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Halfway there: Random travel snippets and thoughts

trevi fountain rome

Now that we’re halfway through our journey, I thought it might be time to pause and share a few random stats from the trip!

Biggest facepalm moment
Losing about 650 Thai baht (about $35 or so) one dark night, presumably to the back seat of a taxi. Even more galling: the driver didn’t have change for 1000 baht, which is why he took me to a 7/11 so I could buy something to break up the note in the first place. Cue gnashing of teeth afterwards when I dug into my pocket and realised I no longer had the change.

Biggest food gamble that paid off
Ordering bun moc from a street stall in Hanoi without actually knowing what it was, aside from the fact that it contained noodles. Honestly, I just liked the look of the word ‘moc’, and it seemed easier to pronounce than some of the other dishes.

Most affecting moment
The boy with the balloon head, horrifically bloated atop his undersized torso, cradled in the arms of an old woman in the corner of a temple at Angkor Wat.

Best transport
Qatar Airways, Hanoi to Bangkok. Super short, but super luxurious.

Worst transport
The hellish train ride from Germany to Switzerland, on which there was no air con and the windows were sealed shut. Not just swelteringly uncomfortable, but downright dangerous in those temperatures.

Most memorable moment
Oh, there are so many, but probably the most unexpected and unusual was the Emerald Cave in Thailand. Bonus points for pushing me out of my comfort zone in order to get there.

Best tour
Okay, it’s a bit of a copout as we only did 2 tours – but the winner would be Halong Bay. Beautiful scenery, fun activities – kayaking, attempting to make spring rolls together, karaoke – and a good group of people, not least of all our entertaining guide.

Most random sighting
Of all the things I expected to see on the streets of Edinburgh, the most pierced woman in the world would never have placed on the list. Weirdly, I’d seen her on TV not long before we left, but I had no idea where she lived.

Best book
Again, a bit of a copout, seeing as I’ve only read one book. Even worse, it was a kid’s book. But I’m not ashamed to say that Phantom Tollbooth is a wicked tale, and if you love language like I do, you’ll get a huge kick out of it. Especially enjoyable when picked up at a random coffee shop in Bangkok and accompanied by cake.

Biggest guilty pleasure
Mister Donut. Totally saved our lives in Hat Yai, and again at Bangkok airport.

Best plane entertainment
Scandal, without a doubt. I watched the pilot episode on a flight, then later got T hooked; we watched the whole first season and a third of the second throughout Rome and Athens. (Close second goes to The Newsroom; I can’t even remember which episode it was, but it doesn’t matter, because I am totally infatuated with Jim.)

Most overpriced meal
Caught out by the whole selling by weight thing, we spent basically $26 on stall food in Prague. There was a fair bit of roasted ham and a hearty potato dish, but most certainly not THAT much worth. Delicious, though.

Unforeseen, but oh-so-common annoyance
Electric tram/bus overhead lines. That shiz will ruin a good picture every time.

Biggest travel peeve
City tax. That is all.

9 thoughts on “Halfway there: Random travel snippets and thoughts

  • Reply cantaloupe August 12, 2013 at 09:08

    Oy, I disliked Qatar airlines and thought they had terrible flight attendants. I far prefer Etihad. Although I suppose possibly you wouldn’t fly that unless you’re going to the Middle East.

  • Reply krantcents August 12, 2013 at 09:24

    Interesting highs and lows, but they add to the experiences and memories. I still remember some of my travel experiences from 28 years ago as well as 57 years ago.

  • Reply Raquel August 12, 2013 at 10:57

    Oh my goodness I remember that boy at Angkor Wat from when I was there in 2008. He was just a baby then 🙁

  • Reply Jennifer August 12, 2013 at 20:07

    Completely agree with the best transport – we caught exactly the same flight. Qatar airways, Hanoi to Bangkok – better than alot of long distance flights we caught!

  • Reply Budget and the Beach August 13, 2013 at 04:11

    I love this list. I was once on an overnight train in Europe (nice, france to Barcelona) and there was no air con. Miserable!

  • Reply Michelle's Finance Journal August 13, 2013 at 06:02

    Great list with interesting tips. It sounds like an awesome trip you’re on.

  • Reply SuburbanFinance August 13, 2013 at 14:09

    I like how you created this list with your travel experiences. It showed the things that positive and negative on your trips. It also gave me an Idea on what to do and avoid if ever I would go on a trip like yours. Thanks.

  • Reply Marissa @ Finance Triggers August 13, 2013 at 14:36

    So glad to know you guys are having an awesome trip. Looking forward to seeing more pictures of it.

  • Reply Marissa @ Thirty Six Months August 13, 2013 at 15:06

    Halong Bay is a paradise. It looks a lil like Coron, Palawan in the Philippines.

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