Homecoming

This is it then, after 8 months of being abroad Im back in Finland now. During those 8 months I've been lucky to be able to discover secrets of Asia. First six months in China visiting in eleven different cities including Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet special regions and a top of that the amazing trip to North-Korea. Next two months I spent in South East Asia in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia seeing places from sandy beaches to skyscrapers or mysterious jungles. I've meet many people, some just have been occasionally encounters but also new good friendships bonds have been created. One thing that I realized is the importance of language but even if you don't speak, it doesnt really stop you from meeting people and discovering world.

Now Im back at home and for me it is time to get back to reality. By that I mean to start another semester, hopefully my last one as it is time to start writing my MA thesis and also start working for a six months internship in my university international office. Even that my international adventure is over, I can still keep up and be surrounded by international atmosphere and who knows where my life will take me after graduating.



Counting two years backwards, I have spent less than half year in Finland and rest of the time abroad. I made a decision that it is really time to stop for a moment so I will stay in Finland at least until next summer is over for three main reasons: First, to be able to complete my internship and degree, secondly to enjoy things that I have in here and thirdly to invite people I've met during past two years to come to visit in Finland.

Thank you and goodbye, hopefully I will see you soon!

Macao - Looking for Millions

When leaving from Bali, I knew that Im having tiring travel day ahead. My flight destination was Hong Kong, because I wanted to visit Macao as I didn't have time for that when I was in Hong Kong earlier spring. To get to Hong Kong, I needed to transfer flight in Kuala Lumpur which in reality meant around 6 hours waiting airport overnight. Well, I found a cozy corner and “slept” on the floor few hours until I got hungry. It was time for my classical airport breakfast (whenever its available): McMuffin and a coffee. When I reached Hong Kong, I was so tired that I only had a starferry ride over the river as its so classic things to do and then I just had a good rest.

Next morning I headed up to the ferry terminal to catch a ferry to Macao, so many people and mostly Chinese were rushing to ferries. Going to Macao, of course I wanted to see it, but I was joking that main reason is that I wanted to win back my travel budget. I had a image in my mind that Macao is shiny Las Vegas of East and home of the rich, but it wasn't exactly the whole truth. First I just walked around and noticed that it really had a lot of Portuguese influence on its architechture, and even street names were written still in Portuguese, but then there were Chinese character, and of course people,  everywhere which made it confusing.

Main touristic ares of Macao are packed with shops selling jewellery, watches and brand clothes, all in very European style and as I said, without Chinese characters I could imagined that I was in Lisbon for example - but this is the part where the money talks... When I climbed up to a fortress hill where was nice views over Macao, I was surprised: Lots of old looking apartnment buildings that seemed to be in quite bad condition, definately far away from five star luxury.

Then the highlight of my Macao visit, the Grand Lisboa Casino. Several floors full of slots machines and gaming tables, hundreds of people spending probably fortunes there and few lucky ones walking out being the lucky one. I compromised with myself that I stay away from gamling tables and focus on different slots machines. After trying several options, I found my favourite: “Tree of Fortune” ...

This time luck was shining on me as I cashed out about 2000 HKD (~200e) after playing 300 HKD, I just wished that they would be i.e. US dollars instead as that really didn't cover my travel budget but provided me a free stopover in Macao and smile on my face when I walked out from Casino as a winner.

Bali - The Island Of Dreams

Many of my friends have visited in Bali and fell in love with that place and now I know why it is so. My travel route also took me to Bali, the furthest destination from home and also kind of a turning point because after spending one week in Bali my travelling direction turns back North towards Finland.

But my story about Bali experience. First of all I was flying to Bali from Singapore with KLM, and it was interesting to notice difference in passssenger profile. Before this in all flights Asians have been strong majority but in this flight there barely few Asians so completely opposite than previous flight experiences. When I arrived to Bali, Gede was meeting me at airport - a local taxi driver whom contacts I got from my dad. First night I just stayed in one hotel close to airport but for next five nights I found a lovely villa with own pool, perfect for relaxing: Breakfast delivered into the room and while waiting could just dip into the pool or lie down at patio. But that wasn't all for me, its because I was having a “visitor“ from Beijing: Baiba manage get some holiday from work so she travelled also to Bali. Having Gede, who is extremely friendly person like Balinese in general seems to be, driving us around and Baiba as travelling company are two things which definately made the Bali experience even better!

First day was used only for relaxing, Baiba getting a tan and me turning to a tomato again, not as badly as in Tioman though so possibly I have learned something how enjoy the sun. Even that relaxing at villa was a pleasurable way to enjoy holiday, we wanted to see some sights also in other parts of Balil. We did one day trip with Gede to the Ubud and its surroundings. First stop was a Monkey Forest, a forest full of monkeys as you can imagine, but (luckily) these were friendly and curious monkeys especially when they noticed bananas in tourists hands. It was beautiful area overall with green jungle and old temples, but it was important to look after own belongings not because of pickpockets but because of monkeys. We managed safe but I saw few unlucky ones who lost their sunglasses.

Can you imagine enjoying a lunch outdoors sitting on the cliffs watching a view over trees seeing a volcano and a lake on the backround. I couldnt, but after bali trip I can. In that same area there were also coffee plantations so now I've seen both, coffee and tea plantations during my SE-Asia trip. The coffee place we stopped wasn't just a normal Bali coffee, they had also luwak coffee.

Name comes from an animal (luwak) because it eats coffeee beans choosing best ones but they go through its digestive system and when coffee comes out, they have achieved a strong tasty flavour during a process so they are ready to be washed and roasted. As a result a strong flavoured coffee is produced which is considered a world high class premium coffee. After tasting it, flavour is strong, yes, but is it so so special... Well, I just say the let everyone have a taste and decide after that by themselves. On the way back to our Villa, we stopped to see rice fields, or terraces actually but either or, Balinese grow it everywhere as its main ingredient of Indonesian food.

Second travel day took us first to see traditional balinese dancing and after North of Bali to the hot springs and black sand beach. Traditional dance reminded me of Sichuan Opera I saw in China in a way that its strongly based on telling stories between good and bad in various forms, like in this Balinese dance was a struggle between good and evil spirit. It was interesting to watch how story proceeded, but even more to pay attention on dancers detailed colourful outlook. Music, or "music", was more like so-so... I would describe it more like sounds made out from instruments. Even that it was interesting experience, Im happy it didn't last more than about an hour -same as Sichuan opera...

After sitting few hours in a car enjoying views of Bali, we reached "The Holy Hot Springs", few pools with warm water that had some kind of minerals that are said be good for your body. I dont about that part, but thing I know for sure that being in warm pool was good to relax my muscles after Balinese massage that I took day before. Still my patience is not that good that I could stay still in a hot springs too long, I lasted one hour and that was enough for me.

The day between these two travel days was a beauty and spa day for Baiba.. for me mostly hang around day meanwhile even that I encouraged myself to Balinese massage, second time in my life when having massage, first time in Bangkok and second in Bali, and there is one thing that is in common for them: I can feel my muscles when walking out and dont really notice the result of twisting muscles around... some claim its relaxing, but I havent noticed that part yet... But anyway after this massage we head up to the beach see sunset and looking for dinner. Walking along beach watching sunset when sea touches feet, is a must do experience in Bali especially when combined having dinner at beach while lying on cozy fatboys.

Baiba left one day earlier than me, so for my last night I moved to one hotel at Kuta area. Of course I wanted to see how the legendary Kuta is by night. After walking the main bar street little bit back and forward I realised that it was more or less what I was expecting: Full of drunken tourists everywhere, there was not a chance to walk even few minutes without getting disturbed by being offered everything like taxi, marihuana, mushrooms, ladies, massage... I ended up sitting in a small corner bar out from main street for few drinks and have a good chat with one Dutch and one Balinese guy. But more enjoyable time and interesting conversations I had with Ken, Indonesian girl who has moved to Bali to work in a hotel. While sitting on a beach enjoying tasting fresh coconut, I learned a lot about mentality, values etc. what people generally have in Indonesia.

My visit to Bali was my first but hopefully not the last, as it was such a great time,.maybe next time even a bit longer than just a week. 

Singapore - Small State With Big Character

Starting from Bangkok direction of my SE-Asia trip has been towards South. It has included three major cities: Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore and choosing from those three Singapore would be my favourite city. Often the picture of Singapore is to be hectic city state which is major player in import/export and financial businesses with skyscrapers and whitecollar workers. Not to forget to mention also strict laws on various things, but it works as I would say this has been cleanest city I visited in SE-Asia. And yes, I mean it is all true as the most common postcard view is often taken at Marina Bay, but still it is not the whole truth.

I was staying in Bugis area which was really charming and it is only one example of similar areas like Little India or Chinatown for example. You can see as new office or residental towers are rising but still major feature in these areas is narrow streets filled up with endless amount of cozy colourful small cafeterias, bars and restaurants as various amount of designers boutique selling something unique for example to decorate your apartnment. This feature brings a really nice contrast for the downtown business center big Louis Vitton shop built right by the seaside.

As I've been spotting so many UNESCO world heritage sites while being in Asia, during this summer new announcements was told by UNESCO which places would be granted with heritage status. One new place was Botanical Gardens in Singapore so even that Im not much a flower person, I decided to check it out, and by saying not being a flower person I mean that I own just one plant at home and even that one is not real... Well about the Botanical Gardens, to be honest I wasnt amazed about it. It was just a big park with lots of green in it and with the main sight, Orchid gardens: 20 years of growing orchids and developing new species. It was a nice walk overall but would not do it again.

Of course a real metropolitan city need some landmarks what comes also to night life culture and definately a highlight of Singapore is Raffles City hotel, home of famous Singapore Sling drink. Unfortunately I didnt have time to try it, but my friends did and they told that there is no need to try that drink anymore anywhere else as it was so good.

Last evening my Singaporean friend Jessica, who I met while studying in Beijing took me to see some nightlife with her friends. We went to the club called Avalon which is right by Marina Bay, built over the water. Walls are made out of glass so while your clubbing, it is possible to see stunning nightview over the bay, Not bad at all. But everything has its price, I payd 15SGD (10e) for 0,33l imported German beer which wasnt even a good brand. And what was weird is that often from the club is nice to go outside to cool down for a moment, but here in Singapore as the air is so humid, it feels the same or even warmer outside the club than in the club itself..

Despite the prices or climate Singapore is so far from a big Asian cities I've visited the one where I could imagine to live in.   

Tioman - The Chill Out Week

After a bit more than a month backpacking around staying usually 3-4 days per place, now at Tioman the plan was to stop for one week, just relax and do nothing. Tioman is a duty free island at East coast of Malaysia which is mostly known on its diving opportunities and that is the main reason people go there, like ours because Heidi was doing her open water license on diving there. Or other one is escape from routines and duty free products.

First teaser was duty free products but for that there was problem: in chalets where we were staying there was no fridge... which means no drinks in cold, luckily there is a solution for every problem: buy something that tastes good doenst need to be cold and not even (necessarily) mixed with cold drinks = Whiskey. So it happened that we bought 1L bottle of Jameson, i put on my new flower shirt which im really proud of, and we did some irish coffees or enjoyed whiskey straight. Somehow first day passed by very fast and in very good mood.

Soon (already next day) we realized that there is really that many things to do at Tioman so the mainly focus of the days were little bit walking around or actually I could say back'n'forward the only road that went through the village or along the beach. And as soon as I got tired of walking, I went either to sit at my chalets terrace or lying on a hammock in lovely beac cafe enjoying fresh juices. Not a bad life after all.

But again doing that few days life started to be boring , which is actually quite horrible so say... One evening I met group of Malaysians/Singaporeans who were going diving a next day and told me that I should join in. First I hesitated it for a moment as I havent been diving before, but as there were other first timers also, I thought that alright lets give it a go. So I did and tried diving for a first time: It was very interesting experience even that at the beginning it felt really weird to breath while being underwater, but yes I could try it again someday.

Have you ever heard someone claiming that “world is a small place.“ I realized it once again as two different people who I met in Cameron Highlands arrived to Tioman during the time I was there. Unfortunately there was no time to meet both of them, as one of them was living other side of island, but one of them yes. So on my last day I met Julia and few friends she met on a boat on the way to island. We went to spend a beach day, original was to go to Monkey bay but we stopped to a small beach strip and we were the only people in there. I havent ever been good on spending beach day as sun doesnt like me because it always burns me and so did it happen again, luckily not very badly thought. So day turned towards evening and at evening I went to lie down on my favourit hammock and enjoyed sunset at the beach before I needed to pack my backpack again and early morning (6:30am ferry) start travelling to Singapore.

Kuching - Last Stop in Borneo

Finally when Maswings was able to fly us out of Mulu, soon after take off views from plane window revealed us the size of the rainforest... Endless amount of tree tops and few rivers making their way between tree lines, but besides water there were no way to see land. That was point when I realized that it definately would not be nice to get lost in the jungle. When reached the city at the first evening the feeling being back in the civilization where was wifi access, mobile phones were working and there were all kind of facilities available around you, including cozy pubs. I went in for one, called “drunken monkey” and enjoyed a proper pint of Guinness from a tap, life tasted good!

Kuchning is a biggest city and capital of Sarawak part of Borneo, people who I've met during this trip and who have been there had only positive things to say about Kuching, so expectations were rather high. Name Kuching comes from a “cat” which is the reason why cats have become symbol of the city and for its inhabitants they're also symbol of a luck.

Kuching had lot of similarities with George Town, which was surely one reason why I also liked Kuching. It has become during 19th century a British colonny and a important port city because its good location so still many of architechural features were still remainding from that time. Because of being a port city, the waterfront of the city is still the heart of the city at the same time where modern culture combines on historical and traditional heritages.

I was quite lucky that during second evening while I walked along the waterfront, there was a pavilion where one dance club was performing tradutional music and dances. Those shows illustrated original tribe culture in Sarawak and I really was amazed the amount of colors of dancers/artists clothes had and about the fact that every dance had their own meaning. Another thing about Kuching is that it's considered as a food capital of Borneo, which is always good news for me. I've now tasted one of the best pork noodles in here.

But still in the actual city there is not that much things to do, many of things are on surroundings like national parks, long houses etc. and of course rehabilitation center for orangutans. I went there in order to hope to see some orangutans on wild of they might come to the feeding platform on their feeding time, but there is no guarantee of that as they live in wild and supposed to get their food by themselves from nature so the one center offer is ust on supplementary purposes. So there is no guarantee of seeing them and this time it happened that even that I spent two hours for travelling and standing almost two hours in a jungle, only orangutan I saw was the wooden statue at the main gates... Heard from a ranger that previous day there were eight of them at feeding platform (total 27 lives in the area), better luck next time!

Kuching was last stop in Borneo island before heading back to the peninsula of Malaysia, but it really made a good impression for me and Borneo is place where I could come back one day with a bit better timing and gears to discover it better.

The Headhunters Trail - Adventure in the Jungle

Next five days were going to be spend in a jungle starting travelling from Brunei where our guide picked us up in the morning. Headhunter's trail got its name from the route that native tribes used to use when they needed to travel between villages either on negotiating, war etc. First day was relative easy compared to other incoming days. We had a car transportatio over the border to Sarawak, Malaysia where we changed to 4WD drive and head up to a long house few hours drive from Limbang town, our gateway into the jungle.

Longhouse is traditional way of living, and in this long house there were around 300 people living there each family had their own simple apartment. Besides that one huge longhouse there was a school and clinic in the village where we able to visit. After a walk around the village, we had a dinner with our host family, little bit of rice wine and then it was time to go to bed under the mosquito nets so we could sleep in peace, as it was an early morning next day.

Second day the wake up was a bit after 5am, breakfast and leaving at 6am so we were able to make sure to reach our destination before dark. Journey started by packing our things in a longboat which took us 3-4 hours up the river to the Kuala Terikan where we continued by foot. We were lucky because it rained hard on previous night so the water level of the river was high, otherwise boat ride might have taken longer because there would be a need to drag boat over the shallow parts. Along the river we saw many villages, which only

connection to “outer world” is river. As we continued our trip by foot by trail to the camp 5, which was 11 km away so about four hours walking through the jungle. It is interesting feeling to be in the jungle as you can hear all the time birds singing or monkies jumping on a trees, but you can't see any of them - jungle is not a zoo, that is a fact.

Exception was one kind of creatures that it was relatively easy to make friends with, leaches. There were plenty of them waiting victims to pass by and have a feast with. At the picture its not a wound, its a leach that managed to have a taste of my blood -lovely isn't it?. Camp 5 is a kind travel lodge in a walley between two

summits and beside a river where it was possible to swim after a (sweaty) trek, refreshing indeed. Place had nice facilities, normal bathrooms, big kitchen area and covered outdoor dining/common area. Sleeping was arrangen in “rooms”, more like booths were fitted 8 people on a wooden platform on a mattresses.

Third day I woke up again at 5am for breakfast because the day trip to pinnacles started a bit after 6am. It was warned before hand that it is going to be hard and physically demanding trek and it is okay to turn back any point if felt like its too much to handle. Lenght was short, only a bit more than 2km from camp 5 (one way), but at the same time it was 1,3km steep upphill trail over roots and sharp limestones, approx. 45 degrees vertical angle or even more as there were ladders and ropes installed along the trail to help climbers going up and down same route, which was more exchausting. Climbing was guided by a mountain guide and precisely timed so they make sure that everyone (who reaches the top) gets back down before nightfall. Bit before half-way going up I was in mental braking point, but had a package of Finnish sisu with me (especially saved on these kind of moments), so I ate few pastils when reached half-way and decided to keep on going. I reached the top in about 3 hours, spent there 45 min and did head back down. I reached camp five in about same time than going up - I felt like a walking dead after, I was really pushing my own limits. I dipped into the river with my clothes on as it didnt make any difference anymore because I was able to twist sweat out of my clothes. But I did it, conquered the pinnacles, and the feeling of that is awesome!!!

Fourth day in the morning, I felt every single muscle in my legs but motivating was that hardest part had been done, and of course the reality in mind that only way to move onwards was by foot. We left from camp 5 around 9am (such a late morning) towards Kuala litut boat station which was 9 km walk away along jungle trail. We reached the place within two hours and we supposed to have boatman waiting us taking us forward by boat, but there was no sign of him. First of all this term “boat station” is really missleading as the reality is following: When trail ends, you climb down from a river bank literally into the river. There is nothing man made at that boat station so we sat down on a wooden log, or went for a swim (of course our clothes on as there was nothing to lose) in a river until after couple hours waiting our we got a ride from another boat passing by. It was almost an hour long ride to the Mulu National Park Head Quarters, which was our last stop. When we were in the boat it started to rain, until this we have managed quite well to avoid worst rain showers, but not at this time... Here in rainforest when it rains, it really rains like someone would be pouring water on you. Sitting on a boat there was obviously no cover and we were already wet so by the time we reached HQ, we were soaked! I was literally dripping water all over and there was not a dry spot on me - effective shower of nature, unfortunately didnt have shower gel one me.

Changing of dry clothes and rest for a moment before it was time to for an evening walk. 3,5km one way there is a deer cave which also known as a bat cave. There lives few millions bats in a cave so when walking inside you could only hear sound of them as they were hiding in dark holes, once in a while few ones flew over you. But before night falls we did exit the cave and sat outside a bit further from entrance. After waiting an hour we saw the bat exodus, those millions of bats flew out from cave for their night feast hunt down insects. Did you know that those bats eat 15 tons of insects every night, amazing! So that was the reason why there is only few mosquitos in Mulu National Park area.

Fifth day we did some more cave excursions, wind and clearwater caves, both been used since stone age, clearwater for living and wind cave for burial purposes. Luckily this day boat took us at the caves and length of walking was short, but as always, there is always "but..." Caves obviously are not flat so in total I would estimate we climbed up and down stairs in total around 1000 steps, and I still felt every muscle in my legs from previous days. Saviour of the day was the possibility to swim in the waters of clearwater caves and again wash away daily sweat drops.

Afternoon we were supposed to catch a flight to Kuching, but it was cancelled due to bad weather conditions. So after 5 days without a shower, trekking in total around 35km including upphill and downhill, over and around obstacles and through rain and mud we realized that we were stucked in a jungle as only connections to/from Mulu is by air (or river). Well, there is always a silver line in every cloud, airline accommodated us in a Marriot hotel holiday resort with free dinner and breakfast. I got a room with a kingsize bed for myself and believe it or not, I slept like a baby that night.