"All who wander are not lost..."

My first journey across an ocean has come to an end, Ive been back in Canada for 4 months.   Sometimes it feels like just yesterday and other times it feels like it was a  lifetime ago.   My dream of traveling was just a dream until 2009 when I took my first trip to Mexico.  Over the course of the next 2 years I went back to Mexico, Las Vegas twice, and Hawaii once.  It was in Hawaii that I realized I wanted more out of my life, to start making my dreams a reality.   I wasn't unhappy as such but in the back of my mind I knew that I was stuck in a rut. I wasn't living, I was existing.  I want it all. I want to seize every opportunity, take risks, and truly take in everything the world has to offer.   So a few months after returning from Hawaii I bought a round trip ticket to Asia. Few months after I was off on the journey of a lifetime. I discovered new cultures, tasted different cuisines, saw things that will forever be etched in my heart, met people who changed me and how I see the world, challenged myself whether it was using the washroom or navigating a foreign city, and I finally got to see what goes on, on the other side of the world rather than just daydream about it. Before Asia if you asked me who I was I would have told you what I did for work, where I grew up, etc. I thought this was who I was.  Now if you ask me who I am, you'll get a much broader answer.  I didn't even know who I was before Asia, traveling helped me have a better understanding of me.  Now taking a line from Oprah here are a few things I know for sure: -People are the same everywhere -Getting there is 1/2 the fun -Life or your plans don't alway work out the way you want, so relax, let go and just go with it, have faith because if it should have, it would have. -Trust your instincts -Take risks, chase dreams because "you only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." And a few of my favorite things: Street food, hot weather, the most comfortable walk ever, beaches, meeting one of my  kindred spirits Sabrina, full moon party, Bangkok, fire shows, Tuk tuk's, locals, temples, bus journeys, hearing "it's all part of the experience." "The world is a book and those who do not travel only read a page."

Hong Kong

Hong Kong
First impression of Hong Kong-holy shit it's cold. +16 is freezing, although I consider it "prep" for my return to Canada. The immigration line was the longest I have yet encountered- 2 hours!!!  I read online that the main floor of the hostel building was scary once I found it (which was no easy feat) I was pleasantly surprised that there were no barrels on fire, it had an atmosphere similar to the many markets I have seen over the past few months.  My room was the cleanest, smallest, and most expensive room on this trip.
Hong Kong has the most people per square mile so to say it's crowded is an understatement. As HK is known as a "shoppers paradise" I spent some of my week checking out the plethora of malls and street markets.  The markets have some of the most amazing deals.   I went to the Peak which gives you a spectacular view of the skyline and harbor. I also went to the zoo which was a HUGE highlight as I finally saw a real live Panda (only my favorite animal EVER).  My favorite place was the Wong Tai Sin Temple it is a Taoist temple where provided you make an earnest pleas with gods "every wish can come true.". While visiting one of the gods at the temple, I got the strangest feeling that my life was about to change. 
I spent my last day picking up last minute souvenirs, visiting the Wong Tai Sin Temple (again), packing (my bag is sooo heavy) and crying. I can't believe the end is here...
Instead of being sad it's over be happy that it happened.

Beautiful Boracay

There is a reason White Beach on Boracay island makes the top 10 of best beaches in the world, it's spectacular. The sand is white, the water is azure in color, and there are many palm trees to shield you from the HOT sun.  It's #1 on my list of best beaches.  The plane ride here was short from Manila, but it was terrifying.  There was lots of turbulence and it was the smallest plane I've ever been on.  Not to mention they seated me in the exit row meaning if there was an emergency I'd be in charge of opening it up and ensuring people get out.  It was the first time I listened to every word of the safety message.
I arrive at the hostel I have booked for the first 3 days, I'm not impressed so I search for another. A local woman takes it upon herself to help me, we spend the next hour talking and  looking for another place for me to lay my head.  She does some wheeling and dealing and snags me a great room in a great location at an awesome price, <3 her!  The next couple days are spent wandering around the island and chatting with the locals.  I have a lengthy chat with one guy and I tell him how lucky he is to live in Boracay, he tells me I'm the lucky one as he will never make enough money to travel, heartbreaking but ultimately true.  
Boracay has cuisine from all over the world, mostly because people come here, love it, then move here and open up a restaurant.  The choices are endless and it is something one ponders everyday.
On my 3rd day I move to hostel #2 for the remaining 4 nights.  I can not find the place for the life of me, I'm carrying my day pack and my backpack (which is lighter after leaving stuff in Manila) and it's at least 30 degrees.  A local comes to my rescue (without my asking) takes my bag and leads me to my hostel <3.  Hostel is amazing unbeknown to me there is a rooster right next door that squaks his damn head off from 5am-9pm.  There was some plotting on how to shut him up, however I ended up sleeping with earplugs and pillows over my head (1$ store earplugs SUCK!!). I spend the next 4 days basically on the beach,(my dermatologist is going to yell at me), I must say I got a pretty wicked tan tho :) I also read The Help (amazing), got massages (also amazing) and  made friends with more locals that I would  swap stories with everyday.  One local and his brother take me around the island on their boat.  The other side is famous for kite surfing as it is so windy there.  The waves are insane and while there walking on ledges, I'm sitting there gripping my seat, praying to not fall overboard.    The island is beautiful, 30 some years ago it was a well kept secret not known to many, now every part of the island has a hotel, cottage, home, etc.  I become a little disappointed in humanity while on my boat trip, I see a lot of plastic bottles in the ocean and other garbage :(  
I'm quite happy I chose to come to Boracay (and grateful that my mom helped me out), I learned so much from the local people about growing up, family, life on the island and that will be one of my most treasured memories.  The Filipino people have to be some of the most kind hearted, beautiful, inspiring  people I have ever met <3   Although I was lonely at times, I'm somewhat glad I came here alone otherwise I may not have spent as much time with the locals as I did.  One more gripe with humanity there are many vendors here trying to earn a living by selling people stuff a simple no thank-you usually does the trick no need to be rude. Also if you tell a vendor you'll be back in 10 minutes to go on his boat trip, come back, or at least be honest and say your not interested.  My buddy's friend waited over an hour for these people to come back :(. It's one of those things were creating harm to their environment and changing their way of life, the least we can do is be respectful to them and their home!! 
Next stop Manila for a day then Hong Kong!!!
FYI: I'll post pics when I get home, my iPad can only do so much.

Singapore-Kula Lumpur-"metro Manila"

When contemplating how to get to Singapore I had 2 options: bus which was 24 hours or plane which was 1.5 hour. After the many adventurous bus rides in Thailand in which they parade you down streets and back alleys picking up other passengers, you spend the first 2 hours listening to loud music or some martial arts movie (lucked out once and got an English movie), then it's quiet so you can sleep or so you think because they stop at some bus rest stop for an unknown length of time.  You board when you see everyone else board and are then able to sleep again...until your woken up by some stranger yelling "hurry up get off," and are then ushered into awaiting tuk tuk's.  The last bus ride I had was Bangkok to Krabi a lovely 14 hour journey. I found solace in other Canadians and together we praised the power of Valium.
Needless to say I chose the plane ride. I was a bit nervous going through customs/immigration due to having Valium, alcohol, red bull and gum in my bag, I was relieved to find out that while there are many laws in Singapore it's not that crazy.   Enroute to the hostel the sky was peach in color with palm trees gently swaying in the wind. My breath was taken away by the beauty of Singapore.   My room is small there is enough room for the 2 bunk beds and a nightstand in-between them.  My first night sleeping in a dorm room and I have a horrific nightmare about mice, I wake myself up along with my roommates by my scream.  How embarrassing.
I spend the next day apologizing to everyone for the scream and exploring Singapore. I head to the Marina Bay Sands (hotel with a boat) and the adjoining shopping mall.  What an amazing piece of architecture, the most expensive hotel in the world they say.  After a couple hours I'm ready to leave, unfortunately the weather has other plans as it is pouring.
After an hour or so it stops, I walk around downtown see the 1/2 lion 1/2 dragon statue.    The next day I head to orchard road which is a road with malls on both sides of it, some of them have a pedway connecting them underground.  The malls are fabulous, the prices completely out of my range.  I decide to go to the Zoo, but fate intervenes as it is pouring so I head home.
I leave for Kuala Lumpur the next day via bus.  It's only a 5 hour journey and while buses suck for sleeping they are great for sightseeing.  I arrive in KL around 4pm it's insanely busy due to Chinese New Year.  I take a cab to my hostel which is near Chinatown.  The cab driver is a wealth of information, he informs me that there are so many immigrants here from Bangladesh working and that is another factor as to why I see so many men everywhere.  On our way to hostel we see a hundred people attempt to get in the bus at the same time, he explains that if they don't catch this one next one could be in an hour or so.  We arrive at my hostel after asking for directions several times, the cities are so huge that even cabdrivers don't know where everything is. I hand him 50 ringit as I thought this is what I owe, apparently I overpaid as he thanked me over and over for my generosity.  Another room with no window, ah how we take the small things for granted...
The next day after FaceTime with my bros, seestor and niece <3  I head to the mall, I love shopping and KL is known for it.  I'm taken to a street similar to orchard road in Singapore.  The malls are fabulous.  7 levels of heaven.  The food courts are also a great way to sample the local cuisine, FYI.  I head over to the Petrona Towers as they have a mall beneath them.  I kick it in the malls till 7:30pm when it starts to get dark, so I can see the Petrona Towers at their best.  Simply amazing.  I'm asked by a group of guys to be in a picture with them, random, but I chalk it up to me being caucasian.  While walking down the street to get home I see rats not one or 2 but a lot. I am terrified of them, I'm thankful there not super close to me and I run home.
For whatever reason (I'm sure partially due to the rats) KL makes me nervous, I see police everywhere but I'm super anxious here.  The next day I walk around and do some sightseeing, (my legs are solid as a result of all the walking I've done) KL while scary for me is a beautiful city. 
I leave at 3am via cab to the airport, this airport is massive and it takes me a bit get my bearings. 
On a side note, it is very crowded in KL and Singapore.  I've never been pushed around so much in my life. Whether it's to get on a bus, walking in hall, or lining up to use washroom.
Land in Clark at 10:30am and catch bus to Pasay city which is "metro-Manila.". I'm immediately taken with the Filipino's they are sweet, beautiful people.  Couple hours later I'm dropped off at the bus-stop I get a cab to the hostel.  1 hour later still in cab, he can't find hostel and won't listen to me when I'm trying to give him directions, so I ask him to pull over. I get out hand him his 300 pesos and walk to find hostel.  I would later find out i  overpaid an insane amount and it's illegal for them to not use meters.  I arrive at hostel and am no kicking it till my flight to paradise tomorrow.
Next stop Boracay!!

When hate turns to love

I'll be the first to say I hated Bangkok my first time there. I thought it was to much, to many people, to many streets, to much traffic, and to many people scamming you.
Give it time and it grows on you, at least it did for me.  Through out my "adventure" I would return to Bangkok not once but three more times.  Each time loving it more than the last.  It does overwhelm every sense you have from the amount of people you see, the intense heat you feel from the sun (it's the hottest city in the world), the sound of traffic, and the smell and taste of street food. "It is a metropolis that never sleeps, always eats and specializes in a good time."
While in Bangkok and Thailand I learned many "life"  lessons:
From a monk I learned the value of sitting still and training my mind to be calm and peaceful (meditation).
After spending time in a country where public transport runs on its own schedule, food quality is uncertain, service is terrible, I don’t understand anyone, bathrooms are a health hazard, people are trying to scam you,  I’ve learned to just go with it.  No point in sweating the small stuff.
After meeting people from all over the world, I've learned that there's no right way or right
time or age to do things.  Learning to live my life on my terms and be pleased with it, regardless of the opinion of others, has been the most important "life" lesson I've learned.
On a lighter note I learned that everyday is a good day for a Thai massage and how to cross the street, in Thailand that is no easy feat. You have to be fearless and fast!!

“Why tell your grandkids you worked 9-5, five days a week for 40 years and quietly sat in traffic jams while people went to war, suffered disease and shot their own classmates? Tell them you refused to live in fear. Tell them you crossed the Amazon, saw the Lost Cities of Gold and met your soul mate in Casablanca. Travel to the ends of the earth. Go now and live adventures that will make your grandkids proud.”

Wandering across uncharted territory

According to "my plan" I wasn't supposed to be in Bangkok yet, I WAS supposed to fly in tomorrow.  I guess if I had the visa that permitted me to enter Vietnam by land rather than air, I'd be in Vietnam right now and not Bangkok.  Getting dropped off on the side of the road does something to you, (after it terrifies you) you realize you only have yourself to rely on.  Not only in this moment but in many more to come.  How you react is up to you,  I chose to get the f outta of Cambodia and head for familiar surroundings -Bangkok.  I am fortunate to find out that Sabrina is still in Bangkok, she leaves first thing the following day.  Once I land (I don't forget my departure card this time) I head to KSR and meet up with Sabrina. We indulge in a face treatment and walk around KSR area together.   5:15am Sabrina and I say goodbye, it's our 3rd goodbye and no they don't get easier.  Buddha tells us that life is transient and attachment to things and people will cause you much unhappiness.  Yet everyone I know craves security and stability.  This is going to be something I struggle with on my journey and will undoubtedly cause me heartache in my future. 
Today I was enlightened.  I am sure that I have realized this on many other occasions but traveling teaches you some very important lessons: that things don't last forever and to appreciate the moment before it's gone.