Note to Self: You Pack too Much!

Losing my wash bag has really been an eye-opener. I pack way too much stuff!

Whatever the reason, my backpack might have less in it but it feels twice as heavy. Walking has been a real downer and it’s affected how much time I've spent into finding a hotel, transport I've taken and even how grumpy I've been at times. Every year I promise myself I’ll bring less and only what I really need to but the next year I just end up bringing the same crap with me and half of it I never use.  it's so easy to convince yourself that you will have time and feel like using something but it never happens. Here's a reminder of what I brought with me.

And here is what I actually needed to bring with me;

• Tablet Pc
• Phone
• Camera
• Hairdryer
• SD cards
• External hard drive
• Razor and blades
• Clothes
• Travel adapter
• Passport photos
• Sleeping bag
• Passport
• Debit Card

Somehow the staff on the bus from Hanoi to Vientiane managed to lose my wash bag, SO GRRRRR! It's been annoying but everything has been replaceable aside from the razor, I've been unable to find any decent razors for women. The disposable ones I brought didn't do anything at all. I've used my sleeping bag way more than expected. It's super great to have somewhere to sleep when the bed is crawling with bugs.

Everything else I used I could have brought in Thailand!

• Needle and thread
• Notebook and pens
• Plastic cutlery
• Cotton buds
• Hairbrush
• Tweezers
• Nail Clipper
• Toiletries

Everything in this photo used I either didn't use at all or rarely used and will leave it with my friend for the moment.

I cannot believe I brought all this stuff I didn't use!

And this is all I'm bringing to Malaysia. I knew I've over packed but this is just silly so this is a note to myself that I pack too much!

Philippines: Why does everybody hate Manila?

Dan Brown recently described it as 'the gate to hell' and most people I know don't like it but I'm not sure what the problem with Manila is as I really like it a lot. It's just a very authentic and dare I say it a raw place unlike anywhere I have been in South East Asia before. Christmas celebrations are in full swing much to my bewilderment, it's 30 degrees out here, the sun is blazing and there isn't a snowflake in sight! Maybe it's a little culture shock creeping up on me but with the Spanish twang to the accents, Christmas trees and depictions of Jesus Christ this doesn't feel like Asia at all.

Although there isn't all that much to do in Manila the Chinese cemetery was fantastic, with it's huge mausoleums and tombs that could pass for apartments and pathways that resemble streets it looks more like a city than a graveyard.

Image taken from http://365greatpinoystuff.wordpress

Ask 9 out of 10 people and they'll tell you Filipinos are a friendly lot and I've found they can be. People really went out of their way to help me when some of that bad luck I was having followed me from Malaysia and my card was declined at the airport, letting me borrow phones, charge my laptop and even giving me 500 pesos so I could get to my friend's apartment. You walk into fast food restaurants here and people open doors for you and everybody calls you m'am and sir. However, on the flip side of this it all feels kind of false and really strange to me. I don't like feeling superior to anybody, it didn't feel respecting and I just felt really awkward. Save the mams and sirs for the rich and those in authority please.

Because of my card dilemma (turns out I'd just used the wrong card in the machine) Manila has been more about hanging out and doing weird things like trying balut, biking around the city and meeting some long term Facebook friends for the first time rather than sightseeing. Sure it's overcrowded and has one too many dodgy taxi drivers but I had so much fun here and I look forward to returning to see more of it another time. Now for Batad and the famous rice fields, I am so excited!