Random Thoughts from Asia
Phuket:
- There are bugs ALL over Phuket. Don’t be surprised if you find a dead spider in your rice, fearless flies on your food during dinner, and ants and lizards crawling up the wall behind you.
- Sales girls at the malls are extremely rude and just sit around talking, but employees everywhere else are super nice ,and definitely knows the meaning of hospitality.
- Most places don’t believe in AC.
- But the beaches definitely felt like heaven on earth.
- Thailand makes you want elephant and monkeys so bad, it’s not even funny.
Phuket
Beijing:
- Beijing food was such a huge disappointment; it was okay but definitely not my favorite. I also had the worst PEKING duck I’ve ever had there. Ironic.
- I felt like I was covered in 10 layers of dirt every day from the smog and heat.
- But the heat was bearable because it was dry and cool in the shade (unlike Hong Kong’s humidity).
- I took a deep breath by accident and my throat was scratchy and irritated the rest of the day. Air pollution is no fun!!
- It was weird that we were in a lot of touristy places (even the airport and a 5-star hotel) and employees barely knew English. It took so much effort just to explain “brown bread” to them.
- I was scared to drink anything because I didn’t want to use their public washrooms.
- If I have to pee in another hole in the ground again with the most pungent smell emitting from it, I’m going to scream! Some of them were so bad that I was willing to hold it in for an hour long bus ride… I give huge props to the cleaning ladies who sits in the washrooms all day. I am so prissy. But I really tried.
- On the other hand, the washrooms that do have 1 or 2 stalls with actual toilets are pretty clean since they are barely used (but still smelly).
- Despite all this, I had more fun in Beijing than I even did Phuket! I’m obsessed with Chinese history so I was in so much awe being in places that I only read about.
- I want to come back again with proper gear to conquer more of the Great Wall. Vancouver trails are nice and some still a good challenge, but the Great Wall really lives up to it’s name and is full of historical significance which makes it that much better (Grouse Grind, my ass). Just don’t wear a dress and sandals like I did.
- Going up the wall is so much easier than going down. Hella steep with uneven and worn-down steps + my weak knees = not a good combination. It took me double the time to go down, and I was secretly racing an old man but he beat me.
- I also want to come back to spend more time in the Summer Palace; so beautiful there.
- I already knew this but holy shit, Air China really sucks ass.
Great Wall of China
Hong Kong:
- Hong Kong = food heaven!! There are so many restaurants and bakeries here it’s not even funny— and they are always full.
- But then I don’t think I can survive here because there are way too many people. Not as many as China but still to many.
- The first week we were here, I dragged Boyfriend out and we literally shopped till we dropped every single day …well he just held my bags. It didn’t help that public benches are practically non-exist in HK so we always came home exhausted (and I consider never shopping again), get a really good sleep but then do it all over again the next day.
- He loved it when I went into shoe stores where he can sit and bask in air-conditioned glory— those were the only times he encouraged me to take my time and shop.
- I hate it when “dirty water” drips on me.
- I hate that I have to dress so conservatively while the weather is so hot and humid or else the locals will stare and make you feel like an idiot. I won’t care in Vancouver but I do here even though I’ll never see them again. The bitches in Vancouver need to take stare-down lessons from the old Chinese ladies here.
60+ DELICIOUS skewers (chicken, beef, gizzards, chicken hearts, lamb, squid) + 8 beers + 1 bottle of nasty but super strong alochol = less than $20CDN. The only catch is that it was from a probably really dirty food stall but then we didn`t get sick so who cares.. I want more!!
Misc:
- I will never take Vancouver weather for granted ever again!! *complains about the shitty weather when I get off the plane*
- I miss clean and smog free air.
- I hope Vancouver bans the use of air conditioners that sucks hot air back outside. It’d be so sad if Vancouver becomes so gross and humid like HK.
- I was standing in the aisle of a supermarket today feeling so bad for myself for living in North America because our [junk food] choices are so boring. Asia has all of it PLUS MORE.
- I like how breakfast at hotels here always serve congee.
- I’m so sad that we didn’t get to eat creepy crawlies in Phuket or Beijing but we have one more visa entry to China so hopefully we still can.
- You guys were right, I lost 5lbs from the heat and all the walking but I’m pretty sure I gained like 10% body fat.
I don’t know what’s worse. - We are getting so awesome. AT BARGAINING! But bargaining just for $0.30CAD is sooo ridiculous and tiring even though you do it anyway… because you’re in Asia and will feel like you’re getting ripped off if you don’t.
- I can’t wait to be in Korea for the World Cup. I know I can only hope, but obviously I’m routing for an Asian team and it doesn’t get any crazier than in Korea!
- The country never sleeps!
- I complain a lot but I still love Asia!! Complaining is more interesting than praising.
KATY:
jen (2)
atalante (1)
chanel (1)
Kathy (1)
magalaya (1)
Hee, sounds like an experience!
. . . and yes, those squat toilet or holes in the ground “toilet” sucks. I always try to hold it until I find a decent looking western toilet. But yeah ~_~;;
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Sounds like such an experience! The photo of water in Phuket is beautiful.
The peeing in a hole thing makes an out house sound like a dream. I’d hold it too.
“The bitches in Vancouver need to take stare-down lessons from the old Chinese ladies here.”
This made me laugh out loud. I notice this just from seeing a few old Chinese ladies around Vancouver. The western world is so shameless. I still haven’t decided whether this is a good or bad thing.
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
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MMMmmmmMMMM congee!!! SUPER jealous! Living in lame-ass Utah, you can’t really find any good congee here, if any at all!
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Funny, I totally didn’t like the food in Hong Kong. You should go to Taipei and try the food there, it’s amazing. You’re more of a Westerner than I, haha. I love Asia especially because things are different and you don’t always have everything like home, but one thing is sure: it’s a lot of fun
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
I’m Chinese (Cantonese) so I LOVEE HK food. What did you eat there? I do love Taiwanese food too though and wish I had time to visit Taiwan.
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My Kafkaesque Life
July 9th, 2010 |
People tell me I haven’t tried the best food in HK, maybe that’s right. I had “rice with Chinese sausage” (that was the official name of the dish) and it was a big bowl of plain rice with a sour sausage, that tasted awfully. And that cost 40HK$. I was shocked, cuz I came from Malaysia where I’d get a better dish for 5 times less money. And it was winter, so there weren’t many hawkers outside. I guess I was a bit unlucky… But I still think Taiwan has the best food and Malaysia is no 2.
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Katy
July 19th, 2010 |
Is that all you had in HK? That’s definitely not the best that we have… that’s a dish I’d usually make at home when I feel extremely lazy and unhealthy (because you know how bad BUT DELICIOUS Chinese sausage is for you). That’s not a very common dish either at restaurants. How long were you in HK for?
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awe you guys sound like you’re having the time of you life!! im jealous, but at the same time im glad im in vancouver right now and not in regina (apparently, theyre having terrible weather + tornado warnings). im a little sad i dont get to see you this time but im sure ill see you soon!! have fun on the rest of your trip!!
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
Ooh how was your trip to Van! I can’t believe you went when we left for Asia. =(
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More stories please! hehe
That photo of the Great Wall of China has a cute cat in it!!!
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Wow you went to alot of places! The first picture of Phuket looks amazing I just want to jump into the picture and start swimming. The color of the water is to dye for! Do you have any more photos of the cities you went to? I’d really like to see how a crowded street in hong kong looks like =) . Oh and I’m loving the current layout :blush:
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For a second I read “a dead spider in your ‘face’”, and was like “EWWWWWW”. But yeah, a dead spider in your rice isn’t that much better, so I don’t think I’ll be able to like Phuket
Omg, is that a kitten I spy in the Great Wall of China photo?
So cute!!
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Glad to hear that you’re having so much fun in Asia!!! =D
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Ahh, I’m jealous that you’re in Asia!!! When I last went I was really young and I HATED those toilets….I absolutely refused to pee in them. I bet my parents had a real fun time dealing with me there.
Is that a kitten in your picture of the Great Wall??
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
Yep it’s a kitty. Sooo adorable.
One of my more recent commenters said that you’ll get use to the toilets and is actually easier and more comfortable than “hovering” over toilets. Never thought of it like that before but it’s true.
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So jealous…
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This is making me so pumped for my year in China
Although really the heat of HK and grossness of public bathrooms doesn’t phase me, cause I’m used to it 
Not to say I enjoy it, I just… do my best to accept it.
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“I was standing in the aisle of a supermarket today feeling so bad for myself for living in North America because our [junk food] choices are so boring. Asia has all of it PLUS MORE”
Except they are still 10 times skinnier there than here cuz they walk so much!!!
Gosh I wish I was in Asia….I wanna shop till i drop for dirt cheap! Bargaining is so fun in China!!
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Sounds like you’re having so much fun! I’m jealous! The last time I was in HK was when I was 5 and that’s about it! Eat more chicken hearts for me. I heart them. And show me pictures!!! I want to see more!
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
Last time I went I was 5 too but that doesn’t count. You must go again to shop .. and eat!!
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Is that a KITTY on the Great Wall? So freaking adorable! Love hearing about your travels, the good and the bad … if I ever get to my long-fantasized trip around Asia, I’m keeping all of these in mind. Hope you have an awesome time in Korea!!
Oh, and I agree about our lack of junk food choices … and the sadness that Japan has such cuter/more appealing packaging. I like packaging.
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Hi. Want to exchange links?
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Hong Kong is too crowded with people from Mainland nowadays! and yes, you shouldn’t go there in summer. Once, I went there one summer when a heat wave hit HK and I remember feeling angry everywhere I went. I refused to go to any store/restaurant without ac on because heat wave in HK = HELL.
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
I would’ve never went in the summer but it was the only time my friends could go.
I don’t regret it though; it was fun and the heat wasn’t too bad but the humidity is so disgusting!
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When driving trough France 7 years ago they had hole in the ground toilets as well! I was shocked! I never went to any of them
I’ve always wanted to visit Thailand but I don’t think I would handle the bugs and the heat very well
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
The heats not too bad because there’s a cool breeze and somewhat cooler under the shade (unlike Hong Kong where it’s just hot and humid everywhere).
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I am so jealous! When I go traveling next, I’m just bringing a ton of Imodium with me and eating as much dirty street food as I can eat
That’s usually the most delicious stuff anyway.
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
Yeah get all your shots and some travelers’ diarrhea pills too for insurance. =P
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What is that furrrry thing on the Great Wall!!?!?!? omgads.
Buy me a new Blackberry, thanks, bye.
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
It’s a kitty!
No buy your own.
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i know what you mean !
i hate indonesia but i love indonesia at the same time
hong kong is definitely one of my places to go in asia
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Oooh Phuket looks beautiful! Although the idea of all the bugs and stuff definitely puts me off a bit. Well, if I’m honest, a LOT…
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I love Hongkong and Phuket. Where do you stay? Phuket is definitely gorgeous but the whole bug thing is so tropic.
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Super jealous you got to go and it seems like a very interesting and cultural experience…not to mention the insanely awesome food.
However, I know there is no place like home…I know Canada and the US are pretty much better places to live in terms of quality of life (water, sanitary bathrooms, etc.)
I am trying to save up for a solo trip to Japan. I figured with the country being so safe, a single 24 year old girl can go alone.
Please post more pictures!
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
North America is definitely better in terms of quality of life and especially education but Asia would be a fun place to live or work in for a couple of years before you actually settle down.
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Lovely post n’ always be that. . .
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niceeee. man, the bakeries in hk will see me everyday if i go there then. i’ve never been to hk. and im chinese. weirdness. haha
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
This is my first time in HK too and I’m Chinese. I went when I was 5 but that doesn’t count because I was too young to care about shopping.
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Great recap of your trip Hun. Love your interesting facts!
OMG why did someone put a kitty on the great wall of China!? The poor baby could have fallen down and gotten really hurt no?
You know what? My sisters landed in Beijing airport on a layover and they said the people there who work in the airport are sooooo rude. Like ridiculously rude and lots of people on their plane inc my sisters didn’t know where to go to catch their next flight so they had to ask for directions. My sis were so pissed they both said they’re turned off at the idea of going to China. Sad. And I can only imagine the toilets there – no thanks LOL
Ugh I hate bugs. I wouldn’t be able to do anything comfortably there in Phuket if there were so many bugs. I wouldn’t even be able to sleep properly and that would be enough to leave me cranky. But the beaches look amazing! Maybe I’d just stay on a beach side resort then?
Haha yes I know what you mean about bargaining – even though the amount is ridiculous since we blow money here, it does feel like you’ve been ripped off if you haven’t tried huh?
Wow and my sisters told me the pollution in Bangkok was bad. The pollution in Beijing sounds terrible if you can’t even take a deep breath without some damage to your lungs. I wonder how those atheletes did it for the olympics there.
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
I have no idea why the kitty was on there but I think it was a pet of one of the workers who worked at one of the stalls selling snacks and drinks on the wall.
Our flight attendants on Air China was super rude and hardly smiled… HUGE contrast compared to all the other flights we took during the trip with Air Korea, Thai and Macau.
The bugs aren’t too bad because you get use to them. You don’t actually see too many if you’re at a hotel or something but you know it’s always there. I saw an ant on my bed one night but it might’ve been brought in from outside. *shudder*
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Wow it sounds like you guys had a nice time and were super busy while there. I’ve never been out of the country (except for the Bahamas) but I’d love to travel like you did. I also love the photo of the Great Wall! It’s breathtaking!
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
It was sooo much fun… you should totally go! It was a bit tiresome and stressful though, way more than even staying at home and working but the thought of being on vacation evens all that out.
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You walked the wall in sandals?!?! Your poor poor feet. However, that is quite a trip you had. I bet the pain and horrors was worth it.
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
Yeah I did! I didn’t bring runners on my trip thinking to buy it in HK but I bought a pair and they weren’t broken in so it was hurting my feet. Sandals would’ve been a better choice. It wasn’t too bad actually and was still able to run up but I was wearing a dress (forgot we were going to the wall that day) and it was pretty windy so that was quite annoying. :S
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Visiting China is always a lot of fun, but once you actually start living here, it isn’t all that great. And all that food you find actually amazing? You’ll grow tired of it and wish for cheese. Honest, lol. I wouldn’t mind being in Vancouver at the moment.
PS. You get used to the ground toilet. It actually gets to be more preferable than the sitting ones in public areas unless you’re in someplace expensive. Personally, I’d rather stand over something gross, then sit my ass on something that’s been sat on by who knows what.
Glad you liked your trip though~
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Katy
July 8th, 2010 |
You know I never thought of it like that but the thought of being so close to the ground where it smells even worse especially in China is so gross! I “hover” over the toilets anyway but I guess squatting would be less tiring. LOL.
I don’t think I can live in China but maybe in Hong Kong… but the humidity during summer is a huge issue.
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Wow, I learned a lot from your entry that’ll be useful for my upcoming trip to China. I’m going to HK too, does it mean that when I re-enter China, it counts as a second entry (for Visa purposes)?
I didn’t know you had to dress conservatively in HK. Is it just HK or mainland China as well?
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But then I don’t think I can survive here because there are way too many people.
You probably wouldn’t enjoy Tokyo so much then — HK feels like the country side compared to here.
I’d really love to go to mainland China.
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