In the last 8 months we have lived a life that we never thought we would, here are some facts.

To travel around the world it took us 20 plane rides (16 hours being the longest ride and 45 minutes being the shortest ride), 7 ferry/boat rides, 7 overnight/day trains, 4 long haul busses, 2 car rentals, and 2 campervans, (sorry EMU didn't mean to kill you).

We visited 4 continents, 11 countries,  and 34+ cities and slept on 48 different beds.

We had one big suitcase, small carry on, day pack and a purse for two people for 8 months.

I think it's safe to say, we adapted quickly and without hesitation.

How do you write the end to a journey that you can't summarize or explain. The only thing that lingers are the memories engrained forever.

I began thinking of a trip similar to this a while back, when I was broke and google by my side. It was only supposed to be a volunteer trip in Asia and by myself. Then I dreamt bigger and bigger and said why not? You live once? I have been saving for 5 years it was time for us to spend some money and run away from the stressful life.

That early morning on January 1st, 2013 our great friends Jason and Ashley drove us to the airport. All we had was a one way ticket to Melbourne and a hotel for 6 nights. With faint lines on what countries we wanted to visit. The rest came along on a day by day, week by week and even sometimes a month by month.

This trip changed us, in ways we weren't expecting. Our eyes opened to things we didn't know. It's impossible to say what was the favourite place, or the favourite part. The shitty days were just as important as the amazing ones. But if I were to choose a few places that I would come back to for sure it would be:

1. Chiang Mai, Thailand
2. Rothenberg, Germany
3. Prague, Czech
4. Singapore, Singapore
5. Great Ocean Road, Australia.

I could go on forever writing on this experience, but I want to keep it short and sweet, besides Ali already explained some great things.

I don't have any regrets about any places we went to. I miss it everyday and euphoria has not come off just yet, and I am hoping it will never come off. This trip gave me a travel bug the size of Russia, making me hungry for more. So stay tuned as this blog will be updated as another trip of our lifetime begins. But do give us some time, as the money needs to be replenished first.

Thank you all for reading, we enjoyed seeing our page views get higher and higher.

Anna <3

PS. Couldn't end this one without pictures!

Here is my selection of one favourite picture from every single country we visited (idea suggested by my travelling friend Elise).

12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Australia - January 2013 It was a windy day, and about 1000 people, but that couldn't take away the beauty of this place.

Matamata, Hobbiton, New Zealand - January 2013 It was a super warm and sunny day, we were with a group of 20 and our guide was absolutely hilarious.

Monkey Forest, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia - February 2013 It was a steamy hot day, we were surrounded by 100s of monkeys who terrified me.

Orchid Garden in the Botanical Gardens, Singapore, Singapore - February 2013 It was so hot my camera kept pausing from overheating, the mutant orchids were breathtaking.

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - March 2013 It was a hot summer day, where the heat off the metal towers were felt, this tower made you feel tiny.

Elephant Sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand - May 2013 This explains the moment when an elephant gets so happy and excited to have a bath, we bathed a few ourselves.



Café in Rothernburg o.d.t, Germany - June 2013 An awful freezing wet day but the beautiful little café was enough to get us excited.

Gothic Church, Vienna, Austria - June 2013 The way the sun streamed through the stained glass made me speechless.

Astronomy Clock, Prague, Czech - June 2013 The most unique clock I had ever seen. The detail in that is incredible.

Castle Region, Budapest, Hungary - June 2013 The horse and rider as one.

Cherhoness, Sevastopol, Ukraine - July 2013 The ruins that made me feel uber young, with the cold black sea.

All pictures were taken by me! (C) Anna B!! Don't steal, or I will use my genius skills to find you :)

Trying to summarize a trip like this is a daunting task. There were so many memories
that I can recall and so many more that I need to review all the blogs just to trigger. This
was by far the most amazing experience of my life and it wouldn't have even happened
if it wasn't for Anna, so a big shout goes out to her for that. The challenges of our trip
are recalled just as fondly to me as the joys if it. The intense heat of Malaysia and
Singapore; the overnight trains in Thailand; the crash in Wellington that claimed the life
of "Nathan The Emu" and the resulting events that it triggered. Almost every expectation
we had about the places we were visiting were completely dashed, and this isn't said
lightly as we did a lot of research before hand on each country. One question I get
asked a lot is this, "what was your favorite place you visited?". As you can imagine, this
is not a simple question to answer. There were so many wonderful moments that I can't
think of one place that really grabbed me more than the others. I can say my experience
in Ukraine was quite singular in that I was welcomed with open arms to the Anna's
clan and all the kindness and food that came with it had a huge impact on me.  Since
each place and experience that went with it was unique it’s tough for me to pick one
over the other.

What I will offer is a list of the 10 that stand out for me in no particular
order.

• Thailand
• Singapore
• Rothenburg OBT
• Vienna
• Prague
• Bali
• Great Ocean Road
• Hobbiton
• Kuala Lumpur
• Melbourne

I’d go back to any of these places in a heartbeat! The one thing I can tell you is that
in all of the places we went we experienced many different religions from western
christianity to eastern buddhism to islam. All the places in the world are changing and
developing. The impact on me was astounding to see that my outdated perceptions
were completely wrong. It was a good thing to know that even though many places have
their old traditions, they are also embracing the new world as best they can. They all
love really good action movies and going out with friends and family and great food!
Standards of living were definitely not all equal, which made me very thankful I come
from Canada and quickly became very sympathetic to those who fight very hard to
come to Canada, United States, or any country that has a higher standard of living or
a middle class. Despite adversity in all these places we found the people were always
strong in spirit and happy for what they do have. No matter how little they had they were
always generous with food and accommodations.

Best country to drive in was definitely Germany. They have the best road system I
have ever seen. No traffic hangups. Lights for everyone from cyclists to pedestrians,
and great drivers who NEVER clog the left lane! The most beautiful and challenging
was New Zealand. Australia has the Great Ocean Road, but New Zealand was pretty
everywhere. So many sheep, undulating hills, valleys, rivers, and mountains. It's really
breathtaking to see. New Zealand also has the worst drivers of all the countries we
drove in. Sorry guys. Insurance isn't compulsory and the age of full licensing is very low.
Best country of nature exploration is Australia. It has the most unique ecosystem in the
world, and so many beautiful places to explore. We find ourselves constantly stopping
at the side of the road to explore trails, observe animals, and just enjoy the natural
beauty of it all.

Best country for sitting on a patio and having a coffee would be Vienna, with Germany
as a close second. Cafes are always full of people and the streets are always lively and
fun to observe. Germany was similar, but Vienna had a certain liveliness to it that was
hard to match. The sheer amount of places to see, festivals to experience, and cultural
activities happening at any given time are mind boggling. It makes Toronto look like the
North Pole in the middle of summer! We found some of the best parts of Vienna were
free to explore and enjoy. The only downside against it was that it was one of the most
expensive places to have a coffee as well.

Best place to eat besides with Anna's family on Datcha is Chiang Mai, Thailand. Why?
It's cheap and the curries are amazing! I couldn't get enough of them. So many varieties
and all of them taste incredible. We were rarely disappointed. Now this doesn't apply in
Bangkok or the islands. Chiang Mai spoiled us considerably. Behind Thailand, I'd say
Germany. Such high quality food and not nearly as expensive as you might expect. If
you hit up a grocery store you'll save a tonne while enjoying some great food.

Best place to appreciate modern architecture was Singapore. Europe has a lot of old
architecture, which is absolutely beautiful, but Singapore is the most forward looking
place of all we've been. Modern, unique, and very ambitious in all respects. Everything
from the Marina Bay Sands hotel to the airport to the alien trees are all statements of
innovation and creativity. Easy to get lost in it all. The city is special in that it offers so
much both during the day and in the evenings. The architecture takes on a whole other
life when the sun goes down as well.

Friendliest people: This one is very difficult. It is a tie between New Zealand and Bali.
The people of Bali are very spiritual and open. They always greet you with a smile and
are have overcome great adversity without affecting their beliefs and way of life. It is not
uncommon to end up in someone's dining room for dinner. New Zealanders were also
exceedingly friendly. There were times we needed help and they bent over backwards
to help us, many times at great expense to themselves. They really go out of their way
to be friendly. They're proud and outgoing, but not arrogant.

I can say we definitely learned a lot from our travels. Having seen all the countries we
have truly impacted how we see the world today. There is much beauty in the world and
diversity that you can't imagine until you see it for yourself. We're very lucky we live in a
time and in a country where we have access to travel and accommodations around the
world for relatively little money. In the past only the wealthy travelled, but today almost
anyone can, and should. Let yourself get lost in it and you'll see, like we did, that the
world and people in it are not nearly as different as you think. In fact, those differences
are fading with each passing day. One thing I've learned, is that I have a lot to learn.

Thank you all for following our blogs over the past year. I hope this isn't the last trip of
our lifetime that we take.

Stay tuned for Anna's last words
Ali

PS. Enjoy ...FOOD!

Previously, on the "The Singaporeans" our heroes exploring the great country/city whine half way through they were stricken with sudden sickness brought on by a viscous combination of rain, intense air conditioning, and a lack of warm clothing. This assault resulted in our heroes having to retreat to Kuala Lumpur to lick their wounds and regroup to fight another day. We vowed we would, and that day has come! Singapore was one of our favorite destinations, and a favorite of our readers as well so we were determined to return. This time, no sickness will stop us. Here we go.

Location! Location! Location! That rule has worked in real estate and for McDonald's, and it worked for us as well. The hotel was well chosen, and well placed. We enjoyed the old Chinese Opera House which was now the Santa Grand Hotel. They did have the smallest rooms we have ever been to, but the charm and the colours was all well worth it.

We have to say this is one of the most vibrant Chinatowns we've ever experienced. It's large and the people here are very outgoing, friendly, and helpful (not to mention all the fun characters we met). During the day the weather is way too hot, so the streets are pretty bare. At night is when you want to go out in Chinatown. It really lights up and comes to life. Half the stands aren't even open until the evening. We had our last meal there of "fried baby squid" (the crunchy eyeballs were a bit to get over) and chicken and fish rolls with rice and beer.

What an adventure it was to explore the "Sim Lim Square", which is just another giant IT malls. After getting over the shock of all the stores (computer parts, phone cases, laptop/tablets, repair, games, etc.). Anna had quiet the chuckle about the mall, she said "it's like visiting eBay in person". Since we were here, we decided to fix my phone (it has been out of commission since beginning of our trip). What should of taken 1 hour, took us 3 hours, and 2 trips, after the screen was half falling off, and the missing parts. We weren't the happiest campers that night. But my phone was fixed, and here I was connected again.

We had to catch up on our lost sightseeing time from our last trip, and we did. We explored the "Art Science Museum" of Singapore located next to the Marina Bay Sands. The exhibition was named "The Art Of The Brick" by Nathan Sawaya which is a New York based lawyer who always had a fascination with Lego. He has created some if the most astounding works of Lego Art I've seen. Some of his works look eerily like you're looking at a real life representation of an old video game, especially the ones of people and faces.

Another fun activity we did was attend a circus in town called "Le Noir". They were a European style circus similar to Cirque Du Soleil, but on a much smaller scale and a bit risque and on a very small circular stage! Bring on the sexy half naked men and women!! It was one of the best live performances we've ever been to. They had the funniest clown, sexy assistants, contortionist, trapeze, strongmen, all of it. Definitely a highlight. 

One of the reasons for our return was for me to collect on my birthday gift, which is to drive a Lamborghini and Singapore! Thanks honey! The company is called Ultimate Drive (www.ultimatedrive.com). You can either drive a Lamborghini or Ferrari around town. I got lemon yellow Lamborghini Gaillardo convertible to drive. I had to drive with one of their people in the car, and being its a two seater, Anna couldn't come (sad face here).  We drove around town along what was the Formula 1 circuit when the Grand Prix was here. It's a fun tour with bridges and tunnels to navigate. When driver gave the signal, it was time to floor the gas pedal. That was fun!! Is like being pulled in a slingshot it's so powerful! With the roar of the engine right behind your ears and the wind in your face (since I don't have hair) it was something else. After I got used to it (right hand drive and being a Lamborghini) I started driving like a normally do, which means by the end the passenger usually has to convince me to slow down a little bit (he he he). I got my fill now. The bucket list is now one item shorter.

The last thing that happened isn't one of our finest moments. We had Singapore right where we wanted it and were about to declare victory. We mentioned earlier that I had my phone repaired here and the ordeal it was to fix it, but we the real fun was to come. I was finally happy to have a phone for the first time in about 3 months that worked. I updated it, took photos, installed apps, and was ready to start using it more than the iPad. Than, something happened. We were coming home from Le Noir the night before we left. We took a taxi home and the phone slipped out of my pocket on the backseat. AARRRGGGHHH!!!!!  I just got the darn thing! We tried to contact the taxi company, but they were no help. It turns out that I forgot to setup a password on my phone (duh!). At first Rogers told me they could disable my phone and it would be secure. Than the next day they confirmed all they could restrict was the SIM card so my information was accessible. CRAP! I had a sinking feeling in my stomach for about three days. As I was about to write it off, I get an email from someone asking if I lost my phone. At first I was scared. I responded and tried to find out all I could about the person who emailed me. After a few back and forth emails, it turned out that he was the son of the taxi driver who drove us and was intent on returning the phone to its rightful owners. By wash relieved! The phone is currently in the mail enroute to us in Malaysia as we speak and I am eager to get it back. It just goes to show you can't always assume the worst. If my phone was locked, there was no way this person would've found me. I offered to reimburse the costs of shipping, but they refused referring to the kindness of people and the fact that we are all struggling to do our best in this world and as people we should help one another out. This goes to show the quality of people we met in Singapore.

The various personalities of Singapore communicated to us on this trip much more vocally than our last time around. Singapore is a complicated lady. It takes a while to get her to open up, but when she does, she shows you such variety, generosity, and honest affection with a show of grace that is unique only to Singapore. We would eagerly return.

  
 
 
 
 
 

Singapore. The slogan should say,

"Singapore. For Making Rich Men Bankrupt".

Singapore is something else entirely. Coming from Bali, the natural jungle settings, the humble people, the organic home cooked meals, temples and nature everywhere paying homage to the land and their traditions. Singapore is a concrete jungle with skyscrapers of beautiful curved glass and steel, bright lights, fancy cars, and luxury beyond reason while being one of the cleanest cities I have ever seen. It's a beautiful and rich tapestry of diversity that can only be found in truly world class cities like Toronto, New York, London, etc. you could spend a month here and still not run out of things to see and do. As you're doing that, you'll see an exhaustive amount of development and construction going on. Since we are only here for a mere 4 days we decided to go hard or home. Since the second option wasn't available, go hard it was!

First day we spent most of the day riding the double decker bus around the whole city being amazed by the architecture and character of the city. During the tour some of the casual tourists have cameras that would put National Geographic photographers to shame. It's fun to watch because it's almost like watching a firing squad every time an attraction comes up. "Ready? Aim? FIRE!!!" The carnage is brutal  and precision is questionable, but the equipment is impressive.

After riding the town, we decided to check out the super-uber famous Marina Sands Hotel. The hotel comprises 3 separate buildings with a huuuuge (longer than the height of the Eiffel tower) sky park complete with a full length infinity pool, gym, restaurant, etc… fancy stuff great for spending money on (see note about bankruptcy above).
This hotel has some incredible architecture inside and out, but if that isn't enough, there's also an insanely large high end shopping mall attached to the hotel directly across the street.
It has over 200 high end vendors of all types. $10,000 cell phones? Check. $50,000 watches? Check. Indoor canal with ferry boats? Check. This place is ridiculous! If you ever wanted to feel inadequate financially and see all the crazy shit über rich people buy? This is the place. Walking in you feel as though you have to show them your last tax return, pay cheque, bank balances, and a snazzy watch to be allowed in.

The next day we spent most of the day at the Botanical Garden.  Which is located right in the city center complete with paths, ponds, healing garden, and a separate Orchid Garden. We walked through maybe a quarter of the garden and found that it isn't just big, it's HUGE! We wandered past the rain forest to the main attraction, the Orchid Garden. There are over 600 species of orchids in here, along with some colonial era architecture. The dazzling array of bright color to be found here is stupefying. Orchids colored green, red, blue, gold, white, and even black. I think Anna wore out the camera with the 600 plus pictures taken in here. We can sell our own line of orchid post cards and screen savers for the next 10 years.

Next stop Circle Quay. It's located on the river that bisects the main areas of downtown Singapore. A ride on the river allows you to see almost all of the great sites of Singapore especially at night. Circle Quay is, in a few words, loud, colorful and full of food. After dinner it started to rain and at this point we were really starting to feel sick, so we had one more stop for the day, and that was the river cruise. The tour took about an hour allowing us to see everything from the skyline to the famed "Merlion" fountain that has served to become the symbol of Singapore. It rained the whole time so taking pictures wasn't easy, but take them we must, for the show must go on!

The next day unfortunately the flu has taken a turn for the worse, but we did manage to see the Chinatown for a couple hours.  

"Singapore is a FINE City" 
I saw that slogan everywhere in the tourist shops and wondered why it kept saying that. Than I read some of the rules of Singapore and it made more sense. Jaywalking $500. Littering $500. Having pornography? $1000. Repeat offender? Caning of the naked bum bum. Drugs? Death by hanging. Someone nice called it "Disneyland with the death penalty".

We healed just enough to make our plane flight the next day to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We'll have more on that later. Ciao!