asiabound - day 0: toronto.

It's 4am... I'm still up. Cleared all my photos from my camera, all packed except for the stuff I need in the morning. Got my shots, my pills, my documents. There was a mix of feelings between excitement and nervousness earlier, but now, I just feel too tired to feel either. Why bother sleeping when I have to be up in an hour and there's a grueling 15.5 hour flight waiting for me?

Essentially, the itinerary's going to look something like this: land in Hong Kong and spend about 3 days there, then fly to India for a bit more than a week to see Darjeeling, Agra, Kolkata, Dheli, and Varanasi. Then it's off to Thailand to see some beaches and relax/backpack for about a week and half. After Thailand, we hit up Macau for a day then back to HK to catch our flight to Guang Zhou, China to visit some relatives for a couple of days. Then back to HK to shop til we drop.

Heh... As I'm typing this, the feeling of excitement is starting to come back. Funny how that works. The thing that worries me and gets me a little nervous is the thieving and the kid beggars. I've been told that they are quite relentless, and the whole ordeal is that you know by giving them money, you'll attract a swarm, and you're only fueling the cycle. But if you don't give them anything, you feel heartless, torn, and helpless to help these kids.

I think backpacking through some of the rural areas of India will really open my eyes. Which for me is part of the purpose of this trip. I'm hoping in Thailand we'll get to rent some bicycles and bike around the local areas.

Anyway. It's already 4:24am... I still have to shave my head. I'll try to update when I can. Photos will probably get updated on FB faster than posts on this blog, but I do intend on writing a traveling journal while on this trip. Toodles.

hb.eL.

Lots of last minute things to do... Not really planning on sleeping, really. Gotta leave the apartment in 6 hours. Getting butterflies in my stomach...

honster's list.

The itinerary: HK, India, Thailand, China, HK.

So far, everything just fits perfectly in my duffel bag... Hopefully I can find a backpack that'll be around this size...

Important
• Passport
• Flight ticket
• Insurance papers
• Moola
• Anti-malarial pills

Clothes
• 2 t-shirts
• 4 undies
• 3 socks
• 1 jeans
• 1 shorts
• 1 long sleeve t
• 1 Poncho/raincoat
• 1 sandals
• 1 shorts (worn)
• 1 shoes (worn)
• 1 belt (worn)
• 1 hat (worn)
• 1 socks (worn)
• 1 undies (worn)
• 1 t-shirt (worn)

Toiletries
• towel
• toilet paper rolls x2
• floss
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• razor
• deodorant
• cologne
• bodywash
• SPF lip balm

Accessories
• garbage bag
• ipod
• earphones
• camera
• camera charger
• camera battery/memory stick
• fanny pack
• mini-sketch book
• pen & pencil
• book
• outlet converter
• ipod & camera wire
• first aid kit
• travel pack hand sanitizer
• nail clippers
• ziplocks
• phone
• laundry powder
• tea tree oil
• bug spray
• sun screen
• travel thermos

the three days rule

Until two years ago, I never knew what the 3 days rule was. But when my friend told me about it, it all made sense.

//Paraphrased
Me: So you're saying I shouldn't call tomorrow (Saturday) for a lunch date Monday?
Friend: No man. It's all about timing. You call too soon, you seem desperate. You wait too long, she loses interest.


I went with the 3 days rule. I got called out on it months down the road; it was a good laugh..

How I Met Your Mother discusses the 3 days rule. But it has a more valid reason why one should abide by it. Because Jesus wants us to wait 3 days...

just another lush day.

It's been nothing but a smile on a face lately. Reason being that when something in your life takes a right turn, it affects everything else in your life: your state of mind, your relationships, your health and so on. Everything about you brightens up. I couldn't ask for more at this moment. I know I say this a lot but I could never be thankful enough for the people in my life.

As for work, it's been nothing but faaaanntastic! Working on a lot of animations and with great designers. My only complaint is that I really miss working near Chinatown. Bay/Bloor is nothing but food courts and it's sad that we even have nicknames for the two food courts... sigh... There's a Pho Hung across the street from the ROM so I might end up going there one of these days. Just have to convince the co-workers to make that trek there. The convincing part will be a bit difficult, as I seem to be the only one who gets excited over pho.

I rode my first fixie bike Wednesday night. Tessar was awesome enough to teach me how to skid-stop and such. I gotta say... It's so weird to ride a fixed gear bike. I'd forget for a split second that I can't stop pedaling, but then I'd get a reminder as the pedal kicks your leg up as you try to rest up. I can't even imagine what it'd be like going downhill!! BUT I do want one now... The frame is soooo light!! My thighs are still sore from all that practice with the skid-stops. Also, a link that was sent to me from Tessar: Bamboo Bike Studio. Innovatively green ideas. So awesome. I want one of those too...

I made a hilarious video for my good friend John Thai's 26th birthday and played it for him and his friends at the party. I know it's on Facebook and that many of you have already seen it, but for you randoms who stumble upon my blog about nothing, hopefully this will at least make you smile... Enjoy!