Carla's Asian Adventure
In and around Asia
Two weeks in Japan before heading off to volunteer teaching English in Thailand. At the beginning of December I will have four weeks to travel Southeast Asia (see more of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia). After celebrating New Years in Dubai, I will finish up my trip around the world with ten days in Holland.
Thanks to everyone for reading!
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler Carla V
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1
The first few days
Hello Everyone! My very first entry will not be very long. I need to get up in less than 7 hours to catch an early speed train heading for Takayama... Continue reading »
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2
First time out on my own
First have to let everyone know that I experienced my first earthquake last night after I finished the blog entry. It felt like a good ten second sha... Continue reading » -
3
More trains, lots of rain, one enormous Buddha
After finishing up at the large internet cafe in Takayama last night, I biked back to the inn using my trusty new headlamp for added protection.&nb... Continue reading »
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4
No english anywhere
Today was a difficult one for me. I woke up and had a lovely hot shower and enjoyed a delicious western style breakfast beautifully prepared by my inn... Continue reading » -
5
Serene
Internet cafes in Japan are excellent. Not too expensive, the facilities are great, but even better: free drinks! And good stuff too. Ive been sippi... Continue reading » -
6
A day of firsts
My first day not getting lost, not even once! My first day helping someone else find their way. My first time treating myself to a cab ride. And the... Continue reading » -
7
Hiroshima
Took my time getting up this morning; enjoying the fact that I didnt have to rush. I had decided to rent a bike and see as much of the city`s sights... Continue reading » -
8
Arriving in the Countryside
The trip up to Matsue took quite a few hours, but I arrived without getting lost. I went straight to the tourist information where they explained how... Continue reading » -
9
Smashed up beans in cake batter: yum!
It has been a few days since I have had internet access, so I will do my best to recall the important details of the last couple of days traveling on... Continue reading » -
10
Onsen
My next stop was the town of Hirata for an authentic Onsen (hot springs spa) experience. And authentic it turned out to be! I am very appreciative... Continue reading »
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11
Izumo Taisha Shrine
The morning was gorgeous and warm. I had a very large breakfast including tiny mussel miso soup (delicious) with the other hostel guest-a small, sc... Continue reading »
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12
"I have a feeling of sadness"
The last morning I was out on my own started with a large, filling breakfast. There were about five more guests staying in the hostel, so the breakfa... Continue reading » -
13
Oom Peter and Tante Phia: wonderful guides!
After a wonderful nights rest back in my own room in Tokyo, I got up and started to work on the computer. Catching up on emails and the blog. Quite... Continue reading » -
14
Observations
Well, I am actually writing this blog entry in the present. I have spent much of today attempting to get all of my pictures and short videos into Pic... Continue reading » -
15
Last Day in Japan
Well, it's my last night in Japan. I'll be heading to the airport around 7:30am for the 10:50am seven hour flight to Bangkok. My last day was onc... Continue reading » -
16
Bangkok
Well, I am in Bangkok. I've been thinking at various points how I should write this entry and I think lists might make it easier. No so great occ... Continue reading » -
17
My first homestay impressions
I have arrived safe and sound to my village, my home for the next month. Yesterday another volunteer, Cim (pronounced Kim), and I took a five hour bus... Continue reading » -
18
Venturing into town
I didn't sleep too well, but I expected that on my first night. I had lots of dreams of ants crawling over my bed and face and woke at one point to k... Continue reading » -
19
Screaming for a boyband or me?
So much to write about today!!!!! I had my grand introduction to the school this morning. My host, his two children, and I crammed into the small pi... Continue reading » -
20
Presents
My time just keeps getting better and better! The second day of teaching went really well. Somehow I feel like I've already been here for at least a... Continue reading » -
21
Fieldtrip to KhonKaen
I woke up early this morning to be on the road early with about 60 students and a couple of students to head to the big city of KhonKaen which is abou... Continue reading » -
22
Slice of Heaven
My afternoon snack of sliced papaya and iced tea has just arrived. I don't think I can adequately describe how welcoming everyone at the school has b... Continue reading » -
23
"That's my wife, not my daughter"
It's officially been a week since my arrival and time is doing its strange thing. Yesterday will feel like a long time ago yet the week itself feels... Continue reading » -
24
Forget hand weights, just do your laundry by hand
Early last week, I noticed that my host family's washing machine was gone. I immediately worried that I was the one who broke it as I had done laundr... Continue reading » -
25
Chinese festival= a carnival
Please check out my gallery of new pictures and videos: http://picasaweb.google.com/CarlaVassilos Last night I had a hard time falling asleep. No... Continue reading » -
26
My own personal zoo
Today two teachers and I had lunch at the hotpot/bbq restaurant next door. We stuffed ourselves with pork, squid, vegetables, noodles, dipping sauce,... Continue reading » -
27
Watch out for diarrhea
Last night's dinner contained a few funny moments that I thought I should share. You can check out the pictures here: http://picasaweb.google.co.th/C... Continue reading » -
28
Thanksgiving and the Start of Sports Week
This Friday was a relaxing day for me as it was my first day with no teaching while at the school. Sports week had begun with many schools driving... Continue reading »
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29
Full Moon Festival
Saturday morning I slept in until 9am and was surprised to find that it took me nearly an hour to pack for my short trip to KhonKaen and my border run... Continue reading » -
30
KhonKaen-Udon University-Market-Nong Khai-Thai Border-Laos Border-Vientiane
Sunday morning after feasting on Khon Kaen Hotel's buffet breakfast, Cim and I headed to the Khon Kaen bus station. Suwatt had written in Thai for... Continue reading »
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31
The return trip was much easier!
Monday morning Cim and I both woke up well rested in the early morning. We had a few errands that we wanted to accomplish before heading back over... Continue reading »
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32
Back to my village
Tuesday morning I enjoyed my last hot shower for a few days. Cim and I ate a good sized buffet breakfast before checking out of the KhonKaen hotel.... Continue reading »
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33
Teaching 43 students aged 5-12
As usual check out my public gallery for more pictures. I've taken hundreds! I hope you have a fast connection: http://picasaweb.google.com/CarlaVa... Continue reading »
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34
Going out in style!
For pictures (not yet organized or captioned):
http://picasaweb.google.com/CarlaVassilos/Nov29thAnd30th02
I am writing this entry nearl... Continue reading »
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35
English Camp
This day marked the beginning of the end for my time volunteering at NongNaKhamWittaKhom school. The two day English camp in Phu Wiang Nation... Continue reading »
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36
Last Day in Nong Na Kham
Day two of English camp was very relaxed. There was no more structured teaching to be planned and the majority of the morning was spent on a... Continue reading »
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37
In a contest Bangkok vs. Me, I lose
Waking up before sunrise in the luxurious Sofitel wasn't too easy. I wanted to stay a few more hours to enjoy the comforts that I had been go... Continue reading »
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38
Arriving in Chiang Mai
Haggling with tuk, tuk drivers at the Chiang Mai train station brought us to our beautiful 3 Sis Bed&Breakfast in the center of the old city su... Continue reading »
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39
Trekking in Chiang Mai
For pictures click:
http://picasaweb.google.com/dtquigley13
Our day out trekking in the mountains around Chiang Mai was excellent... Continue reading »
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40
Second times the charm with Laos
It's been quite a few days since I've had enough time to access the blog. Sorry to all of my loyal readers! Dan and I arrived in Luang... Continue reading »
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41
First Stop in Vietnam
We thoroughly enjoyed our last balcony delivered breakfast before reorganized our things in preparation for a trip to the post office. Gifts had be... Continue reading »
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42
Losing My ATM Card
We had one day to tour around Hanoi and I think we did a relatively good job of it. Our first mission was to book a quality tour to see H... Continue reading »
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43
Hundreds of Limestone Islands
The agreed upon time of 7am for the completion of our laundry of course did not come through. This meant Dan waited around for 50 minutes desparate... Continue reading »
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44
To Hue We Go
The generator's start at 6:30am worked as an effective alarm clock aboard our small junk boat on Halong Bay. Breakfast was nothing special, but the... Continue reading »
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45
210,000 dong is how many dollars?
So many adventures, so little internet time. This morning Dan and I ripped ourselves away from a deep slumber to head to the Mandrian Cafe which wa... Continue reading »
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46
An extremely jolly deaf man
Nick, you've earned yourself a shout out in the blog. Congratulations on turning 28! Our last day in Hué was spent exploring the Citadel area. It... Continue reading »
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47
There are at least two sides to every story
We actually made it to the free breakfast this morning, enjoying Vietnamese coffee before a relatively full day of sightseeing all over the large... Continue reading »
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48
Thanks Travelfish.org!
Our last day in Saigon wasn't very exciting. Neither Dan nor I have perfected the art of quick packing. Every time our bags are opened it takes... Continue reading »
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49
Feasting in Paradise
Throwing our things together we were in a taxi by 4:30am to wait in an unusually long check in line at the Ho Chi Minh City airport. We ate some... Continue reading »
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50
The Importance of Emergency Food
Mosquito nets make for a nice looking bed, especially with the tropical sun streaming in. After what could have been a short stop at the post off... Continue reading »
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51
Goodbye Phu Quoc
Last morning on the island. It's tough leaving paradise. I got a few minutes to sit on the beach and read a book. With all of our motorcycling adventu... Continue reading » -
52
Three Cities in One Day
Waking up early in Rach Gia, we headed to the lobby of the hotel which doubled as a home (bedroom, living room, dining room) to the family that ran th... Continue reading » -
53
Finding Santa
Dan's sendoff wasn't as organized as I'd hoped it would be. Malaysia is an hour's time difference from Vietnam, which I had changed on my watch, but n... Continue reading » -
54
Rainforest in the middle of KL
First day out touring Kuala Lumpur had it's ups and downs as has become the norm while visiting a new place for the first time. Cim and I began the da... Continue reading » -
55
Fireflys & Monkeys
We began our day scoping out KL's Chinatown. Petaling Street is where all the shopping action is. Most carts were setting up when we arrived. In our s... Continue reading » -
56
Christmas Poolside
It was a relaxing day as it should have been. Cim and I both spent time on the computer. We made a grocery shopping trip for peanut butter, french to... Continue reading » -
57
Butterfly Park
Cim and I headed into the city first for a stop at the post office-not so easy to find, tucked away on the third floor of a large mall. Turned out it... Continue reading » -
58
Drum Show
Cim left early in the morning at 6am to meet up with her friends in Bangkok. I went back to sleep and spent the remainder of the day changing my plane... Continue reading » -
59
An Excellent Day Trip
This was a great day. I wasn't out of the apartment as early as I should have been. Arriving at the chaotic bus station around 10:30am, I was on an 1... Continue reading » -
60
Laundry & Cleaning
I devoted this day to laundry and getting the apartment and my things in order. Although a full day, it was relaxing and calm. The only stress being... Continue reading » -
61
Leaving Asia
Showered, packed, and cleaned, Jeff (MC's driver when she lived here) took me to the airport, but then had to find another bus to take me to the Air A... Continue reading » -
62
New Years in the Desert
Nana, Willem's girlfriend, and I enjoyed lunch with Willem. I took a picture of the lobby of his work building and was quickly told photo... Continue reading »
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63
Happy 2008!
Although still a bit drunk from all the champagne, my bladder forced me out of my tent at 7am. What I found was worth leaving my warm sleeping bag.&nb... Continue reading » -
64
Ede
Tante Margot once again has proved to be an amazing hostess! I had a lovely stay in Ede shopping, getting treated to a facial, and of course feasti... Continue reading »
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