On the 7th of September, 2006 - I arrived back in Finland!! I hadn't told anyone in Finland that I was returning, and so when I jumped off the bus near my house I was quite excited to walk in and surprise my parents. However...as I walked toward my street, I saw my dad's car turn into the main road. After checking it really WAS his car, I started waving my arms - turns out both my parents were on their way to town. So I jumped into the car. Not exactly the surprise I was expecting, but I'm sure they [View Full Entry]

---

---

Back to Europe. Wow. After nearly a year on the road, I am back to where I started from. I remember how excited I was before my trip started, talking to Adriana the night before my flight to Delhi about all the places I wanted to see and the people I was bound to meet. Honestly, the trip went far beyond my expectations. But back to my last days in Bangkok. After Wolfgang left for Cambodia, I spent the next few days preparing for getting back home. I bought souvenirs for everyone, I drank as many mango shakes as possible, and [View Full Entry]

---

---

Back to the sights and sounds of Khao San Road. The sights consist of the Thai women dressed in tribal attire walking around with their wooden frogs, the thousands of Pad Thai stalls, and the numerous colorful stalls that yell out for you to buy buy buyyyyyyyy. The distinct sound of Khao San Road is a conglomeration of pop music from the music stalls, the icecream truck, the 'just have a look, ma'am', and the consistent ring of the 7 eleven bell. My third visit to this other dimension has proved my favorite. Through my travels, I must have made a [View Full Entry]

---

---

I finally made it to Koh Pha Ngan after a long bus-taxi-train-boat trip. Leaving the Perenthians was tough,...I really enjoyed my time there. When we first arrived here, Keith and I found the guesthouse where Tom and Sarah were staying. I decided to drop my bags off in their room and head to the main tourist part of the island called Had Rin. Keith found a bungalow on the beach where the others were staying (Ban Thai). I decided to do the unthinkable and walk from Ban Thai to Had Rin. This was not an easy feat in the heat of [View Full Entry]

---

---

The train to Kota Bharu was perfect - second class sleeper train had beds with little curtains on the side. I was so exhausted after our 5 hour hike that I crashed the second my head hit the pillow. It was perfect. I had a good 5 hours of sleep - until we came to our destination. We ended up getting off at a station before Kota Bharu so that we could share a cab with the french boys who were also heading to the Perhentians. After an easy cab-port-ferry transfer, we were on our way to Long Beach. The french [View Full Entry]

---

---

The trip to Taman Negara National Park was a bit of a dissappointment. We had heard some great things about 'The Jungle Train' - which was supposed to give you some amazing views of the Malaysian Jungle. To me - it seemed like just an ordinary train. Except for the fact that it stopped at 5 minute intervals. So if someone tries to sell you the Cameron Highlands - Taman Negara extortionately priced ticket with the slogan 'you get to experience the JUNGLE TRAIN' - tell them you'd rather take a public bus back to KL and head up from there. [View Full Entry]

---

---

I've had such a great time during my two days in Tanah Rata! It is such a laid-back town with great weather. The funny thing is - 'great weather' is now defined as cool, clean mountain air with a lovely breeze. That's what happens after spending a month in 30+ sun! The first morning in the dorm I realised why Allison had been complaining about the amount of sleep to be had in the mornings....everyone was up and about by around 8, making you feel like a fool if you wanted to sleep more. So what could me do? We got [View Full Entry]

---

---

I've arrived in Kuala Lumpur! The bus ride from Singapore went smoothly - took a bus to the border and then another to Kuala Lumpur. On the way had a look at the Lonely Planet and chose a hostel named Pudu Hostel close to the bus station where I was arriving. The hostel turned out to be really good. I love the fact that Malaysia and Singapore have hostels for single backpackers - it makes meeting people so much easier!! On my first night I arrived at around 11 and spoke to my American and Canadian roommates for a while...but I [View Full Entry]

---

---

My trip to Hat Yai didn't quite go according to plan. The bus-ferry-minibus experience to Hat Yai went well - met some other backpackers on their way to Malesia. However, I was the only one staying on the Thai side of the border...when we arrived in Hat Yai a lady from the travel agency where we were dropped off asked whether I was continuing on to Malaysia. Now - while travelling, everyone is constantly trying to sell you stuff, and I immediately put my defences up. No, I didn't want to go to Malaysia, NO, I didn't want to go to [View Full Entry]

---

---

If anyone is heading to Koh Samui and is in need of a bit of a rest - I would definitely recommend choosing Mae Nam Beach. It is a small, pictoresque beach which is hidden by the loud main street parallel to the beach. Once you get on the beach, it's like finding a hidden treasure! The 2 days that I have spent here have been full of reading, sleeping, and long talks. On my first day, one of the first things I did was go swimming! It was a beautiful day and I ended up having a nap on the [View Full Entry]

---

---