Beijing Shi Yi Xue Xiao gave us one day off for the
Christmas holiday: December 25th.
But I couldn’t complain toooo much because we got 5 weeks off for
Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival.
Some teachers went home for the holidays, but I realized that traveling
Asia for 3 weeks would be cheaper than flying back to the US. Plus my family was spread out over three
continents, my parents were apartment hunting, and…well, you just can’t not travel when you’re on this side of
the world already!
So Liz, Meagan, Ashley and I headed out for adventure. It’s impossible to succinctly and fully blog
all the lols, adventures, quotes and mishaps, so I’ll just give you some
highlights, some tips, some stories, and shamelessly steal Liz’s pictures for
you visual learners. This entry, I’ll
hit the highlights/lowlights from our locations.
- Manilla: 4 hour layover. We witnessed a dude yelling about some dude threatening his life on the plane. Liz napped.
- Bangkok: No sleeper trains left. We bummed around my not-so-favorite city for 7 hours while we waited to start our 2nd night sitting up in a moving vehicle. Ashley made friends with a flirty waiter.
- BangkokàSuna ThaniàKrabiàAo Nang: a non-sleeper train, a Bob Marley Bus, and a party van (complete with disco balls in the ceiling)—these were our forms of transportation before we finally got to our destination…
- Ao Nang Beach: One of my favorite places on earth. Rode elephants, explored caves, rode mopeds, and snorkeled with girls from Fu. Hung out on the beach, feeding monkeys, eating pineapple, reading, burning, napping and playing frisbee/football/volleyball/bochi ball with random old men and children. Became friends with the family who owns the No. 17 Massage Hut, which was seriously the best part of Ao Nang.
- Penang: Rode on the most ghetto, cramped, bOUnCy, vomit-inducing “VIP-MY-FACE-EVEN-ASHLEY-IS-UPSET-AND-THAT-IS-SAYING-SOMETHING” van of my life into Malaysia. Mastered the bus system. Awesome temples, Indian food, butterfly farm, and history museum. Not so awesome toy museum and forest reserves—lots of things were run down. GOT TO PARASAIL INTO THE SUNSET OFF THE COAST OF MALAYSIA WITH LIZ FOR $20!!!! Molly and Jared got engaged. GOT TO FINALLY SEE LES MISERABLES FOR LESS THAN $3!!!!! ALL THE FEELS!!!! Then Ashley ditched us for America.
- Cameron Highlands: My favorite place in Malaysia and the most beautiful place I’ve been since Colorado. Went to a temple, tea plantation, strawberry farm, and vintage museum. Officially beat Meagan Ray in our Harry Potter read-a-thon. Trekked through a mossy I-am-in-Middle-Earth forest…story to come…
- Kuala Lumper: Spent just one night, based on the feedback from other backpackers. Highlights=the Islamic Art Museum, the beautiful Petronus Towers and the Masjid Nagara mosque, where I looked truly ethnically ambiguous in a Hijab. Two random sweet guys bought us Mango Lassi’s before we had the chance to thank them.
- Singapore: Stayed with Liz’s big bro, Zach. Best beds and showers since Asia. Domestic points for making jiao zi on Chinese New Year. Nerdy points for playing “Cosmic Encounters” and Wizards chess. Teacher points for hitting up the awesome free history and art museum. Niall and Lauren got engaged. Decided Singapore is from the future, with its pretty buildings and heavy fines for jay-walking.
- Beijing: Leaving Liz to bond with her bro and mom, Meagan and I returned to the winter of Beijing, instantly losing our tan, but thanking Father for a truly incredible vacation. Grace and Leif got engaged. #ijustgraduatedfromcollege
Next up: travels tips, memories, Meagan quotes, and my personal potty rating system. :)
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