Week 55, 56, 57 and 58
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Seoul,
Korea Rep.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Week 55, 56, 57 and 58
This will be the last entry for my blog (well, until my travels continue with some dough in my pocket). At the moment I am in Seoul, Korea staying at a hostel of weird and unfriendly Swedes and Korean staff who don't like talking...but who cares...I am here to see Seungmi and to try and make as much money in as short a space of time as is humanly possible. As it stand I'm not sure I can make much money here so a return to Blighty looks inevitable.
Backtracking slightly my last few weeks in the Philippines was a flurry of activity; seeing old friends, tying up loose ends and generally saying 'see ya' (not goodbye) to people. I didn't really do any sight-seeing but just met up with people I'd gotten close to in the last 3 months.
So, six months of hard work back in England and then I'll be off for another year. The plan is to start back in the Philippines again then explore Asia and the Far East.
A few comments about the countries I've been to in the last 6 months. New Zealand...well, what can I say that I haven't already said. I didn't like it. Australia was cool because I went there to see people and was pleasantly surprised by the Aussies I met. I would come back here but only for a holiday or a visit.
The Philippines...its a weird feeling, I honestly don't like bigging it up to much because I don't want too many tourists going there or anyone going there. It's like I want to keep it a secret. I absolutely loved it. This is why it'll be the starting point of my next trip.
Dare I say it when the time came to leave Philly there were tears in my eyes at the airport. It seemed a re-run of me leaving Colombia was imminent. It felt very different this time though because this is the place I see myself settling down...Colombia I loved but realistically never saw myself living there. Another incentive to return is the idea of buying some beach land. Me and the Irish lads are going to put some money into getting a nice piece of beach land and building some holiday huts, bar and restaurant. Where, I won't say because its a secret.
Why do I love Philly so much. Well, for one thing I love their national Psyche. Then I love the fact that they seriously love their music. I've never been to a country where everyone has such a love for music...from the young to the very old, they will all sing on the bus or in the street without any hesitation. Thats why the K-Bars are so popular here (Karaoke). They are very friendly...not in a Thai kind of fake smile way. Don't get me wrong I like the Thai's but think most of the time they're fakers. With the Filipinos its a mix of curiosity and friendliness.
I've had some of the worst weather during my time in Philly...but did I care. Not a bit because I just liked being there.
Is there anything I'd change if I had the chance to do it all over again? Nope, not a single thing. Even if I hated some places it was still an experience and a half. Maybe I would have spent less time in Mexico...but then I wouldn't have met so many of the good people I met after that. For me it was all just right. Would I do it all again? No. People always ask me that about Africa and the answer is always no. There are some countries I will go to...but it would only be there.
Well, that's it for now. A brand new blog will be starting at the beginning of April. I'm sure the hard work, heavy prices and the cold winter of England will release me out into the travel world again with renewed vigour and the excitement I felt when I first started this trip last year. To be honest after about 10 months the backpacker feels jaded which even chill time in Thailand couldn't fix. Next time I'm going to work in places and spend more time in places I like and yes...I will be travelling even lighter than this trip (maybe just a Tesco's bag slung over my shoulder). Its funny, I'm already starting to plan the next trip in my head. Can't bloody wait...
