May 31, 2017
In February, my sister Elly and I set off on the absolute trip of a lifetime: three weeks backpacking in Southeast Asia. In the (many) weeks since, I’ve tried to convince myself to sit down and BLOG ABOUT IT mostly because I look back often at my Europe blog posts (1 & 2) with warm fuzzy feelings and know I’ll appreciate being able to do the same with this trip.
Of course, two road blocks stood in the way:
Excuse One: How does one summarize three of the best weeks of your life in two little blog posts? Because that feels liiike impossible.
Excuse Two: On top of missing the places we were and experiences we had, I miss Elly so much it hurts. Putting this blog post together requires me to relive it all/remember how wonderful and carefree life was for three weeks with my best friend and the sap in me just can’t take it but HERE GOES…
Back story: it all started in December like “uh look flights are so cheap to Southeast Asia, we should gooo” and because we have three different cousins there currently, we were like WELL, IF WE MUST. A very tough decision and quite selfless on our part to visit them, right? To be honest, I kind of expected this to be *that trip that never happened* and I’m seriously so thankful it really did and we had the opportunity to visit such amazing places but most importantly: people we love a whole lot. So many pinch me moments while there and I still feel that way even right now just thinking about it.
First, you must know my mother could have been successful at anything she wanted to be, lucky for us she chose to be the world’s best stay at home mama. <3 Also lucky for us: she would have been the world’s best travel agent if she chose that route so instead we just reap the benefits. She booked a steal of a flight to Bangkok for $600 (I KNOW). Like does that even cover the plane’s fuel?!
Our goal was to keep it below 2K each for food/flights/lodging while there which felt ambitious considering we’d be gone for three weeks and really like to eat. But somehow our final total rang in at $2,038.00 for our time there and my apologies (you’re welcome?) if that makes you want to go plan a trip right this moment!!!
Elly couldn’t find her passport leading up to the trip (Alan Raush: Professional Room Searcher to the rescue), bought a backpack a few days before our departure, and stuffed it full of tank tops at 11:59 PM the night before (she’s the spontaneous one), but when the wheels went up on our first flight it started sinking in we were really going. A plus being I had the following 22 hours on planes to wrap my mind around that beautiful fact.
I will say, if you’re ever contemplating flying to this part of the world… 22 hours really is a long miserable flight. Don’t be fooled. I don’t think any amount of comfortable airport clothing or essential oils could have prepared us for this. (But definitely pack the essential oils!)
Two hours in I thought wow this isn’t *that* bad, but somewhere between Hour Three and Hour Six things took a turn. We (*Me… Elly sleeps like a baby the moment her seat buckle is fastened and I’ll be forever jealous) found ourselves taking bathroom trips just to pass the time. It was at Hour Eight that I found myself saying things like “I’m so bored I guess I’ll eat more” and that’s when I knew we were in for a long (unhealthy) flight.
We had a layover/traded money in Tokyo and I honestly wouldn’t have known if they gave me 30 cents for my $100 but the people were so nice and smiley so how could they?! This was also our first exposure to squatty potties and in a true moment of naivety while waiting for a *Western Toilet* to be available, I motioned a Japanese girl to pass me in line for the open squatty potty stall. But not without warning her it was “different.” She didn’t seem to mind/I guess the warning wasn’t as necessary as it seemed?! Noted.
Somehow we made it (!!!) and I realize I sound like a wimp, but I do have a new appreciation for those that make this journey any more often than every ten years. We salute you.
It was shockingly hot + humid in Bangkok (v thankful for air conditioning, a shower, and comfy beds after our trek across the world… brushing my teeth had never felt so magical), but sleep of course came easily and the next morning we were up early and strapped back into our monstrous backpacks ready for the moment we’d been waiting for all along …
We said goodbye in September for what we thought was a year while our cousin Cherish served Jesus around the globe with The World Race. But we reunited in a teary sweaty group hug in the *forever close to our hearts* streets of Penang, Malaysia and it was truly a prodigal son returns to his father moment as we saw her in the distance and tried to run towards her for our long awaited embrace. Elly describes her backpack running style as “a huffing camel in labor” LOL but regardless it’s a moment we won’t soon (ever) forget.If I had to pick two of the happiest days of my life I honestly think these two are top contenders and I’m not exaggerating. They were filled with everything good.
We hiked to Monkey Beach on Day One which Cherish promoted as a “short flat walk” but after a grueling climb that went on for miles, I came to the realization even missionaries fib every now and then, too.
Caroline: “OH GOOD, it’s only two more kilometers!!!”
Elly: “How far is two kilometers?”
Caroline: “Beats me.”
At first, we were awestruck by the sight of the darling monkeys that inhabited the beaches… but that utopia didn’t last long. We stepped fairly close to them and that’s when the first sneak attack struck. The little buggers would fling themselves out of the trees and dive bomb us. Then they would hide behind the wall and pop out to hiss at us. We tried to escape them and continue our journey down the beach, but about eight of them cornered us from all sides. Knowing we couldn’t withstand them alone, we held hands and charged forward, thankfully busting through their trap (PTL). Promise this isn’t even an exaggeration. Ask Elly.
The beach was so beautiful and after going + going it was so peaceful to lay down and soak up some sunshine. It was just like a childhood Ocean City Maryland beach day together, except we were across the world and YEAH that thought just never got old. We kept saying our 12 year old selves would be proud of us…
As we were leaving, a Malaysian man with a friendly smile motioned us towards his boat and proudly showed us his pet monkey. If you also wish to have pets like this, you can check out the Blog for Pet Lovers here! Next thing we know he picked it up and cheerfully flung it towards us and because I’m a photographer I dutifully (and rather selflessly) dodged the opportunity of having a monkey put my hair in his mouth (no thx) and instead, documented in horror. He literally chomped down on Elly’s bun while sitting atop her head and I think she’s still thanking her lucky stars she didn’t wind up with a spontaneous Amish bowl-cut… BRAVERY.
It was a very sad depressing goodbye that came too quickly but we’re keeping things positive so PRAISE THE LORD for our time together because it seriously was all we could have ever asked for and more.Onward to the Philippines! We got three hours of sleep that night before heading to the airport. Checking our bags was our favorite part of every travel day… you feel like a piece of you is missing as you walk away from the bag check 50 lbs lighter. Bliss.
Because there wasn’t an evening flight out from Manila –> Coron, we had to spend the night at a nearby hotel and planned to catch the earliest morning flight back out to our destination. My mom had booked the hotel through Hilton Honors and because we were only sleeping there I assumed it was simply a bed for the night. TBH Elly and I were dreading this pointless leg of our journey.
That is until we walked into The Conrad and they started calling us “ma’am” every other sentence and treating us like queens. We now know who invented the beaming smile… The Conrad staff.
They upgraded us to the master king supreme deluxe luxury suite (there were so many words we couldn’t catch them all but we knew this was a very good thing) for no additional charge. We threw on the plush bathrobes then headed for the pool, grabbed a cabana, and started talking (again) about how grateful we were to have this time experiencing the world together. Yeah ok I’ll admit it a tear or two might have ran down my cheek as we laid there LOL.
After bathing in a jacuzzi and agreeing we’d never take off those bathrobes as long as we live, our mom texted: “Did you walk to the mall for dinner?” … “No, we had other plans…” and FINE I cried again when room service was delivered too. (WE LOVE USD –> PESO CONVERSIONS) Fell asleep in seven minutes that night. Glorious.
The next morning, Elly obliged a Filipino man who asked for a picture with the rare species (tall blonde goddess) she is, especially in SEA, then we were on our way…
We landed in Coron at a small jungle-esque airport and The Two Seasons had our shuttle driver pick us up. Wyne had me at “hello let me take your bags.” <3 Truly love at first sight.
The wonderful Two Seasons staff we got to know over our short stay found our lankiness charming and called us “the models.” That alone made us want to stay forever. Just confused now why no one calls me that on the reg here in the states?
The next day we island hopped (I know) and snorkeled with the guidance of a Coron local (hi Kahzi !!) who we loved and wanted to adopt as the fourth Raush sister.
We swam in the lake for a while and I fought back the tears as we just talked like sisters do and looked at the beauty that surrounded us…
For lunch, Kahzi led us to an island cafe where they sat us down then laid out this bountiful spread before us. Table for two (hundred)?
The next day we spent the evening exploring the town, hiking up to Mount Tapyas Viewpoint (which I still don’t know how to pronounce correctly), and falling more in love with the untouched village and beautiful people than words can express. Also considered just staying here forever, living among the locals…
We sat there and watched the sun set over Coron and I probably would have teared up again if it weren’t for the group of little school boys that popped out of nowhere like shy skittish dear but finally our smiles and waves won them over and they taught us how to break dance. The best.
That night, we returned to this view at our hotel and I hate to be one of those girls but #NOFILTER !!
And then we were so happily reunited with our cousin Marcy who’s been living in Kuala Lumpar the last few years working via a Fulbright Scholarship (SO PROUD). Visiting her in the place she’s called home was just so special. <3
But more on that later when we reconvene for Part Two of this glorious adventure: the second half of the trip (Kuala Lumpar, Phi Phi, Krabi, Bangkok, Hong Kong). For now, I’ll leave you with this little video recap!!!
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