Closing thoughts...All in all, this was by far the most fantastic trip I have ever been on. I learned so much in my six weeks of travel, and feel incredibly lucky to have been able to experience so many cultures so different from my own.
Here’s how I would rate each of the major stops along my trip. Ratings are from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest:
Hong Kong – I give HK an 8. Honestly, I didn’t care much for this city upon first arriving, what with all the high rises and blazing neon lights and of course getting spit on didn’t help much. But after I got used to the craziness that is Hong Kong, I have to admit that this place really grew on me. The mix of Asian culture with Western influence is fun, and it is incredibly easy to get around.
Bangkok - I give the Thailand capital an 9. Though I know the backpacker mecca that is Khao San Rd. is not truly Bangkok, I really enjoyed my time there. And the temples and sights that we saw in Bangkok were amazing, not to mention the hospitality of the Thai people. This city had a great vibe, and I’m not even much of a city girl!
Krabi/Phi Phi - This place definitely gets a 10! The landscapes are phenomenal, the people are friendly, and the lifestyle is simple. I can’t say enough about how much I loved the jungles and beaches of southern Thailand. 10! 10! 10!
Hanoi - Hanoi gets a 6 from me. The low score reflects the annoyance that I had with the constant beeping of the horns and the multiple near-death experiences with motorbikes whizzing by. Not to mention the aggressive touting. That said, I am glad I visited this city in northern Vietnam. It was interesting to see the families gather on the streets every night, and the people watching was among the best.
Halong Bay - I am giving Halong Bay an 8 as a separate score from Hanoi. Three hours to the west of Hanoi along Vietnam’s coastline, this area was absolutely beautiful. The boat trip was fun, though the food left MUCH to be desired. The jungle trek here was one of the highlights of my trip.
Shanghai - Shanghai gets a 7 from me. I really liked the lit up skyline and the city’s pride that was evident. However, my experience at the hospital here tainted my experience somewhat. I also did not like the traffic here, though taxis were wonderfully cheap. The smog was horrific, but the city itself seemed relatively clean. This is most likely because everything here is so new, which has also resulted in what seems like a lack of identity. I guess I had many contradicting feelings on Shanghai, but it is definitely a place to keep your eye on in the next few years.
Beijing - Beijing also gets a 7. I didn’t get to spend as much time here as I would have liked, but from what I saw of the city it is a beautiful area. The parks and attractions here are very well-kept; however, the strong influence of the Communist government was a bit much for me.
Lessons Learned Vol. II
1. Chinese people can cut a rug, but the best salsa partner in the place is still going to be the Colombian guy.
2. Travelers checks are no longer a convenient currency to use while traveling. Just ask the only guy in my group who brought them, who happens to be the only person in the group who had trouble getting cash. ATMs are the way to go.
3. The black market in China for fake goods is actually larger than the market for the real things. So much for those pesky intellectual property rights.
4. You know you have spent too much time at a Chinese hospital when the other patients start to recognize you, and you recognize them.
5. When a Chinese taxi driver pulls out a map of the city at a stoplight, this probably means he lied to you when he confirmed with a nod of the head that he knew the location of your desired destination upon entering the cab.
6. Chinese massages are not for the faint of heart.
7. Waiting in line, or queuing, is pointless in China. You will get blatantly cut in front of at least half a dozen times before you catch on to this system and start doing it yourself.
8. Paper products of any kind - toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, etc. - are rare in public places in China. Bring your own, or get used to doing without.
9. Chinese people are fascinated with blondes. Be prepared for lots of stares and requests for photographs.
And finally....
10. There are A LOT of people in China. A LOT.
All kidding aside, I have learned many things about myself throughout my adventure, and I feel incredibly lucky and grateful that I was able to have had this experience. But mostly I feel deeply inspired by the people that I met, and hope to use these lessons to inspire others. Thanks to all of you that read this blog!! Your support and encouragement has been amazing. I hope to have future blogs on this site to share with you - and be sure to check back as I continue to upload photos from my Asia trip.
Until next time,
Leslie