Well, this post is probably just going to be a filler for the actual travel posts I will be making in awhile. I've been writing in my diary for the past 3 plus weeks, so not everything I write will be from my memory/made up. My intention was to blog on the go, but I guess I overestimated the abilities of my mobile phone and the internet connectivity of the places that I was going to. So I guess I'll start the travelling posts with whatever I have to say about the internet capabilities of each country.
Nepal
Not many complaints about the availability of wifi, but the speed of the wifi left much to be desired. Obviously while we were trekking we didn't expect wifi, but they defied our expectations and lo and behold. Wifi was available at both Dhampus and Sarangkot (not exactly mountains but quite high), where Instagrams of beautiful panoramic viewpoints could be shared almost immediately. Also, THIS IS A VERY BAD ATTITUDE TO HAVE! Take in the panoramic viewpoints with your eyes! This is a lesson I learnt many times throughout the trip, where faced with some breathtaking scenery, I tried to snap a picture, and realised its futility, before just thoroughly taking it in with my eyes, and storing it in my brain. But I digress.
As I said, internet speed was not good at all, and not expected to. Hence, checking of results became an issue of greater nervousness than it needed to be, as the page would mostly fail to load until after multiple reloadings of the website (We all graduated by the way). Blogging was not impossible, but very difficult with the unstable connection and general draining nature of trekking all day. So I wrote in my diary instead.
China
Blogging was impossible due to the site I chose to host it on. China internet blocks all things google related, facebook, blogspot, wordpress and god knows what else. Wifi was available in our hostels, which was probably all we needed, since we took many day trips out, and checking the internet was not the biggest priority. However, it became harder to come by once we left Xi'an and began our sleeping-in-trains and airports leg, and our to-go wifi hotspot was Dico's, a fast food chain selling fried chicken. The great firewall of China was especially hard to deal with when I needed to update whatsapp, and had to do so from Google Playstore. Then again, it really does show how much we base our offline realities and relationships online. I should know best, since I did this for my Graduation Paper. In any case, glad I'm not living there long-term.
Turkey
Again, wifi was available for free in the hostels, but not so much in public spaces, which could prove problematic when we were looking for places on tripadvisor and all that. Became a problem for me when I forgot to print my flight itinerary and couldn't access my email at the airport. Gloria Jeans, Starbucks, Burger King all did not offer wifi, which was one point I think the China airports did better, despite the great firewall. I think they did offer wifi, but at the price of 10 Lira per hour. Quite ridiculous. As for speed, well, it's definitely not as fast as what I have back home, and what I have back home is not as fast as what I got in Sweden. Why am I even talking about Sweden here?
In any case, this is a small overview of the connectivity of the countries, and I'll probably talk about airports first before properly going into the daily blogging from my diary. Some last comments though, mostly regarding our dependency on having internet available to us at all times. I think this has partly got to do with us storing some necessary information we used to store offline (either in a notebook or our brains) online, and the expectation of the ubiquitous nature of the internet, for this information to be always available to us, whenever and wherever we need it. After this trip, I realised the internet is not always there for you, and it would be necessary to store whatever vital information in hard copy as well.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
travelling is exciting.
After all the bullshit known as planning, it's finally my turn to take a break from Singapore and head off to the foreign lands doing things people do in foreign lands.Just done packing and I sincerely hope I don't forget to bring anything, because my bag looks rather empty. A (partially) new bunch of people to travel with, so hopefully I return from this holiday refreshed and with many new insights.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
money money money. and some other things.
So I was doing some accounting and budgeting and I realised I might have tried to stretch my dollar a little too much. And when things can't stretch anymore they tear/break/fall apart. It therefore appears that a loan from my parents is inevitable, and will just add on to the debt that I have accumulated through the years of my education (mostly from travelling and exchange, so well worth it then).
Anyway, besides money being very important, I realised several things from just planning to move from place to place as well as booking hostels. I won't claim to be doing everything, because I'm not, but I can still learn lessons from what little I've done ha. I shall try to make a list, but I might veer off into long prose again.
1) It's difficult
Train/Bus/Plane schedules don't run according to your personal travelling timetable, and many times, from the plan itself, we will have to cut short certain activities and haul our ass towards the train/bus station/airport to move to the next destination. Even then, the trains we want might not be available, seeing as to how we are still unable to get a booking until now. Someone needs to make an international call soon I think.
2) It's expensive (especially when you don't have time)
Well, I don't know how to elaborate other than it costs a lot of money, especially when time isn't a luxury we can afford. Instead of cheap 9-13hr overland transport, we chose planes because it's fast. And also very expensive. Right here I'll have to explain that it's not that I don't want to take longer and do the overland routes, but the fact that (not really wanted) duty calls and if I took my time I'd be heading back to Singapore after 2-3 stops.
3) Coordination is a pain
The title is self explanatory. Getting the opinions of 5 others to make a single decision is really not fun. I still try to do it, but most of the time just go with the majority. Pure democracy is maybe not the way to go haha! I guess we're lucky most of us are more easy-going and don't mind whatever decision is taken, but sometimes a little feedback can help. Our meeting did help a lot in finalising many things. Looking at it theoretically (meaning not a case from our group), from a worst case scenario, it's everybody's trip, but sometimes people don't give opinions until a decision is made, which is not helpful. Long story short, that's bad. And did I mention unhelpful?
Well, I came up with 3 things. Planning is part of the process, but it sure isn't THAT enjoyable (other than looking at the places we could potentially visit). Especially when you realise you don't have a lot of money.
Anyway, besides money being very important, I realised several things from just planning to move from place to place as well as booking hostels. I won't claim to be doing everything, because I'm not, but I can still learn lessons from what little I've done ha. I shall try to make a list, but I might veer off into long prose again.
1) It's difficult
Train/Bus/Plane schedules don't run according to your personal travelling timetable, and many times, from the plan itself, we will have to cut short certain activities and haul our ass towards the train/bus station/airport to move to the next destination. Even then, the trains we want might not be available, seeing as to how we are still unable to get a booking until now. Someone needs to make an international call soon I think.
2) It's expensive (especially when you don't have time)
Well, I don't know how to elaborate other than it costs a lot of money, especially when time isn't a luxury we can afford. Instead of cheap 9-13hr overland transport, we chose planes because it's fast. And also very expensive. Right here I'll have to explain that it's not that I don't want to take longer and do the overland routes, but the fact that (not really wanted) duty calls and if I took my time I'd be heading back to Singapore after 2-3 stops.
3) Coordination is a pain
The title is self explanatory. Getting the opinions of 5 others to make a single decision is really not fun. I still try to do it, but most of the time just go with the majority. Pure democracy is maybe not the way to go haha! I guess we're lucky most of us are more easy-going and don't mind whatever decision is taken, but sometimes a little feedback can help. Our meeting did help a lot in finalising many things. Looking at it theoretically (meaning not a case from our group), from a worst case scenario, it's everybody's trip, but sometimes people don't give opinions until a decision is made, which is not helpful. Long story short, that's bad. And did I mention unhelpful?
Well, I came up with 3 things. Planning is part of the process, but it sure isn't THAT enjoyable (other than looking at the places we could potentially visit). Especially when you realise you don't have a lot of money.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
China itinerary.
Well here's a not so brief plan of what we are going to do in China, courtesy of Francis.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Hello Passenger, Welcome to China Tours. We will provide service for you with all my heart. We bring you around China for many day. Wish you have a pleasant journey.
27 May: You will leaving Singapore 0745 hrs to transit at Kuala Lumpur. Afterward arrive at Kathmandu International Airport at 1400hrs.
2 Jun: We will depart Kathmandu, transit at Kunming at 2115. You get chance to sleeping in our comfortable airport sit.
3 Jun: Leaving 1045 flying to Xi'an Xianyang Airport, reach 1245hrs. We will walking walking around Xi'an, look at large Great Wall of China.
4 Jun: Morning we go see the beautiful Bingmayong of Xi'an, it is famous and beautiful tomb of Qinshihuang nearby. After we will go to beautiful Huaqingchi Lake later.
5 Jun: Today we spending whole day at Huashan Mountain. There you will have deadly visit with high plank road. Our trip will be continue even in event of death.
6 Jun: Free-and-EZ day, fly at 1855 hrs, land in Lanzhou at 19:55. You sample the delicious beef of Lanzhou 拉面
7 Jun: You can visit beautiful Water-wheel park in Lanzhou, where you will be see the waterwheel of Lanzhou. No hotel is book for tonight.
8 Jun: Train 1043 0550 hrs, reaching Zhangye at 12:17. We will follow bus to Danxia Landforms, where you see beautiful many color rock and mountain. No hotel is book for tonight.
9 Jun: Train K9667 0020 from Zhangye reach Dunhuang at 0746. You can visit beautiful Mingshashan Sand Dunes, where you can see beautiful Crescent lake and beautiful sand dune.
10 Jun: Green city bus to beautiful Mogao caves, ticket for entry 160 yuan for foreigners. No hotel is book for tonight. 3 hours from Dunhuang to Liuyuan Train Station. Train 1043 2013hrs from Liuyuan
11 Jun: We reach Urumqi 0735hrs. Here we can free-and-EZ to explore different way to die. One of the beautiful attraction is Heaven Lake of Tian Shan but 100km east of Urumqi.
12 Jun: No hotel is book for tonight!!! Fly from Urumqi 0415, transiting at Almaty. Reach Istanbul at 0955hrs.
Here we are please pay by the number on the meter. Dont forget your receipt and the belonging. Welcome to take China Tour again. Thank you and the goodbye.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Before anything...
I want to say I created this just so that I can keep some memories of the places we will head to and all the shit that we'll do, but that's obviously a lie. I created this so that I could write about my grad trip with 5 other people who are my friends. Ok... That's a half truth. Let's be honest here. I created this blog so that I can share my ideas (ok I really gotta stop this nonsense). The reason I really created this blog is so that I can write about my grad trip and show other people that I'm writing about my grad trip, where I'm going, what I'm doing, my thoughts along the way and show off both the trip and my (self-proclaimed) superior writing skills. Yeah that's better. More realistic. Because in all honesty if I was just interested in writing I'd keep a travel diary (I will).
So anyway, the trip is pretty much underplanned, because all 6 (actually 4? Francis did a lot of research and I'm just plain lazy) of us are somewhat busy with FYP presentation. The basic gist of our trip is that we'll travel from the East to the West as some sort of symbolism for god knows what. It's just symbolic ok? But I digress. Here's a basic plan after our latest (one-sided) discussion.
Nepal - Xi'an - Lanzhou - Dunhuang - Istanbul and Cappadocia - Greece/Singapore
The original plan was to head to Urumqi and Kashgar and Osh after Xi'an, but seeing as to how there are slashings and bombings at Urumqi, and the lack of time to do the hitchiking from Kashgar to Osh (which by the way is in Kyrgyzstan) Francis suggested a change to take the Northern Silk Road instead of the one through the Taklamakan Desert. Us being very agreeable people, agreed.
Our choice of mode of transport from place to place will be PLANES, because sadly, my time overseas is limited by the call of duty, which comes at the most inopportune times. Personally I would have liked to take a month or 2 to travel these routes overland. Thanks again SAF. That is also why I will not being going to Greece. Anyway this is way too long and annoying for an introductory post. Next time round hopefully there will be a group photo or some preparation photos or something like that yeah? And maybe I'll let the other fellas post something as well.
justin.
So anyway, the trip is pretty much underplanned, because all 6 (actually 4? Francis did a lot of research and I'm just plain lazy) of us are somewhat busy with FYP presentation. The basic gist of our trip is that we'll travel from the East to the West as some sort of symbolism for god knows what. It's just symbolic ok? But I digress. Here's a basic plan after our latest (one-sided) discussion.
Nepal - Xi'an - Lanzhou - Dunhuang - Istanbul and Cappadocia - Greece/Singapore
The original plan was to head to Urumqi and Kashgar and Osh after Xi'an, but seeing as to how there are slashings and bombings at Urumqi, and the lack of time to do the hitchiking from Kashgar to Osh (which by the way is in Kyrgyzstan) Francis suggested a change to take the Northern Silk Road instead of the one through the Taklamakan Desert. Us being very agreeable people, agreed.
Our choice of mode of transport from place to place will be PLANES, because sadly, my time overseas is limited by the call of duty, which comes at the most inopportune times. Personally I would have liked to take a month or 2 to travel these routes overland. Thanks again SAF. That is also why I will not being going to Greece. Anyway this is way too long and annoying for an introductory post. Next time round hopefully there will be a group photo or some preparation photos or something like that yeah? And maybe I'll let the other fellas post something as well.
justin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)