edachsund's VirtualTourist Home Page

The story below is based on my experienced and it has not exaggerated for reader attention.

It's all began when I finally felt sick and tired being someone that isnt myself. I finally plan to travel when I unexpectedly meeting this friend from Mexico. He is a traveler. World traveler and I adore him so much for his braveness. I wish one day I can travel around the world just like him. We keep in contact for about a year and he keep update me his route every time he settle in one country. He was the one giving me encouragement to get out and enjoy the world.

Thailand is my first country I ever stamped my green passport. To many obstacle that my mind been through but it's just another negative thought. After a year I've been seeking the gut to go on with the plan, finally I manage to be in Khao San Road for the first time. Hey, I am different but not much different than local Thais. I am happy about it.

It's funny to think back when I went 12 hours ride on the train from Hat Yai to Hualampong, Bangkok with my rucksack and day pack sitting at a bench wooden seat on 3rd class coach cabin. [thats the cheapest way, I figured] and thats true though. After that, my butt and my back ache for the next couple of days due to less stretching. Why dont I not stretching? maybe I am to skeptical of the local afraid they will steal my stuffs.

French guy that I saw in the train getting on the 3rd class as me on the way to Hualampong, finally he make a conversation with me after we met again at Khao San Road while looking for place to stay. I can see, the place it's flooded with 'farang'. They moved back to Khao San after full moon party is over in down south.

That night, I meet Nadine a German girl and we wander around together, check out Bangkok lifestyle and the place of interest. We get into 'tuk tuk' for a first time and we felt like 'wow'. After been together for a few days, I finally leaving to India. All by myself, my heart pounding and negativity about India come to approach but I fight back with positiveness thought.

Netaji Shubas Chandra Bosi, thats the airport in Calcutta that I remember. Look very cloudy and a bit chilled since the continent is nothern region. I wonder if Calcutta ever have snow? [silly me] it's just the cold wind from Sikkim brought to the down part of the region, that make Calcutta a bit chilled.

I shared yellow taxi with Chan from Korea and Caroline from Florida and another girl from Israel since we all heading to the same location at Sudder Street. I guess that's the highlight place for backpackers according to Lonely Planet bible. The taxi brought us to Hotel Maria that night since we have no time to look around. The next day, I moved to Salvation Army along the street. A place for a cheap skate who love travel and dont care about luxurious accommodation sometimes as long as clean for hygiene purposes.

Taxi driver in India is sometimes scary. They do drive fast try to beat F1 racing unfortunately they dont really follow law. Honking happen most of the time which could make anybody annoyed and insecure. Despite of that, I wont forget their local 'Cai' serve with 'Samosa' in kiosk street. The area look unclean but I still tried out, who care. Glad that I didnt get diarrhea. I fell ill, vomited on the train, the next morning after having nice dinner in a good restaurant, I suspected, the waiter has served me with water contaminated/unclean drinking water.

Vijayawada isnt really touristy place, unlike Hampi, and Andra Pradesh region, Vijayawada is urban country side. People talking Tamil instead Hindi.

The journey went through a little bit hard time and a good time already, until I reach Gokarna City at 4.00am and walking towards the beach in the dark with a company soldier of wild dog's barking to me. I guess that's because I try to get rid of paying extra money to the shuttle driver since he dropped us in the different place he suppose to be. Scam happen, so he get extra pocket money. Lying on the sand beach looking up at the sky with Cecile a Belgium girl whom I meet in a bus just now while waiting for the day light to continue trekking towards the hill. We walk along side by side, we were happy like a child when we finally see the next beach destination. Finally I spent a night in every beach there and mingle with other world travelers.

Angkor watt is my most favorite ancients temple. The Journey is keeping me fit and always in a positive site. From the peeping on my bathroom wall to the pick up truck scam, thats taught me to become smarter. This time I met Clare, Aussie girl who is in a mission of traveling the world. We were travel along the way to the ancients temples in Angkor Watt, one after another temples we went to discover, photo taking and the art work is breath taking. Not until, I found out at Bantey Srei temple when I realize my manual camera has falsely input of the film. I was crying at the nearest temple pond.

My unlucky isnt finish yet when I have to struggle calling my bank for assistant back at home to temporary increase my card credit limit due to several unexpected problem occur on my way.

I split up with Clare after Phnom Penh and I went to Sihanoukville. National Park, the waterfall, make me fill alive although I dont get a chance to meet or mingle with other traveler. I wonder where do they have gone, that time. Maybe I was in a wrong place.

Chasing after time is very tiring. Have to queue up before get in a boat for personal belonging and passport checking. They do that because to keep track all the backpacker or traveler in Cambodia before we enter Thailand back via Koh Kong. I felt like I was in Amazing Race that time, running with my heavy rucksack, arguing with the pick up driver to move fast, and hating for the extra pay on the toll and arrive at the border is just 5 min before the border close on that day. I need to be on the Thai gate before 6.00pm. Damn! I keep looking at the gate there and I am lucky, got in right on the dot.

I have been in this country many times, especially the tale on my journey from Cambodia haven't finish yet. I was in a bus 'so call', even though it's a mini van, when all the passenger is a 'farang' and I am the only one is different. On the road to Trat province, our bus has been stopped for inspection. The soldier look around with his torch light flashing to our faces, Then he flash and look at me sternly, frowning and my heart go beating fast out of sudden. 'oh no, dont detained me here. I need to catch up last boat to Ko Chang' my mind screaming. He thought I am Thai, or perhaps prostitute who been sleeping with the 'farang' on the bus. Thats how he looked at me. I show him my passport and he clear out and let our bus passed. Once reach Trat, I missed the last boat and stay overnite there before departing to Koh Chang the next morning.

Ko Chang is amazing. I have found the place to relax from the unexpected trouble during my journey. Swinging in my hammock that hang on the two pillar at my hut veranda, with overlooking spectacular ocean view, white beach and clear water that make me feel so serene. Reading 'I come undone' book given by friends long the road to pass around the story, it's really good experienced. Even romantic, when one of the 'farang' from Holland came bringing me a banana milk shake to my hut to show his eagerness to be friend.

When I turn 25, I was ready to go searching my biological mother who reside in Belitung Island in south Sumatera. After, gone through overland road obstacle, finally I were frustrated to find out that my mother isnt there. But I kept looking and asking people around and even show them my mother picture. Then a tragedy before has been vanish when mother and daughter re-unite again for a first time after 23 years separated. Emotional play, but I whisper to mother ear warning her not to cry, because I dont want to cry. We acted normal like we never been apart. Steve from England is the one who become a camera man witnessing the re union.

Over and over again, I went to Indonesia, and the latest is december 2006, I was flying back from Manado to Jakarta when Adam Air flight has been crashed down. I went diving [new hobbies for a single like me] at Bunaken island. After that, I went to witness myself the crater of papandayan volcano in central java. Got to the close up view and feeling scare a bit if its erupted out of sudden. Not to mention Bali and Lombok is my other favorite destination as well due to the uniquely culture and nature.

::Singapore

Singapore is another country that I keep coming back due to the family relative reason. Since my late grandpa died aged 103, 3 years ago; I seldom came down. This is a fine country. Everything you've done wrong and get caught will get a ticket. The government are very strict to educate their people to be more discipline. To reach east coast from the west coast would only take 45min drive with speed 120kmph. How small the country is but they have a big name known over the world.

::Malaysia

Unlike Singapore, Malaysia is more bigger land but still aint big as Thailand. You can reach northern border from southern border with only about 12 hours or less with 120 - 140kmph using express way. Kuala Lumpur is my second home. I love it big time here because I have friends, family, and lots of things need to be explore too. From the National Park to the east cost islands would make my heart tremble over and over to be there. Due to time and money consume, I limited my visit since I have whole a lot more country in the world waiting for me to be visited.

What really upset me most about this country is the hidden political agenda. Talking about bribe, they say they anti bribe and make a fuss campaign about it but still most of them still taking it. And racism? of course there is. Every other country have it also but here still under control.

I never expected to be traveling around Great Ocean Road before one of the 12 Apostle collapsed. It's winter time when I was there traveling. I love winter in Melbourne too. Maybe I like the city because of the slow motion daily activities and relax make me feel calm. It's unlike New York where everybody in hurry.
Things that I achieve in Australia is Koala. I love that big real cuddly doll. It's heavy to carry but adorable.

I haven't got chance to check out Great Barrier Reef yet. Maybe one fine day cause it's gonna cost me like RM10k maybe for a dive trip. I dunno yet but for sure I will try and make it happen.

::USA

The country of tragedy. Cases of 911 make me felt sorry. I had a big time hassle to come to this country. Maybe because I am Muslim. Muslim whom they called us terrorist. That make me felt annoyed really but well, I take a chance to visit their country anyway. I love America. Something unique which I cannot figure out what it is but it can be boring too sometimes. Nothing beat Kuala Lumpur with 24hours restaurant open where those who are like 'bat' hang out beside hang out to the clubs.

Jim Thorpe is awesome. Forest maybe look very decent unfortunately I ain't venture further there. Never try outdoor there which I regretted. I went check out the Washington DC, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. The rest of the region, not yet due to time and money consume. They have huge region. I cant cover all with only 4 months and what really sucks is I didnt get a job either although I've been trying to apply illegally. Well, lot's of traveler and backpacker done that. Even my German friend Nadine work there illegally for a year. Sad that the luck isnt strike on me that time eh.

Another country I go for their cultural and unique value. I am not fan of cultural actually but I am fan of outdoor and nature. Above all, I still have to explore and enjoy variety of their culture. Get in a cheap airfare 'Air Asia' sometime can be very rewarding. And I discover the Northern part of Philippine called Luzon. Travel with 'Ukirsari' my long time VT friend from Jakarta. Unfortunately she left me alone again to let me discover the rest of my journey.

My experienced being with a local people is not a huge matter but this time I came across with tourist from Sri Lanka who travel with his family. As we stayed at the same place Baden Powell Inn in Baguio, he approach me. We had a very good and irritable conversation. Another real life racist ahead of me. He seem warm friendly at first but full of hatred. He explain me about how bad Islam is and the muslim has to be scrap out. He even sorry to me as I was born as a Muslim. I fight back to defend my ideology about my religion. I told him, dont ever bother about Jesus Christ if you can't make yourself his good follower. The conversation turn out aggressively. Finally I was saying it's enough to talk 'so called educated people' who traveling much but react emotionally towards people ideology.

Finally I continue my journey to explore the secret of the Luzon land where for a second time, my digital camera failure happen while passing by Helsema Highway, a highway on top of the mountain region that witness a beautiful panorama. I was pissed off really that time.

I wasnt sure if I like New Zealand in a beginning. I wasnt expected much self adventure in here since I am following a group tour this time around. [Never had that before]. Cost me huge amount of money for a week day including airfare as well. Christchurch is a bit boring after dark. Especially during winter [no one like to go out, it's cold] The journey goes down to Ashburton, down to Dunedin. They have a very breathtaking scenic view, really. I was amazed of course.

The most region that I really like in New Zealand is Queenstown itself and I believe anyone would love Queenstown too. The breathtaking scenic mountain view especially 'The remarkable' and 'Coronet Mountain' is spectacular. Their activities and adventures is really challenging. I have not yet try bungy jumping but two of my friend did. I want to next time I come back. I could feel it's like committing suicide but what the heck if I could do it one in a life time, right. I did on shot over jet boat in Kawarau river. Fast 35kmph on a shallow water, very shallow they need 4-5m deep water only to shot and my heart like screaming fun when the jet turn 360o. It was fun time.

The turquoise color apply to its clear water river. I was so happy. Although, it can be bit boring and dull during winter and night time, I guess I gonna love this place. I was thinking to migrate here previously but I wasnt sure if I am gonna like this place. Now I have the idea how to love and to be loved in Queenstown.

Hope you have fun reading.

PS: I am sorry for lots of my other pages has not been updated with picture and tips and story due to my lazyassness. :P