Top moments - finally

Months have passed after I came back home. Feelings were contradictory and seeing my home in Oripää made me feel empty. The whole year was over. What should I do now? I was little bit scared about getting depressed and sad for coming back. But luckily I have amazing friends here in Finland too and my family. Actually without them coming back wouldn't have been that easy. Also I have kept regularly and less regularly contact with friends around the world which has helped my longing for travelling and the feeling of mysterious tomorrow. As the feeling when you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or who you gonna meet is exciting and I really got addicted. Some point it was frustrating but if you really wouldn't enjoy that you wouldn't love travelling. I also miss the athmosphere which you experience during the travels and with the people who you are with. The feeling of being present and you actually have time to listen what the other one has to say. You don't need to tell the other one that I have just two hours for you. Actually you don't have anything else give but time. And yourself. 

Before I go too deep with my writing I will go to the point with my text. So now is the traditional Top 5 time. Actually it's good I write this so much later after my trip so the old memories have grown sweeter. So I won't say any bad things or sides about any place but I will say the top 3 from every country. I wish YOU have time and energy read them all and enjoy the best moments from myt trip with me the last time !

THAILAND

- Food. I had no idea how good it is before I went. I love food and I love to try new things but I'd never tried Thai food before. And I must say so much thanks for Noppa and Juuso who introduced me to the local food. Massaman, panang, red curry .. I miss you my spicy little friends.

Massaman curry

- Diving. I just didn't experience amazing things on the ground but submarine too. In Koh Tao I got my OWD (Open Water diver)- license. After that a whole new world opened to me and new passion caught fire.

@ Koh Tao

 - Bangkok. The city of opportunities. City of late night or early morning parties. City of crazy people. City of mysteries. This city is full of noise, smells, people, sky crapers, rumbling houses, shops, restaurants, tuk-tuks .. Bangkok. You don't go and see it. You go and experience it. Watch Hangover  2. It's not fiction. It's true what Bangkok really is !

Bangkok by night

MALAYSIA

- Perhentian islands. I heard from this place already in the beginning of my trip and until day before or two my leave from Kuala Lumpur I wasn't sure if should go. Thank god I went. The island was one of my best experiences I had in my trip. The athmosphere of the place is so relaxed and calming so you canät do anything else but relax there. And the people I met, locals and backpackers, made my visit even more wonderful. Actually I don't know if the people who I met there realise how much they affected me and made me think who am I. So it wasn't big surprise why I went there twice.

A-Team at Mama's

- Food. Haha. Food again ! I really love food and in Malaysia I fell in love with the Indian food. Roti Chanai, Teh Tarik (milk tea), all the curries ... YUM ! In Kuala Lumpur you must go to Chinatown or Little India. The best food ! (And the secret beer shop is in Chinatown too.)

Banana Leaf !

- Diversity. One day we were in a small island snorkling among Clownfishes and next day trekking in the middle of the world's oldest rainforest ! The nature is stunning in Malaysia and there I really did lot of different things. Also the diversity of local people (Indian, Chinese, Malaysian etc.) is intriguing although I heard that the locals from different backgrounds don't get along so well. Shame but perhaps it will change some day.

Submarine life at Perhentian

Taman Negara rainforest

City life

 CAMBODIA

- History. I don't know what was with this place but here I really got interested about the history of this country. First we went to see the famous temples in Angkor and then visited the Khmer Rouge time museums. Cambodia has suffered a lot and it's history is full of great and very sad stories. Probably a country where I will go again.

Angkor Wat

- Local people. Although Cambodian people has suffered a lot and the Khmer Rouge is still a fresh memory the local people are friendly and they smile all the time. They are not rich and you can see the poverty everywhere but still they are ready to help you or give advices (which were not always good ones as they were too embarresed to admit they didn't know). For example the local teacher training students offered us a free tour in their school without asking !

Picture from school in Siem Reap

- Mystery. There's something mysterious about Cambodia. In a way the country is developed for Asian country but the countryside is very poor and rural. Also the happy and friendly people in a country where the history is so hard and it's still affecting makes me wonder .. How that can be possible?

LAO

- Athmosphere. There's no more relaxed country than Lao. The people are moving, talking and doing things more slowly than my old grandmother. But it doesn't mean they are lazy. It's just that they have all the time. Why to hurry if you have plenty of time ? Amazing way to live and sometimes I really should remember to take life in Lao way. We almost succeeded in that in Don Det where we literally layed four days on a terrace without doing anything. And it was awesome !

Chilling in Don Det

- Local people. They smile, smile and smile. When I think the quality of their life and how poor the people are I admire their attitude. You just couldn't avoid similing yourself in Lao too !

Local kids in Don Det

-Authentic. In Lao you can still travel hours without seeing western fast food chains or the people is genuinely interested from you, not your money. Of course you can see tourism in Lao and the country has changed a lot in ten years for example. But definitely I would recoomed Lao to any traveller. Go there soon as you can !

Vang Vieng

SINGAPORE

- Little India. Streets are full of people and it's late. I noticed I'm the only female in the middle of crowd and get lot of interesting looks. The Indian Bollywood music is playing in the background and the smell of curries is in the air. Little India !

Little India

- Modern. Singapore is the international part of South East Asia. People are speaking English in the buses and trains. You can do your souvenir shopping in H&M or Louis Vuitton's shops. You can actually go to a "real" coffee shop. Western and Asian culture combines in this little city. Sometimes you think you'd be in American city but then the big Hello Kitty figure jumps in front of you. Then you remember again you're in Asia.

You can see internationality in Singapore.

INDONESIA

- Meeting the local family. I didn't want to say local people as I have really contradictory image from them. Some of them were the most kindest people ever (like Harry's family) and some were just total a****les. I lived ten days with Harry's family whose friendliness stays in my mind forever. And they probably remember me as the weird white girl who ate all their tempe.

The Bali family

 - Culture. The Balinese culture is something very unique which I have never seen. Their everyday life is full of beautiful ceremonies and with Harry's family I was honored to witness many ceremonies. The architecture is amazing too and definitely worth seeing.

Ceremonies ..

Architecture

 - Diving. Turtles, sharks, nemos, rays etc. Do I have to say more?

Aquaddiction - Gili Trawang

AUSTRALIA

- Melbourne. One of my favorite cities nowadays. There are parks, cafes, sport halls and events' concerts etc. There's everything what you need and the athmosphere in the city is in Australian way relaxed

I<3MEL

- Friendliness. The local people who I met were very friendly and thoughtful. Already at the airport on my way from Indonesia to Australia one Australian lady offered me money to pay my departing fee. And they are always ready to offer you one pint more .. Haha.

My dear friend, "mommy", Sharon

-Awareness. You can have your coffee with soy milk, non fat, organic, with local milk etc. And in cafes and lunch places almost all the food is local producted or organic. Is almost assumption there, no priviledge. We have a lot to learn in Finland ..

Totally local or organic

These were just few highlights that came into my mind. In every place there were own unique things which will stay in my mind. Specially the people. Local and my travelling friends. They made my trip. Thank you.