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visit Asia


 

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How to visit Asia by dombomb

"It was a great eye-opening experience!"

How I did it: Most of my friends in University were from Hong Kong or Mainland China so in University I decided to study a bit of Mandarin to prepare me to go to China.  I can't really say it took me 2 years to go there... it was something in the making since I was a kid.  I had always been interested in China since my grandfather had told my family about his experiences there working for Boeing. 

Once I finished University and I had been working for a year I finally told myself it was time to go.  My job wasn't that great at the time but they did let me take a month off for travelling.

I started my planning and realized that at that time my Mandarin skills were quite bad so I thought that I could make a compromize to go somewhere like Hong Kong or Taiwan where they have a lot of English speakers but still have a strong Asian culture.  After doing some more research I realized I had another option which was Singapore!  I have always been enamoured by islands so it didn't take much to make me choose to go there. 

So I forked over the $1,234 for the return ticket and away I went!  The first thing I noticed was the humidity.  I mean it was a bit muggy in the airport, but as soon as I stepped outside it was like a wave of water-saturated air.  The strange thing was that it didn't bother me like I thought it would (I guess because the humidity made me sweat thus cooling down my body, and letting me enjoy slight breezes).  Anyway I was luckier than most people who travel because I was able to get free accomodation through the connections with my Catholic Church back in Canada who knew some priests in Singapore so they allowed me to use an extra room at their residence also they were able to give me some info about the locals.  As an added bonus some of the younger people at the church who were around my age immediately befriended me and showed me around the city and we often had meals together. 

In the end my trip to Singapore was quite a unique experience and one I wouldn't trade anything for!

Lessons & tips: Network, plan ahead, buy a guide book

Resources: Lonely Planet guide book


 

Sep 26, 2008, 03:24PM PDT | 0 comments



More "How I Did It" stories

NrmnS14

It took me
1 year
It made me
happy

How I did it: booked a project working with pandas and a flight and headed out there :) managed to learn a bit of mandarin before I go which was a bonus as very little Chinese people speak English - rightly so.  Read how I did it…

Sep 26, 09:31AM PDT | 0 comments


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    People doing this are also doing these things:

    Entries

    jasoninraleigh

    Untitled 1 month ago

    Want to visit China, Japan and other Eastern Asia countries.

    Sep 25, 01:03PM PDT | 0 comments


    anikiki

    I'm so close :D 4 months ago

    I’ll start with Malaysia on 28 August :) I can’t wait !!!

    Jun 15, 10:03AM PDT | 0 comments


    wisemathowl is eagerly awaiting her dinner.

    Untitled 10 months ago

    I really want to visit Okinawa and Japan, but I would also love to visit China if my friend from work can show me around. India sounds intriguing as well.

    Jan 01, 2009, 05:59PM PST | 0 comments


    cornelb

    Untitled 13 months ago

    would love to go to Asia.to see some new culture, history, buildings(chinese greate wall) and have fun there.

    Sep 18, 2008, 10:47AM PDT | 0 comments


    Ojamas is making Obama pajamas

    I went to Singapore and Tokyo 14 months ago

    Wow, Asia is a real blast. I went to Singapore and Japan on businss. Singapore was great and very easy to navigate in English. Tokyo was fascinating, and I would recommend having a host/guide. Coming up out of the subway in Shibuya was amazing – I emerged into a sea of humanity surrounded by neon. Think Times Square times 10 only cleaner and surprisingly orderly. Wouldn’t want to live there (unless I learned Japanese), but definitely worth a visit. Next on my list is Hong Kong.

    Aug 27, 2008, 03:17AM PDT | 1 cheer | 0 comments


    Rozan

    Untitled 14 months ago

    I hope that I will be lucky enough to travel a lot in my life, and hope if nothing else to visit every continent at least once(well, except for Antarctica maybe, but never say never). Europe: check, North Africa: check, North America: check. Up next is Asia…

    Aug 27, 2008, 01:22AM PDT | 0 comments


    sulwen1 k

    Untitled 16 months ago

    maybe go with angie!!!

    Jul 18, 2008, 06:55PM PDT | 0 comments


    Monica03 is feeling bleh but good

    Japan 16 months ago

    I’m currently getting my passport so that I can go to Japan in December :D. I hope all goes according to plan…. although I guess I haven’t really cemented any plans really.

    But I will :D:D

    Jul 18, 2008, 08:01AM PDT | 0 comments


    solagratia111 is blessed. :)

    maybe i'm cheating... 16 months ago

    i spent two months in south korea right before high school to visit my mom’s family. :)

    what i remember about korea is that there were many, many high rise apartment buildings. they looked like dominoes from a distance. my mom told me then that koreans have to build up because they can’t build out. :)

    i would love to go back someday and visit other countries as well, especially india and china. my mom and sister are heading to south korea later this month, and i am envious! my sister will also be in mongolia for a week on a missions trip…very exciting. though a bit scary. i am definitely keeping them in my prayers.

    Jul 03, 2008, 07:23AM PDT | 1 cheer | 3 comments


    amandab28 is thinking

    Untitled 17 months ago

    I lived in Japan for 6 years, it was awesome. I definitely want to go back!

    Jun 03, 2008, 11:50PM PDT | 0 comments


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