Join me on my solo trip to Asia - beautiful experience of Cassie Thomas

In November last year, I did something that I never thought I would do. As a mature (almost too mature – think borderline boring!) thinking, stick-to-your-bubble kind of gal, I enjoyed the familiar things in life and generally stuck to a routine that most 23 year olds would rather run barefoot through a Lego field than participate in.

Something came over me and I decided to make a spontaneous decision to put my life on hold for 4 weeks and travel to Asia. Alone. I know what you’re thinking… Asia?! Asia for someone who is borderline boring and doesn’t like to leave their comfort zone?! I know, me too. Panic set in when I arrived at the airport and it took a lot of inner strength to not run back outside with my grossly overweight suitcase that was bursting at the seams with non-necessities. But I did it. I hopped on my plane and arrived at my first destination, Singapore. Singapore was the perfect start for me. You get a beautiful sense of the Asian culture without the “OMG I CAN’T BREATHE” crowds and the innate awareness that everyone is staring at you and wondering where you’re from – FYI, most people guessed Sweden. Singapore is clean, historical, picturesque, cultural and most importantly – friendly. To this day, I have still never been in a more friendly and welcoming city/country. Everyone is so kind and generous, all wanting to know about your life and your travels so far. My cheeks were constantly aching with the never-ending smiles I was giving to the lovely locals who beamed at you when you passed them in the street or walked into their store. Most people speak English which, of course, is a comfort, but those who don’t will still make an incredible effort to communicate with you regardless. My two weeks in Singapore were unforgettable. While it was VERY hard to adjust to the weather (if you enjoy sweating to the point that you look like you’ve just run through a car wash – Singapore is for you!), I remember being so happy and carefree the entire time.

You can’t NOT take a selfie with a lemur at the Singapore Zoo…

Everything about Singapore is just spectacular. My highlights were visiting Pulau Ubin, an island off Eastern Singapore which is considered to be the last standing village in the country. I had my first experience travelling on a bumboat and I spent the day exploring walking trails and cycling a lap of the island. I also saw my first wild boar, too! I also visited Sentosa Island (the boardwalk is a must!) and spent a day at Universal Studios which was incredible. Singapore Zoo boasts 2800 animals over 300 species and you MUST utilise a full day for this incredible experience. The layout is fantastic and makes it impossible to get lost or double up on exhibits you’ve already seen and if you’re feeling too lazy (or sweaty) to walk, there’s a multitude of trams willing to pick you up and drop you off at the main displays. Changi Beach Park was another beautiful destination that I could have lapped up for days. Pristine white beaches, tall palms and walking trails all make for a fantastic day out, especially for families. The beaches in Singapore aren’t exactly comparable to those here in Australia, but they’re certainly beautiful in their own way. If you’re thinking of travelling to Singapore, don’t forget to stop in at the Marina Bay Sands skypark. 57 levels above the city, the observation deck boats 360 degree views of Singapore and all its surroundings. If you’re wondering why Marina Bay Sands sounds familiar, yep, you guessed it, it’s the huge hotel with a boat built on top. Don’t forget to visit Gardens By The Bay, either. Never in my life have I seen such a beautiful horticultural sanctuary. A definite must-do! After an amazing two weeks exploring Singapore, it was sadly time to move on.

Sentosa Island – Southernmost point of Continental Asia

Next was Hong Kong. Hong Kong was also picturesque and full of history, but definitely more of a culture shock for me. It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is or whether you’re in the city or the suburbs, Hong Kong is ALWAYS bustling. You’ll always run into someone on the street (literally!) and you’re always guaranteed to find either a Starbucks or a local dried seafood market (whatever appeals to you more) ready to greet you with a smile. Hong Kong was COLD. I’m talking 8 degrees compared to the 37 degree days I was having in Singapore – only a 4 hour flight away! I certainly didn’t pack appropriately, so my first day was spent hunting down a parka. UniQlo, thanks for saving me. At first, I found it quite difficult to adjust to the atmosphere in Hong Kong due to the heavy layer of smog surrounding me. As an asthmatic, I had to take it easy for the first few days but surprisingly it didn’t seem to bother any of the locals – I saw more people wearing pollution masks in Singapore! Another thing that I needed to quickly adjust to was walking on the right… The total opposite of Australia where everyone keeps left. I can’t count how many times I thought I was being helpful by sticking to the left side of escalators, when really I was holding about 20 people up behind me! It took a while to get used to, especially considering they drive on the left. It still makes no sense to me. What I LOVED about Hong Kong was their public transport system. It is so easy to get around, whether it be by bus, ferry or train. Their MTR is so efficient and reliable and I genuinely don’t think I ever waited more than 3 minutes for a train. Keep in mind, though, majority of the Asian population use public transport – Expect a squishy ride! My highlights of Hong Kong were Victoria Peak, the highest peak of Hong Kong.

A Hong Kong Street on a quiet day… Yep, quiet. Be prepared to duck and weave everywhere you go!

You travel up a (very steep!) mountain by tram and arrive up top to one of the most breathtaking sights I’ve ever seen. You get a full panorama of Hong Kong and all its surrounding islands, as well as the jaw dropping real estate close by – think local politicians and celebrities. There’s no time limit to how long you have at The Peak which is fantastic, and there’s a multitude of souvenir shops and restaurants to check out. I also found an awesome walking trail which covered the entire Eastern side of the mountain – I’d definitely recommend keeping an eye out for it! I also loved visiting Lantau Island, home of the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. You travel by cable car with a scenic journey of roughly 25 minutes before you arrive at Ngong Ping, your starting point for both the Buddha and the Monastery. The cable car trip was BEAUTIFUL, it gave you a real sense of just how remote these peaceful areas are compared to the bustle of the city.

Ngong Ping Cable Car Journey, Hong Kong.

As you approach Ngong Ping, you can see Tian Tan in the distance, as well as the lush forestry surrounding it. Now, let me warn you… To make it up to the Tian Tan Buddha, you first have to conquer the 268 steps leading up to it. It may sound easy, but the incline is very steep and I even saw very athletic people stopping to take a break along the way! I think I took about 6 breaks, but let’s not worry about that…

Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, Hong Kong.

The aching calves are more than worth the view at the top – I can say with 100% honesty that I literally gasped in awe when I first saw the Buddha up close. She is gorgeous, sitting 34 metres high with such beautiful, intricate features. You will instantly notice a sense of calm and tranquility as the local monks offer blessings to those visiting, alongside the many prayer groups kneeling quietly as they communicate with Buddha. Photos are encouraged, so don’t feel as though you’re being disrespectful by taking a happy snap! I felt so privileged to be there and I would love to return again one day. Sitting opposite the Buddha (back down the stairs, a MUCH easier journey) is the Po Lin Monastery. The Monastery is one of Hong Kong’s most sacred sanctums and is home to many local monks. The Monastery is rich with manifestations of Buddhist iconography and there’s a huge garden open to the public to take a wander through. Watch out for the resident cows, though. I saw 3 different people get chased down (literally!) because they were walking around with food in their bags. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

As a young adult, a trip to Hong Kong wouldn’t be the same without a visit to every young persons dream destination – Disneyland! Also situated on Lantau Island, Hong Kong Disneyland is a stones throw from the CBD and super easy to get to by the fantastic MTR system I was talking about. I’d never visited a Disneyland before, and it’s safe to say it definitely did not disappoint me. I didn’t care that I was approximately 14 years older than most other patrons; I had the time of my life. The energy at Disneyland really does convey “The happiest place on Earth” and I was living my childhood dream. Don’t miss The Lion King stage show – A must see!

Because 23 year olds can’t go to Disneyland without fitting in with the kids.

My time in Hong Kong flew by but it’s definitely a destination I would return to in a heartbeat. The culture, the food and the general atmosphere is unforgettable and it will certainly make you appreciate the comfortable life you live back home.

My final destination was Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen is right on the Southern tip of China which means you can arrive by train from Hong Kong in less than 2 hours – Mind blowing, right?! The most nerve-wracking experience of China occurred right at the start of my journey in customs. The paperwork to get into China is so detailed and lengthy. The fact that “false declarations” on your travel slips can result in jail time didn’t settle my nerves, either. You need to declare everything from your name, birthday, family history, past addresses, past travel itinerary and your specific plans for visiting China. Tip: Fill this documentation out BEFORE you try to cross the border. I waited for about 45 minutes before I was called upon to present my customs card. I think the officer knew I was almost shaking with fear and I didn’t speak a lick of Chinese, so he went easy on me. From that point, I was in and out within about two minutes. I caught a cab to my hotel (with my accommodation pre-printed in Cantonese) and straight away I was treated with such respect and kindness – from both hotel workers and other visitors! I had two separate people ask (I assume) to take a photo with me before I even went up to my room. The blonde hair, pasty white skin and blue eyes must have done it. I was also wearing my fluffy parka and jeans while the accustomed locals were getting around in t-shirts and pants. Let’s be real, I stood out like a sore thumb. My week in China was mostly spent exploring – Each day, I visited a new suburb on the train line and just wandered for hours. I came across so many markets selling unique knick knacks and spotted quite a few questionable “designer” items along the way. I was also asked for photos a few more times by local sellers – a real boost for my self-esteem! I think I ate about 7 times a day in China. The food is insanely cheap and too delicious to resist. As I said, I don’t speak a lick of Cantonese and most of the locals in Shenzhen don’t speak a lick of English, so ordering food or paying for items was mostly a cat and mouse game of pointing to boards and nodding and shaking our heads. We always got there in the end, though! One of my highlights from China was my visit to the Splendid China Park – a park which presents the country’s best assets in miniature form. It’s not as odd as it sounds, everything is beautifully presented and it really gives you a sense of the whole country and its most notable artifacts (such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors) without having to travel all over China to see them – something I didn’t have time to do! The Shenzhen Museum was fantastic, too. The building itself was beautiful but the arts and relics on display were fascinating. Another highlight was the Shenzhen Bay Park – a 13km stretch of reclaimed seaside only minutes away from the CBD. One thing I wasn’t expecting throughout my trip to Asia was such beautiful waterfront. I’d definitely recommend making the trip and going for a walk just before the evening rolls in, the sunset over the water is gorgeous.

Shenzhen City, China.

Before I knew it, my 4 weeks in Asia was coming to an end and I was finding myself wondering what I was ever worried about to begin with. Asia is such a spectacular continent and I only saw the tiniest thumbnail of it. There is so much diversity and culture to explore and I couldn’t believe how friendly and accommodating everyone was. The Asian locals certainly want you to feel as though you’re at home with them, and they do a fantastic job. For those wanting to experience Asia without a huge culture shock and language barrier, Singapore is for you. Singapore will allow you to experience Asia at a pace that is comfortable for you with some of the most beautiful attractions and people in the world. For those wanting a little extra hustle and bustle but still find comfort in the English language and familiar stores, make sure you add Hong Kong to your travel list. Just remember to check the weather first! If you want a real change of culture and to hugely step out of your comfort zone, please consider China within your travel plans! As I said, I only saw the tiniest snippet of these places but I cannot recommend them enough. In hindsight, I would have liked to allow 2 weeks for each destination, but hey, there’s always next time.

Well, there’s my insight into my recent solo trip to Asia. I hope you can take a tip or two away with you from reading my stories, maybe a laugh as well, but at the very least let me leave you with this quote that I think will resonate quite well with any readers also grappling the travel bug:
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” ― Augustine of Hippo

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This piece was written by Cassie Thomas can be reached at [email protected]