Purifying My Soul, Tasting the Local Luwak Shit Coffee

So on our adventures around Bali, we were able to find a place all locals go to cleanse & purify there soul, and wash away there sins.  Maybe this is why they lie to your face so often, because they know they can visit the nearby water temple to wash away there sins.  Hmm I don't think this works, it makes them all much worse.  The big Banyon tree, was just another of there hugh trees that I would like to climb.  That's all, no significance or importance, just fun to climb.

 This last pic is of me tasting the most flavorful coffee in all of indonesia.  It's beans are eaten whole by the Luwak, much like a small black fox, then excreted still whole, and then cleaned, and brewed to your liking.  Aparently the enzymes in there stomach coats the beans and eliminates the bitterness, leaving you with a smooth, full bodied rich flavor that people all over the world will pay up to $50 per cup.  We bought some so you can all stop by for a coffee when we return back to Vancouver.

Monkeying Around, Ubud, Bali

So when your traveling you typically stay in one location for no more then 2-3 nights.  A place really has to be filled with good healthy food, culture, adventure, clean air and must be easy to walk around.  Ubud, pretty much had it all.  We found a great Guest House with a pool for $8 ea per night, and the small yoga/hippy town had enough to keep us busy for 4 nights.  

One of the days we spent playing with the wild monkeys.  Typically not something I would reccomend, but if you understand animals and the few basic rules with monkeys this place is the best place to have them eat a banana out of your hand.  Random fact, some of them even know how to swim completely underwater.  

The food here is as good as you can get at home, but much cheaper.  We loved wondering the streets at night, through all the alleys, looking for the best kept secrets.  

Volcano Bromo, Java

We decided we needed some adventure.  A hike up to one of Java's many Volcano's.  We happened to meet a young local teenager who was touring on his own.  So Andy helped us negotiate with the locals, find cheap accomadation, ask for directions find our own way to the volcano at 4:30am.

Reunited with my Lover

Yeah I have finally been reunited with my love.  My lover Larisa and our friend Alana have met up with me for the 2nd Chapter of my trip.  1st stop, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.  We stayed at a great Loseman named Setia Kawan, which was my 1st comfortable clean accom. in 10 days.

Brodbrodure a big fancy temple, a few elephants, and some great peeps.  What more can I ask for.

Lake Danau Toba, Sumatra

Next stop,  Lake Danau Toba, one of the largest crater lakes in the world, with an Island in the middle, formed from another Volcanic eruption many years later.  Samosir the island is super laid back, so much so that magic mushrooms are legal and sold everywhere.  

The Liberta's Guest House was one of my favorite places I have ever stayed.  It may have been that it was so cheap.  Under $1 for most meals, shakes and such great honest and friendly family who pampers you like royalty.  It could have been the intricately designed long houses amongst the beautiful gardens situated beside the peaceful lake.  This was a great change from the crazy traffic, and terrible roads of Sumatra.  An exciting motor bike ride around the whole island takes 10 hours, give or take, depending how many flat tires along the way.  Wow the worse the roads the more primitive the village.

Jungle Trek, Bukit Lawang, Sumatra, Indonesia

After 2 weeks of Malaysia, I decided for something a little bit more rustic and primitive.  Malaysia, is great is a great place to get your feet wet, as it is so clean, safe, good roads, comfortable buses, but now that's to easy.  I wanted to get slapped in the face with a culture shock, so I decided to go to the north of Sumatra Indonesia, a little bit more off the beaten path.  Tourists are much more rare.  Two days without seeing another tourists or anyone understanding english, feels much more like traveling.

So the first stop was the Jungle in Bukit Lawang.  This was a proper jungle, full of every type of monkey, big furry bug, and river creature imaginable.  We saw 6 different types of monkeys, including the Orangoutang's, a centipede as big as my hand, and had a 1-2 m lizard scare us all out of the river.

Sleeping in the jungle was nearly impossible as all the sounds of the animals are much louder at night, and we are sleeping in a shelter that is only enough to keep the rain out, with no closed in sides.  All of the girls were freaking out all night, because of bats, and monkeys coming inside for a look.  

Petronis Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I was in Malaysia, I guess I had to make it to the tallest twin towers in the world.  I was originally going to pass, but I forgot my typhoid pills in my Hostel in Kuala Lumpur, so I had to go back to get them anyway.  It gave me a chance to see another part of the city, which I really liked.  The towers were very impressive.  We made it up to the top.  86 Stories and 482m.

Maleka, Malaysia

The City, of Melaka, Malaysia is a world heritage site which still has most of it's buildings from the 1500's still standing.  The china town here is a step back in time.  I really should have spent more time here wondering the ancient streets.



















Here in Melaka I met an artist Cristjen Lai
who asked if he could use me as a model for his book of portraits that he is drawing and will publish upon completion.  Here is a picture of his work.  480 portraits of people from all over the world.  Funny enough, looking through the book, I saw around 6-8 other people I had met during my travels.

If you want to be in his book, he is a great artist.  Let him know you know me and he will be sure to draw something that is wonderful, just like you.

Malaysia, Northwest Coast 2012

Ok I am in SE Asia once again.  This time I decided that I should see Malaysia & Indonesia, and skip to typical tour of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.  I have been solo and unsure how this trip would be with Larisa so far away.  Last time she was with me and the time before I was single.  Each of the trips would surely be different.

I found my 1st stop to Kuala Lumpur very beautiful, but very hard to meet any travelers.  My experiences now matter how much I like or dislike a new location, are mainly enlightened by the people I meet and the interactions I have.  Feeling unsure, or maybe like I was to old to interact with the typical backpacker between 21-30 I immediately started searching for nature to escape.  It was an easy choice when one of my dorm mates asked if I would like to join him to the Cameron Highland's.  It didn't seem to bother either of us that it was monsoon season up in the mountains.  It would be a great way to escape the 35 degree heat and 100% humidity.

As soon as I got there the vibe was different.  The local people and other foreign travelers were much more friendly and chatty.  I met a 3 different couples that all seemed to be into the hiking and adventure as I was.  We would drink expensive beer, and chat about our past travel experiences at the hostel, as we watched the monsoon rain flood the country side.  It made the hike the next day to the top of the highest peak a challenging one.  The ankle high hiking boots would have come in handy, as the muddle puddles in most places were up to 6 inches deep.  I lost my shoe a few times when stepping in the wrong place.  The way down through the tea plantations, was still torrential downpour but the 25 degrees temps made it easily tolerable.

 We all had so much fun together that we ended up traveling together to the next two stops.  The Island of Penang, Malaysia, was such a great time.  Renting Motorbikes for $5 for 24 hours plus $2 gas, gives you the freedom to see everything on the island, if you don't get lost.  Waterfalls, the biggest temple in Malaysia, lots of monkeys and few stops to the beach to cool down from the heat.  The last spot together before we all went separate ways was the island of Langkawi in the far northwest.

It was so hard not to go visit my favorite spot in Thailand, Rai Lei Beach, only a 5 hour boat ride away.  I new however I would get stuck there, and had to stick to my original plan of heading south to Indonesia.

Here we finally found a cheap place to drink in Georgetown.  It was basically chairs and a table in a back alley, but it was 3 drinks for $3.  That's a price we can afford.  A renowned World Heritage Site.

Homeward Bound

Yes we are heading back to reality after 4 months of fun in Asia. I had to do a few more things before we headed home. Last minute shopping, a few more great Thai meals, a couple more Samgsom drinks at the 10 baht whiskey shop (that's .33 cents Can). We had to check out the Royal Palace and a stop at the Tiger Temple for a once in a lifetime bonding experience with a 450 lb. tiger.

I am looking forward to seeing you all, and hope you enjoyed our updates.

Todd & Larisa

Back to Thailand to find Larisa

Larisa and I had taken 10 days travelling solo, as we both wanted to see some different places. She had to see Ankor Wat, and I had already been there. I had heard so many great things about the south of Laos. It was nice to take some time away, and reuniting is great. Laos has no pulse, but I can only handle that for no more then 10 days.

Yesterday I took the 20hr. bus/train/bus journey back into Thailand to one of my favorite places. Kanchanaburi, is only 2 hours from crazy Bangkok on the River Kwai. Yes from the movie. A river side room is $2.25 split between us. Today we visited the Erawen National Park for a hike to the seven waterfalls. Swimming all day, waiding in the pools, and jumping into the falls. Anyone coming to Thailand has to check this place out.

I also had a chance to play with a leapord for $3 as you can see it's pretty big, and a little scary, but still a baby only 7 months old.

Tommorrow the tiger temple. I will update you on that later. Yes we do get to play with the big ass tigers as well.

Laos, 4000 Islands

Who knew that a country with out any ocean surrounding it would have so many islands. The Mekong river is so big that there are tons of islands in the south. So chilled out, primative, They just got electricity in Nov. 09

Five relaxing days to take it easy before we come back home and get back to work on Mar. 1
Day 1 Boat tour down the Mekong to the waterfalls and see the dolphines.
Day 2 Pedal biking throught the countryside experiencing the life of the locals. In most places most still have to go to the well everyday for there water, and still using fires and candles to see at night.
Day 3 5 hours of Whitewater Kayaking through the rapids and along the river through Laos and into Cambodia. Close up and personal with the dolphines, and a trip to the biggest waterfalls in Asia.
Other then that we were lying in a hammock reading a good book, or sitting on the beach by the fire drinking the local whiskey. 1 big 26 oz. bottle for $1.15 Canadian.

Ho Chi Mhin City, Vietnam War

This city is crazy. There are over 3 million motorbikes weaving through the city completly random. Even the sidewalks are full of people weaving around those walking. Crossing the streets here is a true death wish. You just have to walk slowly with confidence (no hesitation) and they will move around you.

I also had a chance to fire 10 rounds of a M16 semi-automatic machine gun during our trip to the Chu Chi tunnels. These were small tunnels that the Vietkong used to hide from the US troops and because of there 10 meter depth also away from the random bombs dropped thoughout the country. They were made very small so only the Vietnamese could fit. We had a chance to dog walk on hands and knees through one of the 100 meter tunnels. I am small and I still had a real hard time.

Sand Dunes, Mui Nei

Wow this desert was quit amazing, but very very hot. Larisa wanted to turn around once we got out onto the hot sand, but I convinced here that we came all this way and couldn't turn around. It's really just tons of sand but we feel compelled to go check it out as we don't have anything like that at home.

Mui Ne, The Desert by the South China Sea

Today we decided to head to the small resort town Mui Ne. Yes it's all desert. The yellow sand, the white sand, the copper sand everywhere. Vietnam has been a surprise. Many travellers have talked about how mean the people are here, but we have really enjoyed most people, and the country and culture is so diverse from place to place. Tommorrow we will be heading for Saigon (Ho Chi Min) It looks like we will be able to watch the Olympics here. Unlike Thailand and many of the other SE Asia countries, Vietnam has alot of American TV.

Another week here in Vietnam and then I will be heading to the south of Laos and Larisa will be heading through Cambodia, up through Penong Pehn and up to Anchor Wat as we both make our way back to Bangkok for our flight home. See you all on March 1.

Dalat in the Mountains

We have found our way into wine and coffee country. Dalat has the most fertile growing conditions for everything, fruit, vegetables, coffee, grapes for wine, lush green grass. We had to try the local Dalat wine, although a tour of the local vinyards were not possible. $2.75 per bottle, or .75 per glass in the restaurants.

The coffee here is so strong, it actually has the density of surup. Two sips and you are wired for sound. So you will never guess what everyone drinks here? Weasel Shit Coffee. You guessed it the Weasels eat the coffee beans and.............. but it tastes very good.

Vancouver Steve and myself decided to try out Vietnam's No. 1 ranked golf course. "Dalat Palace", was in great shape but by no means competes with the best courses in North America.

We also had to check out the Crazy House, a local hotel designed by the Emperor's daughter.

Na Trang, Beachside Resort

Yes now it feels like we are back in the year 2010. Nice beaches, hot weather, but nothing with any cultural feel. We did enjoy a day at Vietnam's idea of Disneyland, "Vinepearland." The waterpark was great and we did also take a ride on the worlds longest over the ocean gondola over 7km.

200 Year Old Hoi An, Vietnam

Here we are in one of the only places that was not demolished in the Vietnam War. Hoi An is a small town on the river that still has all the old style buildings from over 200 years ago. This place feels like it has much of it's culture still in tack from 50-100 years ago. We did get stuck here however as they have hundreds of great cheap taylor's. I picked up 5 pairs of fitted dress pants for $65 and a fitted suit for $48.