Recap of 2013 and my goals for 2014

Tạm Biệt (in Vietnamese, means goodbye) 2013 and Sabaidee (in Laotian, means hello) 2014.

This year has been quiet good and I have experienced some amazing moments in 2013. A short recap of whats happened in 2013 and my goals for 2014.

Where have I been every month in 2013
January – Vietnam
February – Vietnam
March – Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, India
April – India, Nepal
May – India
June – India
July – India
August – India
September – India, Singapore
October – Malaysia, India
November – India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Myanmar
December – India

Travel statistics of 2013
Number of days on the road – 112
Countries traveled – 8
Distance traveled – 42,000+ km
Flight taken – 15
Train journeys – 4
Road journeys – 50+
Metro trains taken – 38
Ferries taken – 5
Cable car rides – 2
New beers tasted – 21
Days I felt home sick – 0
Photos taken – 12,329
Average spend per day – 45 USD (food & beverages + accommodation + entrance fees + local transport – airfare – visa charges)

Favorites of 2013
Country – Vietnam
City – Hong Kong, Singapore
Street – Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong
Nature Spot – Halong Bay in Vietnam
Food – Pho (Vietnamese noodle soup)
Beer – Saigon Lager Beer by SABECO
Airlines – Malaysian Airlines & Air Asia
Airport – Changi International Airport, Singapore
Metro Rail – Hong Kong MTR
Hotel – Number 9, Phnom Penh

Highlights of 2013

• New Year party in Ho Chi Minh City
• Celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) in Can Tho
• Couch Surfing in Da Nang
• Making tons of local and foreign friends at 75 Bui Vien
• Me and only me on the empty beaches of Doc Let
• Hue citadel and DMZ bar with locals
• Motorbiking on the Hai Van pass
• Boating in Tam Coc and Trang An
• Eating bugs and silkworm in Da Lat
• Visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi
• Junk boat in and around Halong Bay
• Trekking and meeting ethnic tribes in Sapa
• 48 hour bus ride from Hanoi to Luang Prabang
• Tubing and dirt biking in Vang Vieng
• Cycling in Vientiane and visiting Pha That Luang
• Bisket Jatra in Bhakpatur town of Nepal
• Feeling spirituality in Boudhanath and Swayambhunath in Kathmandu Valley
• Getting chased by a bear in Chitwan National Park
• Watching three countries at a time from Singapore Flyer
• Thrilling experiences on Sentosa Island
• Meeting a Vietnamese friend in Singapore and having an Indian lunch
• Wonderfull light and water show at Marina Bay Sands Shopping complex
• Gastronomic delight in Jalan Alor
• Free bus rides in Kuala Lumpur
• Watching the sky and walking to Petronas Twin Tower
• Part of Malaysia’s KFC’s TV commercial
• Cable Car ride in Genting Highlands
• Sleeping in KLIA’s LCC terminal overnights
• Wandering the non-touristy streets of Kawloon
• Ferry and tram rides on Hong Kong island
• Big Buddha at Ngong Ping village in Lantau island
• Faking profession as a taxi driver to get a Burmese visa
• People watching at Tsim Sha Tsui
• Falling in love with the romantic character of Hong Kong
• Truck taxi and trekking the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda
• Feeling Buddha’s soul at the Shwedagon Pagoda
• Chewing beetle nut all day long along with the receptionist
• Middle block 19th street experience in Yangon
• and many more

Bucket list of 2014

In 2014, I do not want to go to many places, but rather I would want to live as an expat in a foreign country in South East Asia. Here is my bucket list for 2014 –

• Go back to Vietnam for the Lunar New Year
• Live for few months in Singapore or Hong Kong
• Trek the Mount Everest base camp
• Buddhist retreat for a month
• Travel to Indonesia, Brunei and Philippines

Obstacles to overcome in 2014

1. Money – It’s often hard for long term travelers to make money on the go, unless you are exceptionally talented. I have no savings from the past, but I can manage to travel for two more months and then see what happens.

2. Fitness – My fitness levels have gone to the dustbin in the past few months. I have to gain my fitness back and get myself ready for Mount Everest base camp trek.

3. Convince my parents – My parents really worry that I am throwing away my life. I want to do what I love and convince them that everyone have different ambitions and goals in life.

I hope that 2013 had been an amazing year for you all and wishing you best things in 2014.