Between the last post and this one, quite a lot has happened. Time for a recap as my memory as already become fuzzy. I don't want to forget some important times so let's do it as per usual, countdown style, from end of employment to my return to Sydney.
Week 6, Dec 13 - 19
Taipei
First week of unemployment and hence, freedom. Began research for 2-week trip to Vietnam, departing the following week. Also began packing up apartment, as will only have one week left after coming back from Vietnam before lease is up. It's turning out to be a bigger job than I had imagined.
Stress level: moderate
Week 5, Dec 20 - 27
Taipei/Hanoi/Sapa/Halong Bay
Packed for Vietnam right up to the last minute. Departed for Hanoi on Tuesday Dec 22. On the flight decided the best way to see Hanoi is through a local, so made friends with the Vietnamese guy sitting next to me. 26 year old Wun Hong has been in Taiwan for 3 years, working and sending money back to his family in Vietnam. It's his first time back visiting and I predicted that he'd cry when he sees them at the airport. He agreed. His family doesn't live in Hanoi but rather the outskirts but we nevertheless swapped numbers and planned to meet up whilst I'm there. Friend objective achieved.
Experience culture shock upon arrival in Hanoi. The Old Quarter where hostel and most tourist attractions reside is a maze of look-alike streets, crammed to the rafters with motorbike traffic. Sights and smells out of this world. Feeling overwhelmed as even something you'd think as simple as crossing the street is an immensely difficult activity - that's how crazy the traffic was. But at the same time can understand how intoxicating the entire mix can be, that is, the exoticism of Asian culture here. Thankfully meet like-minded travellers at the hostel which is in part why travel is so attractive and rewarding.
Two common trips outside of Hanoi is to trek Sapa in the mountains towards the north and take an overnight boat cruise in Halong Bay towards the east. I had pre-planned so that I would spend Christmas in Sapa. It was a great idea as Christmas was utterly non-existent there and I felt a world away. The best way to escape and de-tox from my previous existence in Taipei.
I recommend Sapa but not Halong Bay. Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps it was the company. I'm not sure, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Furthermore I come to conclusion that any visitor to Vietnam, Asian or not, will be ripped off at some point or another. It's just a matter of how much. So, simply know this and you will have a better experience of Vietnam.
Again, whilst in Sapa and Halong, met some great traveller friends.
Stress level: high
Week 4, Dec 28 - Jan 03
Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City/Taipei
As per my plan, flew to Ho Chi Minh City on Dec 30 to spend NYE there and catching up with a friend who was flying in from Bangkok, someone I hadn't seen for 6 years. But first thing I did in Ho Chi Minh? Get myself pampered with a half-day spa package to feel relaxed and beautiful for NYE. It was the perfect start to 2010.
Also made local friend number 2 in my taxi driver from the airport to the hotel. Tho is 22 years old, originally from Hanoi but has worked in Ho Chi Minh for 2 years. Each month he only gets 2 days off work and as a young man it's difficult as he wants to have a girlfriend and enjoy himself as anyone his age should. But he's wanting to save enough money to go to cooking school, which he will be able to next year. Good luck Tho, you're almost there.
Say fond farewell to Vietnam and my friend from Bangkok as we part ways at the airport on Jan 03.
Stress level: moderate
Week 3, Jan 04 - Jan 10
Taipei
Nothing to do except plan packing strategy and tying up boring loose ends ie. utilities, banks, phones. Catch up with ex-colleagues for lunch to farewell CG supervisor RK. A great guy who's going back to the US.
Stress level: low
Week 2, Jan 11 - Jan 17
Taipei/Taichung/Ali Shan
Last week at the Taipei apartment. It was sad to see it go. At the end of the week Mum and Dad comes to pick me up and we go back to Taichung. A little sad but mini trip to Ali Shan that weekend cheered me up immensely. Went with 1 ex-colleague from Standard and 2 ex-colleagues from Digimax. A very happy and fun trip where we got out of bed at 5am to climb a mountain to see the sun rise. Beautiful. Also walked through an amazing cedar tree forest, with trees up to 1000 years old. Just lovely.
Stress level: low
Week 1, Jan 18 - Jan 24
Taichung/Tainan/Kaohsiong/Taipei
Last few days in Taiwan. Mum and Dad takes me on a little holiday to Tainan and Kaohsiong. Most importantly for me though, it was a chance to see my granddad one last time before I leave. My 91 year old granddad. I love him to bits and berate myself for never having enough time to visit him. There is something I want to do for him and I really hope I manage this in time. Fingers crossed.
I never knew Tainan to be the historical hot spot that it is. A great town to visit. We stayed at the newest hotel in town and it was damn swank. Kaohsiong was host to the 2009 World Games so a visit to the main stadium was necessary. Many other sites were also worthy destinations. All in all, it was the best way to spend time with my parents and to see a bit more of Taiwan, to fall in love with both all over again.
Dec 23 was the last Saturday I would spend in Taiwan, so took a coach up to Taipei to catch up with my friends for the very last time for dinner and drinks. At the end of the night, M takes out marker and gets us to sign his T shirt. R's suggested that M also draw caricatures of us all to commemorate the night. He's an amazingly talented artist.
Stess level: moderate
Week 0, Jan 26
Taipei/Sydney
Packed to the very last minute. Again. We leave the house at 4:30am to get to the airport around 5:30am, for my 6:30am flight. As I wheeled my luggage into the airport I see a familiar face. It's M. I am shocked and in disbelief. Then R appears, followed by T and E. 4 of my favourite boys have come to give me a surprise send-off! To be there that early on a Tuesday morning showed me how great these guys were. Love them all to bits.
Saying goodbye to Mum and Dad was hard too. Dad is his usual cool self to keep emotions under check, but Mum as mums do got a bit teary and so did I.
I leave Taiwan with a heavy heart, arriving in Sydney feeling almost like a new immigrant. It's Jan 26, Australia Day. I've finally come home.
Stress level: high
Taipei
First week of unemployment and hence, freedom. Began research for 2-week trip to Vietnam, departing the following week. Also began packing up apartment, as will only have one week left after coming back from Vietnam before lease is up. It's turning out to be a bigger job than I had imagined.
Stress level: moderate
Week 5, Dec 20 - 27
Taipei/Hanoi/Sapa/Halong Bay
Packed for Vietnam right up to the last minute. Departed for Hanoi on Tuesday Dec 22. On the flight decided the best way to see Hanoi is through a local, so made friends with the Vietnamese guy sitting next to me. 26 year old Wun Hong has been in Taiwan for 3 years, working and sending money back to his family in Vietnam. It's his first time back visiting and I predicted that he'd cry when he sees them at the airport. He agreed. His family doesn't live in Hanoi but rather the outskirts but we nevertheless swapped numbers and planned to meet up whilst I'm there. Friend objective achieved.
Experience culture shock upon arrival in Hanoi. The Old Quarter where hostel and most tourist attractions reside is a maze of look-alike streets, crammed to the rafters with motorbike traffic. Sights and smells out of this world. Feeling overwhelmed as even something you'd think as simple as crossing the street is an immensely difficult activity - that's how crazy the traffic was. But at the same time can understand how intoxicating the entire mix can be, that is, the exoticism of Asian culture here. Thankfully meet like-minded travellers at the hostel which is in part why travel is so attractive and rewarding.
Two common trips outside of Hanoi is to trek Sapa in the mountains towards the north and take an overnight boat cruise in Halong Bay towards the east. I had pre-planned so that I would spend Christmas in Sapa. It was a great idea as Christmas was utterly non-existent there and I felt a world away. The best way to escape and de-tox from my previous existence in Taipei.
I recommend Sapa but not Halong Bay. Perhaps it was the weather, perhaps it was the company. I'm not sure, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Furthermore I come to conclusion that any visitor to Vietnam, Asian or not, will be ripped off at some point or another. It's just a matter of how much. So, simply know this and you will have a better experience of Vietnam.
Again, whilst in Sapa and Halong, met some great traveller friends.
Stress level: high
Week 4, Dec 28 - Jan 03
Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City/Taipei
As per my plan, flew to Ho Chi Minh City on Dec 30 to spend NYE there and catching up with a friend who was flying in from Bangkok, someone I hadn't seen for 6 years. But first thing I did in Ho Chi Minh? Get myself pampered with a half-day spa package to feel relaxed and beautiful for NYE. It was the perfect start to 2010.
Also made local friend number 2 in my taxi driver from the airport to the hotel. Tho is 22 years old, originally from Hanoi but has worked in Ho Chi Minh for 2 years. Each month he only gets 2 days off work and as a young man it's difficult as he wants to have a girlfriend and enjoy himself as anyone his age should. But he's wanting to save enough money to go to cooking school, which he will be able to next year. Good luck Tho, you're almost there.
Say fond farewell to Vietnam and my friend from Bangkok as we part ways at the airport on Jan 03.
Stress level: moderate
Week 3, Jan 04 - Jan 10
Taipei
Nothing to do except plan packing strategy and tying up boring loose ends ie. utilities, banks, phones. Catch up with ex-colleagues for lunch to farewell CG supervisor RK. A great guy who's going back to the US.
Stress level: low
Week 2, Jan 11 - Jan 17
Taipei/Taichung/Ali Shan
Last week at the Taipei apartment. It was sad to see it go. At the end of the week Mum and Dad comes to pick me up and we go back to Taichung. A little sad but mini trip to Ali Shan that weekend cheered me up immensely. Went with 1 ex-colleague from Standard and 2 ex-colleagues from Digimax. A very happy and fun trip where we got out of bed at 5am to climb a mountain to see the sun rise. Beautiful. Also walked through an amazing cedar tree forest, with trees up to 1000 years old. Just lovely.
Stress level: low
Week 1, Jan 18 - Jan 24
Taichung/Tainan/Kaohsiong/Taipei
Last few days in Taiwan. Mum and Dad takes me on a little holiday to Tainan and Kaohsiong. Most importantly for me though, it was a chance to see my granddad one last time before I leave. My 91 year old granddad. I love him to bits and berate myself for never having enough time to visit him. There is something I want to do for him and I really hope I manage this in time. Fingers crossed.
I never knew Tainan to be the historical hot spot that it is. A great town to visit. We stayed at the newest hotel in town and it was damn swank. Kaohsiong was host to the 2009 World Games so a visit to the main stadium was necessary. Many other sites were also worthy destinations. All in all, it was the best way to spend time with my parents and to see a bit more of Taiwan, to fall in love with both all over again.
Dec 23 was the last Saturday I would spend in Taiwan, so took a coach up to Taipei to catch up with my friends for the very last time for dinner and drinks. At the end of the night, M takes out marker and gets us to sign his T shirt. R's suggested that M also draw caricatures of us all to commemorate the night. He's an amazingly talented artist.
Stess level: moderate
Week 0, Jan 26
Taipei/Sydney
Packed to the very last minute. Again. We leave the house at 4:30am to get to the airport around 5:30am, for my 6:30am flight. As I wheeled my luggage into the airport I see a familiar face. It's M. I am shocked and in disbelief. Then R appears, followed by T and E. 4 of my favourite boys have come to give me a surprise send-off! To be there that early on a Tuesday morning showed me how great these guys were. Love them all to bits.
Saying goodbye to Mum and Dad was hard too. Dad is his usual cool self to keep emotions under check, but Mum as mums do got a bit teary and so did I.
I leave Taiwan with a heavy heart, arriving in Sydney feeling almost like a new immigrant. It's Jan 26, Australia Day. I've finally come home.
Stress level: high
