... though I have already known right from the start.
It’s funny that I actually came out with a list of things I would miss when I was off to traveling for months. Now that I’m back, it would be fun to review the list and confirm or dismiss my very own verdict.
The comfort of bed!
Oh, where do I even start. Truth is, I didn’t spend too much time sleeping in the tent; but I have slept in way too many beds (though some I wouldn’t even consider as bed). Sleeping in the tent aka camping wasn’t as bad as you might think, it’s actually pretty comfortable. My cheap ass foam mat was surprisingly comfy and cozy, though I wish it was bigger in width. I have had wonderful sleeps in that tiny little orangey prism… you can almost be rest-assured that it’s 100% insect proof! And STORM-PROOF (tested & certified by yours truly!) You just gotta double (or triple-check) to make sure those little bastards aren’t hiding at the corners, ready to attack once you’re fast asleep. Camping means dozing off to the natural sounds (soothing wave or insect sounds), in a pitch-dark surrounding, underneath the moon and stars. We have taken shelter in countless dodgy guesthouses or motels that were way too noisy, dirty and creepy… that actually makes sleeping in the tent a better idea at times (and it’s free!)
Yoga
I did some simple stretching before and after getting on/off the bike at the beginning of the trip…until I totally dismissed the idea of practising any later on. Some poses did come in handy when I suffered aches all over my body. Having spent hours on the bicycle for a longer period of time, my flexibility was compromised. Pardon my language, but my hamstrings were fucked, and I was stiff as hell. I had cramps in the middle of my sleep, and my quads were becoming, very strong LOL Fortunately I was able to take some yoga classes to give my poor body a much-needed massage while I was in Chiang Mai; one of the best feelings ever!
Hours of Youtube session
I’m a hardcore YT fanatic. Thank god the wiFi service in those countries was pretty damn good, I got my YT prescription just fine. heh.
The Internet
I got myself a Thai simcard, paid for a month but managed to somehow use it for 2 months though the internet speed slowed down after the 1st month…not complaining as I did not pay for the 2nd month. Dtac is recommended in Thailand by the way. We relied solely on free wiFi in Cambodia & Vietnam, and you would be pleasantly surprised by the strong wiFi signal in these countries, especially Cambodia; much faster and more reliable than what we have here back home. As for Taiwan, needless to say, it was smooth as expected.
A kitchen
Perhaps this is one of the ‘things’ I missed the most. As we spent most of our time in some unknown places, we had to eat out a lot, or cooked using the camping stove. That said, the food option and variety were incredibly limited. We had peanut butter on white bread on many occasions, and way too much Pad Thais & Khao Pads.I was just thrilled to be able to have scrambled eggs and toasts in cafes when we were in the city.
Fresh & Clean Clothes
Another frequently asked questions, ‘how did you do your laundry?’ GREAT QUESTION. I was fretting about that part as well hence I brought along a bunch of clothes so that I didn’t have to constantly worry about not having clean and fresh ones. But yeah, I’ve also gone thru a week without doing laundry, wearing the same pair of pants for 3 days… Of course I changed my inner wear everyday in case you were wondering. Anyhow, we usually did our laundry every day or every alternate day in the evening after shower if we had access to clean water. We would then air dry them on our bikes. FUN FACT: Bicycle actually makes a really good clothes hanger! If they were not completely dry the next day, we would tie them on top of our bags while we cycled under the scorching sun. Very creative, kan? Or, we sent them to laundry shop during our city stops.
P/S: Most of our stuff are of quick-dry material, so it didn’t take long for them to dry. Also, we used to stay by/ on the beach a lot in Thailand, with the constant sea breeze, our laundry would be ready in no time.
Shopping malls
Coming from a country with a gazillion of shopping malls, I thought I would miss one of my favourite activities back home. After cycling thru villages and towns for some time, I was pumped to visit one whenever we were in the city… for the comfort of air-conditioning, clean and modern ambience, AHHHhhhh civilisation! Jonas on the other hand hates it a lot. On an unbelievable scale. I felt bad and guilty to visit one in his presence; it was as if I was being caught hiding my unfinished homework by teacher. While traveling and being together almost 24/7 for 3 months+, you got influenced (or rather brainwashed) by each other, my despise (or rather, fear) towards shopping malls grew. They no longer excite me; I actually felt very overwhelmed and anxious when we reached Hua Hin, our first city stop in Thailand. I remember feeling uneasy in this touristy, metropolitan city and wanted to leave as soon as we were done running errands.
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