Somehow I ended up travelling through 32 countries in 2015. Some multiple times, others revisited and of course 24 new countries. THANKS EUROPE and your imaginary lines!
I’ve gone through every country and figured out a lesson, memory or generally just rant about one thing for each with my biggest lesson of the year to finish.
1. Thailand: It Just Makes Me Feel Comfortable
I started the year off here and ended up coming back to Thailand, specifically Chiang Mai several times. It’s so good to be able to arrive and within an hour have an apartment and scooter sorted, with minimal red tape I can get on with life. Awesome food and of course so many epic expats here who are living it up. And Chang. Chiang Mai will always be up there in my favourite places!
2. Myanmar: The Value Of Money Changes Us
We arrived in Bagan before sunrise, once checked in we were told to go checkout the sunrise. We weren’t sure where we were going but numerous locals stopped to help us. We would follow along expecting to have to pay tip them for their help. In the end they would let us know we were at the destination then carry on with their day. The Burmese people are so nice and helpful just because they want to be. Hopefully this doesn’t change with the increased tourism money continuing to arrive.
3. Malaysia: Where Signs Can Portray An Image
I only had a few hours in Johor Bahru to kill while waiting for a train. Those hours were spent walking around the city and there were so many bizarre signs. South East Asia is full of random signs, but this was just bizarre. It left me feeling very uneasy about the city.
4. Australia: Melbourne’s Cafe Scene Is Impressive
Having lived in Melbourne for a couple years, my few days back reiterated the fact I haven’t even scraped the surface at all. I went to a few new cafes and they are all funky and the service is generally pretty good. If I wasn’t on a budget, I’d have a blast as most have vegan friendly options as well.
5. New Zealand: It Really Is Beautiful!
Views of Auckland
On the road, the reactions when people discover I’m from New Zealand is usually either likely going to be “OMG, I so wanna go there, it’s so beautiful” or “Oh, that’s where Lord of the Rings was filmed” (although Flight of the Conchords is popping up more and more). You’re probably aware you don’t appreciate your homeland enough, it certainly was the case for me. Having spent a few weeks home in February I really do appreciate how beautiful New Zealand is…that’s without even going to the South Island!
6. Singapore: It’s Okay, We Just Don’t Get Along
This was my second visit to Singapore and for some reason it just doesn’t make me excited. This time around I explored outside of the city centre yet still struggled to find my way in the country. It’s not a bad city, I just don’t enjoy it for whatever reason – even the airport I think is overrated.
7. Cambodia: Maybe A ‘Package’ Resort Isn’t Something I Should Write Off
Battambang is overlooked by many but spending 10 days or so at Here Be Dragons Hostel was awesome. They use a tab system, so with a good restaurant and a popular bar on site there was a couple days where I didn’t leave the property. The staff are friendly and it doesn’t take long to find other backpackers who decide to extend their stay in this hidden gem. I’ve always rebuffed the idea of staying at a resort for seven days straight, maybe it’s time to reconsider.
8. China: Redemption Granted
The previous visit to Shanghai didn’t inspire me to get back to China, Beijing did. Exploring the hutongs (back alleys) and the parks of Beijing was fun. At the hostel, people would go on and on about how awesome their travels throughout China was. The Great Wall of China gets a shoutout too of course. China is somewhere I now want to get back to!
9. Mongolia: Who Needs Roadsigns
Mongolia was epic! One of my 2015 highlights for sure. Sitting in the car for hours a day on crappy roads doesn’t sound fun, but it was weirdly meditative. Getting a digital detox in the Gobi Desert was also handy. Squatting, well ‘holding it in’ for three days was my limit. I’ll stick to western toilet comforts thanks.
10. Russia: The Stereotype Is Real
Russia is certainly a large country & the Russian stereotype is that the locals don’t smile out in public. That was certainly the case, it became a bit of a game trying to figure it out. Once you get talking to the locals however, they are friendly as. On the Trans-Siberian we met mostly Russians coming back from their one year service in the army, talking via Google Translate is insanely tiring!
11. Estonia: Um, So When Do You Sleep?
This was the furtherest north I’d ever been and while it makes sense, I was still stunned by the number of daylight during the middle of summer. We would goto a bar at 11pm, it’s still light outside, leave at 4am and light is still present….bamboozling. How do people who wake up when they sleep only when the sun is down?
12. Latvia: Life On A Boat
Thanks to a friend in Chiang Mai I was quickly sorted with an apartment on a barge for a month. The facilities were nothing fancy, but the internet was fast which was good. The biggest expectation from me was to have a thriving social scene with fellow barge dwellers. This definitely wasn’t the case, everyone mostly kept to themselves. I guess it is easy to life alone if you really want.
13. Lithuania: Vegan Food Is Spreading
Vegan food is limited throughout Mongolia and Siberia but in the Lithuanian Capital, Vilnius there was no shortage of options. From what I can gather there is a small community driving the scene in Vilnius, and they are starting to gain a lot of traction. Eastern Europe certainly surprised me with the amount of options available, none more so than Vilnius and Warsaw.
14. Poland: I Like Hills
Poland was probably the biggest surprise packet of the year for me. Starting with all of the vegan options in Warsaw to catching up with friends in Krakow before finishing off with an awesome time hiking in Zakopane. The Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) are so flat that this was the first time I’ve ever been craving mountains. Even if I don’t go hiking everyday having the option is crucial.
15. Slovakia: Tea Can Be Alcoholic!
Brastislavas tourism dropped significantly after two movies, The Hostel and Euro Trip had a large portion of scenes featuring Bratislave. This was very interesting to me. I don’t watch a lot of movies, and that’s why….they aren’t exactly real. Anyways, maybe they should promote Tatra tea going forward. Drinking alcoholic tea, that is a winning (and tasty) combination right there.
16. Czech Republic:
Sunset views of Prague
Not sure what to say about Prague. It was an interesting experience, but I think the city had too much hype going in and I just didn’t enjoy it as much as expected. Letting go of expectations is something I’m getting better at but need to improve!
17: Germany: Falafel Kebabs Are Addictive
Berlin is a fun city with plenty of quirkiness going on. I was surprised to find the amount of kebabs on offer here, but that meant falafel which is very, very ideal.
18. The Netherlands: Police Forces Still Don’t Have The Perfect Balance
I’m not involved in the police, but if national forces aren’t talking to other national forces often perhaps they should. Seeing the leniency of the police in Amsterdam differs from many other places. Who is right or wrong? I’ve no idea, but police collaboration should be something that is done more often if it isn’t. If it is, do more.
19: Belgium: They Are The Masters Of Beer
We were only in Belgium briefly as we began our 2 weeks campervan trip through western Europe. I lost a few manliness points when I purchased a rose beer, but wowser the pink goodness was insanely refreshingly. Belgium is good at beer.
20. Luxembourg: One Of Quasimodo’s Homes!
One of my toys I remember from when I was younger was of ole hunchback Quasimodo. We popped into one of the Notre Dam cathedrals in the city and I soon realised that while I had these cool toys when younger, you never really understand your toys are on a larger scale. Considering Notre Dame could have been a real building never cross my mind as a kid, and neither should it.
21. France: When Crowds Zig, Consider
The Notre Dame Cathedral
Zagging
The Notre Dame Cathedral
Navigating the massive 7m campervan along the Southern coast of France was chaotic. Campervans are in massive demand in the summer but if I was to do the trip in that area again it would not be in high season. People get crazy when it’s hot and when there are crowds…people forget to be nice. It was also impossible to find a park for the beast as well.
22. Monaco: Life Really Is Like A Story Book, With Many Chapters
Throughout University poker played a large roll in my life. I was never a great poker play, but it was awesome going to Vegas for the first time & finishing runner up in the World Cup of Poker repping New Zealand. Monaco and Macau are two other poker meccas and were high on the bucket list of places to go in that phase of life. Monaco for me now was totally different, I wasn’t urged to play poker at all. Seeing the place for what it was – a place to splash a lot of money around I’m definitely not in that stage of my life. Maybe a different chapter down the road will see me wanting to head to Monaco.
23. Italy: Don’t Let The Rain Defeat You
Lake Como is a stunner! Unfortunately it was raining on our full day their but I didn’t let that me explore the lake side a little bit. I scrambled around the edge of the lake, saw some random sites and had a blast before turning around to walk back as darkness fell.
24. Switzerland: It Does Have Some Of The Looks Of New Zealand
Is it New Zealand or Switzerland?
After Lake Como, we drive through the Swiss Alps for a couple of hours. The greenery, waterfalls, cool breeze & minimal visibility at times were all things I could relate to New Zealand. The rumours are the truth!
25. Lichenstein: Just Because You’re A Prince, Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Be Normal
I’m no Prince but the Prince of Lichenstein is just like every other citizen. He shops with the locals, goes to everyday restaurants and doesn’t avoid the spotlight. Of course, this is easier when you don’t have paparazzi following your every move but it does take two to tango.
26. Belarus: You Won’t Boost Tourism With Red Tape
Not all countries want/or need tourism but it is my guess Belarus wouldn’t say no to a few extra tourists. Belarus is awesome, but what is preventing more people is the visa requirements for Belarus being strict. The whole process wasn’t smooth and if I didn’t have a native friend with me in Riga the application process would’ve been a nightmare. If they made the visa on arrival, they would instantly have more tourists.
27. Georgia: Georgian Wine Is Old World
In Georgia I learnt about the differences between New World & Old World wine. Georgia is one of the oldest wine makers of wine but they are only really starting to capitalize on this now. In 5 – 10 years I can see Georgia becoming a popular wine tourism destination.
28. Turkey: Cappadocia Is A Fairy Tale Setting
Wouldn’t mind living in a cave with this view
Istanbul was similar to my views on Singapore, but Cappadocia was out of this world. We’ve all seen the photos from hot air balloons but the real fun is getting up and into the chimneys, trying to climb them and exploring all of the different valleys. The fairy chimney structures vary depending on what valley you are in giving you days and days of explorations.
29. United Arab Emirates: Man Made Cash Economy
I was only in the UAE for a day and whilst some of the sites are impressive it rubbed me up the wrong way. I can understand construction workers not wanting to work in the heat, but their work conditions were pretty darn rough at night. It just feels so showy, which it is of course but that one vision of a construction worker way up in the air at night with minimal protection surprised me even.
30. Oman: You Don’t Have
A beach to myself near Old Muscat!
To Follow Thy Neighbour
A beach to myself near Old Muscat!
Having just come from neighbouring UAE I didn’t expect to much of Oman. I was stunned at just how different it was, minimal public transport, minimal tourist infrastructure, minimal city feel. It was crazy! Just because a neighbour is perceived as being successful, doesn’t mean they are. It doesn’t always pay to be a copy cat, and each to their own.
31: India: The Hustle Is Real
As soon as nightfall struck in India, many of the street stalls disappeared, and cardboard was laid out in the exact spot for people to sleep. Despite the crazy amount of noise the homeless people would suddenly appear and sleep soundlessly. Unless they are hiding in hidden corner of Chennai they’re out hustling for some rupiah in the day before roughing it overnight. That’s huge!
32. Indonesia: The Komodo Dragons Experience Is Epic!
I returned to Indonesia thanks to the Indonesian Tourism Board and had an epic time with an epic group of people as visited Komodo National Park. The lesson…an epic animal encounter doesn’t need to be dangerous therefore requiring cages and torture towards animals.
My one big overall lesson is:
JUST BE A NICE A PERSON
Plenty went on in 2015! No idea what 2016 holds, maybe in New Zealand for a longer period but heaps of variables to sort out before that is known.
What was the biggest lesson you learnt in 2015?
