8 Life-Changing Things Asia Taught Me
Bali: How to Drive an Automatic Scooter
After having the poop scared out of me from being doubled on the back of my boyfriends motorbike in high school, I vowed that those devil-machines just weren’t for me and was never going on one again. Then in Bali reason caught up with me and I decided to get over it. Holy shamoley, it’s amazing! The freedom you feel zooming along the road, bugs in your hair, is unmatched by any other form of transport.
READ: Heading to Nusa Lembongan? Check out this awesome Guide!
Cambodia: Meditation
I discovered Meditation when I dragged my sad, hungover butt to a Retreat for a week. That shit is awesome. You get all calm in your mind and feel like you’re totally at peace with the Earth and yourself and everyone and you feel all powerful and shit. It’s great. I’m going to meditate all over the place now!
Cambodia: Yoga
Discovered in the same retreat as above. I’ve come to realise that yoga not only keeps a girl skinny while travelling but it also helps with any aches and pains, makes you all bendy (sexy time?) and STRONGER. Seriously. Go do Yoga. It’s life-changing.
Thailand: Social Smoking
I didn’t say all the ‘life-changing’ things were going to be GOOD. Cigarettes are so damn cheap there and I really love the buzz a cigarette gives you when you’re having a couple of drinks. It’s so hard to say no when people offer them to you left right and centre, plus I really like them. Damn.
Editors note: I “gave up” smoking (not that I ever really started) a year later in Mexico after I found out a close family member had lung cancer. Don’t do drugs, eeek!
Everywhere: Playing Charades with Strangers
Though I’ve done this before on a smaller scale in South America, I usually had enough Spanish to get by without ‘the game’ most of the time. In Asia every single country uses a different language and I’m lucky if I learn much more than “hello” and “thankyou”. So I’ve developed a strong affliction for a game of charades at any time of day, for any situation (including telling boys I like them).
Vietnam & Laos: The Sheer Delights of Street Food
I honestly can’t express my love for street food enough. Why do we not have these delightful, cheap, amazing, movable food places in Australia? Whyyyy? It’s saved me so much money, had me meet cool locals, and been so god-damn delicious and all I had to pay for it was a few weeks of food poisoning… Jokes!
Cambodia: How to Drive a Manual Motorbike
Just four months after learning to ride a scooter I was in a position where I had to learn how to drive a fricken HUGE and powerful dirt bike. But there was no one around to teach me! So I did what anybody would do in the same situation and I searched on Youtube: “how to drive a manual motorbike.” Sure enough I was trained and biking around Siem Reap in no time. Didn’t even crash it either.
Borneo: Amazing Caving
I’ve done Caving once before, but after spending time in Heritage Cave Capital of the World: Mulu National Park, my cave obsessions ran rampant! I penetrated every cave in the area spending more money there in a week than I usually do in a month. I’m shit scared of heights too so balancing along tiny cliff edges with drop offs next to you that you’ll never know the height of is my type of extreme sporting!
This post was made with extra love, affection and a cheeky bit of humour by me, just For You! If you liked it, please share it X
What new things have you learnt while travelling?
Crystal Egan
Passionate baby goat cuddler and part-time adventurer, Crystal can often be found doing headstands on the edges of cliffs, taking photos of abandoned buildings or sleeping on deserted islands with dangerous criminals. She has too many awesome stories and helpful tips to keep them all to herself so follow along and in return she will bring you inspiring pictures, travel videos and a whole load of fun!
I totally related to this article based on my own travels in Asia. I learned so many new things like Thai cooking, SCUBA diving, spelunking and calmly walking into seas of traffic. Most of all, I learned about myself.
You’ve learned so many things in Asia. I don’t think motorbikes are for me, though. These are the countries in Asia that I haven’t explored, yet. I hope I’d have the chance to visit these places, soon. Congrats on quitting smoking.
Laughing out loud, what a fun and light hearted read. Something I needed after a busy day.
I learnt many of those things in Asia as well, almost every time I’m about to head to Bali or Thailand I vow to not get on a motorbike and every single time I sin. My favourite (maybe more memorable) time was in Chiang Mai when 3 of my friends and I decided to get bikes so we could explore waterfalls. Little did I realise we would be travelling through peak hour freeway roads- to say I was scared would be an understatement. But that’s the beauty of travel isn’t jumping head first way out of your comfort zone :). xx
Touring around Asia is really great as you get to learn their culture and more things from different places. Taiwan and China’s street food are also must-tries. South Korea’s fashion and Japan’s pop culture also stand out especially for teenagers.
I am headed back to Thailand next month and can’t wait! I love Bali I loved how cheap everything there is, my main favorite was the luxury massages! I need to try out the scooters the next time we go!
Bali is one of my dream destinations. Reading this makes me want to extend that to all of Asia!
It looks like you had an amazing once in a life time trip! Lots of wonderful experiences and something that you won’t forget any time soon. Your caving picture looked so fun!
I have never been to Asia but I love traveling to other countries. It is so much fun to see how another culture lives. I would love to go caving in Asia and Yoga and Meditation are wonderful habits to pick up for sure! Thanks for sharing!
I have never been to Asia or out of the country for that matter. I like the idea of visiting and learning about other cultures but my fear of flying over seas has kept me from visiting anywhere out of the U.S. This looks like a great destination though.
I have never been to Asia but it is on my Travel Bucket List! I love to see how other cultures live!. I would love to do yoga in Cambodia! And Caving is on my list too! I long for a great adventure!
I love this! Am sharing this Asian food market obsession with you, why oh why we don’t have them here in Europe?? I will never understand! 😀 Looking forward to your new adventure wherever they will be 🙂 Greetings from Croatia!
Street food is like the best thing ever. It is one of the best things about Puerto Rico, too. I must admit I may have been a little hesitant in Vietnam and Laos, but after seeing your photo…His food and grill look more sanitary than some restaurants I’ve eaten at! Hahaha…I wish I were joking. 🙂
OH! And great job conquering your fears in the cave.
Asia is definitely a place to learn a lot about the world. The whole continent is full of destination countries that have a deep (sometimes dark) history that most of the world knows nothing about.
I have spent a few days in the Philippines June of last year and met some great people there. Although I had nothing in common with them, expect for my love of their country, we immediately clicked. They were friendly and happy to have me with them.
I stayed in Palawan for a few days in a family’s apartment. When I travel, I try to avoid hotels as much as possible and connect with locals instead. It was a great experience and I am looking forward to another one as soon as I can.
I am planning to visit these five of these islands, in the span of a months or so.
Hopefully I’ll conquer some fears just like you did.
I had a similar experience in the Philippines 🙂 Thank you for the comment!
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