Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Next Up - UAE & Oman
Two weeks after our upcoming trip to Thailand and Laos over Christmas and New Year, my wife and I will be hitting the road again, this time, to the UAE and Oman (15th Jan to 1st Feb). Like Laos, the UAE and Oman are two of the many places my wife and I had spoken about visiting together. Cost has been a sticking point for us. Recently we found out AirAsia operates low fare flights to the UAE from Kuala Lumpur. We figured, that, plus couch-surfing, relying on public transport and self-catering should bring costs down to a more palatable level. After some deliberation we decided to go for it. I will be writing about our preparations and of course the trip itself at petsgoplaces.blogspot.com.
Sunday, 30 August 2009
I Have XXX Days, What Would You Recommend?
I have XXX days, what would you recommend?So I've been asked, several times, by people who came across this blog, who wish to explore the Nakasendo but have no desire or opportunity to complete the entire route.
In my opinion, the Kiso Valley stretch (Shiojiri - Nakatsugawa) is easily the most scenic. The forbidding terrain saved the region from over-development. Craggy peaks, the cobalt blue Kiso River, quaint towns and ample tourist facilities (its a popular spot for domestic tourism), the region has plenty going for it. I took 2 days to cross the valley, though I would not recommend anyone do the same. Take your time, give it 3 to 4 days at least.
If you are really short on time, I would recommend Tsumago and Magome, at the Nakatsugawa-end of the valley, they are the two most well-preserved post stations along the Nakasendo. The 2-hour trek between the two is easy and a real joy. An easy day trip.
If walking is not your thing, you can visit the more interest towns and cities along or near the Nakasendo easily by rail. My personal favourites...
Friday, 28 August 2009
Next Up - Thailand & Laos
This coming Christmas, my wife and I will be travelling through Thailand and Laos together. We have been meaning to do so for the past couple of years but never got to for lack of opportunity and work commitments. Suffice to say I am glad we are finally doing this. I will be writing about our preparations and of course the trip itself at petsgoplaces.blogspot.com.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
What's Next For This Foolhardy Goon?
The Nakasendo adventure is well and truly over.
For the past 7 months, my life revolved around the solo Nakasendo attempt. Training, equipping, researching, planning, eventually doing it, and putting all my observations, thoughts and feelings down in this blog. Now that I am done, I cannot help but feel a sense of loss. For 7 months I had a goal, an objective, something that engages my mind, my body, my entire being.
What now?
Plan yet another adventure of course.
On my mind...
For the past 7 months, my life revolved around the solo Nakasendo attempt. Training, equipping, researching, planning, eventually doing it, and putting all my observations, thoughts and feelings down in this blog. Now that I am done, I cannot help but feel a sense of loss. For 7 months I had a goal, an objective, something that engages my mind, my body, my entire being.
What now?
Plan yet another adventure of course.
On my mind...
- Laos - Intent to do this with my wife this Christmas. Bangkok to Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and back to Bangkok by trains, buses and boats.
- Seoul to Busan on foot - Another long walk. Intent to do this next Spring. This time I want my wife to join me.
- Cairo to Cape Town - From Cairo in Egypt to Cape Town in South Africa by any means but flying. Intend to do this end-2010 or early-2011. Probably the most dangerous and physically demanding trip I will ever undertake, I am at two minds now on whether its a good idea for my wife to join me. I love having her with me of course, but I don't like putting her though excessive hardships.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Was It Worth It?
A hundred times yes.
Worth all the sweat, time and expense. One of the best things I had done with myself in a long long time.
If its anything that 3 weeks in Japan had left me, its a new and profound respect for the Japanese people. The kindness I experienced, from total strangers, will always stay with me. Coming from Singapore, even the smallest gesture was a surprise and a breath of fresh air. Living in Singapore, where our humanity seemed to be lost to pragmatism and self-interest, I had grown cynical, I had grown to accept that "kindness" is just a dictionary entry. Coming into contact with a people thats civil and unreservedly kind, I felt more human that 3 weeks than I ever do in Singapore, where everything comes down to "What good is it to me?"
It wasn't any of the scenery, the historical relics, the bright cities or fabulous cuisine that left the deepest impression. It was the people. Which by itself made all the effort worthwhile.
It felt great to feel human again, albeit for just 3 weeks.
Worth all the sweat, time and expense. One of the best things I had done with myself in a long long time.
If its anything that 3 weeks in Japan had left me, its a new and profound respect for the Japanese people. The kindness I experienced, from total strangers, will always stay with me. Coming from Singapore, even the smallest gesture was a surprise and a breath of fresh air. Living in Singapore, where our humanity seemed to be lost to pragmatism and self-interest, I had grown cynical, I had grown to accept that "kindness" is just a dictionary entry. Coming into contact with a people thats civil and unreservedly kind, I felt more human that 3 weeks than I ever do in Singapore, where everything comes down to "What good is it to me?"
It wasn't any of the scenery, the historical relics, the bright cities or fabulous cuisine that left the deepest impression. It was the people. Which by itself made all the effort worthwhile.
It felt great to feel human again, albeit for just 3 weeks.
Monday, 20 July 2009
Because I Love Stats
Start - 9.30am, 25th Apr, Tokyo Station
End - 8.30am, 9th May, Kyoto Station
Total distance - 566.50km
Longest distance covered in a day - 50.13km, Day 12, Gifu to Maibara
Shortest distance covered in a day - 14.87km, Day 15, Otsu to Kyoto
Average distance covered in a day - 37.77km
Time taken - 13 days 23 hours
Total walking time - 6 days 15 hours 5 minutes
Longest walking day - 14 hours 20 minutes, Day 8, Narai to Okuwa
Shortest walking day - 3 hours 30 minutes, Day 15, Otsu to Kyoto
Average walking day - 10 hours 36 minutes
Highest point - 1534m, Wada Pass
Lowest point - -7m, Itabashi, Tokyo
Total amount spent - 3063.89 SGD (~2125 USD)
Excluding flight (355 SGD) - 2708.89 SGD (~1880 USD)
Amount spent per day - 117.78 SGD (~82 USD)
End - 8.30am, 9th May, Kyoto Station
Total distance - 566.50km
Longest distance covered in a day - 50.13km, Day 12, Gifu to Maibara
Shortest distance covered in a day - 14.87km, Day 15, Otsu to Kyoto
Average distance covered in a day - 37.77km
Time taken - 13 days 23 hours
Total walking time - 6 days 15 hours 5 minutes
Longest walking day - 14 hours 20 minutes, Day 8, Narai to Okuwa
Shortest walking day - 3 hours 30 minutes, Day 15, Otsu to Kyoto
Average walking day - 10 hours 36 minutes
Highest point - 1534m, Wada Pass
Lowest point - -7m, Itabashi, Tokyo
Total amount spent - 3063.89 SGD (~2125 USD)
Excluding flight (355 SGD) - 2708.89 SGD (~1880 USD)
Amount spent per day - 117.78 SGD (~82 USD)
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Catching Up On My Reading
Finishing the trip diary marks the end of a brief but exciting and enriching chapter to my life. What now? I don't know really. I am never one to let myself idle. I don't wish to, especially when my job is as mind-numbing as it is. The first thing on my mind now? Catching up on my reading. My reading list...
Watchmen. My first and only comic book. I caught the movie and found it to be a singularly unique and rather amazing work of fiction. I love a good story. I love a good story that engages my mind to think even more.
Korean For Dummies. Visited both North and South Korea only last year and already I cannot wait to go back again. In fact, I am already toying with the idea of another long walk, this time from Seoul to Busan, next Spring. Whether or not that's happening, both my wife and I are keen to pick up some basic Korean. Memorized the Hangul before we visited South Korea last Christmas, it did help, a little. I could read signs and menus but that fact that we could not say anything in Korean more than "Thank you" and "I am not Korean" became both a source of comedy and frustration.
Dark Star Safari. A few years ago, I took a trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway. A fellow passenger in the cabin handed me his copy of the book. I only managed to finished part of the book before I had to return it as I was getting off. It stirred the desire in me to do the same one day, Cairo to Cape Town by any means but flying. Bought a copy of my own last November. Aiming to do the same myself late 2010 or early 2011, after I am done with my current work contract. Incidentally, I will be done with my mortgage at about the same time. What better way to celebrate becoming debt-free than to go on yet another epic adventure?
9 Weeks (& 2 Missing Toenails) On...
Finally!
Been 9 weeks since I returned home from Japan. Only today am I done with converting the notes I penned down during the trip into blog entries. That by itself was a journey. Looking through the scribbles, recalling everything that had happened and putting it in prose brought new perspectives, a new level of appreciation for all the wonderful experiences. It also felt like I had lived through that 3 weeks again.
So much happened that three weeks. Everyday was filled with new places, new experiences and adventure. The sense of satisfaction, of achievement, of self-actualisation that completing the Nakasendo walk gave me something I had not felt in a long long time. I felt so terrible coming back to Singapore. Writing the trip diary allowed me to escape, back to Japan, back to that epic adventure whenever I sat down in front of my computer. It made adjusting to life here again a lot easier. Adjusting to life here again has and hopefully will not blunt my desire to seek my destiny in life. Life must be more than what I am doing now.
Two of the toenails on my left foot, the same two that turned purple during the Nakasendo walk, dropped off a few days after I got home. The toenails have, by now, fully regrown. They do look a little odd though, in colour, shape and texture. If they stay like that, I guess they'll serve as a reminder of that adventure I will always have on me.
Been 9 weeks since I returned home from Japan. Only today am I done with converting the notes I penned down during the trip into blog entries. That by itself was a journey. Looking through the scribbles, recalling everything that had happened and putting it in prose brought new perspectives, a new level of appreciation for all the wonderful experiences. It also felt like I had lived through that 3 weeks again.
So much happened that three weeks. Everyday was filled with new places, new experiences and adventure. The sense of satisfaction, of achievement, of self-actualisation that completing the Nakasendo walk gave me something I had not felt in a long long time. I felt so terrible coming back to Singapore. Writing the trip diary allowed me to escape, back to Japan, back to that epic adventure whenever I sat down in front of my computer. It made adjusting to life here again a lot easier. Adjusting to life here again has and hopefully will not blunt my desire to seek my destiny in life. Life must be more than what I am doing now.
Two of the toenails on my left foot, the same two that turned purple during the Nakasendo walk, dropped off a few days after I got home. The toenails have, by now, fully regrown. They do look a little odd though, in colour, shape and texture. If they stay like that, I guess they'll serve as a reminder of that adventure I will always have on me.
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