Since I so enjoyed it last year, I am re-doing the year in review according to the alphabet. I have changed some headings because I still do not care about the best beer.
A: Afraid
Frequently we hear lamentations from our students that travel is dangerous. Why we cannot negate the fact that unusual and frightening situations do occur, they tend to be rare. Nonetheless, we seem to have one a year and this year's brush with danger occurred between Kuala Lumpur and Mersing, in transit to get to Tioman Island. Stuffed onto a ratty bus with a bunch of sexually-frustrated, testosterone-driven boys, our inner gut screamed trouble when the leader of the pack eyed Zach and taunted with body language. Within minutes, we heeded the warning, pushed our way off the bus and spent a lovely night in a small Malaysian town.
B: Bizarre Experience
Guizhou takes this award. It was a last minute call for foreigners to join an all expense paid trip. The promised translator, other foreigners and vegetarian food never materialized. The entire trip ended up being completely different than what was promoted. In the throes, it was hard, tiring and weirdly delightful. It has become a similar tale to Egypt; the more time that passes, the more we enjoy telling the stories and appreciate what we actually got to do during our time there.
C: Cuisine (Favorite)
The tofu in Indonesia. Sarah is going to chastise me, but I forget the actual name. However, one of my favorite dishes that it was in is called gado gado.
E: Event that you experienced that made you say 'Wow.'
The plain of Bagan was breathtaking. The first time we were able to climb a temple and gaze across the expanse, we were truly lost for words. Throughout our seven days, we found every available opportunity to climb.
F: Favorite picture of the year
Myanmar: Morning mist and monks.
Runner up would be this picture I recently captured in Macau. I love the simplicity.
G: Grossest Moment
Returning from our summer holiday and discovering that mold had overtaken our hutong. It was a rough welcome back to China.
H: Happiest moment
Touching an elephant in Malaysia. I nearly cried with excitement.
I: Incredible service you have experienced and where
During our overnight transit from Bali to China, we spent the night in a hotel that had just opened up to the public. It was in the soft-launch stage, testing the staff and systems. It was incredible, one of those experiences that makes you scratch your head and wonder how that could have been possible. Plus, they had the best pool in the world (that we have seen.)
J: Journey that took you the longest
Our quest to reach Gili Air in Indonesia. Trains, planes, ferries, taxis and I forget what else it took to reach that island that was a mere ten minutes off the coast of Lombok.
K: Keepsake from your travels.
We picked up an unusual "art" piece this year thanks to Sarah's host family. While we were staying with them, they changed the license plate on their vehicles. Zach asked if we could have the old ones and they agreed. One now hangs next to our desk in the office; every time I look at it, I am reminded of a beautiful family with the biggest heart for hospitality.
L: Let down sight. Why and where?
My expectations for Kuala Lumpur were high for a city that calls itself the Pearl of the Orient. I expected something similar to Bangkok or Hong Kong. After four days, I still could not wrap my head around KL. Beside a towering skyscraper would be a belching, tattered bus missing half the seats. For every modern amenity, there were four things that could be found in our village in China. Plus, the brand new, state-of-the-art airport sucks.
M: Moment where you (re)fell in love with travel.
Facing thousands of participants and spectators while holding a banner won by my dragon boat team reminded me living abroad is a grand experience. I am so thankful for this season.
N: Nicest hotel you stayed in this year.
Being placed in the Executive Suite in the Charming Hotel on our trip to Macau technically takes the award for nicest hotel. However, I would argue that Harry's Ocean Hostel in Pacitan was the best of the year. The cute bungalow, the incredible outdoor shower and the most inviting front porch remains etched in my memory months later. It was a small version of my dream home.
O: Opera
Opera watching has taken a few of our evenings this year. The wails in the night beckoned us for a couple of hours, not for the story but for the amazing costumes and scenery. A true Chinese experience alongside the young and old of local villages.
P: Paradise of the Year
Threats of monsoons kept the tourists away, so for three days we had the beach to ourselves on Tioman Island. It was a unique experience, highlighted by the fact we were with friends, Marshall and Bryan.
Q: Quirkiest attraction you have visited and where.
The rock that looks like a penis in Danxiashan, Guangdong. The number of Chinese who clamor to see this mountainous irregularity is astounding.
R: Relaxed
Our weeks in Portland were so relaxing, but one day that stands out was when Kaden and I took to the Gorge. It was a day that made it feel as though we had never moved to China; Kaden and I were on an adventure and all was right with the world.
S: Superstar Moment
The flailing hands and squeals of delight as a mob of women attacked my husband on Borobudur is the funniest case of mis-identification this year. The lines, the pictures, the clamor for attention still make us chuckle.
T: Touristy thing you have done.
The Miao Village in Guizhou was the most touristy destination of our year. It screamed Asian Gatlinburg.
U: Unforgettable travel memory
April confessing that she did not know how to use a squatty potty.
When we told her about squatty potties during one of our Skype sessions, she said she understood. So, when we walked into the first bathroom at the bus station and she said, "How do I do this?", I retorted, "If you take your pants off, you are doing it wrong." Weeks later, while eating dinner in Yuanyang, she confessed that she actually did not know how to use a squatty potty and thought we had meant she would have to 'hover' over the toilet bowl because they were so gross.
V: Visit of the year
April came to China! We never thought we would have a visitor from the states and we were thrilled to a have another partner in a crime for a month.
W: Worst transportation experience
The twenty-two hour train ride to Kunming was hell. Hard back seats and the slowest train ever made this trek practically intolerable. However, the crazy kleptomaniac in the middle of the night was an entertaining distraction.
X: eXecllent view and from where
Waking up to the sounds of women's giggles outside our window, our gaze was quickly drawn outside. The view from our hotel was beyond anything that could be imagined. The rice fields of Yuanyang were breathtaking, mesmerizing and practically magical.
Y: Your hardest moment while traveling
While our year was reasonably calm, friends and family around the globe had a rough year. Learning via email that my dad's True Value Hardware store had burned was hard, as were the following conversations with my mom. It was another poignant reminder that sometimes living overseas can suck.
Z: Zealous sports fans and where.
Timbers Army.
