First few steps into Singapore – 15th February 2012
5 Months in Asia – My Adventure
From Singapore Slingers to Peaking Duck, what an adventure Asia has been. Spending five months traveling our way overland from Singapore to Beijing.
Traveling Asia was fun, Hard and more rewarding than anything I’v ever done. It has taught me that you really don’t need much in life to be happy. Seeing the smiling faces of people who have less than what i have in my bag was such an experience that will stick with me forever!
We’ve eaten some good food and we’ve eaten some shit food. With every-one of the seven countries having its different foods that we loved and some that we just couldn’t understand how they could have ever thought to turn it into food?
All in all we never went hungry.
Dinner one night Duck and salad.
Noodle over bridge. In China
The people in Malaysia where so friendly (except KL) and the countryside was just so green and really easy to travel around. with the Cameron Highlands was one of my favorites and Penang been the food capital of Malaysia how could we not of loved it there. Laying in the tea plantations and walking around the terraced tea fields was like been in a post card.
From bottom to top, Thailand had it all. The good, the bad and the ugly – what a fun country.
Yes, it has nice beaches and yes, the food is good and the beer is cheap. Spending our time walking around all the temples in each different town really is nice.
After finishing the Rawi Mauy Thai camp I decided to tick off one of my 30 before 30 items and got a tattoo I had been wanting for so long. I was so pleased I got t done – I love it, a work of art I’ll have forever.
Thailand was the one country that we got ripped off in but I think if you go there and don’t get ripped off you are doing well. We loved Chaing Mai with it’s easy going attitude; we could have stayed there for quite some time.
Laos, Laos, Laos, a country with such a history of war; and yet having nothing to do with the war. It’s countryside and people scared from the bombs that were dropped in the Vietnam war and yet to date could possibly be the most lovely people iv ever meat.
After back tracking to Luang Prabang to spend the Laos New Year there it was by far the best move we could have made. We got to play with the kids for a week getting soaked as soon as you step out in the morning untill you retreat in the evening.
Doing The Loop was a highlight as well. I love riding motorbikes so much and it was an experience and a half – one i’ll never forget.
Having a few beers while Tubing Vang Vieng.
Laos New Year a week of pure water fighting fun. 13/04/12 – 15/04/12
Fighting to get up a hill doing The Loop
Cambodia is a place with history that i’d never ever know about. It’s such a full-on place. After going to the killing field and S21 all in the same day it really puts things into perspective of how real and raw this country is.
Visiting Angkor Wat and loving the city of Siem Reap was a true highlight. I also loved doing a trip in Battambang with a guy the same age as me; listing to what he went through was just unbelievable. Leaving the beautiful Oatres Beach till last was a bit of a treat after being land locked for two and a bit months – paradise.
Angkor Wat at sun rise
Standing at the top of the killing cave with our guide.
Oatres Beach, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Going into Vietnam I was expecting not to love it so much, but how I was wrong. Going to the Chi Chi tunnels and seeing how life was; was truly eye-opening. And letting off a few round of an AK47 was a little added bonus. Na Trang was cool with Vinpearl Island being a fun place to hang-out for the day.
The weather in Dalat being supper cool after 4 months of summer, a nice change that was well and truly needed.
I think Hue is the centre of happiness – the people we meet there were so nice; taking us into their home for dinner. Heading into the hills of Sapa was like being in that post-card again. Ending with a trip to Halong Bay for Kims Birthday was the best way to finish Vietnam.
Boat jumping Halong Bay.
Letting off a few roun
Going down
And into China we go….
Loving China at first then moving in to our first group tour, really changed things up. After the tour experience and wanting to be back on the independent travel road I now fully appreciate what Kim has done for our trip as she does just about everything to do with the planning side of things, I just turn up pay for things and look good on the way 
Climbing the Great Wall and Hugging a Panda was the best things iv ever done in my life (apart from marrying Kim).
The Great Wall, China
As for the food in China I loved it for the first week or so then after the oil got real old; every meal being full of oil. But I never ate any Chines food that looked anything like you get at home – actual Chinese food is very different. I like the real China food more than the rubbish we get at home!
All in all I LOVED my time in Asia and id never take it back for a minute. I never got asked if I wanted a happy ending at any of my massage’s but I still left a happy man. We never got bed bugs (touch wood we never do) and all in all our accommodation was pretty good. At no point in Asia did I (or we) feel unsafe. Travel in South East Asia was easier than I thought but it still had its challenges thats for sure. We experienced so many modes of transport on our Overland Travel Adventure – Tuk Tuks, the dreaded mini-van’s, snake invading Bamboo Railway, Broken down buses, slow boats, ferries, cable cars and motorbikes! The key thing is never to get to upset and angry when a mini van turns up when you think you have paid for a big bus, all you can do is roll with the punches.
Meeting the people of the country and getting to know their stories was just truly amazing!!
Broken down bus in Cambodia
Strong Throw in Laos with 16 people and a scooter
Well done Duane, great piece that will really help inject excitement and put the minds at ease of those wanting to do Asia! You guys are so lucky to have this time…… jeeeaaaalous! Xox