Last month in Asia. When I was leaving for the trip, I started without a plan of going back(when, how and where), but because of Lucia's influence I have decided to finish my trip together with her and go back to Europe. We did a bit of planning together, but mainly in matter of bookings some flight tickets and placing a time frame for our trip. So, we did. The rest of planning was on me. Again being a guide, companion and fixer :) A month in Asia together. My last month in Asia. Going from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur on my small motorbike. We haven't seen each other for 8 month, so it was looooooooooooooooooong brake and I was actually waiting for "the moment" to happen. A bit afraid, a bit insecure, nervous and impatient but very happy for this finally to happen and be together again. Here it comes.
The very first "Hi Lu" on Suvarnabhumi Airport with some flowers and her clothes not exactly fitting the weather outside(Danish weather clothes :P). I must admit that a women managing to pack her self to small backpack for a month is not easy to find ;P
After two days with my parents and first bus ride(for her and also for me :P) in SE Asia to Phetchaburi from Bangkok. White Monkey hostel and we got to well know place for dinner.
Cannot miss Kings Palace in Phetchaburi. First time alone(meeting a friend of Chanon), second guiding parents and third with Lu. Still, didn't get tired of the place and had fun. Lucia got to know monkeys very well and since then she was afraid of them.......
Special monkey interest was in the red - hanging shawl.
Since we were together, the flag on the bike had to upgraded(I got that ready few days earlier), so here it is Malaysian Yamaha FZ150i in Thailand with polish-spanish crew :)
Full gear set. Proper jackets with airwents are must-have there, then some knee protections and helmets(surprisingly Lu's head is too small for finding a proper helmet in Asia :O). First proper day on bike. First serious pain in the ass for Lu :P
We even saw a local theater. Far too noisy and a lot screaming/shouting. But good experience.
Night chill in local bar with some Premier League on TV.
And finally I got to have some pictures of my self........ :D
Beach created for English tourist. They brought STONES for sandy beach in order to have it like in UK. EEEHhhhh.............. no commments......... but we were happy ;)
Phraya Nakon Cave. Quite outstanding place.
Please don't look at my T-shirt. It is not the point of that picture. Actually it took many tries for getting the background focus and us visible. Appreciate !!!!!
Sometimes Spaniards have difficulties to bare with hot, so here comes Polish help with carrying around ;)
Someone is hungry............
Chilling out. Hammock - the greatest invention of all the times :D
Black sand, but the place is magical. No one around in few km radius, great resort, great food, great views.........
And the temple :)
And unique east coast short stop. Here you can find Thailand. Raw, tough, "wild".
Just look.
Another dinner. Drinks, fresh seafood, fresh vegetables, super company and great vibe in the place. What more you want ?!
I have been waiting for this moment for 8 months. Diving course !! Finally !!! Our companions were let's say a bit isolated, but still great fun !! We went for Koh Tao and Simple Life school. If I could I would spend there a month diving :D
The weight of gear for man and woman is the same, so it is a bit of an issue for Lu to move around with extra 20 kg on her back. She managed very well. We got the same air usage underwater, so here plus for me :D(In the end I am almost twice bigger :P)
I couldn't miss a chance for making a Open Water Certificate with 30 m depth. Lu wasn't that convinced, but I hope that one day you will have some fun with deep dives :D
So, here we come to the end of Koh Tao. Great island(on low season months, as I can't imagine this place in high season). Plenty of tourists, but the diving is amazing and I would go only for that.
Then we treat ourselfs very well on next island. Koh Lanta. Low season. Big resort(with only few guests inside). Total chill, sunbathing, swimming pool, trips around island and small surprise. Just behind swimming pool there was a beach.
This one could be a postcard or advertisement for a hotel or beginning of some kind of movie..... or think about it your self. A model, swimming pool, blue sky and palms. I was lucky guy :)
There were little surprises. I tend to make them sometimes to some people. Here is one of them for Lu. A cooking class. Very useful in daily life in future :D
So here are herbs and spices...... I knew a few, but damn there are so many......
The Thai cooking master name: Akkapak Buayah. He was a very unique person :D Looking at me too often......... Good cooking and pretty well teaching, specially when we were only two for learning :D
But we made it. 6 hours and 6 dishes :D Ended up a bit drunk, with super full stomach and great experience for future. From today we cook only Thai in Akkapak style :D
We can't miss Georgetown. My favorite city in Malaysia(and probably in all Asia). I had to take Lu there and at least try to show what I loved in that city. Maybe my good feeling of that city is that after my arrival in Malaysia(after Nepal and India) it was really different. Clean, mixed history with today, mix of cultures, you can find everything there. For Lu, after experiencing so many things in Thailand the bar was set up very high. I hope it didn't disappointed her.
Some new street art were found by us :)
As well Lu have tried durian. Not in the natural form or not even expected. She had chosen as desert a waffle with "fruit" ice-cream. When I tried it, I knew that she didn't wanted THAT fruit. No matter what, it was a lot of fun looking at her while she was "dealing" with durian icecream :D
As well in Georgetown I sold the motorbike for very good price(unfortunately for buyer, not me - but I didn't want to fool around with it. Just get rid of it and enjoy last days in Asia), so from now on taxis, busses, trains etc.
Next stop was Malacca. I have heard many stories about that city from fellow travelers and I made a little mistake here. I created a bit of expectations after they place it higher in ranking then Georgetown. The first impression was not the best. We arrived early and at the hotel reception we heart that room is not ready, we can move in at 1 pm(it was 7 am). The picture shows unhappy Slawek.......
Yupi...... At least we can see the city in the morning :D(after 12 h in bus.......)
Malacca. City full of history which is compressed into hundreds of museums(maybe 4 or 6, but still tooooooooo many). So, we got to some entertainment activities around........
First only banana shop :)
As bus travelers we went for fancy dinner, walked the canals and took also canal tour. Tourist full power :) We got interesting Company of Australian couple which works on luxurious boats.
We ate even some soil with little plant on the top.
I really don't want to go into another museum...........
Malacca, not the best memory(I know that most of people will say totally different, but sic!). Too many museums, too many Chinese tourists, too few old buildings and too few things to do. Finally, Lu got food poisoning, so we had very interesting trip in a bus to KL. Luckily we were only 4 in all bus, so somehow we manage. Malacca, you didn't do your best.......
In KL, as our last stop in Asia we needed a proper hotel. So we got one. Exactly in the center, with super thick windows(so all the noise was out), rooftop swimming pool and nice, helpful reception.
We got to see the biggest open bird park in Asia. Luckily the birds didn't poo at this time. Special thanks to photographer for cutting our legs(it is his damn job to take pictures, but no one told him how to make one :D)
At national mosque we were told to became nuns. Very funny to fool around in 50 degrees outside under thick bed sheet.
And the Petronas Towers with huge shopping mall under them - off course we didn't miss shopping there a little bit :D
Looks nice, isn't it? It was. It is totally different to share experiences, places and feelings while you traveling with the closest person for you. It is not only that you have some one to talk or complain to, help if you get sick, cheer up when you're down, there is creation of special bond. Unique. It is so different then traveling alone, that you can't compare them.
Our trip. I did my best to show the good side of Asia with pointing out the bad things there. I tried to show my daily life as "traveler", but as well to satisfy Spanish-tourist-danish missing sun person expectations. I hope that after all there is a little seed of traveler in you Lu. That you understand my decision of traveling to Asia a bit more, that you understand me a bit better after all.
The memories from this amazing month will be always with me.
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