I went back to Railay Beach to hike the viewpoint. As soon as I get in the water taxi, a torrential downpour ensued. When talking about travel, most people just highlight the great and wonderful times with the great and wonderful pictures. However, I think it's important to briefly discuss this. Rain is great when traveling. People are afraid of it. If you go to a beach and it's raining, you will be the only one on the beach. Most people (couples and families) just hide underneath a restaurant or hotel cover and "wait it out". Rainy days are the best days to go to the most touristy of locations, because there will be almost no one there. If you see anyone walking around in torrential rain, almost always, backpackers. Why? Well backpackers are stubborn and don't let other things get in the way of their plans. I met another backpacker on my water taxi, Nora, 19, from Germany. She made me feel like a whimp having been solo traveling for the last 11 months. She was also planning on hiking the viewpoint... So we decided it probably would be safer to go together. We arrived to the starting point and three other backpackers are coming down, covered in mud. They tell us not to go, that it's too dangerous. The signs tell us not to go, that it's too dangerous. Well, we ascended anyways. To give you a glimpse of the difficulty. It was almost a straight vertical climb. Every 10-15 meters, there would be a place where you could stand and then time to go up again. Someone had built in ropes on the trek to help pull you up. Except for us, the ropes were soaking wet and covered in mud. Slippery. Very slippery. It took us about 30 minutes (we think) to get to the top of the viewpoint. It was beautiful! After the viewpoint, we decided to try to get to the lagoon, which is much more difficult. After getting 2/3 of the way, we had to stop. We got to a point that was literally 90 degrees straight down. Nora had already descended the first vertical when I was like "no wayyyy man". All you had was that little rope. I knew that if I got down I would not be able to get myself up, with the rope being so slick. So we took a pause, doused ourselves with insect repellent and started our route back to the starting point. There were certain moments where it was so slippery that I needed to skid on my butt. If I stood up, I was for sure a dead man. Getting down was pretty challenging. It was like a maze of wet rocks and wet ropes. But we did it! Reflections on the Hike:
To describe the kind of hike it is (disregarding the weather)... If you lose footing and fall forward, a sharp rock will break your fall. If you lose footing and fall backward, a sharp rock will break your fall. If at any point you lose grip with the rope or rock you're holding, a sharp rock will break your fall. It is a dangerous hike, with or without rain. There aren't really any places to stop and rest. But would I recommend going? Go. Definitely go.
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In Krabi, there are different methods of transportation. Before I go into them, let me say something first. There are no rules here. No speed limits. No real lanes. On a "two label road, there are usually four lanes going at the same time. This makes driving pretty dangerous if you're not used to it. TukTuks:
In general, it's best to carpool. If you want to go somewhere, find other people to go with you. Fares are pretty fixed by distance. For example, to go to the Tiger Temple costs 1200 baht. If you find three people to go with, then your fare automatically goes down to 300 baht and you can negotiate with the driver for less. If it's just one, you're stuck paying the 1200.
Ran into an old friend (Jonas) while buying my water taxi ticket, 200 baht round trip to Railay and back to Ao Nang. We spent the day exploring. We even found a massive cove about 500 meters away from the shore. It was a great day! Between both of our GoPros, we took a lot of pictures!:)
Highlights of Railay: So many things to do!!! -"The Viewpoint": So there is this amazing viewpoint to be hiked to... It was nearly a vertical climb and I was in a skirt. I will be back to see the view. Others said it took about an hour to get up to the top. -Rock climbing: Supposedly Railay has some of the best rock climbing in Thailand, with much of it over the water. Once again, I was not dressed properly, but I will be back to do it. They offer half day and full day classes. -Fresh fruit: I literally ate the best coconut of my life today. Fresh coconut water straight out of the fruit... Then the woman scraped out all of the flesh after I was done. I was able to enjoy so much coconut. It was unbelievable. 70 baht ~ $2.15, which was even a little expensive. But it was sooooo good. Doesn't matter! -Explore the Diamond Cave for only 150 baht. -Enjoy a full body massage for one hour at 200 baht (you can find these everywhere). -Swim till your heart says you can't anymore. So much swimming!!!! It's really shallow. After a beautiful day of swimming in Ao Nang, I decided to finish the day with a visit to one of the most renown Buddhist temples in all of Thailand. Hiking up to the Tiger Cave Temple was pretty challenging, but amazingly worth it. I went in time to see the sunset. It took me 32 minutes to hike to the top. And let me tell you, I was struggling. The most challenging part wasn't even the stairs... It was the monkeys. Yes, there are monkeys. There are hundreds of monkeys on the stairs and railways as you hike up. They are pretty terrifying. They steal people's water bottles right out of their hands. They grab people's phones and cameras. So literally you are not able to take pictures or take water breaks almost the entire way up because of the monkeys. I got bit by a monkey in Peru. So I wasn't going to take any chances. I got lucky by hiding all of my gadgets on my hike up, but other people in front of me were not so lucky.
Once at the top, you can get a full view of Krabi. There are also multiple places you can pray, burn incense, and ring bells. It was such a magical and spiritual experience. However, I definitely recommend coming back down when there is still light. Otherwise, you literally have no way of seeing and 1,237 steps to walk down. Tip: Make sure you cover up. Buddhist temples are really modest. Your knees should not be showing. And also no spaghetti straps or tanktops. Most people just wear cover ups. This morning I went diving in some of the locals islands of Ao Nang. For 2700 Baht, I was able to take a day trip with a local dive shop for two dives, which included any other gear I needed and lunch.
After about 15 minutes into my first dive, the dive master handed me a flashlight. At first, I thought because the visibility wasn't super great he was trying to make me feel more comfortable. I couldn't have been more wrong. Within minutes we arrive to this swim through cavern below one of the islands. I haven't yet tried night diving yet because I'm so terrified. Well, this definitely felt like night diving. Almost pitch black, underwater... You can't see what's right next to you. I'm so thankful I didn't have a panic attack because there was no way I could have swam up (being literally underneath an island). I'm happy to say I conquered a fear, even though it wasn't planned. I saw some new wildlife I hadn't yet seen in the wild. But some of my highlights were: seahorses (four of them!), porcupine pufferfish, manta ray, lion fish (two), and of course all of the tropical fish and schools you could think of. A remora attached itself to my calf during my first dive, freaked me out a little bit. I'm a little more educated about them though. They're quite cool little creatures! The island swim-through is enough reason to come dive in Ao Nang! Use the amenity goods at the hotel/hostel Japan is great about providing you with not only shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, but also toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, and hair brushes. If you're lucky, sometimes you'll get face wash, cleansing foam, moisture milk, face masks, and bath salts. The difference between hotel shampoo in Japan and USA: Japanese hotel shampoo is actually pretty good quality. Use a tap card When traveling using public transportation, this tap card is super convenient. Load money on, tap, train. That easy. To start a card, pay $5. You can get the $5 at the end of your trip if you'd like to return your card. Buy a JR pass A Japan Rail pass is awesome if you want to venture outside of Tokyo. The JR pass gets you access to all of the bullet trains and JR transportation for 1 week for about $250. It's a no brainer if you plan on exploring! Buy food from the department stores There is so much food just waiting to be found... Take the escalator to the bottom floor and enjoy!:) Use reserve seating on trains If you know you're going to be taking a train somewhere, try to get a ticket in advance. When you use the reserve cars, you're guaranteed a seat. Otherwise, you might be stuck standing, cramped, with no wiggle room, for two hours. No one wants that! Be open to trying new foods You never know what you don't like until you try it. I was pleasantly surprised about numerous foods that I disliked when I tried them in the USA, but loved them when I tried them here! Don't ask what you're eating until after you're done... If you're brave:) If you are going to try free samples, don't assume that because it looks like a dessert that it won't taste like fish. But really. Don't be afraid to eat at chain restaurants There are some good ones! I especially love all of the patisseries. Take a mid-afternoon break at a place with a drink bar. Drink bars are common in Japan. All you can drink coffee, tea, juice, and soda. Pretty standard. Dress modestly, you will be the most dressed down person in the room, always. Unless you are wearing a suit or prepared to go to a fancy business meeting, you will be underdressed in Japan. It's inevitable. Interestingly, women rarely show their shoulders. And most men are carrying purses. Welcome to Japan. Try other types of cuisines like Belgian waffles or French macaroons. Everything tastes so good! The best places for these little shops are in the train stations. Eat 3 meals a day, plus snacks You're in Japan. The locals are doing it. You might as well too! Go eat where there are no English signs Who doesn't like a little adventure, right?:) Picture menus are your best friend Most menus have pictures. You can just point at what you want to order. No Japanese needed! Go to a karaoke bar. I shouldn't have to explain this one. This is the most fun you'll have all trip. And the Japanese love singing English songs, especially Disney. HAND WASHING
JAPAN: You get a wet towel before you eat to clean your hands. At nicer places, you get hot towels. USA: Not a thing. UTENSILS JAPAN: They can usually be found in a basket on the table, next to the condiments. USA: They are usually are set next to your plate on a napkin, or wrapped in one. BACKPACKS/BAGS/PURSES JAPAN: There are baskets underneath your chair or outside the booth to hold your bag. Don't ever let it touch the floor. USA: Just hang it on your chair or put it on the one next to you. MENU JAPAN: After you order, the menu goes back on the table. You might want to order something else. USA: After you order, the waiter politely collects all menus. HOW TO ORDER JAPAN: Usually click a button, to call over the waiter. If no button, shout to get their attention. USA: Wait until the waiter comes to take your order. FLOW OF MEAL JAPAN: All food comes out at once, salad, soup, pickle, rice, main course, dessert. All on the same tray. Same time. USA: Everything has an order. Don't mess up the order. SPEED JAPAN: For food, rapid speed, about five minutes. For drinks, don't expect many refills. USA: For food, about 10-15 minutes for your main course. For drinks, unlimited refills galore! VOLUME AT TABLE JAPAN: Restaurants are really quite loud when busy. People will shout for the waiter (or push the button). USA: People try to keep the noise to themselves. TIPPING JAPAN: Not a thing. They will give it back to you. USA: If you aren't going to tip at least 15%, you shouldn't be going to a restaurant. PAYING THE BILL JAPAN: Let the waiter bring your bill and then go up to the counter and pay. Never leave money on the table. USA: Let the waiter bring your bill and then pay when you're ready at the table. HANDLING MONEY JAPAN: Receive money with two hands. Coins always go on top of the receipt, rarely on your skin directly. When paying, never hand the money directly to the person. There is always a small tray to put it in. USA: They will hand it to you directly. ENTERING AND LEAVING THE ESTABLISHMENT JAPAN: When entering, all staff around will shout to acknowledge your presence and thank you as an honored guest. When leaving, all staff will thank you again as an honored guest. Sometimes they will even walk you out of the establishment. USA: Usually hear a hostess or someone welcome you by saying, "Welcome to...". When you leave, "Thanks for coming..." I've received a lot of questions about my whereabouts, as my writings have been paused. For the last week, I have been living in the moment. I haven't been thinking about the next blog post or the next picture. I've been appreciating the places and the people I've met. As my Japan chapter comes to a close, I can see why so many people move here and fall in love with the country. I accomplished so much in this short amount of time.
Just to name a few---
But with the many things I see and do, there are always new things I take away. I learned that the longer the line, the higher the quality. I learned that shouting is only appropriate at restaurants, nowhere else. I learned that it's just better to wait until the crosswalk is green. I learned that courtesy is everything. I learned that people do actively acknowledge your presence and thank you for it. I learned that just when you think the train is full, more people step on. I learned that I could feel completely safe with valuables exposed at 1:00 am, walking alone on the street. I learned that people genuinely want to help you. I learned that saying goodbye is a ceremony in itself. Japan is wonderful, but I'm ready for the craziness of Thailand. Bangkok here I come! Trust me--- I have a lot more to say about Japan... 1. Katsu: fried pork loin Usually katsu is pork, however you can easily find it as chicken. It tends to be served with/over rice. There is always a brown thick dipping sauce which resembles a worstechire/barbecue sauce. At traditional places, expect to have a runny egg served on top! 2. Shabu-shabu: cooked in hot water I was lucky enough to try multiple types of shabu-shabu. The most interesting was octopus, which is called tako. Essentially, you cook the dish yourself. You decide how cooked you want your meat, tofu, and vegetables to be. Then once pulled out, you immediately dip in a brown sauce. Delicious! 3. Yakitori: cooked on open griddle When I first heard about this dish (usually with beef), I knew I had to try it with the world's most famous beef, Wagyu. For your meal, you receive multiple slices of thin meat of which you cook yourself on an actual mini griddle on or made into your table. The server makes a recommendation for the preparation of each piece, then you cook it to your preference. I tried a Wagyu sampler, which included tongue, rib meat, sirloin, and round. All were melt-in-your-mouth amazing! 4. Udon There are different styles of udon. The basic breakdown is the distinction between a soup or a bowl of noodles. When ordering, you specify what kind of udon you want. Some have lots of broth. Some have barely any. It really depends. There are restaurants that specialize in each kind. As with other typical Japanese dishes, it's not surprising to have a runny egg, piece of tempura, or pile of "sea lettuce" on top. 5. Tempura Since being here, I've learned that tempura is a lot more than just shrimp. I've tried all types of tempura at this point- shrimp, sweet potato, zucchini, kamaboko (fish cake), corn on the cob, and different kinds of white fish. 6. Okonomiyaki (from Hiroshima) Okonomiyaki is one of those foods that is very hard to describe, but I'll try anyways. First a savory crepe batter is poured on a hot teppan grill. Next, the chef adds noodles, bean sprouts, cabbage, thick bacon, squid, shrimp, tempura flakes, a cracked egg, seaweed powder, pepper, a brown sticky sauce, and Japanese mayonnaise. Then it is flipped over to let everything cook inside. It is served at the table on your own personal teppan grill built into your table. Absolutely delicious! 7. Anago don: broiled monger eel on rice (from Miyajima Island) This dish is very rare and is extremely hard to find outside of Miyajima. A special type of eel is locally caught, broiled, placed on a bed of rice, and smothered in a sticky brown sauce. It doesn't taste fishy at all! I was quite surprised! 8. Kaki: oysters- raw, grilled, smother, and fried (from Miyajima Island) While in Miyajima, you have to try their famous oysters. I recommend trying the marinated raw oysters and also the fried oysters. At some restaurants you can get a set that includes multiple preparations of oysters. You cannot visit the island without trying them! 9. Nigiri: fish over rice Japan does nigiri so well! The ratio of fish to rice is absolutely amazing. Thick cuts of fresh fish, over a mini boat of sticky rice. It can't get any better than that. My two new favorites are raw sweet ebi shrimp, tamago (sweet egg) and bonito nigiri. 10. Warrabi Desserts Warrabi is one of those flavors that is really hard to explain. If I say a very mild peanut butter, that wouldn't serve it justice. Anything and everything Warrabi is delicious! One major component of the Japanese shopping experience is the multi-storied department stores. I would describe these more like a vertical mall, however they have different names (and there are chains), like department stores do. For me, the best part about department stores is their food floor. Imagine an upscale food market, selling only prepared foods. That's what it is. There are exceptions, selling Wagyu beef and different kinds of fish. But mostly, the foods are ready to eat. Best part about Japanese department stores: In Japan, department stores have opening ceremonies. For the first two minutes, all of the staff line up and as you pass them they bow, acknowledge your presence, and thank you as an honored guest. Every single staff member does it for each person who walks through during the opening ceremony. This is just a short clip, but it felt like it lasted forever. If you don't think you get embarrassed easily, try walking through this hallway, only revealing a soft smile. You're not supposed to say anything back or even show too much emotion. AMAZING! |