Category Archives: Travel
Starting 2010 the Right Way
So I started my New Year right, I think. A New Year with a new country and new cultural experiences. Of course I have been here since March, but the reality of it all finally set in. Last post was dedicated more so to all of us just sitting down and thinking about the course of events of 2009 and what’s to come in the next year. This post will be more about those oh so fathomed experiences we get to have when living abroad.
The end of 2009, to be entirely honest, was nothing like I expected. The obvious differences in culture weren’t so boldfaced anymore. When everything is written or placed into words the perception of meaning can be twisted based upon the experiences that an individual has. Call it “Experiential Referencing.” To be frank, I knew the differences between Japan and the US but didn’t fully realize them till January 1st hit.
In the US, it’s common for families to get together for Christmas and have a huge dinner. Then come New Year’s Eve and many of us get together with friends to drink, be merry, and revel in that New Year. Here in the better part of Asia, these customs are quite contrary to our practice. Christmas is more of a hallmark holiday for Japanese people. Originally, I had the understanding it was a time for friends to have dinner or parties. It turns out that it’s more of a couple thing and friends are generally excluded. For those who are single, it could be a bit “kanashii,” or sad, if all your friends are coupled. The New Year on the other hand is often rung in by the immediate family who will eat dinner and numerous traditional foods. For example, zouni which is soup with mochi (a form of balled rice) or kuromame which is sweet soy beans. Sometimes during that first week of the year, the extended family will get together to enjoy the fact that another year is yet to come with hopes for good fortune.
Indeed things were distinctly different from my sheltered life back home. Regardless, I did my best to join in the Japanese traditions. During New Year’s Eve I visited three shrines in Fukuoka and prayed for good fortune as well as health in the coming year. For Japanese this is a fun tradition and each region has different ways to bring about that New Year, such as having a small race where the winner is honored with rice, sake and possible prosperous good luck in the year to come!
We also do such traditional things such as haunted hayrides during Halloween or going to church on Christmas Eve. Although the traditions for our various holidays between the two countries may vary, the idea remains the same. It’s all about celebrating what we as people hold important to us.
Le Thailande: En Francais!
Malheureusement, mon français n’est pas le meilleur. Je ne peux pas faire les petites blagues et tous ca comme en Anglais. Mais, ca ne rien!
Souvent, je parle du Japon mais aujourd’hui est un peu différent. Récemment je suis allé à la Thaïlande et je suis visite a Bangkok et un petit île qui s’appelle Phuket. Les fondamentaux: La nourriture est pique, les monuments sont superbe, les vendeurs sont agressif, et les femmes sont super gentille. Alors, la Thaïlande est vraiment une grande fête. Il y a trop de choses à faire la.
La Thaïlande est super awesome à visiter. Il y a un grand assortiment de fruits, de la nourriture, et des choses à faire. Vous pouvez trouver des noix de coco sur le coin, du durian au café et de la mangue aux étals. Je vais vous suggérer que si tu voudrais gouter du curry, attends! Vous pouvez l’essayer la dernière journée que vous êtes la. La raison est parce-que vous n’allez pas capable de gouter les autres flaveurs de la Thaïlande si vous avez déjà mange du curry. En total, j’étais complètement content grâce à la nourriture en Thaïlande.
Alors, il est sur que la nourriture m’aime bien mais je dois changer le sujet un petit peu. Dans les rues de Bangkok, il existe pleins des marchands ambulants. Ils vendent tous les affaires que vous pouvez imaginer. Mais oui, tous les produits sont faire en Thaïlande. Il est probable que les produits étaient mauvais mais pour cinq dollars ou moins c’est pas mal.
Un truc très important pour les touristes. Vous devez apprendre les astuces du marchand ! Vous pouvez demander un autre prix par marchander. Si vous ne demanderiez pas, c’est un grand dommage. Souvenir, à Thaïlande vous pouvez marchander sans problèmes. Il est une partie de la culture. N’inquiet pas !
Oui, je sais qu’il y a des erreurs mais je vais essayer d’ecrire plus pour vous quand meme mes amis!
Welcome to Thailand: Phuket Edition
Now for Phuket, I figure this is the best time as any to bring up Thai women. Thailand is a huge destination for men being that you can easily find a companion to travel with you. Of course, you have to pay (the employer for their missed time at work and the food they happen to eat while in your company), but I hear they can be great tour guides as well. Regardless, Phuket (more in particular Patong Beach) is a giant party, a small New Orleans. A great place to check out a Go-Go bar or just relax on the beach. There are also the infamous Tuk-Tuks (with four wheels) and plenty more shopping to do. The big attraction at Phuket is the bars. Most of them have hostesses and dancing girls to get the crowd. I also found a few men dressed in drag and really getting into the dancing stages. So more or less, no matter your interests, when in Phuket, you can find it.
I took it easy after all the craziness in Bangkok. I drank a little, checked out the hotspots and spent a lot of time on the beach day and night. Phuket was awesome, but there’s no real culture to see. Like I mentioned, it’s a great destination for drinking and having a blast. So if you are looking for a great party after some traveling, Phuket should be the next stop.
Lastly, don’t forget to get that fish massage, it’s a “Must Try.”
Welcome to Thailand: Part 2
Next are the sites! The architecture is amazing. Honestly, I have never seen buildings that can even match (yet) the ones in Thailand. They shine brightly in the sunlight and have all sorts of intricate designs and artwork. It was all very eyecatching.
When in Bangkok, the must sees are Wat Pho, and the Royal Palace (see the previous part 1. The first and last images are the royal palace, the second photo is wat pho). Just don’t misjudge the actual size of the Royal Palace, the grounds are HUGE. It took about half the day to explore. There is also the giant reclining Buddha (no photos because it was sooo dark…)!
While paroosing the streets, there was this super friendly bike rental guy (who coincidentally had no more bikes to rent) that was very adamant about visiting the “Lucky Buddha” as well the Chinese Market. I didn’t get the chance to swing by either, but I am sure they are great places to visit.
Getting around can be pretty easy. The bus network is quite extensive but traffic is always pretty tight and the pollution is pretty bad, so take care! Usually on the buses they have a lady with a box who will collect your fare. Bicycles aren’t a bad idea, if you can actually find one before they are all gone, just be careful because the roads and side walks are always super packed. Of course, I can’t forget the ever-popular three wheeled terror truck. “Tuk-Tuk?” No I don’t want to ride your “Tuk-Tuk.” Tuk-Tuks are EVERYWHERE. These guys are like your super taxi drivers of Thailand. Think of the movie Taxi, and these guys are the spitting image of the crazy Marseillan driver. Usually they have seats in the truck bay, but there is the occassional seatless joyride. Most tourists take them, but I enjoyed the walking. I’d say, at least ride once for the experience.
Welcome to Thailand: Part 1
So usually I talk about Japan, but today we will take a bit of a detour. Recently I went to Thailand and got the opportunity to see Bangkok and an island known as Phuket (pronounced pu-ket). The basics: Food is spicy, sites are astounding, the sales vendors pushy, and the women super friendly.
Thailand is a super awesome place to visit with an assortment of fresh fruits, foods, and activities. You can get coconuts on the corner, durian at a cafe, and mango from the outdoor markets. Be careful of the curry, if you try it, save it for the last day of your travels there. Otherwise you may not have a mouth for the remainder of your trip. To say the least I was quite happy, seeing that food and I are super best friends. There’s plenty to try and it is quite easy to find something you are comfortable with. If you are more daring, there is a surplus to try depending on the region you visit.
Outside of the food there were hundreds if not thousands of outdoor vendors selling various products,… all made in Thailand of course. More than likely the products were the defective ones that didn’t pass the inspection, but who cares when you can get most of the things for under five dollars. This brings up another important thing, haggling is a must! They always price it higher, for that unsuspecting tourist. You can surely get them to a price you find more reasonable. Shopping the market is also a good idea because it helps you get a feel for how low you really can go! Not all the vendors try for the same price so asking “How much?” can be a great guide for when you go to buy later. Remember, always start asking lower than the price you really want. Between the haggling and the exchange rate, it’s easy to buy more than your suitcase can handle.
