Bangkok: The 5 rule guide for hiring a tuk-tuk in Bangkok

Two blondes riding around Bangkok in a tuk-tuk, Thailands most exhilarating form of transportation.

 Long before there were taxis, scooters, buses, or trains, good old fashioned tuk-tuks ruled the streets of Bangkok. They are still the most exhilarating way to get around in Bangkok today and are a must on your to-do list while traveling or living in Thailand. With my camera in my right hand and my left hand gripped onto the safety strap dangling above, there was a giant grin across my face as my vehicle made its way from a hotel near Khaosan Road over to Chatuchak Weekend Market.  Prior to hopping in any old tuk-tuk there are a few guidelines you should follow to make your journey more memorable.

1. Go for the experience: When you take a tuk-tuk, make sure to relax and enjoy the scenery as you speed around with an up close view of many of Bangkok's famous sites. Riding in a tuk-tuk also gives you a good picture of how locals are living their every day life.

2. Be direct: Tell the tuk-tuk driver exactly where you want to go and how much you are willing to pay before hopping inside. A short trip of 5 minutes should cost you 30 baht which is about $1. Be weary of the high prices that all drivers will try and charge you in tourist areas. Always negotiate for a lower price. If you're really assertive you might go for 50% off the original price, but Bangkok.com recommends getting at least 5-20 baht off the original fare price. Remember, every tuk-tuk will charge you an inflated price and don't get sucked into going to one of their commissioned jewelry stores.

3. Take a short trip: A 20 minute trip will cost you more money in a tuk-tuk than in a metered taxi; sometimes the prices are double. If you decide to take a taxi request the meter for longer trips of 15 minutes or more. Tuk-tuk's are no longer cheaper than metered taxis because of their popularity among tourist and the drivers ability to charge higher prices.

4. Avoid peak hours: Avoid rush hour in a tuk-tuk because of the fumes you will directly inhale from the nearby rickshaws and vehicles. If you have asthma or any other kind of respiratory problems sitting behind clouds of black smoke during traffic might not be the most enjoyable way to enjoy your day.

5. Have fun with the drivers: If you have a good sense of humor with the drivers they will send laughter right back in your direction. When you're bargaining prices try exaggerating things to them and say something like  "100 baht!!??? You're going to make me broke! You make me so sad How about 60 Baht?!" Most drivers appreciate a fun personality and are more willing to lower their prices if they like you. Also take some time to get to know their personal story like information about their friends or family. They are pretty easy to talk to, and many of the drivers like to practice their English skills.

Our tuk-tuk was very friendly and chatted with us about life in Bangkok.

If you have any questions or comments about "Bangkok: The 5 rule guide for hiring a tuk-tuk in Bangkok" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com 

    Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Australia: Kangaroo and Koala photos lost forever

Photo courtesy of The Sydney Morning Herald. But mine were better!

 
  Snapping photos all day long with kangaroos and koalas can really make you tired. After a great dinner and long day walking around the animal park here in Perth, Australia I absentmindedly left my camera sitting on the restaurant table alongside a pile of empty plates, platters, and beer samples. Wanting to review all of our amazing photos I dug through my canvas bag for my camera only to remember I left it sitting on the restaurant table. We made a call and luckily they had found my orange memory taker and attached a paper with my name and number to it before putting it in their lost and found box. Because we weren't very close to Fremantle and it was getting late, my friend let them know we would be picking it up the following day. So the next when my friend got off work he drove me over to pick up the camera however we were told that it wasn't there anymore. After a very unconvincing conversation with the manager I left feeling angry and upset that the staff had been so dumb as to put my camera somewhere where it might be stolen by one of their own staff members. I was told that maybe the manager had put it in a secret location, but that they couldn't get a hold of her. The next morning the manager on duty finally stated that one of their staff members had stolen the camera and that he felt embarrassed and terrible about the whole situation. My camera was gone. All of my lovely kangaroo, dingo, koala,wallaby, and goat photos were lost forever. And someone working for their restaurant had taken it.
     The restaurant decided to take $500 from each staff members tips and to hold a staff meeting that day encouraging the thief to return the camera to a secret location. The next morning I took a boat ride in the river from Perth to Fremantle only to be told that no one had returned the camera. The restaurant agreed to pay me $520 cash so that I could go buy a new camera and memory chip before leaving Australia and continuing my travels. They also agreed to ship my camera back to me if it was ever returned.
     It's unfortunate that I lost all of my precious memories at the animal park in Australia, but it was definitely a lesson learned. When you start traveling and spending long days walking around and get little sleep the nights before you can easily leave something behind. From this day on my camera will be attached to my body with the dorky neck camera strap. I was able to purchase the same camera from a store here in Perth. And then when I got home I was wiping off the lens and my anal eyes noticed a speck of dust trapped inside the lens of the camera. I went back to the camera store the next morning and showed them the small piece of dust. However, I really didn't want to exchange the camera for a new one because they didn't have anymore orange ones. The entire point of having this camera is so that I can take it in the water with me and the bright orange casing is great in the water. All of the photos appeared to be perfectly normal and there was clearly no problem with the camera. I am just such a perfectionist that I can see the tiny piece of dust and it drives me crazy!  The men at the store said it really was ok because the camera can't focus enough to ever catch the piece of dust in a photo. I walked around downtown Perth the rest of the morning taking photos and testing everything out to make sure there were no further problems.
    Finally, I settled and went home with my brand new camera, perfectly new but with a tiny piece of dust in the lens. At least I have a new camera  and didn't have to pay for a new one. I need to learn to not be such a perfectionist with everything in my life. And maybe this camera is the start of that!  So for those of you traveling, remember that when you are tired you are more likely to lose something. So triple check that you have all of your belongings before getting up from a restaurant, bus, plane, or wherever you were hanging out at.

Happy travels!

If you have any questions or comments about "Australia: Kangaroo and Koala photos lost forever" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com 

    Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Bali: Attacked by a monkey in the Monkey Forest in Ubud

   

Right before I got bit by a monkey in the monkey forest in Ubud and had to get rabies treatment.

Monkey friend.

  One second a monkey was eating a banana and hanging out on my shoulder, and the next I was being bitten by a jealous hairy onlooker. Don't go to the monkey forest! As I sit cuddled up on the couch in Perth, Australia today after just being injected with my first shot of post exposure rabies treatment I am still shocked to say the least. On Monday morning, my last day in Ubud, I got dropped off by my guest house owner at the Monkey Forest a mere 5 minute drive from his house. He smiled and waved goodbye to me as I made sure to be back at the entrance in 40 minutes to catch a ride from him over to Sanur to stay with my friends family.
   After paying the entrance fee and walking past the women selling bananas I spotted my first monkey within a minute. Tons of foreigners were in the park as it serves as one of Bali's biggest tourist attraction. I took some photos of the monkeys and watched as the other foreigners fed them bananas and admired them in awe. The monkeys were walking right up to us and hopping on peoples heads hanging out as they curiously climbed up your body.
    A sweet girl from the States offered me a small piece of her banana and mentioned to me that she had the same camera as I did. She offered to take a video of me while I fed the monkey and only 20 seconds later I was attacked. The cute monkey I was feeding sat on my shoulder and climbed around my head. He was getting alot of attention. And then, out of no where, a monkey that had been standing nearby jumped towards me and before I knew it there was blood pouring from my leg. Everyone in the forest was shocked and I casually wiped off the cut and walked through the forest for my remaining 20 minutes knowing there was nothing to do until Danu my friend and driver came back. None of the nearby "monkey staff" seemed concerned about my bite and they simply told me to wash it off.

Monkeys eating breakfast.

    I took out some anti bacterial spray and my Neosporin ointment and patched up my leg. When Danu arrived he laughed and told me not to worry, that all of the monkeys in Ubud get vaccinated for rabies every 6-12 months and that he had also been bitten before. No one in the park that I talked to seemed worried and I got in the car and started my relaxing beach vacation in Sanur. By Thursday afternoon, I had wireless access in an internet cafe with my girlfriend and I started researching the monkey bites. Several people said not to worry and that it would be extremely rare for a monkey in Ubud to have rabies. Over precautionary people did get treatment, but they strongly advised not seeking treatment in the hospitals in Bali where the vaccinations are in low supply and are extremely expensive. Knowing that I was flying to Perth, Australia at midnight on Thursday night gave me a little piece of mind. But I started getting anxiety at the airport where I broke down and bought a giant chocolate croissant and 10 doughnut holes from Dunkin Doughnuts thinking to myself "Well if I'm going to die from rabies, I might as well enjoy the little time I have left!"

In shock in Australia as I received my first rabies shot of 5. 

     I landed in Perth at 4:10 am this morning and was greeted by my best friend from college and her boyfriend. Jillian and Marko were thrilled to see me and there were many tears shed at the airport. And then the monkey bite news was shared. We went home and napped and before work Jillian helped me contact a hospital and made an appointment for me to get checked out.

Baby monkeys. 

     Once at the hospital the doctor explained to me the very low probability that the monkey was infected, although it was still a possibility as there was an extreme outbreak of rabies in 2010 that killed over 100 Indonesians. However, there has never been one rabies case reported from a monkey bite among any foreigners and the rabies was rabid in dogs throughout Bali although monkeys could still be a carrier. After contacting 2 doctors and the Center for Disease and Control the answer was clear. I heard an immediate "Yes" on the other line from all 3 phone calls and I knew bad news was coming. I would need the series of injections for post-exposure rabies treatment over the next 30 days. But how could I possibly do this while I am traveling to 6 countries in 30 days? In only a week I'll be heading to Bangkok, Thailand and then Cambodia and finally Vietnam. Luckily, the treatment shots take place on day 0,3,7,14, and 28. I am able to get the first 3 shots during my time here in Perth and one while in Vietnam and my final shot in California. Getting the shots gives me peace of mind that I will not go crazy and die a terrible death. 

A beautiful bridge inside the forest.

     I still cannot believe this crazy event has happened to me. As I sit here looking at the pictures of Monkey Forest and my first rabies shot vaccination I am in disbelief. I was so worried about protecting myself from crazy people and thieves while in South East Asia and I didn't even consider any animal borne diseases. This has definitely been a wake up call for me during my travels and I feel blessed that I am able to continue my journey.

     As for the Monkey Forest in Bali, I would never recommend for tourists to go there. Apparently people get bit there all the time. The monkeys are very dangerous and although many people brave the forest and never have any issues, there is a high chance that a monkey could bite you. After a party with my friends family in Sanur, her great uncle shared his story about being bit over 15 years ago, and his daughter had also been bitten. I had no idea that their were so many cases of monkey bites in the forest, and although it is a beautiful place to visit, I would never recommend it to anyone. Stay far away from the monkey forest and you will be safe! Or else, you might find yourself paying over $1,000 for rabies treatment or even worse go crazy and die from rabies itself.

The monkeys are everywhere, currently there are over 600 monkeys in the Monkey Forest.

Women selling bananas at the park entrance.

If you have any questions or comments about "Bali: Attacked by a monkey in the Monkey Forest in Ubud" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com 

    Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Gone Seoul Searching in Japan: On leaving Japan

Teaching in Tokyo, Japan for the summer of 2012 was wonderful thanks to my good friends and students!

  My suitcases are stuffed full of presents from my students and my wallet has 4 different currencies. I'm leaving Japan, and I'm in denial. My time here has been very bitter and sweet and 2 1/2 months really does fly by when you are so busy working and sightseeing on the weekends. This opportunity has been a blessing from god in so many ways.
   As I begin my journey throughout South East Asia for the next 30 days, I'm taking a look back at what brought me to this point in my life. It all started my junior year of college at Loyola Marymount University when Oscar Borboa, the editor in cheif of our student run newspaper encouraged me to apply for a summer study scholarship program in Korea. I was awarded the 2 week adventure of a lifetime and after a tour of YBM decided that would be my first job upon graduating college back in May of 2010. After a wonderful year in Korea, possibly the best year of my life, I returned to San Diego to start a Masters in TESOL with the goal of becoming a well educated ESL professional. During my summer vacation in 2012, I sought out a university teaching job in Japan with Westgate and after a short 8 months in California I boarded the plane to Tokyo and arrived on May 1st.
   Starting today I will be taking a 30 day trip around SEA. I'll start out in Bali where I will meet my university professor's gamelan trainers and stay in Ubud. Then I'll meet a good friend from graduate school and hang out with her family in Denpasar. Finally, I'll hang out in Legian and do a trip to Lombangan Island. After Bali, I have the opportunity to see one of my best friends from college in Perth, Australia for one week. Leaving the Austrailian winter behind I'll have to learn to adjust to the heat in Bangkok, Thailand and survive a long bus ride to Cambodia to Siem Riep. To top off my 30 day adventure I'll fly up to Hanoi and travel to Halong Bay and finally stay with another friend in Ho Chi Minh. At the end of my 30 days I'll return to Tokyo for 2 nights and then fly back to California on a Sunday. And then the next adventure begins the next morning at 9 am in my new ESL classroom in San Diego.
    With so little time for relaxation during the past 2.5 months and so little time to relax upon returning home, I'm going to do my best to take in the atmosphere of each country while sleeping in and reading some great books. For those of you reading that have never traveled abroad, get out there already! Traveling for a short time is one thing, but living is another. You truly get to know the culture of each place you live and it will change your perspective on so many things that you believed in.  After coming to Asia and experiencing so many different cultures and countries I have learned that even among Asian countries they are all so different and each culture has its own characteristics. So stay with a host family, get out of the tourist trap area, and don't be afraid to wander off the beaten path.


 I have absolutely loved my time here in Japan and have made so many wonderful friends! Happy travels to all of my friends from Japan!


If you have any questions or comments about "Gone Seoul Searching in Japan: On leaving Japan " please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com 
    Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Gone Seoul Searching in Japan: A letter to my wonderful students

Playing bingo at our class party on Wednesday June 18th, 2012.

Dear students,

When I first came to Japan I was very lonely. I was sad to be away from my friends and family, but very excited to apply new skills that I have learned as a teacher in my graduate school program in TESOL. I was extremely nervous on our first day of class as I wanted all of you to be engaged in my class and to have a different experience learning English than in your middle school and high school years. I'm sorry it took me almost 3 weeks to learn everyone's names! Thank you for always participating in my class and keeping an open mind. You have been an amazing group of students, willing to take risks and learn from your mistakes. Every day you walk into my classroom with a giant smile on your face and work very hard to learn English while having fun at the same time! I want to thank you for all of the joy and laughter you brought into our classroom throughout the past two and a half months. Always remember that learning English is fun, and that you must take your time and be polite to yourself while learning anything in life. Please don't forget to enjoy using your English over summer vacation and for the rest of your life! When you see a lost gaigin in the station, you know exactly how to give them directions and help them in English! So practice every day with your classmates, review your notes, and join some English speaking clubs or make a foreign friend in Tokyo. There are many groups on meetup.com that have groups of foreigners that hang out around Tokyo and take trips. Hiking, singing, walking, dancing, studying English, doing judo, if you can think of it, there is a group of foreigners meeting. Please join a group and enjoy having fun and speaking English with native speakers and other Japanese speakers of English!  I have already written you all an individual goodbye letter, and I hope that many of you will contact me via e-mail with any questions about English or updates about your life! Although I was your English teacher, I am also a friend and mentor to you. If you ever need any advice about life, English, travel, or study abroad dont hesitate to contact me!

Best wishes,

Marie

Saori and Meg messing around!

Thank you girls for bringing a ton of amazing Japanese snacks! I hope you liked the chips and salsa I b

Students from the morning party!

If you have any questions or comments about "Gone Seoul Searching in Japan: A letter to my wonderful students" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com 

    Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Gone Seoul Searching in Japan video post: My apartment in Japan, a virtual tour

    

My apartment in Tokyo is cozy and comfortable after decorating with Asian flare.

     A high tech toilet and a deep bathtub are two things I never expected to enjoy in my apartment in Japan. Apartment dwelling in Tokyo is small, but the gadgets help make the transition living abroad fun. Living in a family neighborhood in the suburbs of Tokyo in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa is a pleasant contrast from the wild streets of downtown Tokyo. There are children walking to school every morning as mothers stretching out their arms volunteer to help them cross the streets. People are out walking their dogs and going for jogs. The environment is very friendly and peaceful and when I want I can walk to one of the nearby stations for some city life or take the train into Tokyo.
    As I have mentioned in my video, my apartment was provided by the company that I work for, Westgate. The day I arrived in Japan, I moved right into my apartment. Everything was furnished and clean upon the move in. I was provided with a basic futon and comforter and one rock hard pillow with beans in it. Later, I went on a bike ride to Costco and bought more comfortable pillows.
    If you're thinking of moving to Japan and are wondering what a standard apartment for 81,000 yen or ($1,000) a month will get you take a look at my video post. Only a year and a half ago I did my video post about my apartment in Korea, and the clip is among the most viewed on Gone Seoul Searching's You Tube account.

Head to the nearest print shop and print out some of your most recent photos to keep your memories alive!

My photo collage.

Sleeping on the floor on a futon is not comfortable.

Hanging up pictures is the first step in making your apartment feel more like him while living in Japan.

My bathtub seriously is my favorite thing in my apartment. Its so deep!

Japanese cats!

My hallway is narrow but separates everything nicely.

 If you have any questions or comments about "Gone Seoul Searching in Japan video post: My apartment in Japan, a virtual tour" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com 
    Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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Gone Seoul Searching in Japan Video Post: Tranquil views of Japan Women's University Nishi-Ikuta Campus

A rice paddy field planted by elementary and middle school students.

  
     Chirping birds and hooting owls greet me on my daily walk around the campus at Japan Women's University Niski-Ikuta Campus. My coworkers and I reminisce daily about how lucky we are to be at such a stunning and tranquil university which houses lush gardens, forestry, and bamboo groves. Earlier in the month, I saw girls from the elementary school campus planting what I think is a rice paddy field only a few meters from my building. The office ladies are constantly picking fresh flowers from the grounds and displaying them in the waiting areas. Wild life greets me daily as I encounter snakes, bumble bees, butterflies, and caterpillars. There is nothing more beautiful in my day than walking up the hill towards the cafeteria.

To see the rice paddy fields and scenery around the campus please watch the video below!

Additional Pictures....

 If you have any questions or comments about "Gone Seoul Searching in Japan Video Post: Tranquil views of Japan Women's University Nishi-Ikuta Campus" please leave them in the comment box below or email them to goneseoulsearching@gmail.com 
    Gone Seoul Searching by Marie Webb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at goneseoulsearching@gmail.com.

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