Oh My Buddha!

I am currently in Penang, Malaysia, a city that I didn't know too much about before arriving. Although the majority of Malaysians are Muslim, it turns out that Penang is home to a number of impressive Buddhist temples built according to the style of different Asian countries. At first I was a little hesitant about going to visit yet more temples (I saw so many in Cambodia!) but I was anything but disappointed...

Burmese Temple

Chinese Temple

View from Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist Temple in all of SE Asia

Lanterns at Kek Lok Si

30m tall bronze Buddha statue at Kek Lok Si

Thai Temple that housed a 33m long reclining Buddha

After Cambodia I thought I was all "templed out" but I was wrong. These temples were extremely impressive and best of all they were nothing alike, each one was different from the last. Sometimes you miss out by not researching a place ahead of time but I definitely lucked out here!

Dengue Fever

As most of you probably know I was quite ill over Christmas and New Years. As it turned out I had Dengue Fever, a pretty common illness here in Southeast Asia that you contract from mosquitoes. There were several cases of it in Koh Tao, which is where I did my diving courses. When I wasn't under water I was constantly being bitten so I wouldn't be surprised if that's where I picked it up. 

Although it's common Dengue is far from pleasant. I don't think I'd ever felt so sick in my whole life. I had a really high fever that kept coming and going over the course of about a week, accompanied by crippling aches and pains that made a simple task like walking seem impossible. The best part is that not only is there no vaccination against Dengue, there's also no treatment, so you just have to ride it out (although some people do have to be hospitalized if it gets really bad - I came pretty close but was fortunate enough to skip that part!) Luckily I was surrounded by a group of lovely people and had a comfy hostel couch to hang out on, which made the whole thing much more bearable.

The whole thing lasted about two weeks; I've actually just began to feel normal again within the last few days. As I said before getting sick while traveling is far from fun but it definitely makes you stronger and is a small price to pay in the long run.

Being sick put a damper on my time in Thailand (sitting around while people ran off to a different party every night got pretty old) but I'm in Malaysia now and am thoroughly enjoying all that this country has to offer. Posts and photos to come!

Top 9 Things To Do In Siem Reap

It's pretty safe to say I love the town of Siem Reap. After spending two months there it really began to feel like home to me. But whether you're staying for a few months or just a few days, the city has plenty of activities to keep you busy!

1. Explore Angkor Wat.
This one is a no-brainer; you should at least spend one day seeing the temples. A one, three and seven day pass cost $20, $40 and $60, respectively. Dress conservatively (cover your knees and shoulders) because there are certain parts of the temples you will not be permitted to visit if you don't. It's a good idea to bring water and snacks; you can get food and drinks around the temples but it will be more expensive. Don't forget to charge your camera battery!

2. See Tonle Sap Lake.
This is the largest lake in all of Southeast Asia and it has a lot to offer. You can go birdwatching to see some very rare breeds of birds, or take a trip to the Vietnamese floating villages. I personally didn't do any of these tours as I didn't hear amazing things about them (they've become very popular in the last few years and as a result you will likely be pressured into buying tacky souvenirs or giving money to a charity) but I really enjoyed just going to the lake to meander around the little town and see all of the houses that are built on stilts over the water.

3. Visit the Landmine Museum.
Located about 30km outside of Siem Reap, this museum is well worth a visit for anyone wanting to learn more about landmines and the impact they have on Cambodia. The museum was founded by a man named Aki Ra, director of the NGO Cambodian Self Help Demining and one of the leading de-miners in the country. Most of museum's proceeds go towards the orphanage that Aki Ra runs for about 50 children, many of whom have been impacted by landmines in one way or another. I was lucky enough to get the chance to meet Aki Ra and visit an active landmine field - click here to read about my experience.

4. Go roller skating at the Angkor Trade Center. 

At the top of the ATC mall there is a roller rink where, for $1.25, you can skate around to your heart's content. The rental skates were the smelliest and most uncomfortable I'd ever worn but I had such a good time. The best part was all the locals there; families, groups of friends, teenagers on dates... I really felt like I was getting a glimpse of a tourist free activity, a rarity in a town like Siem Reap. Don't forget socks. To see more of my photos click here.

5. Get a Fish Massage.
It would be impossible to visit Siem Reap without being asked if you want to try a fish massage. It gets annoying, and is a great motivation to learn "no thank you" in Khmer (otay awkun!) but having hungry fish nibble away at the dead skin on your feet is definitely worth trying. Plus it actually works! My feet had never felt so soft.

6. Go INSIDE the Old Market.
If you spend any time in Siem Reap you will undoubtedly pass the Old Market, located pretty much right in the middle of town. The perimeter of the market is lined with stall after stall selling the same tacky souvenirs. Once you're inside however, you'll find more local goods, produce and food - much more interesting!

7. Dance the night away at Angkor What.

If you're planning on going out at all in Siem Reap you should at least stop by Angkor What, a Pub Street institution. Buy any two buckets and you'll get a complimentary Angkor What t-shirt!

8. Go for a tuk-tuk ride in the countryside.

The town of Siem Reap is lovely but so is the countryside surrounding it. Hiring a tuk-tuk for a few hours to go exploring should cost you no more than $10 or $15 and you are guaranteed to see some stunning scenery and authentic villages.

9. Volunteer.
Obviously not everyone is able to do this, but Siem Reap is an amazing place to volunteer. That being said you do have to be careful about where you choose to volunteer, especially when it comes to orphanages (a topic I wrote about here). It's best if you are able to stay a few weeks or a month, but the longer the better! Consistency is key, especially if you are teaching as you are able to develop better relationships and build more trust with your students.

What $5/Night Will Get You On Koh Phangan

Compared to other places in Southeast Asia the Thai islands really aren't that cheap, especially around the holidays. Here on Koh Phangan, most budget accommodation starts at about 300 baht* and can double or even triple around Christmas and New Years. You can imagine my surprise when I found accommodation for a mere 150 baht/$5 US, which is pretty unheard of here. Although it's cheap I'm definitely getting what I'm paying for. This is what $5 gets you on Koh Phangan:

My own little bungalow

Shared bathrooms

Again, I'm getting what I'm paying for

A pretty decent common area!

It's nothing fancy but I really don't need fancy. It's cheap, clean, close to the beach - it does the job. Plus when I save money by staying somewhere inexpensive I can justify spending a little more on other things, like the occasional massage! It kinda feels like camping but I'm enjoying my little bungalow, and the price is definitely right.

* 30 baht = $1 US

Merry Christmas!

Being away from home at Christmas is a concept I'm pretty familiar with. I spent Christmas of 2009 in Italy, albeit with my family plus a hoard of Italian cousins I had never met. Last Christmas I was somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean working on a cruise ship and partying with people from all over the world that I'd met only a few days prior. This year I am in Thailand on the island of Koh Phangan where I had planned on celebrating Christmas by attending a Full Moon Party. Unfortunately, I have been sick as a dog the last couple of days (high fever, unbelievably painful aches all over my body, etc.) which left me stuck in bed last night (Christmas Eve) and will likely keep me there tonight (Christmas Day) as well. It's not exactly how I envisioned spending Christmas but as everyone knows, traveling (and life in general) rarely goes as planned.

I want to wish my family and friends around the world a very Merry Christmas from Thailand! I miss and love you all and will be thinking of you lots today.

Merry Christmas from the Thai islands!

Nothing At All

The last few weeks have kept me pretty busy. From researching and planning the next leg of my trip to wrapping things up in Cambodia followed by five straight days of diving in Koh Tao... I couldn’t remember the last time I just had a “chill” day which, no matter if you’re at home or on the road, everybody needs from time to time. Yesterday however, that day came.

We had all attended the Half Moon Party on Friday night which meant that nobody was in great shape come Saturday. The day was spent largely on the couch eating, going on the computer and watching “Love Actually”. The fact that nothing significant happened that day is exactly what made it so significant; it felt incredible to have a day with no plans, no agenda, no teaching and no lugging a heavy backpack around but just hanging out. On an actual couch. It was a good day.

Awesome.