So I didn't get to write like I wanted to on my trip. I could rattle off some excuses but I won't. Instead I'll just give you the quick version.
So I flew into London and had a few days to myself. Unfortunately Big Ben was under construction and the London Eye wasn't running so instead I did some other less exciting tourist stuff. London was damn cold so I mostly enjoyed my Jacuzzi bathtub. I eventually met up with my tour group which turned out to be a super amazing experience. Although most of the people were younger than me, I made some really sweet friends and had a good time.
With them I crossed the English Channel, went up the Eiffel Tower, saw the Moulin Rouge show, went dancing, saw Notre Dame, drank so much sangria, walked a million miles to countless museums/art galleries/monuments, saw a Flamenco show in Barcelona, ate snails, crossed the love lock bridge, ate my weight in pastries and fruit, spent many hours in a bus, bought some french perfume, won money at the Monte Carlo Casino, had the best pesto pasta, went on a booze cruise to the island of Capri, stayed in one horrific hostel, saw the leaning tower of Piza, made my own pasta, and overall had a great time. The people in this group made everything special and exciting. So many different kinds of people with different backgrounds, different quirks, different strengths and weaknesses. They welcomed me in and accepted me for who I am and for that I'm incredibly grateful.
The group tour ended in Rome and from there I flew to an island in Greece. Turns out that island is DEAD outside of tourist season so I walked around the ghost town petting stray cats, watched lighting storms and recovered from going hard for 20 days straight. In Athens I literally ran away from a creepy Italian man in a dark park but I made it out just fine.
Singapore was STUNNING. The whole city looks like it was just built yesterday, it's all shiny and new and futuristic. The Gardens by the Bay was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The two glass domes house millions of plants and have the best views of the city.
Krabi Thailand was so hot but nice to dethaw from Europe. I took a boat tour of all the islands, went snorkeling, and got crazy sunburnt. I got a tattoo on the back of my arm of a Ginkgo leaf, a sak yant, and a circle. I met up with my uncle and ran around Bangkok for the day with him. I went into a cat cafe and was very disappointing because all the cats had squished faces like a pug. I saw a Thai theater show about the country and it's history. I managed to get very lost twice, once in an absolute maze of a street market, once in an enormous shopping mall. These people take shopping very seriously, I've never seen so many shopping centers in my life.
Then I flew into Hiroshima Japan! In Japan I started staying in hotels rather than hostels/capsules like I was doing in Thailand so it was VERY difficult to get out of the comfortable beds. But what motivated me was 7-11. Japanese 7-11 is the best thing that exists. I would get ramen, rice balls, mochi doughnuts, smoothies, hot coffee in a can, anything I could ever crave was there waiting. I also saw a Kabuki show in Japan. I participated in a traditional tea ceremony dressed in full Kimono. I hung out in the red light district of Shibuya. Ate honey toast which is maybe my new favorite dessert, if you don't know what it is look it up and thank me later. And finally took the 30 hour trip back to Washington *whew*
I know it isn't exactly what I promised but hopefully you enjoyed hearing about my adventure. Next up... moving across the country!
