from the ocean. It's bigger than the one I was on last week and I'm staying in a caravan instead of the main house. It's great to have my own room, privacy is quite hard to come by when traveling on a budget! I work for four hours in the morning, either weeding or pick up fejoias (that's the name of the little green fruit!). Then I'm free to wander in the afternoons.
Since the town is close I've spent a couple afternoons wandering around and poking around the many cute boutiques along it's main road -- if only my bag wasn't already over-capacity! (Plus I learned from A. at the last WWOOFing place that it cost her 100$ to sent 4kgs back to France! yikes...)
Yesterday there was a wind storm and I decided to go to the beach. The water here is crazy cold after Asia, but the views are incredible!
The farm is a 45 minute walk from town, 20 minute walk from the ocean. It's bigger than the one I was on last week and I'm staying in a caravan instead of the main house. It's great to have my own room, privacy is quite hard to come by when traveling on a budget! I work for four hours in the morning, either weeding or pick up fejoias (that's the name of the little green fruit!). Then I'm free to wander in the afternoons.
Since the town is close I've spent a couple afternoons wandering around and poking around the many cute boutiques along it's main road -- if only my bag wasn't already over-capacity! (Plus I learned from A. at the last WWOOFing place that it cost her 100$ to sent 4kgs back to France! yikes...)
Yesterday there was a wind storm and I decided to go to the beach. The water here is crazy cold after Asia, but the views are incredible!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Discovering farm work
I’ve been WWOOFing for 3 days now! (In case you don’t know: WWOOF = Willing Workers On Organic Farms.) I arrived at G. and K.’s farm and met another WWOOFer A. mid-morning on Monday after my Vipassana retreat. Needless to say I was very excited to see another part of New Zealand. The farm is located just outside of Hamilton on the North Island. It’s a small homestead with about half a dozen chickens, sheep and geese as well as a bunch of white pigeons. Inside there are two cats and a budgie… and I’m happy to report that my cat allergies aren’t acting up too badly yet.
I’ll be staying here until next Monday when I go to another farm near New Plymouth, a city a few hours south of here by bus. I’ve very much enjoyed my time here, getting my hands dirty and working with my fear of animals! So that you can have an idea of what I’ve been up to, here’s my daily routine:
7:30am – Wake up
8:00am – Feed the outdoor animals (I actually fed the pigeons and the sheep out of my hand! Big deal – as most of you know I’m scared of animals!)
8:30am – Feed the indoor animals and myself (Breakfast has been cornflakes with real milk – a great improvement on Asian powdered milk!)
9:00am – Start outdoor work. H. and I have been working in the old vegetable garden, clearing the area by weeding and turning the earth (I got a blister from using the spade even with gloves on! Also, blackberry bushes are very thorny…)
10:30am – Tea time, then back to work outside. Other random outside tasks include picking fruit: feojas and passion fruit so far.
12:30pm – Before lunch duties: let the chickens out of their shack, bring eggs inside, get mail, bring in firewood for the evening.
1:30pm – Lunch clean up and movie time! (I’ve been knitting a pair of socks for G. while watching)
Whenever the movie ends I go for a walk exploring the countryside. It’s really beautiful here and there’s usually a rainbow or two to spot.
6:30pm – Supper time
7:30pm – Supper clean up and then free time. (Note: dial up internet here! That means that most of my free time is computer-free - what a relief!)
I’ll be staying here until next Monday when I go to another farm near New Plymouth, a city a few hours south of here by bus. I’ve very much enjoyed my time here, getting my hands dirty and working with my fear of animals! So that you can have an idea of what I’ve been up to, here’s my daily routine:
7:30am – Wake up
8:00am – Feed the outdoor animals (I actually fed the pigeons and the sheep out of my hand! Big deal – as most of you know I’m scared of animals!)
8:30am – Feed the indoor animals and myself (Breakfast has been cornflakes with real milk – a great improvement on Asian powdered milk!)
9:00am – Start outdoor work. H. and I have been working in the old vegetable garden, clearing the area by weeding and turning the earth (I got a blister from using the spade even with gloves on! Also, blackberry bushes are very thorny…)
10:30am – Tea time, then back to work outside. Other random outside tasks include picking fruit: feojas and passion fruit so far.
12:30pm – Before lunch duties: let the chickens out of their shack, bring eggs inside, get mail, bring in firewood for the evening.
1:30pm – Lunch clean up and movie time! (I’ve been knitting a pair of socks for G. while watching)
Whenever the movie ends I go for a walk exploring the countryside. It’s really beautiful here and there’s usually a rainbow or two to spot.
6:30pm – Supper time
7:30pm – Supper clean up and then free time. (Note: dial up internet here! That means that most of my free time is computer-free - what a relief!)
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Vipassana
A 10-day silent retreat you say?
Well, I survived. It was hard, very hard… but I’m glad that I stayed for the whole time and that I tried very hard to meditate. The silent part of the retreat was actually really easy after the initial feeling of rudeness associated with not saying “hello”, “please”, and “thank you” all day long. I even understood the ban on music, reading, and writing. They would have distracted me and complete boredom was an important factor in actually getting me meditating during the last few days!
The rule banning exercise was actually the hardest one to follow. My whole body was aching from sitting for about 12 hours a day, including three 1 hour meditation sittings without moving. At times it felt like my whole being was screaming for a sun-salutation or a few minutes of pigeon position. At other times I just wanted to run as fast as my feet would let me through the forest of fern trees, just to feel my heart beat and breath come faster. Still, I limited my physical exertions to a few stretches.
Though I was forbidden to bring any writing materials with me, I did write something in my head for each day of the retreat. I thought of it as a poem or as a collection of thoughts, but really it was just a way for me to tune into what my general feeling of the day was like. Here it is:
Day 1
Between motivation
and exhaustion: lost air.
I am surrounded by fern trees.
Day 2
The gong sounds. We walk –
as if condemned
To the hall.
A storm brews overhead.
A possum climbs a tree, at night.
Day 3
Awoke, aggressive.
The fallen tree and I share
the fleeting sunlight.
The hall rings with laughter.
Day 4
Vipassana has begun.
The sun has barely come out
The mood is subdued
My body feels not my own
Sensation-less
Goenka: Please, keep quiet.
Day 5
Little green fruit, what is your name?
Part sweet, part grainy; but juicy all the same
Full of liquid seeds, so not a kiwi
Little green fruit, you’re starting to grow on me!
Imagination has free reign.
Day 6
All this talk
of Samkaras and Misery
Where is the basic goodness?
Open air
Open sky
Yet I’m stuck inside.
Day 7
Rocks and fallen leaves;
Messages left on a bench.
Musty earth smell. Rich.
Day 8
Chilly breeze, shifting clouds.
IMPERMANENCE
Different trees, intriguing forest.
Day 9
Around and around
the carefully pre set-up
Nature’s path we go.
I’m stuck on a bench
when will my fantasies stop?
Laugh. Nobody knows!
Day 10
Noble chattering
Drones out the gong’s sound.
Afternoon rain makes the river
Flow
The storm has begun.
Well, I survived. It was hard, very hard… but I’m glad that I stayed for the whole time and that I tried very hard to meditate. The silent part of the retreat was actually really easy after the initial feeling of rudeness associated with not saying “hello”, “please”, and “thank you” all day long. I even understood the ban on music, reading, and writing. They would have distracted me and complete boredom was an important factor in actually getting me meditating during the last few days!
The rule banning exercise was actually the hardest one to follow. My whole body was aching from sitting for about 12 hours a day, including three 1 hour meditation sittings without moving. At times it felt like my whole being was screaming for a sun-salutation or a few minutes of pigeon position. At other times I just wanted to run as fast as my feet would let me through the forest of fern trees, just to feel my heart beat and breath come faster. Still, I limited my physical exertions to a few stretches.
Though I was forbidden to bring any writing materials with me, I did write something in my head for each day of the retreat. I thought of it as a poem or as a collection of thoughts, but really it was just a way for me to tune into what my general feeling of the day was like. Here it is:
Day 1
Between motivation
and exhaustion: lost air.
I am surrounded by fern trees.
Day 2
The gong sounds. We walk –
as if condemned
To the hall.
A storm brews overhead.
A possum climbs a tree, at night.
Day 3
Awoke, aggressive.
The fallen tree and I share
the fleeting sunlight.
The hall rings with laughter.
Day 4
Vipassana has begun.
The sun has barely come out
The mood is subdued
My body feels not my own
Sensation-less
Goenka: Please, keep quiet.
Day 5
Little green fruit, what is your name?
Part sweet, part grainy; but juicy all the same
Full of liquid seeds, so not a kiwi
Little green fruit, you’re starting to grow on me!
Imagination has free reign.
Day 6
All this talk
of Samkaras and Misery
Where is the basic goodness?
Open air
Open sky
Yet I’m stuck inside.
Day 7
Rocks and fallen leaves;
Messages left on a bench.
Musty earth smell. Rich.
Day 8
Chilly breeze, shifting clouds.
IMPERMANENCE
Different trees, intriguing forest.
Day 9
Around and around
the carefully pre set-up
Nature’s path we go.
I’m stuck on a bench
when will my fantasies stop?
Laugh. Nobody knows!
Day 10
Noble chattering
Drones out the gong’s sound.
Afternoon rain makes the river
Flow
The storm has begun.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Kiwi land
First sight: out of the airplane window -- green, lush, islands. Blue, clear ocean.
First breath: tastes and smells green.
I think I'll like it here!! I keep having to remind myself that I'm not back in Canada. I keep thinking "I'm on that little bit of land at the bottom of the map!". After South-East Asia, everything is beautifully familiar. Still, my time in Asia has affected me. Yesterday I felt most comfortable while hanging out with two traveling Filipinas! We bonded over being cold. I was wearing my warmest clothing and still shivering while the kiwis were tramping around in shorts, t-shirts and light jackets! Seems that I will have to do some shopping. Unfortunately, I also got used to Asian prices and therefore everything here is incredibly expensive. I have to pay more and a buck or two to eat? WHAT? haha.
Another funny tid-bit: I'm now the one with an accent. When I talk to people, they often ask me to repeat myself and I watch them concentrate while listening to me! People still ask me where I'm from, but not because of my looks... because of my accent! I've never been on that side of the conversation before.
In a few hours I'm off to do a Goenka Vipassana meditation retreat! This means to internet, ipod, reading or even writing for 10 days. I'll see you all on the other side.....!
First breath: tastes and smells green.
I think I'll like it here!! I keep having to remind myself that I'm not back in Canada. I keep thinking "I'm on that little bit of land at the bottom of the map!". After South-East Asia, everything is beautifully familiar. Still, my time in Asia has affected me. Yesterday I felt most comfortable while hanging out with two traveling Filipinas! We bonded over being cold. I was wearing my warmest clothing and still shivering while the kiwis were tramping around in shorts, t-shirts and light jackets! Seems that I will have to do some shopping. Unfortunately, I also got used to Asian prices and therefore everything here is incredibly expensive. I have to pay more and a buck or two to eat? WHAT? haha.
Another funny tid-bit: I'm now the one with an accent. When I talk to people, they often ask me to repeat myself and I watch them concentrate while listening to me! People still ask me where I'm from, but not because of my looks... because of my accent! I've never been on that side of the conversation before.
In a few hours I'm off to do a Goenka Vipassana meditation retreat! This means to internet, ipod, reading or even writing for 10 days. I'll see you all on the other side.....!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
See ya later SE Asia!
Back in Singapore, in a beautifully luxurious hostel. There are duvets on the beds, two pillows, amazingly comfortable beds, western-style toilets with running water, hot showers, and best of all: drinkable tap water!! This is a great in-between spot to be on my way to Auckland.
Making my way here from Langkawi was not easy. I had really wanted to take a night train, so I decided to make my way all the way down the West coast of Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore. The journey began in Alor Setar where I learned that my first train was three and a half hours late. The train station was simply a platform with a roof and the mosquitoes were more than happy to take advantage of the buffet that was set before them. At 11:15pm the train finally arrived and I was grateful to the bed that awaited me within. 10 hours later I was in Kuala Lumpur.
As irony would have it, I had three hours and twenty minutes to make my connection in Kuala Lumpur... so my first train arrived just minutes after my second train was scheduled to leave. Luckily this second train was also late, departing an hour and a half after schedule! At 10:25am the train left with a very tired Aki on board. We arrived in Singapore around 5:30pm and I was simply exhausted by then. To make all this even worse I had woken up with a cold in Langkawi the morning of departure!!
This morning things look a lot better. Thanks to a bunch of traditional Chinese remedies and a bunch of Western cold medicine I feel almost human again, awaiting my ten hour flight to New Zealand, leaving at 8pm tonight!
Things that I'm looking forward to: good bread, cheese (ANY kind of cheese), yogurt, toilet paper that I don't have to carry around, the thin layer of stickiness due to humidity and heat, salad -- actually vegetables in general that haven't been cooked in oil, drinkable tap water, lack of cockroaches.
Things that I know I'll miss: curry and noodles on every corner, beaches and warm oceans, beautiful warm smiles, good meals for a dollar, mis-mash of religions and cultures, small narrow streets, smells of little India and Chinatown, roti canai.
Making my way here from Langkawi was not easy. I had really wanted to take a night train, so I decided to make my way all the way down the West coast of Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore. The journey began in Alor Setar where I learned that my first train was three and a half hours late. The train station was simply a platform with a roof and the mosquitoes were more than happy to take advantage of the buffet that was set before them. At 11:15pm the train finally arrived and I was grateful to the bed that awaited me within. 10 hours later I was in Kuala Lumpur.
As irony would have it, I had three hours and twenty minutes to make my connection in Kuala Lumpur... so my first train arrived just minutes after my second train was scheduled to leave. Luckily this second train was also late, departing an hour and a half after schedule! At 10:25am the train left with a very tired Aki on board. We arrived in Singapore around 5:30pm and I was simply exhausted by then. To make all this even worse I had woken up with a cold in Langkawi the morning of departure!!
This morning things look a lot better. Thanks to a bunch of traditional Chinese remedies and a bunch of Western cold medicine I feel almost human again, awaiting my ten hour flight to New Zealand, leaving at 8pm tonight!
Things that I'm looking forward to: good bread, cheese (ANY kind of cheese), yogurt, toilet paper that I don't have to carry around, the thin layer of stickiness due to humidity and heat, salad -- actually vegetables in general that haven't been cooked in oil, drinkable tap water, lack of cockroaches.
Things that I know I'll miss: curry and noodles on every corner, beaches and warm oceans, beautiful warm smiles, good meals for a dollar, mis-mash of religions and cultures, small narrow streets, smells of little India and Chinatown, roti canai.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Langkawi
My final stop in Malaysia! Unfortunately the weather was uncooperative. The beach was beautiful, though not as impressive as Boracay or the Perhentians. To be fair, this might be due to the heavy rain that has been hitting most of Malaysia and Thailand for the past couple of weeks. On my one sunny day I got a picture:
Nevertheless, I had a good time all around. I met a bunch of other travelers; mostly singles, some pairs and we made the most of the bad weather. We played jenga, cards, shared travel stories, and made the most of the island's duty-free status.
During a break in the downpour, I went to visit the 7 wells with two other travelers. We slid down the rapids and enjoyed a great view. Then on the way down the 500-some stairs (not fun on the way up in 100% humidity by the way) we ran into a family of Macaques! Now, these monkeys are known to be somewhat of a pest in South-East Asia and most of the other travelers I've talked to hate them... but it was my first time seeing a family of monkeys in the "wild" so I was very excited!
Now I'm off to Singapore, taking two long trains to get there. I have another 30 some hours there and then off to Auckland!
Nevertheless, I had a good time all around. I met a bunch of other travelers; mostly singles, some pairs and we made the most of the bad weather. We played jenga, cards, shared travel stories, and made the most of the island's duty-free status.
During a break in the downpour, I went to visit the 7 wells with two other travelers. We slid down the rapids and enjoyed a great view. Then on the way down the 500-some stairs (not fun on the way up in 100% humidity by the way) we ran into a family of Macaques! Now, these monkeys are known to be somewhat of a pest in South-East Asia and most of the other travelers I've talked to hate them... but it was my first time seeing a family of monkeys in the "wild" so I was very excited!
Now I'm off to Singapore, taking two long trains to get there. I have another 30 some hours there and then off to Auckland!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Penang
A love affair with food. My days here were spent thinking about my next meal and trying to convince myself that I am, in fact, hungry... just so that I can go eat again! What a change! Until now, I had been quite disappointed in the food I had been eating (overall). A sample of my new favorites: roti canai, char koay teow, wan tan mee, dim sum, chicken rice and my most favorite: banana leaf rice (that's basically a tali on a banana leaf with a pile of rice).
Besides stuffing myself, my few days in Penang were quite busy. Georgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage city, so just wandering around the city is like being in a museum. I spent my first day doing just that; taking in Chinatown, little India, and the Colonial District (and of course sampling all their food offerings).
My second day I ventured off to see the famous Kek Lo Si temple, under a torrent of rain. I also chose this day to go to the Botanical Gardens. The only "smart" part of that decision is that the rain kept me cool-ish.
My third day was reserved for the Snake Temple (didn't see any "wild" snakes unfortunately). I also finally got some shopping done and went to see a movie is a FREEZING theater. It was quite the experience to watch an animation with two sets of subtitles and a very vocal audience!
Tomorrow I get up early to take a ferry to Langkawi Island, my last stop before starting my long trek down to New Zealand. Looking forward to the sunsets, to getting sand everywhere (again!), and to just lie around...
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