Excited about the new currency and language...
...and then I remind myself I:m not staying.
//H
Feb 23, 2011
Konichiwa
Sitting at the airport in Tokyo, looking out the window, watching planes land and take off.
Feb 22, 2011
My turn - day 140
140 days ago I woke up in my bed in Finland, with a runny nose, headache and a cough....
...a couple hours, lots of packing, last minutes stress purchasing, almost missing the train -later, Sophia, Ruut and I were sitting on a train, almost bursting with energy and happiness - our adventure had finally started, and we had no idea what to expect.
140 days later I wake up in my dorm bed in Singapore, with a headache and a cough, looking over the city from the open dorm window my bed is next to.
140 days later I've experienced, seen, done, learned so much more than I thought I would and been to so many places I never thought I'd be.
140 days later, it's time for me to fly home. It's time for me to write my last blogpost while traveling, from Singapore, just as Sophia and Ruut have before me.
I'm afraid I don't have the time to sum up the trip (impossible) or my feelings about going home (equally impossible) and since the decision was made, and the ticket home bought last night, I haven't really had time to think about it either. So luckily I've been able to enjoy my last day, headed for the beach with Colin (last day of 30 degrees, sunshine, and a warm ocean....) and when it started raining (this is Singapore) I did what what you are supposed to do in Singapore (considering the infinite number of malls) - shopped.
And ate. Singapore now has officially vegan paradise -status.
This means I have no idea that I'm actually going home. Instead I feel excited - the way we always do when leaving a city and heading someplace new.
But this time my destination is Finland. I'm gonna fly (FLY???) via Japan to Finland.
.....hahahhahahahahah. Finlanad???
Naaah.
Ruut going home
Sophia going home
//H
...a couple hours, lots of packing, last minutes stress purchasing, almost missing the train -later, Sophia, Ruut and I were sitting on a train, almost bursting with energy and happiness - our adventure had finally started, and we had no idea what to expect.
140 days later I wake up in my dorm bed in Singapore, with a headache and a cough, looking over the city from the open dorm window my bed is next to.
140 days later I've experienced, seen, done, learned so much more than I thought I would and been to so many places I never thought I'd be.
140 days later, it's time for me to fly home. It's time for me to write my last blogpost while traveling, from Singapore, just as Sophia and Ruut have before me.
I'm afraid I don't have the time to sum up the trip (impossible) or my feelings about going home (equally impossible) and since the decision was made, and the ticket home bought last night, I haven't really had time to think about it either. So luckily I've been able to enjoy my last day, headed for the beach with Colin (last day of 30 degrees, sunshine, and a warm ocean....) and when it started raining (this is Singapore) I did what what you are supposed to do in Singapore (considering the infinite number of malls) - shopped.
And ate. Singapore now has officially vegan paradise -status.
This means I have no idea that I'm actually going home. Instead I feel excited - the way we always do when leaving a city and heading someplace new.
But this time my destination is Finland. I'm gonna fly (FLY???) via Japan to Finland.
.....hahahhahahahahah. Finlanad???
Naaah.
Ruut going home
Sophia going home
//H
Feb 21, 2011
Back in S'pore
Left Melacca a couple days ago, after celebrating the last night of Chinese New Year and participating in a big Hindu festival the next day (saris, hindu gods, loads of people, jewelery, spears through cheeks and hooks through the backs, smells, sounds, colours...) taking Josh from Melacca (originally Taiwan) with me, and heading, once again, back to Singapore.
After Josh, who knows these things, told me what hostel is the cheapest, I met up with Tom, and since we haven't done much but watched movies, walked around and eaten, eaten and eaten. How did we not spot all this vegan food last we where here??
Now Tom has left for Nepal, and I'm headed out with Colin and his friends...
...will update more when I can upload pictures!
//H
ps. Singapore is still way too expensive for it's own good.
After Josh, who knows these things, told me what hostel is the cheapest, I met up with Tom, and since we haven't done much but watched movies, walked around and eaten, eaten and eaten. How did we not spot all this vegan food last we where here??
Now Tom has left for Nepal, and I'm headed out with Colin and his friends...
...will update more when I can upload pictures!
//H
ps. Singapore is still way too expensive for it's own good.
Feb 17, 2011
Sumatra Adventure - hanna masala!
...as they kept repeating in Aceh - no problem.
There is too little and too much to write, so instead I'd like to just upload pictures, but of course I've lost the computer chord... so you'll just have to imagine.
Medan, traffic everywhere, rickshaws, advertisements made out of flowers, dirty, busy, friendly people, curious people, me getting on the right bus is everyone's business, me eating and being comfortable on the 14 hour bus is also everyone's business, and not even my business to pay for.
Banda Aceh, what is this place, 4 in the morning, dark, bus station, the friendliest people ever, no paying here either, tsunami, huge boat 5 km from the water, ferry port, sun goes up over the sea and the sleeping city, moto drivers sipping their kopi aceh, the first call to prayer for the day can be heard all over, curious men.
Pulau Weh, Tom, scary moto ride on the winding roads, Iboih beach, goats everywhere, blocking the path running along the shore, enjoying the view like everyone else, locked up in the bungalow, hammock, endless rain, green vegetation everywhere, colourful fish, nemo fish, constant electricity black outs, walking barefoot around in the jungle, Japanese fort?, surrounded by huge spiders, chased away by mosquitoes, the never ending sound of the waves, the wind, the rain on the roof.
Banda Aceh again, hothothot, all women covered from top to toe, even wearing socks, sitting on the grave yard watching the sun go down over the graves with funny Dutch names, hearing stories about family members dieing in the tsunami, city rebuilt with a modern feel, no sidewalks, hotel room looks and smells like a dungeon, too hot to be anywhere else, no restaurants, cafe after cafe after cafe, kopi aceh, little cakes, My bread and ice cream, AC, savor.
Lampu'uk beach, white, neverending, empty beach, with the random group of cows here and there, palmtrees swaying, neverending days under the unforgiving sun, avocado and tomato salad, death if it weren't for the sea, the breeze and the shade, the sound of the waves and the crickets, and something else, a snoring monkey? rock climbing and bats emerging from the cave at sunset, moto ride through the fields and groups of palmtrees, water is salt, sky is blue, sun is strong, everything is white, white, white
Momong beach, sleeping in too small a tent, dragonflies surrounding us, suddenly gone, swallows surrounding us, fire on the beach, can of mushrooms for dinner, sunset the most beautiful so far, I say that every night, swimming in the warm water under a sky totally starlit, so many stars, so beautiful, too many stars, too beautiful, the moon so bright we don't need any light, no one else on the beach after the last fisherman walks back to Lampu'uk through the forrest, rocks, sand, green vegetation, beach surrounded by hills, let's just lie here and never get up
Banda Aceh, foodstore, internet, ATM, hothothot, friendly people, visiting homes.
Medan, bus station, 14 hour busride later.
Bukit Lawang, ride on the roof of a Lapi lapi (public bus, minivan) through palmtree plantations, walk along the river, live in Rainforest, little rain now and then, hammock facing the river, three days trek, Thomas monkey, Macaks, Orangutangs, wild male, Sandra, Minna, Suma, Jackie, all with babies, 96,4 % same genes as I have, Jackie smart, gets down from the trees and holds me hostage until the guide gives her fruit, a hug from an orangutang, the face inches from mine, her long fingers around my arm and neck, her baby hanging from her hair, indescribable, up and down and up and down, green, green and green, view over more hills covered in green, camp by the river, sleeping under raincover, and boy does it rain, thunder and lightning, right above us, lightning lighting up everything several times a minute, thunder making Tom jump, climbing up a waterfall till Erwin, our guide, thinks we've died, while the others are chased by a bear or a tiger, rafting back in three inner tube tractor wheels, feeling the stares, we weren't alone with the monkeys after all, jungle juice and hippie guides singing and playing guitar.
Medan, busstation, goodbye Tom, for now.
Dumai, 6 a clock in the morning, sun going up, ATM, tickets, motos everywhere, hello miss, hello miss, where am I, where should I go, visiting home and an English school, getting on ferry, friendliest people ever, falling asleep on the deck where they let me sneak up, waking up with a sunburnt face and feeling empty... goodbye Sumatra, I will be back.
//H
There is too little and too much to write, so instead I'd like to just upload pictures, but of course I've lost the computer chord... so you'll just have to imagine.
Medan, traffic everywhere, rickshaws, advertisements made out of flowers, dirty, busy, friendly people, curious people, me getting on the right bus is everyone's business, me eating and being comfortable on the 14 hour bus is also everyone's business, and not even my business to pay for.
Banda Aceh, what is this place, 4 in the morning, dark, bus station, the friendliest people ever, no paying here either, tsunami, huge boat 5 km from the water, ferry port, sun goes up over the sea and the sleeping city, moto drivers sipping their kopi aceh, the first call to prayer for the day can be heard all over, curious men.
Pulau Weh, Tom, scary moto ride on the winding roads, Iboih beach, goats everywhere, blocking the path running along the shore, enjoying the view like everyone else, locked up in the bungalow, hammock, endless rain, green vegetation everywhere, colourful fish, nemo fish, constant electricity black outs, walking barefoot around in the jungle, Japanese fort?, surrounded by huge spiders, chased away by mosquitoes, the never ending sound of the waves, the wind, the rain on the roof.
Banda Aceh again, hothothot, all women covered from top to toe, even wearing socks, sitting on the grave yard watching the sun go down over the graves with funny Dutch names, hearing stories about family members dieing in the tsunami, city rebuilt with a modern feel, no sidewalks, hotel room looks and smells like a dungeon, too hot to be anywhere else, no restaurants, cafe after cafe after cafe, kopi aceh, little cakes, My bread and ice cream, AC, savor.
Lampu'uk beach, white, neverending, empty beach, with the random group of cows here and there, palmtrees swaying, neverending days under the unforgiving sun, avocado and tomato salad, death if it weren't for the sea, the breeze and the shade, the sound of the waves and the crickets, and something else, a snoring monkey? rock climbing and bats emerging from the cave at sunset, moto ride through the fields and groups of palmtrees, water is salt, sky is blue, sun is strong, everything is white, white, white
Momong beach, sleeping in too small a tent, dragonflies surrounding us, suddenly gone, swallows surrounding us, fire on the beach, can of mushrooms for dinner, sunset the most beautiful so far, I say that every night, swimming in the warm water under a sky totally starlit, so many stars, so beautiful, too many stars, too beautiful, the moon so bright we don't need any light, no one else on the beach after the last fisherman walks back to Lampu'uk through the forrest, rocks, sand, green vegetation, beach surrounded by hills, let's just lie here and never get up
Banda Aceh, foodstore, internet, ATM, hothothot, friendly people, visiting homes.
Medan, bus station, 14 hour busride later.
Bukit Lawang, ride on the roof of a Lapi lapi (public bus, minivan) through palmtree plantations, walk along the river, live in Rainforest, little rain now and then, hammock facing the river, three days trek, Thomas monkey, Macaks, Orangutangs, wild male, Sandra, Minna, Suma, Jackie, all with babies, 96,4 % same genes as I have, Jackie smart, gets down from the trees and holds me hostage until the guide gives her fruit, a hug from an orangutang, the face inches from mine, her long fingers around my arm and neck, her baby hanging from her hair, indescribable, up and down and up and down, green, green and green, view over more hills covered in green, camp by the river, sleeping under raincover, and boy does it rain, thunder and lightning, right above us, lightning lighting up everything several times a minute, thunder making Tom jump, climbing up a waterfall till Erwin, our guide, thinks we've died, while the others are chased by a bear or a tiger, rafting back in three inner tube tractor wheels, feeling the stares, we weren't alone with the monkeys after all, jungle juice and hippie guides singing and playing guitar.
Medan, busstation, goodbye Tom, for now.
Dumai, 6 a clock in the morning, sun going up, ATM, tickets, motos everywhere, hello miss, hello miss, where am I, where should I go, visiting home and an English school, getting on ferry, friendliest people ever, falling asleep on the deck where they let me sneak up, waking up with a sunburnt face and feeling empty... goodbye Sumatra, I will be back.
//H
Back Home
...in Melacca that is. Went our separate ways with Tom(for a while), took a bus from Bukit Lawang (via Binjai, via Medan) to Dumai, got there this morning, took the ferry over, and was greeted by familiar faces... Attilo, Steve, Edwin, Rocky, Yalu how could I not stay at least one night?
(Oh, and for the food too, of course. The Food. Or actually just any food, as long as it's not nasi, mie or tempeh goreng with sayuran)
Ruut and Maia are though clearly missing, so I figured to finally take the time, now that I for once have internet, and write about the Sumatran Avdenture that came to it's end today.
Oh, and Ruut - I forgot that 'Malaysia' must meen 'mosquitos' in some language(Sophia, you too know exactly what I mean...), Melacca is still too hot to handle, and everybody's asking after you. And the veg chicken and rice place is closed, as usual.
Maybe tomorrow morning....
//H
(Oh, and for the food too, of course. The Food. Or actually just any food, as long as it's not nasi, mie or tempeh goreng with sayuran)
Ruut and Maia are though clearly missing, so I figured to finally take the time, now that I for once have internet, and write about the Sumatran Avdenture that came to it's end today.
Oh, and Ruut - I forgot that 'Malaysia' must meen 'mosquitos' in some language(Sophia, you too know exactly what I mean...), Melacca is still too hot to handle, and everybody's asking after you. And the veg chicken and rice place is closed, as usual.
Maybe tomorrow morning....
//H
Feb 5, 2011
Feb 4, 2011
The pictures
I'm sorry about the random, huge, picture uploads... I don't have the time to write captions to them, or even organize them better than in chronological order by city. I'll try to do something more with them later, but don't hold your breath...
-S
-S
Feb 3, 2011
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