20Something&TravelBugged

Wanderlust or bust.

[itoshelby-blog]

CHRONICLES OF BANGKOK.

JULY,2012.

HILTON MILLENIUM The Hilton Millenium was our choice of residence while in Bangkok. It is about an hour cab ride away from the airport and conveniently right on the river. If you are a Hilton’s honor member, you are treated like royalty. Not only do you get a free complimentary breakfast, you also get free light refreshments all day, a tea time, and a happy hour. So, when the street vendors little bags and plates of who-knows-what does not appeal to you, just head straight back to the Hilton, all the way up to the 35th floor,executive lounge and you are set. The executive lounge not only appeals to your stomach but also to your eyes. It has a 360 degree view of Bangkok complete with city and river. Besides being fed like malnutrished children, my other favorite part about the Hilton was the workout center. I am not the most active individual and usually get sidetracked on the treadmill or on any other machine, but this workout center had a private workout room. Day 1, we utilized this room for a dodgeball match with the oversized workout bars. The match was not complete without the added Asian war cry side effects every time a ball was caught or thrown. At the end of the game it had become apparent that we had underestimated the thickness of the walls and had a few curious bystanders watching in from above. Day 2, we realized there was a collection of workout tapes you could plug into the big screen TV to guide your workout. We chose the film titled “Aerobics.” Thai aerobics consisted of dance meets exercise. The video left us spinning around the vacant room with occasional kicks and steps up. Nonetheless, props to Hilton for not having to ever hire workout teachers, yet giving hotel guests the workout class experience.

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CHRONICLES OF BANGKOK.

JULY, 2012.

THE INFAMOUS SNAKE SHOW We were told to visit the snake show by a man we had met on our travels in Bali. To get to the snake show you hire a private boat, which again takes you through the canals. When you arrive at the grounds of the snake show it is quite a depressing property. It is full of small cages of animals completely irrelevant to snakes such as bears, deers, and bunnies. After you make the loop and pay to take a picture with one of the giant snakes, the hosts calls you in to see the show. The arena is a small circle with about 5 levels of seating and a small 3-5 ft tall plastic barrier between you and the deadly snakes. The first snake is a cobra, the most venomous snake in the world. The staff dances around and tempts the snake without a care in the world. To prove the snake is still fully equipped with venom, at the end, they take the snake and milk him, in which you watch venom juice out into a jar. The next snake is a jumping snake. When the staff release this snake from the bar it begins jumping and reaching heights almost the same as the barrier blocking it from reaching the crowd. As you begin jumping out of your seat, the announcer offers comical wisdom. The first advice being “if snake come towards you just close your eyes, then you don’t see snake.” The next and final snake, is a snake with a bite that you can only get in but not out. The staff dances and tempts this snake just like the cobra. In the end, they take a rubber band so that they can press the snakes bite through it to demonstrate how sharp the teeth are and how dangerous the bite is. The show finishes with allowing you to touch the cobra for “good luck” and then the staff approaches for tips.

[itoshelby-blog]

CHRONICLES OF BANGKOK.

JULY,2012.

THE VENICE OF THAILAND You can transport through most of Thailand via boats. One of the best boat rides you can pay for on this river sets off at any port near the Flower Market. Here, you can hire a private boat to take you through the canals. Along the ride, you see house after house, each caring loads of character.There is also lots of life beneath the murky water. Throughout the one hour ride we saw a huge fish gathering and a 10 foot long komodo dragon jumping in the water to take a dip. Another scam they have set up on the boat ride is between the tiny boat vendors that approach your boat while on your trip. These boats are run by little old ladies caring souvenirs and drinks. After the lady coaxes you into buying a beverage she’ll ask if you want to buy one for your driver, which when you look back and see the most adorable old Thai man, you do. The trick to this interaction is though, if your driver pulls aside to allow the lady to try sell you goods, she is entitled to give the driver a drink anyways. So, it is better to say “no thank you” and let your driver get a free drink anyways.  

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Chronicles of Bangkok.

July, 2012.

OVERVIEW Bangkok is somewhere you want to slip in then out, three days is more than enough time there. It is a city full of deceit and trickery with a hint of fun. They are a patriotic country with not only signs of the king EVERYWHERE but also eagerness to get you to fund government-run shops. Everyone here knows little English, so getting around can be a bit harder than planned. GOVERNMENT SCAM The green tuk tuks are the tuk tuks that work for the government. A tuk tuk is the Thailand form of a flimsey open-air taxi cab that looks like a toy car and  almost should not be road-worthy. You pay these tuk tuks 40 bott and they take you around for a little over an hour. The reason the price is so cheap though is because they take you to government run shops. Among this list includes a tailor shop, a jewelry shop, a buddhist temple, and a tourist information center. At every stop they explain with excitement that there is a “big promotion.. special.. special!” When the tuk tuk arrives at the location they are given some kind of payment when the tourists leave their vehicle. We caught onto this scam about the third stop in when we had arrived at the tourist information center. As we arrived at the kiosk to talk to the man about booking our travels, we had no idea what to talk to him about because we had our whole trip booked down to a T. This resulted in an obnoxious amount of giggling on our end as all we could get out was “we’re going to the full moon party.. we’re scared”, almost as if we were in a counseling session... which resulted in more giggles. All in all, the green tuk tuk ride was a bit entertaining but do not be fooled into thinking that they are your friend and you are receiving a good discount. And, once you sit down in one of these Tuk Tuks and want to opt out of a stop be prepared to have a huge language barrier that prevents any sort of action like this.

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CHRONICLES OF SINGAPORE.

JUNE,2012.

CLARKE QUAY Clarke Quay is a colorful little town located along the river. As you walk next to the water, there are little boats transporting happy customers and restaurant after restaurant serving every type of cuisine. The town is up beat with live music, elegant set-ups, diverse food offerings, well-dressed business men and beautiful views.

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CHRONICLES OF SINGAPORE.

JUNE, 2012.

BOTANIC GARDENS The botanic gardens are a free and beautiful display of nature. As we entered the gardens, it was acres of perfectly groomed trees, grass, waterways, and orchids. As if they were not already perfect enough, workers were working away to constantly improve the premise. Trees were becoming hybrids of other trees, archways were being shaped, and benches were being added so guests could just hangout. The highlight of the gardens was the orchid gardens. The orchid gardens cost extra to go into but when you were inside there was every orchid color and variation imaginable. You had purple and yellow Laker-colored orchids, pinks orchids, white orchids, you name it. My favorite part of the gardens was near the exit. On the way out of the gardens, there was a final achway with about 8-10 arches covered with vines and gorgeous blossoming yellow flowers.

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Chronicles of Singapore.

June, 2012.

At night we went to Zouk, one of the big night clubs in Singapore. Every Wednesday night Zouke has Mambo Jumbo night. Mambo night is where the Singaporian community comes together to dance pre-determined dance moves to American 80’s pop music. The main dance floor has a center stage and two side stages. The kings of mambo jambo, or the Asian men who looked like they practice their mambo moves every night in front of the mirror at home, get up on the stages and place themselves in a strategic order that almost looks like they are about to make a worldwide debut as a next up and coming boy band. The men range from about 17- 50 years old, but then again Asians always look younger than they are so they could actually be about 25-70. As the confident mambo-ers take center stage, the rest of the club surrounds them and everyone does their best to mimic their moves and mambo in unison. If mimic-ing is not your thing, there is a good chance you can predict their dance moves. Mambo is almost an interpretative dance style, similar to a Napoleon Dynamite dancing style where your aggressive hand movements lead the way.

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Chronicles of Singapore.

June,2012.

MISSION BAY SANDS Mission Bay Sands is an absolute beauty and must see! It is 65 floors high, has a rooftop infinity pool, a 360 degree view of all of Singapore and attaches to a huge shopping center complete with an ice skating rink, casino, canal, musuem, and the world’s craziest Louis Vuitton Store.  From the top of MBS you can get a glimpse of the almost completed solar paneled garden. Singapore is in the process of building an entire garden of huge solar paneled and engineered trees, a site beyond comprehension.

What Not To Do at MBS Singapore is a highly advanced and innovative city. At the Marina Bay Sands Shopping Centre there is a large cicular fountain that you can hear other people’s conversation anywhere along the circular prism. Vic and I broke off from the two guy friends we were with to stand on opposite sides of the fountain. Before we got to MBS we had taken a swim in the Hilton pool and were left deodorant-less to face the humid 90 degree Singaporian weather. Just as we had a second a way from our guy friends, I turned to her and said “I could really use some deodorant right now” completely neglecting that my words would carry directly to them on the other side and every other person surrounding the foutain.

15 MINUTE ETERNAL On display at the MBS museum was the Harry Potter exhibit and the Andy Warhol exhibit, we chose the latter of the two options. The entry fee to the musuem ran from about $15-20. The beginning of the musuem gave you pop-out paper Andy Warhol glasses and went straight into an art exhibit made by local artists from Southeast Asia. The pieces of artwork displayed here were submitted by local artists  in a contest to create art inspired by Andy Warhol that portrayed what they thought Andy would be creating today if he were still alive. The winning piece was a set up of chairs with monitors projecting faces on them. This piece was inspired by the Andy Warhol quote: “When I got my first televsion set, I stopped caring about having close relationships.” It played off of the idea that technology is interferring with daily family and friends relationships and routines. The rest of the submitted projects followed similar suit, all mostly using Andy’s classic silkscreen style.The remainder of the musuem had pictures and artifacts from Andy’s childhood/ life and over 500 origional pieces from Andy’s collection. The museum also had video clips playing and a room devoted to reconstructing what Andy’s factory looked like. Mixed in with his work were quotes which distinguised Andy’s unique character. It was incredible seeing the works of one of my all time favorite artists live and in an atmosphere I feel he would have appreciated. The museum did a great job of showing how Andy’s works were more than about the art but also about the simple meanings behind why he created what he created and how, in all, Andy was just a big kid who never really grew up. Andy thought and acted in such a simple and unique way and made beautiful work because of it.

[itoshelby-blog]

Chronicles of Singapore.

June, 2012.

LOCAL FOOD It is very common for all Singaporians to flock to the food courts for local Singaporean food. We were informed that it was all safe, cheap, and tasty upon arriving there. Our two guy friends, who have been working in Singapore the last year, chose the food items we were to share family style. Family style eating is very common in every restaurant in South East Asia- Hong Kong and Singapore alike. The food they brought back consisted of a rice dish, marinated chicken, green vegetables, oyster omlettes, and greasy bread similar to naan that they declared as “drunk food.” On the side of the entrees were an assortment of different chili peppers and sauces. Another thing Singaporians thrive off of is chili and curry flavorings, even McDonalds has condiments like ketchup labeled “chili sauce” and “curry sauce.” No food is too spicy for locals so you can never have too many extra condiments and it does not hurt to ask the chef to make it less spicy. The best part of the food courts was the fresh fruit stands. Singaporians love fresh fruit juice- they have juices for every fruit including dragon fruit and avocado. One of the most highly reccommended fruit juices is the watermelon juice. No matter what juice you chose though, they all taste almost exactly like you are biting into the freshest version of that very fruit.

DUREAN Durean is a cultural experience everyone should try. Durean is a fruit with no descriptive words to describe it and a smell that can be tracked down from blocks away, literally. It is unlike anything you will ever taste. In the 5 minutes we spent biting into it, between the four of us, we had described it as “sort of like mexican food maybe”, “like an onion”, and just a reoccurent “i just don’t know, what is this??” It is hard to tell what is more deceiving about the durean- the taste, the texture, or the afterburn. It has such a potent taste and lingering burning, we all joked about being on a durean trip and were not sure if we were really seeing lights or if it was the Durean. Whatever we experienced with the Durean though, to do Singapore right, its a must try.

[itoshelby-blog]

Singapore, June 2012

June  18- 21. We spent a total of three days and four nights in Singapore, the Las Vegas strip with split ends. As far as my documented impressions are concerned, here are my first and last, and a few other observations along the way. 

FIRST As we rode the bus and metro to our hotel, we gathered our first impressions of Singapore. Singapore looks like one big college campus- everything is crystal clean and well groomed. Singapore is the exact opposite from Hong Kong. Where Hong Kong is dirty and pushy, Singapore is spotless and well-tamed. Singapore is also one big melting pot. There are so many people from different descents in Singapore it is hard to decipher who the real Singaporeans are. Singapore is very strategic in how they utilize public space. In every metro stop it almost always shoots up and down into a giant mall and food court.

UTOPIAN WAYS AND PECULIARITIES It is said in Sinapore you will be fined for almost anything- eating/drinking in public, chewing gum in public, spitting, littering, you name it. If you smuggle drugs into Singapore, you will receive the death penalty. Because of these rumors, we began our trip on a cautious note, always being mindful of our actions. When we talked to our two guy friends about these laws they explained to us that no one really gets fined. They said that no one in Singapore has a point to break laws so they do not expect you to. So, while the law abidding citizens, spotless condition of the city, advanced architectual projects, and beautiful sites make Sinapore a utopia, the one thing that does not is the role of men in society here. The men here are described as being "stuck in the 50’s" where they have such control and dominance over women that they are able to openly cheat on their wives. Women give in to this way of life though. It is said if a man has lots of money here, he can get any women; and, for that matter, have multiple. Another pecularitiy of Singapore is that you have to pay about $30,000 for permission to drive and all cars can be no older than 10 years making the streets of Singapore are a constant car show.

LAST

Singapore is an incredible country. It is one huge melting pot that accommodates for so many different lifestyles. If you want to do Singapore cheap you can eat at local food courts and get by easy but if you want to live the rich and lush Singaporean lifestyle, head to the top of any large building. The huge skyscraper rooftops have elegant setups and extraordinary views where people are constantly dressed up business casual sharing conversations and drinks. Singapore never lets you down people-wise, there is an abundance of interesting people to meet. You can meet just about anyone there and they all have incredible amounts of wealth and fancy nonstop lifestyles. Whatever you come to know about Singapore though, you probably will not know for long. Singapore is constantly evolving and changing faster than you can ever keep up with. It is a country so innovative they find a way to create and perfect everything. The only problem with Singapore is the constant hot and humid weather but I have no doubt if I ever visit again they will have found some way to control the climate as well.

[itoshelby-blog]

Hong Kong Chronicles.

June, 2012.

BEST ADVICE: My best advice for traveling to a foreign place where “foreign” is not exactly a good thing would be to have a morning routine. Our morning routine consisted of carmel creme frappachinos and blueberry bagels with cream cheese at a small Americanized cafe. Whether I was excited to hit the hot and dirty streets of HK every day, I was always excited for a moment of peace at this little cafe. A good cup of coffee and a nice break off your feet can always make you feel a little bit closer to home.

[itoshelby-blog]

Hong Kong Chronicles.

June, 2012.

Three sites to appease the tourist's thirst for "must sees": Chi Lin Nunnery, Victoria Peak, and Peak Tram.

[itoshelby-blog]

Hong Kong Chronicles.

June, 2012.

HONG KONG SKYLINE LIGHT SHOW: At 8 o’clock every night,  the skyscrapers of Hong Kong come together to put on a 30 minute light show. Tourists and residents gather from different locations to view the symphony of lights. It is a remarkable rotation of different buildings lighting up in various ways and different lasers firing off from different roofs, complete with music to give the lights organization. The dirty Hong Kong we had come to know from up close and personal experiences became a dazzling masterpiece from afar. All the skyscrapers gleamed in the distance and even the pollution layer seemed to have faded off in its presence.

[itoshelby-blog]

Hong Kong Chronicles.

June, 2012.

HIDDEN GEM:

Ebeenezers Kebabs. “I was a vegetarian until tonight.”This was the conversation we were greeted with, as we made our first steps in. As reccomended to us, by all American study abroaders before us, Ebeenezers lived up to the hype. It is located in a prestige location near all the nightlife in Central Hong Kong and it is almost a reason to make it out at night. Whatever they do to these Kebabs, it is as if your taste buds are receiving a blessing from God. If you ever come across this gem of a place, eat a kebab or two or ten.

[itoshelby-blog]

Hong Kong Chronicles.

June, 2012.

DEFEATING THE STEREOTYPE: We have arrived in Hong Kong! In our valid attempts to blend in with the culture, we spend our first HKD’s on “I ♥ HK” shirts and Hello Kitty “hipster” glasses. Money well spent, to say the least. As we perused the streets of central Hong Kong in our new attire, the Chinese people were not sure whether to embrace us or turn the other way. Either way, they politefully covered their mouths when they felt a laugh coming on after gazing at our matching assemble too hard. Contrary to belief, the stereotypical Asians we have come to know visiting the US and in movies, are not too stereotypical. They are a chic and conservative culture, that are sometimes misguided in trends. As we all know that they were plagued by the croc, pokemon, and hello kitty trend in recent years.. what seems to be trendy in HK now is shirts with English writing. Chinese go crazy for these shirts, no matter what they say. The best example of this would be a girl, around 12-14 years old, who had a shirt that said “No boyfriend, no problem.”

[itoshelby-blog]

Hong Kong Chronicles.

June, 2012.

TIAN TAN BUDDAH: To get to the giant Buddah we had to take the cable cars at Ngong Ping, which resembled gondolas in Mammoth. The cable cars had an option of having a glass bottom, which we opted for. The glass bottom was unbelievable as you saw sights of greenery, water and city change frequently below you. The Buddah was located in a patch of greenery up a tall staircase. You could begin seeing Buddah in the distance from the cable cars. He was gorgeouos and immediately made you feel at peace. The most gorgeous angle of Buddah was from afar and the side. From this angle, he was one with his natural green surroundings and radiated tranquility. As, you began approaching Buddah from the front his tranquil expression changed to a more intimidating and dominant view.

[itoshelby-blog]

Hong Kong Chronicles.

June 16, 2012.

THE LADIE’S MARKET: Last night we learned the power of no as we turned down the generous drink offers in the night clubs, today we easily became “Yes Men.” Everything the ladies market had to offer was an easy trade off for our HKD’s. The market consisted of a few blocks of booths with exact replica Marc Jacobs and Jimmy Chu designer hand bags, Beats Headphones, i-pad and i-phone accessories, and other miscellaneous items for insanely cheap. I officially own just about everything Marc Jacobs makes- cosmetic bags, clutches, purses.. all under $30 USD. Just when we had made our 50th round up and down the street to purchase any more last regrets, we finally got an invite to the secret world of the ladies market. Here, they sell the “good stuff” hidden in secret rooms, up secret staircases by nervous Chinese men. “The good stuff” is their unmarked stache of Channel and Prada handbags made by leather replicators in the Phillipines and China. Everything down to the interior and tags of authenticity look authentic! The bags here range from $150-300 USD, depending on your bargaining skills. At the end of the day, we were satisfied and weary customers. My feet felt like they had finished a half marathon and the only thing pulling them back to the hotel was the thought of re-looking at all my  purchases. Overall though, what the market reiterated in my mind was how important brand names are to Americans. These purchases we had made were the exact same quality, material, and look as the high end brands at home but they sold for $30 max here and the sellers were still able to make a significant profit. Knowing how little these items can be made for, it  is unsettling how much we are willing to spend at home to sport a name.