There are several ways in which I could have ended this big adventure. For weeks I have been asking myself what would be the perfect way to end such an incredible experience. And so with only 5 days left before I fly to Chicago and catch up on a long lost social life, I decided to take it easy and reflect upon what Ali and I have achieved throughout the past 16 months. The jungle-fringed Caribbean beaches sounded like the perfect place to chillout after 471 days of global exploration, and a great opportunity to write the ending to what has been an incredible story. I can't imagine how difficult this must be must be for you to come to terms with and I can only apoligise. I know that many of you blog fiends have been quite entertained by my trails and tribulations over the past year and probably dread the thought of life without "My Big Adventure". I can assure you, I'm having difficulty comprehending it myself.
Contrary to popular belief, the world is extremely big and I still feel like there's so much more out there that I need to see. Quite ironic considering this is the complete opposite to what I was hoping to achieve by traveling around the world. It's upsetting to know that I'll never see it all in one lifetime but consider myself extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to see so much of it already. I suppose you're wondering what my favorite place was? An impossible question to answer considering we have visited so many countries, each with their own unique character and identity, but I’m happy to report that there hasn't been a single country that has disappointed me. One of the main reasons for this is because I rarely let myself develop expectations. Although there were places where their reputation exceeded them, I always resisted painting too detailed a picture in my head in order to avoid disappointment. Another common topic of discussion between Ali and I has been the use of a guide book. Although undeniably we would have been lost without one, I do feel like it denied us of our sense of adventure and I personally would have enjoyed being a little lost at times. Everything we have done has been well considered and exhaustively planned so that there was never any room for error or unexpected surprises. Why? Because traveling in the developing world poses certain risks and completely justifies such caution. It was a sacrifice worth making and as a result, we have our health and many positive memories to thank for it. Another frequently asked question is "how was your relationship with Ali?" Considering the amount of time we have spent with each other it's quite remarkable that we haven't even been slightly tempted to kill each other. I can honestly say that I would have been lost without my counterpart and couldn't imagine being able to do what we have done with anyone else. I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to share such an amazing experience with such a good friend. Thanks Ali xx
And so, after 20 countries, over 70 cities, probably hundreds of buses, numerous trains, and surprisingly few flights, here's my personal best and worst of it all:
Italy: best Florence and seeing the flawless David for the first time. worst Naples. A city littered with filth and devoid of charm. Germany: best Visiting the Reichstag. A perfect example of modern architecture working in harmony with traditional. A difficult thing to do well and I applaud Sir Norman Foster for a job well done. worst Our ability to communicate. Although many people in Berlin speak English, we had a hard time finding any when we needed it. Poland: best Old Town. The charming square adorned with beautiful architecture and horse drawn carts was like stepping back in time. worst SAM. In case you missed that entry, S.A.M. is an akronymn for the Stange African Man who kept us up all night with his "condition" and even involved the police. Russia: best Lake Baikal and staying with Elgar - the old Siberian woman who fed and bed us in her little village house. The lake was breathtaking and I will never forget walking on its miles of frozen surface. worst When I fell through it! Mongolia: best Sleeping in a traditional felt tent in the middle of a desert. worst Riding that pathetic lazy horse in sub-zero temperatures for hours on end. China: best The Great Wall. It was one of those places that still blow you away regardless of how many pictures you've seen or expectations you build. another best Hong Kong was everything I hoped it would be, jam-packed full of character, culture, personality and history. Definitely a place I would go back to. worst Mmmm, let me see... constant diarrhea, squatting, spitting, hawking and the ridiculously huge population of uncivilised folk made my visit to China a little uncomfortable at times. But then, looking back, that's also what I kind of like about it. Japan: best Meeting the Baba's! Their hospitality and generosity was never-ending and made for an unforgettable experience. I have so many wonderful memories from Japan but I think the most memorable one is the onsen. Sharing a natural hot spring with Baba's brother, drinking sake from a saucer, and watching Japanese eagles fly around above me was truly... words can not describe! The high level of respect for both people and the environment is one of the main reasons why I intend to visit Japan many more times in the future. Their local customs, quaint traditions and formal etiquette is what sets them apart from the rest of Asia. worst Not having enough time or money to stay longer. Vietnam: best The coffee was quite possibly the best I have ever had. Ha Long Bay looked too beautiful to be real and life in the Mekong Delta was a real eye-opening experience. To watch locals buy food from the floating markets and travel by boat along the extensive waterways is to really appreciate how differently these people live their lives. Memories of relaxing in hammocks on the white sandy beaches of the remote Phu Quoc island, motorbike taxi rides through Hanoi, beautiful beaches in Hoi Ann and treks through villages and rice terraces make Vietnam one of my highly recommended countries to visit! worst Ho Chi Minh City. Ali's camera got stolen here and it was a horrible experience. Cambodia: best Without a doubt the temples and ruins of Angkor. It's not surprising parts of Tomb Raider was filmed here. It wasn't just the achievements of the Angkor civilisation that was impressive, it was the destructive nature of its environment which made it such an amazing place to visit. Ancient temples in the middle of the jungle torn apart by roots of trees and strangled by vines. City after city, each one more impressive than the last with the most intricate and complex of details. worst Sihanoukville where there was nothing but beaches except the weather never made it possible to enjoy them. However it did allow us to visit Bokor National Park and wander around the spooky delapotated (but not ruined) French hotel from the 1930's on top of a hill. It was fascinating and very cool! Thailand: best Elephant treking in the jungle near Chang Mai, the Royal Palace in Bangkok and the beautiful islands of Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao. worst That bloody boat trip across the Andaman from Phi Phi to Phuket. I honestly thought I was going to die! Laos: best The incredible scenery along the Mekong river and Buddhist temples of Luang Prabang. An incredibly spiritual experience. worst The whisky that cost only 50 pence a bottle (yes really). Australia: best Sailing the Whitsundays. Never in my lifetime did I expect to sail around pristine islands on a racing yaht let alone learn how to operate one. worst Canberra. The lamest excuse for a city! New Zealand: best Climbing Franz Josef glacier is one of the coolest things I've ever done (literally) and the constant landscapes that take your breath away makes New Zealand one of the most well endowed countries in the world. worst When I almost drowned in our tent which wasn't quite as water resistant as it should have been. Chile: best The moon-like terrain of the Atacama Desert and climbing the active volcano Villarica which was our most challenging climb but extremely rewarding. worst 24 hours on a bus from Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama. Argentina: best The meat! Iguazu falls was definitely the highlight for me and Buenos Aires was a fun place to hang out for a while. worst Our ability to tango! Paraguay: best when we got to leave the country. worst The nightmare we had at the border when our bus made us enter two countries without obtaining the necessary stamps in our passport. Bolivia: best Solar de Uyuni. Still, I think the most amazing sight of my entire life. It was jaw dropping! worst The buses in Bolivia made traveling unbelievably uncomfortable. Peru: best Another well endowed country. The mysteries of Nazca, the achievements of the Incas and the opportunity to try two new sports - sand boarding and rock climbing. It's impossible to say what I liked the most but I suppose nothing really can beat the splendours and mysteries of Machu Picchu. An experience of a lifetime! worst Sickness in Cuzco and having my bag stolen on the boat in Iquitos. Colombia: best Making new friends in Bogotá and the Parque del Café in Quindio. Parque Tayrona (which is where I am now) has got to be the most beautiful however. I sleep in a hammock and wake up to the sun rise over the Carribean. Jungles, beaches and crystal clear water. Like I said, the perfect place to end my trip.
It was difficult to think of negative aspects regarding the countries we've visited not only because time has faded the memories, but because I look upon the less than pleasant experiences as actually being part of the positive. I suppose what I'm saying is that there are no such things as bad experiences. An experience no matter how il-recieved at the time is either a valuable lesson learnt or a reminder of how difficult life can be in other parts of the world. I suppose you could say I now have a greater appreciation for what we have in the West. It's strange...a few months ago I was really starting to miss having a home and really felt like I was ready to end the entire trip, but now that my trip has ended I don't want it to. All of a sudden I feel remorse and can't quite believe it's all over. In fact, I still can't believe we even did it.
I hope Ali and I are an inspiration to all those who want to travel but for whatever reason can't bring themselves to make the commitment. I believe that traveling shouldn't be a luxury and that we should make most of the opportunities we're fortunate enough to have. I certainly wont forget these past 16 months for as long as I live.
