My first time... in Asia! China baby!

This is my post about China from Sept 2009, copied-pasted from a very old travelblog which nobody has seen before. Interesting how I perceived things 3 years ago. Interesting how travelling changed me inside and outside. "The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only one page". How true is that...Enjoy reading!

It's been 2 months... and I am still impressed by this huge country... so different from everything I have seen so far. China is incredible. First of all, it's immense, if you are planning to go to a different city, bear in mind you need to predict at least 16 hours by train for that! Secondly, Chinese people are very nice, however they don't speak English in general, so don't even try to speak louder and slower :-) What is more, Chinese food is amazing! Tasty! Cheap! Colourful! and you get used to the chopsticks much faster than you think you would! :-) European "Chinese cuisine" has a different taste... would it be for European ingredients? I don't know... Nonetheless, nothing can be compared to the traditional Chinese dishes... and currently, I feel unhappy because it will take a while till I am back in China again. 

Yes, the enormous space taken on the world's map, people and food... These are the most important factors to be taken into account when speaking of incredible China. Not to mention their culture, looong history, inventions... Did you know that the paper, gun powder, kite or compass have been discovered by the Chinese? 

So we went there... Four crazy girls, eager to discover this amazing continent. For the first time in Asia. For the first time so far away from home. Our adventure began on 5th September 2009 when the plane took off and left Europe behind. My dream was about to become true... Two wonderful weeks in the country of the Great Wall and Shaolin Temple. I would have never dreamt about it to be so perfect. And yes, everything was just perfect, even if some things weren't going the way we had planned before, it didn't really matter. The most important was that we actually WERE there! Together, smiling, happy and curious what China would bring to our lives! And I must admit it, China has changed my life, my way of thinking and it has awaken my curiosity towards other places in the world. Now I am greedy... and I want to discover as much as possible. But I don't want to be a regular tourist, I don't want to buy travels, I don't want to stay in hotels, I don't want to search for McDonald's... I want to absorb 100% of the place I'm currently in: the smells, the tastes, the atmosphere, the people, the food... This is the best what a place may offer you - its own character. There are no places similar one to another. That is why each place is so unique and that is why some people come back to the same place several times... Will it be my case as well? Will I return to China one day?

 

Beautiful autumn in Malta & Gozo

I would have never thought of falling in love with Malta. In autumn. Yet, I must admit I wasn't prepared for the rainy season. I went rather optimistic with my flip flops and bikini (had one chance to wear my bikini but didn't actually do it!). I realized quite soon this trip was not a summer get-away ;-) It did not stop me though from admiring the architecture, colours, food, nature and adorable people. I switched gears and put myself into a different mood. Autumn mood. One week in Malta.
Here we go!

The first thing I saw the following morning (because I can't count the day of our arrival! - we spent 2 hours on the airport bus stop waiting for any bus going to Bugibba and then, the other 2 hours on the bus when it was already dark so we couldn't admire the landscapes at all!) was this amazing architecture and old buildings across the whole island. Our first stop - medieval Mdina. A very calm old town, with numerous narrow streets and hidden cafes. It is indeed called the "Silent City" and I'm not surprised why. I could not stop taking photographs...

Amazing Stockholm

A couple of years ago I was lucky to spend a very nice weekend in Stockholm.
The Old Town (Gamla Stan) amazed me by its narrow streets and colourful buildings. What is more, in the evening, the city shines thanks to hundreds of lanterns which creates a very romantic atmosphere.

Amsterdam - city of flowers, marihuana and... sex

I was told to be really lucky to visit Amsterdam in March while the sun is shining and many people wear just T-shirts! It almost never happens at this time of the year! Awesome weather indeed. Trees starting to blossom, ducks swimming in the river, people having coffee on the terrace... Nice view!

Malacca or Melaka

I'm saying good-bye to Malaysia in Malacca (Malay: Melaka) as it is my last stop in this country.

Malacca (World Heritage City) is one of the most beautiful old cities I've seen in Asia. Not only was I stunned by the colours seen on the night market, by the crazy trishaws (with loud pop music) and the amount of people visiting this city (mostly Asians), but also I had a chance to eat the best chicken in my life :-) Where? In Famosa restaurant on the Jonkers Walk.

Langkawi - not a desert island

My next stop is Langkawi, an island located in the Andaman Sea (Northern Malaysia).

Someone told me that usually people unexpectedly extend their stay in Langkawi... Humm, interesting :) There is something about this place that stops you from leaving it. And actually this is true: all the folks I met there had not expected to stay on the island that long. Even me. I was trying to leave twice, more precisely. I couldn't. So at the end I stayed there around 10 days. You are going to ask me "what the heck were you doing there for 10 days?"... Well, surprisingly there is a lot to do.

Discovering Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur (KL), the capital, is my first stop in Malaysia.

Welcome to Singapore

What hits you when you land in Singapore in the middle of the European winter? Well, probably 30°C!
You quickly spot the difference between you and the "others": you are pale and you sweat a lot. But no worries, you will get some tan and you will get used to the heat.
Your Asian adventure is just about to start! Exciting? It surely is! :-)