Final Thoughts

So this is it.  After 116 entries, this will be my final post.  I've reached the end of my trip and the end of my journal.  I thought I would wrap up with a more meaningful conclusion instead of the day-to-day.

In the past 32 days, I realized just how small the world really is.  I just flew around the circumference of the Earth, so I know both literally and figuratively.  It also struck me just how similar we all really are.  Everywhere I went, people are trying to feed their families, improve their lives, and entertain themselves.  The lady selling bugs at the market and the man driving the taxi may have different interests, but we all end up doing most of the same things each day.

After traveling to all these different countries, I realized that the buildings, beds, and sights aren't what I remember.  It's the people.  I remember the way people treated me and the people I met along the way.  I remember how I felt about the cities more than I remember what I saw in the cities.

I think the Australians have it right.  International travel helps you open up your eyes.  In the US, we live in bubbles.  We think adventure is going to the poor side of town for an errand.  Adventure is riding in a taxi in Malaysia because your train was cancelled and hoping the driver isn't kidnapping you.  I think anyone who goes abroad for a month, even if it's in a safe place like London or Paris, comes back with experience that matures them.  Once you see how other cultures operate, it gives you the ability to reflect on your own.

On the flight to Boston, at the hotel in Boston, and on the flight to Dallas, I found myself annoyed at the conversations I was hearing.  In the United States, we no longer realize what we have.  I saw a lady furious with the bus driver because he asked her very politely if she could move away from the doors so he could close them.  She threw a fit.  In Thailand, the bus driver would just grab you and push you away from the doors.  Or, he would just start driving and if you fell out, it was karma.

We have also become so unfriendly.  In the Eastern world, everyone seemed excited to meet me.  Strangers would stop me on the street to ask if I spoke English.  Remember the man marching and singing about Obama and the USA in Penang?  It was hilarious.  If someone in the US started singing in the street, we would probably walk away as quickly as possible.  The South may not be as bad as Boston, but we're still pretty isolationist.  We almost never speak to those around us unless we have a good reason to.

It pains me to see how awful Americans travel, but it might be even worse to see how we act when we're at home.  Other countries appeared very united.  The US seems so divided all the time.

On perhaps a happier note, my trip was a success.  The learnings may be a little sobering, but the trip was a blast.  Yes, I had many things go wrong.  I missed flights, trains, and hostel reservations.  I wore dirty clothes and ended up with a few blisters.  I caught a cold and couldn't find medicine.  I was stuck in Mumbai airport jail.  Still, these things were no big deal in the end.  I made it back safe and sound and have a ton of memories from the month of June 2012.

I used to always talk about how awesome my trip to Europe in 2008 was.  I won't say that this trip was better entirely, but parts of it were.  Solo travel is entirely different than group travel.  I was able to set my own schedule each and every day.  It is very liberating to be able to cancel an activity when you are tired and add an extra one when you're feeling up for it.  Solo travel is scary, but it also forces you to meet other people.  I'm not sure how much more solo travel I will be doing, but I am glad I did it this time.

So, that about wraps it up.  I backpacked across the world for 32 days in 2012 and I am a better person for it.  I don't know if I will ever have another trip like this again, but I said 2008 was a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip and I was wrong.

My closing is this: Go.  Find a way to go.  Don't make excuses about money, time, jobs, friends, family, or potential terrorist attacks.  Bad things happen in life.  You could die abroad.  Then again, you could die at home.  Plan the trip, book the tickets, and go.  Otherwise, you might regret it for the rest of your life.  You're only young once.

Go.

 - Adam

And the winner is...

Bangkok!

Bangkok is the one place that I absolutely plan to go back to in the future.  My time spent in Bangkok was the highlight of my trip.  Every single street was an adventure.  The food, the people, the buildings, the lifestyle, and the chaos were so much fun.

I titled many of my Bangkok posts with the word chaos.  Bangkok is utterly chaotic, but in a good way.  I could never live there, but the chaos made it so fun to leave the hostel each day and wonder what craziness I would see that day.

Haggling with taxis and food vendors was enjoyable.  Unlike in Jerusalem where people tried to rip you off with aggressive sales tactics, people in Bangkok tried to rip you off with a smile.  Sometimes I won the game and sometimes I lost.  Still, losing only meant an extra US dollar, so it wasn't a big deal.

Bangkok is dirty and probably full of thieves.  Still, those things just added character to the city.  Beautiful temples were next to abandoned buildings and landfills.  The lack of organization just made it that much more special.  I am sure as Bangkok develops, it will lose many of the traits that made it fun for me.

Whether you stay at the JW Marriott or a dirty hostel (or do both like me) I would recommend a trip to Bangkok (and the rest of Thailand.)

Bangkok is the "best" place I have ever visited.

Ranking - Cities

 So here we are.  This is the ranking that really matters.  After sampling cities all around the world, I know which ones I would return to in the future and which ones I have no interest in going back to.

1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Seoul, South Korea
3. Singapore, Singapore
4. London, United Kingdom
5. Jerusalem, Israel
6. Paris, France
7. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
8. Tel Aviv, Israel
9. Amman, Jordan
10. Tokyo, Japan
11. Taipei, Taiwan
12.Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
13. Macau, Macau
14. Penang, Malaysia
15. Johor Bahru, Malaysia
16. Mumbai, India (airport)

The list is pretty easy to divide.  Number 7 and below, I would not revisit for personal vacation.  Number 2 through 6, I would consider visiting again on a future trip.  I will certainly visit Bangkok again someday.  I don't know when it will be, but that's the one city on this list that I keep thinking about.

Mumbai doesn't really count since I didn't make it to the city.  Still, the airport (and its staff) earned it last place.

Johor Bahru should be avoided.  I really have nothing positive to say about my visit.  It's just not a place for tourists.

Penang may have good beaches, but I think there are better places to go.  I didn't spend all that long there, but I'm glad.

Macau may generate more gambling revenue than Las Vegas, but it's nothing in comparison.  It's crime-ridden, dirty, and strikingly poor.  See my Macau post for a telling picture.

Kuala Lumpur was worth seeing, but not revisiting.  See my post on it for more details, but it had all the problems of a developing country without any of the charms.

Taipei had one of my favorite attractions (Taipei 101) but had little else.  Getting runover by a scooter is not my idea of fun.  The buses are painful and the air quality is terrible.

Tokyo was the surprise on my list.  As explained in my Tokyo summary, it is like a machine.  It's clean, efficient, and organized.  The lack of character proves to be its downfall.  I just didn't enjoy my stay in Tokyo as much as other cities because Tokyo lacked charm.  Tokyo is worth a visit for newcomers, but I'm happy spending future trips elsewhere.

Amman was another city that is very worth visiting once.  How many cities are safe enough for Americans to visit in the Arabic world?  I found Amman to be an unappealing desert.  Still, it was worth the flight to find that out.  It was also good to see the biblical sights that I did.  Again, I'm glad I went, but won't be going back.

Tel Aviv was fine, but it reminded me of Miami.  It was a beach town.  The languages barrier left me with a slightly more negative impression than I otherwise would have had.  If you are going to visit Jerusalem, I would take the one hour bus ride to Tel Aviv.  I wouldn't make a vacation based on Tel Aviv though.

Hong Kong was the final city that was worth a visit, but not a revisit.  It lives up to its reputation as Asia's "World City" but I was ready to leave before my plans called for it.  (Hence my visit to Macau).  I just never quite clicked with the feel of the city.

This was my third visit to Paris.  I was barely there, but there is still a charm to it.  I am sure I will be back in the future.  The French language is just fun to listen to and no one makes pastries like the French.

Jerusalem was a city where I wished I had scheduled more time.  I hope to go back some day.  Jerusalem has a unique atmosphere to it.  There are so many religious pilgrims from all different countries and faiths.  It makes for a completely different experience.  I have never visited a city like Jerusalem before.

London was packed with sights.  I hope to go back and see all the ones I missed.  The only knock to London is that it felt like NYC with older buildings.  Maybe that's a compliment.  Maybe NYC is actually a copy of London.  Either way, London would have been so much more exciting had I not spent significant time in NYC.  It watered down the experience because of the similarities between the two cities.  Still, London was one of my favorites.

Singapore is what I had expected Hong Kong to be.  Singapore speaks perfect English and is packed with air conditioning and shopping.  My favorite part of Singapore was the hawker centers with the food stalls.  I really wished we had those here.  Singapore is the city in Asia I would be most likely to live in.

I can't really explain my ranking of Seoul.  I just ended up liking the city and its people.  Seoul had a swagger to it.  Maybe that's what happens when you have a huge US military base in the middle of your city to protect you.  Seoul was planted nicely in the middle of the spectrum in Asia.  It was cheaper than Hong Kong and Tokyo, yet much more refined than Taipei and Bangkok.  More than any city except Bangkok, I felt welcome here.

See the next post for Bangkok.

Ranking - Lodging

 I left off my hotels because it's not apples to apples.  Clearly, the JW Marriott in Bangkok is a paradise.

This ranking is for quality, not price.  Price scales by location, but all of my accommodations were highly rated for their location.  Quality should have been similar, but it wasn't.

1. Pride of Paddington - London, United Kingdom
2. St. Christopher's - Paris, France
3. K's House - Tokyo, Japan
4. Sunshine Bedz KL - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
5. 5footway.inn Chinatown - Singapore, Singapore

6. Chef Hostel - Tel Aviv, Israel
7. Tower Hostel - Amman, Jordan

8. Parkview Hostel - Hong Kong, Hong Kong
9. Flip Flop Hostel - Taipei, Taiwan
10. Niras Cultural Center - Bangkok, Thailand
11. Jin's Paradise - Seoul, South Korea
12. CSIA - Mumbai, India

I didn't include the trains I slept on either.  Number 12 is sort of a joke too, but the ranking still stands.  Do not stay at the Mumbai Airport in the terminal.

I don't have a whole lot of commentary on the rankings.  Some people might want the best party atmosphere or the softest bed.  All I wanted was cleanliness and air conditioning.

The top three were all pretty nice.  They were spotless and cool.  Korea and Thailand were filthy and hot.

Israel was the most like a home.  That's probably because it was.  The owners slept there too and cooked a lot.

I think accommodations are unrelated to the country itself.  There are nice hotels in Thailand (like the JW) and horrible hotels in France.  I stayed at one for work once.

However, if you ever find yourself looking for a place to stay, my list above might be helpful.  Number 1-9 were decent enough to stay at again.

Day 32 - Flight to Dallas

I woke up at 2am feeling ready to start the day.  I laid around for two hours before heading downstairs for the shuttle bus.  The driver forcefully insisted that he remove my backpack from my back and place it in the luggage rack himself.  Maybe it's some sort of union rule.

The check-in kiosk couldn't find my reservation, so I used the first class check-in.  As usual, my AA number wasn't attached to the reservation because it was a British Airways ticket.  I used to call in and fix it, but it takes so long that I didn't bother this time.

I went to the Admirals Club where I had "breakfast".

Four different mini-muffins, an apple, and club soda with lime.

Empty Admirals Club.

The lounge opened at 4:45am and I entered right when she unlocked the door.  I sat in the empty lounge enjoying my "breakfast".  I miss Cathay Pacific already.

Since I couldn't select my seat in advance, I didn't have many options.  I ended up in the first row of the coach cabin, but that meant no legroom because of the bulkhead.  The agent also didn't tell me that the man in the middle was morbidly obese.  That should be a requirement upon check-in.  All customers who have a width greater than the seat should be identified so premium passengers can avoid them.

The flight was a very cramped four hours.  Since I wasn't sleepy at all, it was that much longer.  My status got me free mixed nuts, but there wasn't much else to note about the flight.  We were on-time and I escaped the warm, squishy blob that had been touching me for four hours.

Seeing Dallas below was very bittersweet.  I exited DFW and was hit by surprisingly nice 80 degree air with low humidity!

Then it was over.  32 days of flights, crazy foods, adventures, mistakes, interesting sights, and a whole lot of fun.  A few more posts to come with final thoughts.

Ranking - Costs

These rankings are how expensive the city was.  This includes the exchange rate variance, so everything is ranked in terms of USD.

1. London, United Kingdom
2. Paris, France 
3. Tokyo, Japan
4. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
5. Singapore, Singapore
6. Macau, Macau
7. Tel Aviv, Israel
8. Jerusalem, Israel
9. Seoul, South Korea
10. Taipei, Taiwan
11. Amman, Jordan
12. Mumbai, India
13. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
14. Penang, Malaysia
15. Johor Bahru, Malaysia
16. Bangkok, Thailand

None of this is really surprising.  I was a little surprised at just how cheap Thailand really was and a little bit by just how expensive London was.  Still, the rankings themselves were pretty much expected.

Day 31 - Hodge Podge of Photos

Here are some pictures that haven't made it into previous posts.

Airline for fat people?

Clueless Americans can't figure out the ticket machines.

"Soft Drink with Vegetable Extracts with Sweeteners"

If anyone out there really loves me, please buy me one.

Strasberries and Pineberries at Harrods.  They are exactly what you think they are.

I'll pass on the jellied eel.

The Invisible Man!

Domino's delivers of course.  On bikes!

Ouch.

Now my skin is pink instead of crimson.  That's a good sign I think.

Ranking - Airlines

 My ranking is inclusive of food, service, on-time performance, facilities, and seats.  I have adjusted it for class of service differences.

1. Cathay Pacific
2. Japan Airlines
3. American Airlines
4. British Airways
5. Royal Jordanian
6. JetStar

Cathay Pacific is so far above all other airlines that it's just silly.  Why can't other airline emulate Cathay Pacific?  Every single staff member is extraordinarily helpful even when it's an issue that should be addressed to someone else.  Cathay Lounges were consistently better than the others and food in flight was always great.  I think airline executives should buy tickets on Cathay Pacific and learn what to do.  I have no complaints about Cathay Pacific at all.  Greats seats, service, food, lounges, planes, entertainment options, and they were always on-time.

I only had one JAL flight, but they made me feel quite welcome.  I actually liked my seat better on AA, but everything else was better on JAL.

American was fine.  The entertainment options were much smaller than Cathay or JAL, but the headphones were nice.  The flight attendants were also fine, but not exceptional.  American got the job done in every category, but just didn't do anything over-the-top.

British Airways is hard to judge since I only flew between Paris and London twice.  It was a short flight and I was in economy, but BA just seemed very spartan, even in the business cabin.  The gate was disorganized and the flight seemed understaffed.  I would really need to fly on BA over an ocean to get a fairer comparison, but this is where they go for now.

Royal Jordanian managed to depart late on every one of my flights.  Flight attendants looked good in bright red uniforms, but they weren't as helpful and didn't seem to control boarding at all.  The food was edible, but nothing special.  The lounges for RJ were sub-par.  Given another OneWorld option, I wouldn't fly RJ again.

Ranking JetStar isn't really fair since the flight was so cheap.  JetStar doesn't try to compete as a full-service airline, so naturally they lose this ranking.  Still, JetStar was like being loaded onto that bus in Taiwan.  It was a zoo.  We were late, they are understaffed, getting a boarding pass was like pulling teeth, the flight was hot, loud, and long.  We were delayed due to congestion in the air which didn't help.  Seats were tiny.  Drinks were expensive (even for soft drinks).  Passengers completely ignored flight staff.  I recommend taking a train unless you need to go somewhere fast or over water.

The only surprise in this list was American ranking above BA and RJ.  I knew CX was supposed to the be the best airline in the world.  JAL used to be.  I was disappointed by RJ because I had heard good things.  I still need to try out some other Oneworld airlines.  Maybe I'll do a South American trip on LAN Airlines next!

Day 31 - Boston

I did not book a place to stay for tonight because my flight home was in flux.  My RTW ticket actually ends in Boston, so I booked a separate ticket through British Airways to get home.  A few days ago I changed that ticket to depart tomorrow at 5:45am.

I needed a place to sleep for just a few hours and had researched a few hostels in the area.  With a 5:45am flight, the subway isn't an option, so that limited me.  The cheapest hotel was the Red Roof Inn at $105 for one night.  The Courtyard was $180.  Eventually, I burned some Marriott points to stay at the Airport Courtyard.  It was way overpriced (even in points) but the other options were even worse.

The shuttle took forever to pick me up, but that let me make some phone calls.  It's pretty strange to use a mobile phone for the first time in a month.  It seems so advanced!

The Courtyard is nice, but it reminds me of work.  The distinct smell and the Boston skyline make me feel like I'm checking in for the week.  The JW in Bangkok felt like a foreign paradise.  The Courtyard feels like corporate America.  I don't think I am going to like this.

A warm shower was nice and my sunburn has changed from burning pain to itchy annoyance.

I won't have time (or transportation) to go see the city, but that's okay.  I was here recently while researching schools and it will be a short train ride away once I live in NYC.  Also, the jet lag means my body thinks it is 1am right now.  That will actually be handy for tomorrow morning.  I will be able to wake up at 3am and my body will think it is already 9am.  Flying westward was a great idea.

Time to prepare my bags for my last night away.

Day 31 - Flight to Boston

My gate was right next to the Cathay Pacific lounge, so that worked out really well.  I had a lunch plate before heading to the gate.

Macaroons!  Wonderful, delicious, tiny treats!

Business class boarding was quick and soon I was in my "shell" seat.  There is a plastic shell around the seat to provide some privacy.  The seats don't go 180-degree horizontal, but pretty close.  I found mine comfortable enough for sleeping.

I watched an episode of CSI, Two and a Half Men, and the movie Safe House.  Combined with sleeping and eating, it filled up most of the flight.  American provides the great Bose QuietComfort 15 noise cancelling headphones, which are great for drowning out cabin noise.  They also make hearing flight attendants impossible, but that's not too big of a deal.

Since this was a flight, the main feature was food.  American certainly made sure I was well fed!

Warm nuts, club soda with lime, cheese antipasti, and some fancy wine.

Smoked salmon with capers and lemon.  Nice and light.

A giant asparagus salad.  Good dressing.

Gnocchi, good.  Beef, bad.

Custom made sundae!  I like this...

Snack before landing.

You can tell you're on an American airline because the portions are three times an international airline.  I'm not complaining though.

When I arrived in Boston, the US seemed happy enough to see me.  They seemed slightly concerned about how many countries I had visited, but spent most of the time interrogating foreigners.  I didn't even get a US border stamp.  Maybe we don't do that for US citizens returning anymore?  I watched customs take scissors and cut up 20+ shirts from one guy's suitcase.  I guess he tried to smuggle in commercial goods?  He yelled a lot, but still ended up with holes in all his clothes.

After customs, I sat down so I could switch back to my American SIM card.  But...the plastic bag had a hole in it and my SIM card was gone.  I had to empty my entire bag to search the bottom for it.  Thankfully it was in the bottom of the bad and seemed undamaged.  However, my paper clip to eject the SIM card was gone.  I tried lots of pointy objects but the iPhone is pretty particular.  A sewing needle did the trick and after a few reboots, my phone spammed me with voicemails, emails, texts, update alerts, and everything else that had been wanting to use data for the last month.  I'll deal with all of it when I get back home.  I'm still vacationing!

Ranking - English Proficiency

 This is a combination of English signage and fluency of people on the street.  It's not a scientific ranking, but just my experiences while roaming around in the city doing basic tasks like eating, riding public transportation, and going to tourist sites.

1. London, United Kingdom
2. Singapore, Singapore
3. Mumbai, India
4. Hong Kong, Hong Kong
5. Macau, Macau
6. Jerusalem, Israel
7. Amman, Jordan
8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
9. Seoul, South Korea
10. Penang, Malaysia
11. Johor Bahru, Malaysia
12. Taipei, Taiwan
13. Paris, France
14. Bangkok, Thailand
15. Tel Aviv, Israel
16. Tokyo, Japan

London isn't really a fair comparison.  Singapore's primary language is English and everyone I encountered was fluent.  The Mumbai airport probably isn't a very good sample of Mumbai as a whole, but I must admit everyone inside spoke proper English.  Those three were simple for English speakers.

Hong Kong and Macau has English signage everywhere but not everyone spoke it on the street.  Still, it wasn't much of an issue.

Everyone in Jerusalem and Amman seemed to speak some English and signs were pretty good although there were a few places with only Hebrew or Arabic.

Malaysia had broken English everywhere.  Signs and spoken English were there, but often difficult to use.

Number 12 through 14 don't have much English.  The airports and train stations do, but that's about it.

Tel Aviv is a nightmare.  Street spellings change by the block for no reason.  Most everything is in Hebrew.   Everyone assumes you speak Hebrew and I had no luck finding English-speaking street vendors.  I'm sure hotels speak English, but my cab drivers didn't and no one at the train stations did either.  This was by far the most surprising one for me.  People immigrated here from all over the world, but I had just expected more English since it was a newer country.  The Israeli people are proud of Hebrew though, so that may have had something to do with it.

In Tokyo, outside of the airport, good luck.  Bring a translator.  Even many tourist sites are in Japanese only.

Day 31 - Paris

I woke up to an empty room.  The seven girls had woken up at 5am and gone back to Madrid.  It was nice and peaceful.

I had already packed everything the night before, so I brushed my teeth and went down for breakfast.

Cocoa Krispies, a french baguette, and yellow water.

OK, it was supposed to be orange juice, but after having real orange juice all trip, this was vastly inferior.  I figured I would find some real food at the airport.

I took a few pictures leaving the hostel.

The outside.

The hostel is the building on the right.

My room.

On the way to the metro, I realized I left my towel and had to go back.  The travel towel I brought has been wonderful.  It dries in just 20 minutes, but is extra absorbent.  A fluffy towel might feel nicer, but this one gets the job done.

I backtracked from yesterday, going from the metro, to the RER, to the airport terminal.  I accidentally bought a basic metro ticket instead of the combined fare, but I didn't want to waste it, so I used it to go through the turnstile and get on the train.

The problem was when I got off the train at CDG, I couldn't go through the exit stile.  In Paris, the exit is just a door that opens from the inside.  You don't have to present a ticket.  You just leave.  At CDG, apparently you have to have a ticket.  I looked around for a booth where I could add the correct fare, but there was none.  I was stuck on the platform with no way to get into the airport.

Time for the confidence trick!  I walked to the handicap exit, held my bags to make it look like I couldn't fit through the gate, and flashed my ticket to a guard near the booth.  Success!

I walked to check-in where there was a horrendous line for American Airlines.

It's just a short 60 minute wait to check-in.

Then I went to security where I had a fast pass.  Unfortunately, the stack of used passes was sitting near the line and a group of people took a ton of them before the security guard saw.  Most of those people were caught, but not all.  It made the fast track line pretty long on its own.  My line took 20 minutes.  I estimate the regular line at an hour.  I hope everyone came early for their flights.

Hope you don't have a flight any time soon.

After making it through, I went to the Cathay Pacific lounge.  The Admirals Club had nothing but pretzels last time and I knew Cathay would be better.  The lounge was just a terrace above the terminal (which is how I took the pictures above) so it was really noisy.  There were also no bathrooms and limited seating.  On the positive side, there was food!

A pancake!

I had forgotten what a Western pancake looked like.  Asian pancakes are very different.  There was Vermont maple syrup too.

The chocolate pastry was excellent.  I grabbed another one.  I will probably grab a few treats for lunch before the flight for my last international meal.

My flight to Boston boards in 40 minutes.

Day 30 - Arrival in Paris

The flight was short and there were no lines upon arrival, so I made it down to the train station pretty quick.  I didn't want to take out a bunch of Euros since I was going to be in Paris for less than 24 hours, but the ticket machines wouldn't read my credit cards, so I didn't really have a choice.  I wanted to convert just a few pounds, but all the currency exchanges were already closed for the night.  It was still light outside at 9:30pm, so it was deceiving how late it was.

After buying a 10 Euro train ticket to the city, I looked out the window during my 45 minute train ride.  I transferred to the metro and waited some more before starting my walk to the hostel.  I was hoping the route would look familiar since I stayed at this hostel 4 years ago, but it didn't at all.

I arrived with the party in full swing.  I had forgotten there is an attached bar downstairs.  Check-in was simple (though expensive) and I went to my room where I met a Yale student studying in Spain for the summer.  We talked for a while before the rest of her group came back.  It turns out, it was me and seven undergrads from the US, all studying in Spain.  They came to Paris to party for the weekend.  After an hour of listening to them, I felt really, really old.  It's sort of sad.  I didn't really notice it four years ago, but maybe I was the same way.  Or maybe traveling through Thailand and Malaysia (real backpacking locations) hardened me.  It seems sort of silly for these girls to complain about how they are "roughing it" in what would be a luxury hotel in Asia.

I took a shower and prepared for bed while they gossiped about everything imaginable.  Then I went into the hallway where a group of very intoxicated girls tried to give me a rose and propose.  Testing love at first sight I guess?  Maybe it's just because we're in Paris and they were feeling romantic?  Maybe it's my charm and good looks?  :)



When I brushed them aside, they proposed to someone else down the hall.  Such is life.

Day 30 - Things I will (and won't) miss

Will miss
Cheap street food
Meeting new people everywhere
Buying local
Reliable (and sometimes cheap) public transportatio
New and crazy foods
Airline lounges
Walking everywhere (and thereby avoiding driving in traffic)
Exploring new places
Waking up each day with no set schedule


Won't miss
Almost being run over hourly by anything with wheels
Public toilets
Wells Fargo international ATM fees
Trying to speak a new language every few days
Top bunks
Waiting in immigration/security/boarding lines
Changing currencies every few days
Carrying all my belongings with me (and having to turn around carefully so I don't hit people)
Exhaust-filled air
Garbage in the streets
Stray animals
Looking like a homeless person

I have gotten used to walking and using public transportation.  With all the construction back home, I had been getting more and more agitated with driving.  I wish there were subways and cheap taxis back home.  At least there will be in NYC.  Well, not cheap, but available.

If I was being paid to write these entries, I could probably do travel writing for a living.  Since I'm not, I guess I will have to adjust to the American lifestyle, which certainly has its positives.  I'll touch on some of those differences in a later entry.

Day 30 - Packing Decisions

I think I did a pretty good job packing light.  I haven't ever felt as if my backpack was too heavy, but I have wished I had more space at times.

Most useless item: fleece jacket.

The fleece jacket is by far the bulkiest item I packed, taking up most of my daypack.  It is also an item I have still not used.  I justified bringing it by saying it could act as a pillow or blanket, but I have an extra pillow and who needs a blanket when it's melting outside?  Looking back, I should have checked the weather forecast and realized cool weather gear was pointless.  If I really needed a jacket, I could have bought one.

Most useful item: toilet paper.

As detailed previously, toilet paper is scarce (and not often used) in Asia.  Bringing a roll from home to go in my daypack came in handy almost daily.  Unlike toothpaste, it's difficult to even buy it in some areas, so I think toilet paper was the smartest thing I brought.

I wished I had brought one more set of clothes.  With the space freed up by leaving the fleece at home, I wish I had brought one more of each clothing item.  When doing laundry just wasn't an option, I really needed one more to set to avoid wearing dirty clothes.

I wished I had brought less liquids.  Considering the strict liquid requirements the airlines impose, that might seem hard to believe.  Even with one tiny bag, liquids are heavy.  I could have shrunk each liquid bottle by 1/2 and been fine.  Plus, most liquids are sold overseas and I ended up with tons of free vanity items from the airlines.

Good Decisions
Synthetic clothing - All of my clothes have been perfect for the weather
Shoe selection - All three sets have been useful.  (Sandals, athletic shoes, shower shoes)
Locks - My zipper locks and bicycle locks have kept all of my belongings safe


Bad Decisions
Medicine - Not bringing more US medicine, like anti-histamines and decongestants
Adapters - Not bringing a grounded US plug adapter has been a real pain for my laptop
Plastic bags - I needed more plastic bags for the different currencies.  After they are mixed, it takes forever to separate them back out.

Overall, I think my packing went very well.  Backpacking trips in Europe (and southwestern America) are good preparation.

Day 30 - Surprises

There are a few things that have surprised me this trip.

First, there I have seen very few Americans outside of London.  There are hordes of Australians and a good number from the UK, but barely any Americans.  I know travel is not as ingrained in our culture since we have such a large country and that we generally frown upon having a "gap year" while it is encouraged in other countries.  I was shocked to have met only a single American at my hostels and that was in Japan.  Money is clearly not an issue for us, so I wonder what that says for us as a country.

Second, I am shocked by the dominance of American restaurants.  Everyone knows McDonalds is global, but I didn't realize just how popular KFC was.  I thought it was hilarious four years ago in Slovakia when KFC had its own highway exit.  Now I know that KFC is that popular everywhere.  In Malaysia, people dressed up and brought the entire family to go to KFC.  Besides fried chicken, our burger joints are everywhere as well.  I found a Wendy's in one city.  We export our culture through movies, but also through food.  I can't help but wonder if we are going to make the rest of the world fat.

Third, I have been repeatedly told that the American accent is easy to understand.  Of course, I can't hear it myself, but the Asian people much preferred it to Australian and British accents.  I find that interesting.  I am sure there are language experts who can explain it in technical terms.  Maybe it's just that the world is used to hearing American accents in TV shows and movies.  Also, most countries teach American English rather than British English.  In Europe, British English is more common, so I don't ever remember discussing the American accent.  In Asia, it seemed to come up as a conversation topic at least once per country.

Fourth, most ATMs do not charge a usage fee.  Every American ATM I know of charges a $1.50 to $10 (Vegas) fee to use the ATM on top of any fee charged by your issuing bank.  Overseas, my card was never charged except for in Thailand.  Maybe it's because I have an international card and the banks only charge domestic ones.  I'm not sure.  I do remember paying fees in Europe four years ago, so maybe it's an Asian thing.  Although, the banks here in London haven't charged me either.

Fifth, Hong Kong (and maybe other places) has currency issued directly by retail banks.  The HSBC ATM at the airport issues Hong Kong dollars with the HSBC logo on them.  In fact, almost 100% of Hong Kong's currency is printed (and owned) by private banks.  Technically, you can take an HSBC dollar to any branch and the bank will give you the equivalent amount of US dollars.  It's sort of like when the US was on the gold standard and you could exchange dollars for gold.

There are a few more things that surprised me, such as English proficiency, but I'll put that in its own post.

Day 30 - Nearing the End

Now that I'm almost done, I appear to be healthy again (other than a slight cough).  My ears finally became totally normal today.  Flying with sinus issues is pretty awful.  My immune system is probably running pretty well right now after being exposed to just about everything possible over the last month.

I'm nearing the end of my trip, so I can start posting some overarching thoughts and less of the day-to-day.  With less than 24 hours in Paris, I won't be doing much there other than eating some pastries.  I might take a picture of the Eiffel Tower just for fun.

I haven't really thought about going home yet.  There has been so much to do each day.  I think I am going to have some severe "reverse culture chock" when I get back.  I'll create some lists on here about it.

Day 30 - British Airways First Class Lounge

I went straight to the first class lounge in terminal 5.  This lounge isn't quite as nice as the Cathay Pacific first class lounge in Hong Kong, but it's probably the runner up.

If you like to drink, this is the place to come.  There are hundreds of bottles of wines, spirits, beers, and mixers are four or five bars set up in the lounge.  There is even a dedicated champagne bar.

Wine, anyone?

Or perhaps some champagne?

There is also a nice buffet, but you can order your own dish from a menu for free.  There is a terrace that overlooks other parts of the airport and great views of all the tarmac activities.

Plenty of seating.

Indian curries, fresh breads, fancy salads.

My first mashed potatoes of the trip!

I plan to snack here to get a free dinner.  Back to Paris!

Day 30 - Last Day in London

I had my free breakfast again.  This time I have a picture.

Sausage, bacon, toast, eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, tomato.

For my last day, I was determined to see the British Museum.  However, my Australian roommate has eaten breakfast with me for three straight days and wanted to enjoy the sunny 70 degree weather in the park.  I had plenty of time for a single museum, so we walked together through the park for an hour or so.

Then we stumbled upon this thing,

That's Prince Albert.

Across from his memorial, the Prince Albert Hall is a giant dome and famous in its own right.  We walked from there to the nearest metro station where we said our goodbyes.  She went off to Buckingham Palace and I went into the metro.

Coming out of the metro, I found Chinatown.

Chinatown.

After going through Asia, Chinatown was a sort of sad Disney-like copy.  I didn't stay long and started walking to the museum.  When I arrived, I was hungry for some reason.  I walked to the nearest cafe and ordered a roast beef sandwich.  I was slightly concerned when he took two pieces of regular grocery store wheat bread and coated each with a thick spread of butter.  Then he added roast beef and what the British call a salad (lettuce, tomato, onion).  I ate it, but the butter was a little strange.

Buttered beef.

Then it was time to go inside.  I was greeted with this scene.

What's with the horse?

I moved onto the exhibits and found a pretty famous rock.

The Rosetta Stone!

It turns out that London has some of the best artifacts from all over the world.  Some of the displays even mention that the original countries want their stuff back, but that everything is too fragile to move.  Here are some things I found.

Easter Island statue.

A room full of Egyptian statues.

Room with thousands of books from the Enlightenment Period.

Even better, the museum is free.  I can't argue with that.  Afterwards, it was time to head back to get my bags from the hostel and head to Heathrow.  It took a while since there were subway delays, but I had planned 4 hours just to be safe.

I picked up my bags and walked across the street to Paddington Station to board the Heathrow Express.  15 minutes later I was at the airport.  Using the first class check-in and Fast Track security lane, I was through in ten minutes.

Day 29 - More London

I ended up falling asleep at 10pm last night after a long day of walking, so nothing new from last night.

I started the day with breakfast downstairs again.  I will take a picture of it tomorrow and explain.  The "Full English" breakfast is not something we would typically eat back home.  Mushrooms and baked beans don't usually qualify as morning delicacies.

I headed off to Harrod's, the famous department store.  This place is a really cool store that sells handbags that cost more than my car.  A single chocolate truffle from the display was $5 USD.  Here is the ice cream menu.

I hope there are real gold flakes on top.

Here are some pictures from the rest of the store.

Egyptian escalators.

Fancy elevators.

Giant bears.

After window shopping (and going to one of the world's nicest bathrooms where a man sprayed me with five different colognes) I headed to my next destination.

Hard to get St. Paul's in one picture.

Quick picture inside.

I couldn't afford to get in, but since the ticket counter is inside the building, I was able to get an idea of what it looked like.  I hadn't passed the no picture sign, so hopefully it was okay to sneak a quick one.

Then it was lunch time, so I headed across the street to the first restaurant I saw.

Conveyer food!

A few plates I snatched.

Yum.  On the downside, it was certainly the most expensive meal of my trip.  More than $30 for lunch.  That's more than I spent on food for a week in Thailand and Malaysia.

After lunch it was off to find London Bridge.

It turns out, it's not falling down.

See the bridge in the back with the rings?  That's not it.  That's the Tower Bridge.  London Bridge is actually pretty ugly.

The original one is in Arizona now.

London Bridge wasn't nearly as cool as London Tower.

Nice castle they have here.

I think I will go inside.

On second thought, the outside looks nice enough.

Admission prices in London are just outrageous.  If I spent $30+ USD for every single building, I'd hit my daily ATM limit and have no money for food.

I went to Brick Lane, which is famous for its curry houses.  I ate at the Brick Lane Curry House in NYC, so I wanted to find the street.  It turns out, it's sort of a run-down area.  In fact, vandalism is a problem.  At the public toilets, they have to stop it somehow.

Cameras are the solution.

Yes, that camera is pointed inside the stall to ensure you don't vandalize the toilet or write on the walls.  After the creepy bathroom experience, I headed back to the hostel to rest my feet.