Here I am, writing my last diary on this trip. I am actually doing this at the same place where I wrote my first diary (the armchair-place at MBK shoppingcenter).
Sitting here I can hardly believe it’s already gone 10 months. Then again I know that I experienced so much I must have been that long. 🙂
It started with 3 islands in Thailand in March, before going to Malaysia with it’s great city Kuala Lumpur, paradise island Perhentian Kecil, tea-plantages in Cameron Highlands.
I took a short trip to Singapore and then to wonderful Bali, Gili Trawangan (outside Lombock), Cambodia with it’s magnificent Angkor Wat, Vietnam (Hoi An was the high-light) and then 2 weeks relaxing in Chang Mai in Thailand.
After this we left for a new continent, the big Australia. 6 weeks of traveling on the east side with lots of animals and sights, which was amazing.
In the middle of September it was time for New Zealand, the highlight on this trip (I think A-M agrees with me :p).
We spent 2 fantastic months there with a camper-van as our home for 8 weeks. We saw so much beautiful and fantastic things, it’s hard to name just a few. We also saw and got too close to some animals. 🙂
I then left for Thailand again, leaving A-M behind (which was very sad…) and met up with my co-worker Tobbe S. We took a trip to Laos and saw fantastic buildings and temples.
After that I took my parents to Cambodia and Vietnam, showing them a bit of the backpacker-life and celebrating Xmas in Hanoi. 🙂
The last couple of weeks I’ve been in Khao Lak. This is the place where I was supposed to be this year, helping Bengan, a Swedish friend, to start up a Internet-cafe. He asked me in Oct 2004 if I would like to do that and I said yes. I applied for a free-year and then the tsunami came, destroying a lot in Khao Lak.
I was so set on going abroad that I changed my plans and just decided to go traveling instead. I am happy I did.
Khao Lak main-street was never hit by the tsunami, but the beach and about 500 meter up was and lots of resorts were totally wiped out.
Bang Nien, where Bengan and his wife Jan lived at the time, was destroyed 2 km up from the beach. There is a big patrol-boat stranded above the main-street in Bang Nien (at least 1,5 km up). The wave put it there…
I met people that lost relatives and friends in the tsunami and it’s hard to understand how they can cope with the sadness.
One Swedish couple said that they come to Khao Lak to feel closer to their two sons that they lost.
Being at the beach reminded me the whole time what happened there a year ago. I am happy I did go though, because the people there really need the business.
I had 2 relaxing weeks, spending time with Lisa&Cedric, Thobbe E (he came down Monday), Bengan & Jan and Laura, a German girl.
Yesterday I took the 10 hour bus to Bangkok, arriving at 4.30 this morning.
Today I’ve been shopping, going to VIP-movie (saw Narnia) and tomorrow some more shopping before leaving for the airport later in the evening.
At 00.50 (Saturday, 18.50 Swedish time) I get on the plane to go home and about 12 hours later I arrive. o/ <– me doing the wave
There are a few things that might happen when I get home:
I might bargain at ICA (the food-shop) and ask them "Is that your best price?"
I might put all my stuff in little plastic-bags and then put them neatly in my big backpack.
I might plant a few insects in my apartment just to get the right feeling.
I might shower with REALLY cold water and the use a sarong to get dry. *brrrr*
I might call for a tuk-tuk when needing a taxi.
I might think that a 10-hour bus-ride is nothing.
I might start a conversation with asking people "For how long have you been traveling?"
I might cut out a few unnecessary words from my sentences when talking, so that people will really understand what I'm saying.
Then again, this might not happen. 🙂
A BIG thanks goes out to you all that followed my trip and wrote comments in my diaries. It's really nice to know that You were reading them.
An even BIGGER thanks goes to my travel-friend and "little-sister" A-M. We traveled for 8 months together and still like each other a lot. :p
We shared many things and most of all, many laughs.
Well this is me saying "I'll be seeing you", in real life or online. 🙂
Big, big hugs to you all!
There is also new pictures at:
http://www.backpacking.se/PhotoAlbum.asp?TravelId=3785&SubMenu=2
🙂