Indochina 2014: Of International Selfies and New Perspectives

Finally!:)

Had the time and spare energy to write about our Indochina backpacking.  To say that it was awesome is an understatement. It was a lot of firsts for me and those with me on the trip, Brian and Mau (two of my good friends and perennial travel buddies)- first trip out of a country, first time to go backpacking, first time to be away from home this long.

The trip took 14 days. Three countries, six legs. More than 100 hours on the road. Dozens of mishaps, tons of newfound friends, endless adventures, countless memories.

You do the math.:)

From the freezing foggy cruise in Halong to the hot Pho Ga (chicken soup) and vietcoffee enjoyed on the streets of Hanoi. From a relaxing retreat in Luang Prabang to shower-less DIY tours in Vientiane. From the temples in Siem Reap that made our jaw drop, to the historic sites in Phnom Penh that broke my heart. From horror sleeper bus rides in Viet-Lao and Lao-Cambodia borders to timeless shopping sprees in Ho Chi Minh markets.

#Indochina2014. :)

But it wasn’t the stamps on our passports or international selfies or the tourist spots we’ve ticked off our list that made the trip (although they truly did their part. Hehe).

It was getting out there and discovering and exploring and gaining a whole new perspective about the world and life itself. I’ve always loved travelling and I can say to anyone I meet that the Philippines is one of the most beautiful countries anyone could ever go to- ever. But until we see what other countries have to offer, how can we really say we’ve got the best? It got me thinking a lot about how badly we need to work on tourism in the country and how urgently we need to find ways to make it sustainable.

It was learning about diversity and inclusion. “Same, same but different,” so goes a common phrase in some Southeast Asian countries. And while we Filipinos may have different cultures, beliefs and traditions from those of the countries we’ve visited, you’d be surprised by how much we have in common with them. How much our culture is the same as theirs. How much of the hardships and turmoils- both natural and manmade- they have gone through as a country that we did as well. And yeah, they all love Manny Pacquiao as much as we do.

It was standing in awe of God’s creations. Natural marvels. Environmental wonders. Intertwined cultures. History. Religion. People.

Okay, okay, I’ll stop yakking. I just hadn’t really had the time to write these thoughts when I got home so I obviously can’t help myself. :)

Needless to say, it inspired me to travel more and travel far. 

As Jack Kerouac, whom I brought on the trip with me (On The Road couldn't be more apt), says:

But why think about that when all the golden lands ahead of you and all kinds of unforseen events wait lurking to surprise you and make you glad you're alive to see?

So let me take you to the unforeseen events and pleasant surprises of our ultimate trip. Hope you'll enjoy reading as much as we enjoyed the experience. :)

First stop: Halong. :)