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.