Singapur - the city of blinding lights!

Although yesterday it was not sure if I could fly at all, I made it and after 15,5 hours of flight, here I am in Singapore. And my back is quite ok! I love Singapore from the very beginning, and a possibility of rating my experience in the toilet (at the airport) makes my day ;-)

At the airport I quickly book the hostel - Ali's Nest - located in the Little India and probably the cheapest accomodation in Singapore. Very basic, but clean. Anyway, a bed and wifi is everything I need ;-)

In the early evening I meet my friend Kasia, who lives in Singapore. We're going for a drink, and a dinner, where we meet a movie producer - an old German guy - with whom we're having a long chat not only about movies. Later in the evening we had to the famous Marina Bay Sounds hotel and its famous night club KU DE TA. This is a club with THE VIEW!.

The next day I start visiting Singapore from the National Orchid Garden. My secret dream job always was a gardener, so I love this place with incredible number of these beautiful plants :) Later on I continue my flowery excursion at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

In the evening, I meet Kasia again. This time we are having a dinner in Chinatown. Later on we go for drinks :)

Last day I spend on visiting incredible Gardens By The Bay.

Expect unexpected or let the new adventure begin!

Although it is only the first day of my trip to Asia, I know already it's gonna be different than I initially planned.. In the morning of the departure day I do the scanning of my back, as a big pain makes my living very difficult and puts in question my trip. The diagnose is not very optimistic to say the least. It's a hernia, and doctor forbids me to travel... No no no, I just cannot not to go to Asia. Everything is planned, I have already six weeks of holidays and my ticket is not refundable! My tears convince the doctor, but I have to unpack half of my backpack and modify my itinerary. Instead of adventurous Borneo where I was planning to climb Mount Kinabalu and do some trekking in the jungle, I decide to rest and relax a bit in Bali.. or at least to start my trip this way, and then I will see... ;-)

Since I have spent all morning in the hospital, I will not be able to go to Warsaw by train if I want to catch my evening plane. I'm thus flying. And there, at the Warsaw Airport I meet the famous American rapper - 50 Cent! I'm sure that this is only beginning of the great trip! So let it begin... :-)

Bangkok - the meeting place

I'm back in Bangkok. Where do I head to? Of course I cannot miss the anti-government demonstrations ;-). Apparently brutal and dangerous, in reality calm and peaceful, with people singing, dancing and clapping their hands :)

Bangkok turns out to be a real meeting place! I spent the afternoon with Michał - a friend from Wrocław, evening with Ioannis (a friend from CoE) and his wife Ingrid, and the late evening with Kami and Romi, who couldn't stand the cold in Nepal and decided to warm up in Thailand :)

Romi and I, try the local specialities ;-))

Yummy!! ;-)

Bangkok Shutdown!

While I'm trying to get the tickets for the boat and for the train, I learn that it will be impossible, due to the Bangkok Shutdown! Basically all Bangkok is blocked, no train, no bus, no car can enter the city. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! It turns out that the only possibility to reach the destination is a flight.

But before I take a flight from Surat Thani, I need to reach continent, so I take the night boat. When I enter the boat, I'm totally shocked when I see the teeny-tiny matrasses! Am I supposed to sleep on this ultra-narrow matrass (maximum 50 cm wide!), just next to other people? All passengers who enter the boat seem to be equally shocked. Luckily the boat is not full, so I can sleep.

When we arrive on the land, we are being collected by a mini-bus and then being deposed in some restaurant. There, we wait for others tourists to arrive (apparently being collected from different boats), and then we are again taking different mini-buses and we depart in different directions. I head to the airport, from where I'm flying to my last stop on this trip - Bangkok on the shutdown ;-)

Delirium in Koh Tao!

Today I saw a bar called Delirium in Koh Tao!!!! The same pink elephant and Belgian beers on the menu! I think the Universe is sending me a sign that it is time to come back to Brussels ;-)

p.s. Delirium is the most popular bar with beers in Brussels.

Mai Pen Rai!

The dolce vita and dolce farniente in the Paradide continue... ;-)

ps: Mai Pen Rai is a Thai expression, very frequently used, which can be translated as "don't worry", "it's okay", "never mind".

Friends will be friends

During every travel I meet friends. Sometimes, these are completely random meetings in the most remote countries of the World. Sometimes these meetings are planned - like the one now. Ania is a good friend of mine, whom I know for more than 10 years. Last time we met in September 2011 - just before my 3 months trip to Asia. When I came back to Europe, she was already gone - to Asia - where she is residing since then - currently in Koh Tao, as a diving instructor. I'm very happy we finally managed to reunite :)

Koh Tao - good morning from Paradise!!

I decided to get to Koh Tao by a night train (departing Bangkok at 7:30 PM) and it was an excellent idea. The train was clean and safe, I had a sleeping place, so when I arrived to Chumphon at 4:13 AM, I was pretty rested. From Chumphon I took a boat to Koh Tao, and I arrived there early in the morning. I rented a room in Tropicana, and this is what appeared to my eyes, when I went to the beach :)

Bangkok, feels like home..

It's my ninth or so time in Bangkok. I always stay in the same hotel in Rambuttri street, next to Khao San Road, I always visit my favourite Temple of Reclining Buddga - Wat Pho, and I always visit... my favourite fortune teller :)

What happens in Pokhara, stays in Pokhara...

After two great weeks in Pokhara, it's time to hit the road again. I spent my last day together with Monika on shopping. 

Unfortunately it turns out, that because of the festival that is taking place in Pokhara, all the flights to Kathmandu were sold out! All of them! And I cannot prolong my stay in Nepal, as I have a flight to Bangkok. There is no other option, but to take a taxi to Kathmandu. It will cost me 80$ and 6 hours if drive, but I make it on time to the airport.

At the airport I'm spending my last money and write the postcards, for the lucky winners of my quiz ;-)

Finally with my sis!

After three great days in Himalaya, I'm back down on the Earth. It's good to be back in Pokhara. But it's even better to meet Kami - my sis, who just arrived to Nepal :)

MOUNTAINS...

Mountains as the sea are a measure of the greatness from which mankind feels inspired, relieved.
That same greatness is in each and every one of us, but we can't recognize it. That is why we are attracted by mountains. That is why through centuries, so many men and women came to Himalaya, hoping that these heights could provide the answers they missed by staying in the flat lands. And they keep coming.
(Tiziano Terzani "Letters against the war" - quote translated by Dani)