Pt. 1

Since technically this is the beginning of this story I should explain now, this is not the beginning. I have neglected this for far too long and now in an attempt to reconcile my flaw of compulsory forgetting I am now starting to write down the stories that make up the best, worst, strangest, most lovely and honestly whatever else I decide, stories that I can remember. Since I will document them in the order received by the memory box between my ears, there will not be an exact order. Perhaps at some point I may try my best to put them in some sort of consecutive order but for now we will just go on some sort of out-of-order, wonderful mystery-box of a journey into what are, the stories of my life. So, for now please enjoy what are my most valuable possession, my memories.

Pt 1.

Among the endless list of problems with the American pharmaceutical/health care industry is the fact that if you find yourself without insurance and in need of any medical, well anything really, you will wind up with nothing less than an absurd amount of bills totaling an unrealistic amount of money for which you have now have  work till you die to pay for not dying. Get it? Me neither. Here is the thing, maybe it is stupid but I would rather risk tempting the cruel mistress of fate then end up locked up in a coffin of debt, smelling of misery and life long commitment to never ending interest rates.This is how I’ve been living the 4 previous years  of my uninsured life, mostly luck and a quick placed foot, somehow avoiding the land of medical bill mines.So when I found myself at the clinic, a woman in light blue scrubs and dark hair pulled into a bun, staring at me with tired, overworked eyes, waiting for me to decide which of the list of indiscernible medical words that must be the immunizations that my mom had sent me in to get. But how would I know? I don’t speak this foreign language. She explains again what she has said, while I stare blankly at the bright sheets of paper giving more headaches than information.Enough is enough, decision time. I blatantly told her I had no idea which ones I needed but I didn’t want to pay for any of them, so tell me exactly what I do and don’t need. When dealing with words like Malaria, Tetanus and Diphtheria,it feels a bit wrong to say no thank you. Yet here I was turning down malaria medication because it would have cost me more that 1 month of my trip would have cost. Then there is the whole point of this medical ramble, Rabies. As it would turn out it’s expensive to attempt to prevent rabies, 4 shots, each individual would cost me 600$ and needed to be spread out over an amount of time that I did not have. (Wait, did I really wait until 2 weeks before I jump on a plane to even consider getting immunized? Yes, absolutely and I am surprised that I even did it that far ahead of time) So hold on, I would be paying 2,400$ for something that may may not stop me from getting rabies  and the exact same medication that would be administered if I was in fact exposed to? No thank you. My nurse instead gave me the necessities, 3 shots, a few tablets and the much cheaper alternative rabies prescription: just stay away from the animals, especially the monkeys. I look fate in the face and tell her to bring it on.

I don’t have to words necessary for explain the mysterious beauty and peaceful wonder that surges through you when you wander through the walls of Angkor Wat. The name means "Temple City" or "City of Temples" in Khmer and was originally build as a Hindu temple of god Vishnu, God of preservation and protection. (quick little history lesson for you whom have read this far) The first thing you see after pulling up on the long road lined with ancient curving trees, a truly massive mote that is wide enough to look more like a river but is far too perfect to actually be one. The still water surrounding Angkor reflects a crystal clear image of its breathtaking towers. The crumbling, ancient stone bridge leads directly to the entrance to the grand temple. Walking over the cool water you watch the reflection change shape and somehow grow more and more mesmerizing. Passing smiling monks, stepping in tiny puddles with their own tiny reflections, getting a hint  in this moment: you are about to experience magic.

I wrote down my thoughts of Angkor while walking between the intricate carving covered stone columns of  one silent and empty corridor. “The ancient walls of Angkor scream out, begging for you to get lost wandering through them for hours. Forcing you to feel all the history as you stare in awe at the detail still preserved.”

Despite the fact that Angkor is swarming with tourists dying to see this incredible wonder there is no shortage of quiet areas to be explored alone. Seriously, this place is massive.  Within the initial walls you enter the area has what seems like infinite layers of more walls to find and explore. I was traveling with my cousin and a best friend since birth (we were born just days apart) and we arrived to Angkor together but decided to wander separately for a while to see what we could find, this was a common travel trend with us as nomadic companions. I grabbed the camera and he took the Go Pro and we strapped up our backpacks and headed out alone into the vastness of the temple.

After 2 hours or so alone II was walking through a series of pillar arch ways, on my right only the column separated me from the outside edge of this particular building, and to the left  the hallway continued till it met a wall covered in big windows looking into the next room and massive carvings in the stone. Stories, men and elephants in vicious battles towered next to me. I was the only one in the hallway walking towards the sun that shone through the pillars. It felt so peaceful. Spoke too soon,  what was that? Did something just run across hall? A small black dart through the arch ahead? No, it couldn’t have! But there, Again! And again! I feel eyes on the back of my head and suddenly feel uneasy. I slowly turn around, like a person in a horror movie with the murder is right behind them, as if turning slower will stop them from killing you. So silly, yet slowly I turn hoping to see nothing but stone.

My slow turning was completely in vain. I was surrounded. Now my mind was flashing back to that story I told you in the beginning, remember? The whole no thanks, I don’t need the rabies shot, I’m fine, basically indestructible story? Well in this moment I regretted all of that. My gaze was met by 20 monkeys, staring at me like I was about to be dinner. Still, I think if i back away slowly maybe they will leave me alone. For every slow, calculated step I take back the monkeys take one quick step towards me. Feet start slow, then exponentially pick up pace till I realize this whole plan isn’t working, screw this time to turn and run for you life. I am not sure I have ever run so fast in my life (my P.E. teachers would have been so proud.) I am darting through the arch ways, as swiftly as my Chaco clad feet would allow past windows and carvings, through door ways,and over stairs. But alas my primate pursuers were gaining on me. I see a head of a girl around my age peek out of a window sill a few meters ahead. I watch as her eyes bug out behind her glasses, her jaw drops as she lets out a scream, “Oh, NO!” She realizes if she doesn’t move the every growing monkey mafia will soon overtake her. At least now I am not alone in my mad dash. We run around a corner together, now bonded by the risk of death (surprisingly neither of us tried to trip the other to save our own life) Ah, ha! Humans, straight ahead. Strength in numbers and whatever! The monkeys seem to back off to check out the group and decide if they can take all on. So much relief fills my body as I feel I have just escaped my demise. Konner also happens to be in this group of ‘Humans’ whom by convenient placement saved me. I start to tell him what has just happened to me, throwing my arms around to tell the story of how I came to be running around with a herd of monkeys. Every other human is saying “Oh how cute, monkeys!” snapping photos, “Oh, look at that one!” Even Konner joins in. I breath a sigh of relief. What a day.

I feel a scrape on the back of my leg, and as a hairy arm reaches over my shoulder. I am being pulled down backwards, a flurry of tiny legs are hitting against my legs and waist. It takes a moment for me to realize that I am being jumped! A monkey menace must have sensed I felt safe and took it as the perfect opportunity to attack. This psycho is on my back, legs dancing on my backpack. A moment of attempted life preserving idiocy convinces me to rip of my backpack. “Take everything! Have it all you filthy animal!”, not even caring for a second my money and passport are in this backpack. More monkey friends come to share the spoils. Just then a tiny grabby monkey hand reaches to the sky and shrieks. I finally find out the culprit of this whole fiasco, a small, over ripe, bright yellow banana is pulled out of my pack.

You have got to be kidding me. Who in their right mind runs around monkey infested grounds with a banana hanging out of their pack? I flash back to 3 days before, I stood in a 7/11 telling the cashier that I absolutely did not want to buy a banana while she is telling me that I definitely do. She must have had stronger debating skills because I left with 2 bananas. 7/11 strikes again.  Konner stops laughing for long enough to negotiate a trade with the monkeys, they get the banana and a few coffee candies and I get my pack and my life.

I still wonder why I bought those bananas.

Photographic Evidence:

Also check this out : For a moment we inhale it - Meditations on Angkor Wat

Rome-as told by James

OK first day 

Great navigation

Walked around colloseum and cat carpark walked past the forum saw it from the outside

Plus went inside that awesome church with all that awesome artwork and cool ceiling 

That same day we saw the pyramid 

And the keyhole

Didn't realise we did so much that day 

Day 2

We had coffee and Introduced you to how fricken great italian croissants are

We queue jumped the f*** out of the colloseum because we are important people 

When we came out we went to the forum getting lost at first because the entrance was closed but we found it eventually 

You also danced next to this cool fountain

Also the first day I forgot to say we saw the story of jesus in near that small church thing 

Back to the 2nd day though after the forum we went back and o believe that is the day we were looking for that awesome restaurant which took ages and we were craving pasta 

But it was closed ...

So we went back had some food at that restaurant near the hostel 

And we then went to the trevi fountain where we made ate ice cream, laughed at tourists and made some Asian friends with peace signs

As you can see you are peacing out right there

We also had a lil walk to see what the colloseum was like at night

Day 3

Big day aging wake up

Treat ourselves to a coffee and croissant again

Only picture I have got but we audioguide the shit out of the dead people bones place 

And get a little bit spooky

Next thing we venture of to the search for the vatican 

Walking down all those little streets trying to make it to the river, which eventually found

After crossing so lots or little things which we arnt to sure what they are but they are there

For example

2nd one we now know is illuminati territory 

We also found the vatican and walked around an entire state

We then had a coffee and decided on booking the airbnb for a couple of night be a use we were both pretty tired 

And you were ill

We went home we did have plans that evening but I decided we should both nap and we would go for sushi after

You never woke up so I ate pizza and drank wine alone

Eventually you woke up and we booked the place 

DAY 4

Airbnb

Did some shopping 

Went for lunch and I had that lasagne

But didn't do to much mainly just relaxed

I also cooked us pasta

Day 5

We discovered the greatness of mozzarella and sam while walking the streets thought we should be a bit more productive 

Again I believe we got out of bed late 

We also rested quite a lot I believe 

You were still pretty ill

And we decided on venice and booked that

And then went for sushi in the evening

And the next day we set off on our travels to venice and the taxi driver got lost but we made it because we .... are great navigators 

And that aubree 

Is the best time line I can do for you 

Budapest

After the bus fiasco we got into Budapest late. We wandered around the bus station looking for a metro or anything to get us even just close to our hostel. I finally decided to just get an uber and go.  When we arrived the map was telling us our hostel was somewhere we couldn't possibly get to from the street so we wandered around the area searching for a way in. Looking a mess I'm sure. A random woman smoking a cigarette stopped me to ask if I was looking for a hostel. It seemed super weird but I said yes and she took us to a door with no signs for our place on it and told us it was on the 2 floor and left. Super weird but super accurate. We were finally able to check in. We met a Canadian guy named Erik in our dorm who made us laugh and asked him if he wanted to do a walking tour the next day. Then got into bed to pass out. As I was about to get into my sheets a man came in and looked so mad at me. Just staring straight into my soul like he hated me more than anything. I asked him 'what's up' and he motioned for me to go away. I asked 'is this your bed' and he once again tried to get me to leave and started yelling 'no at me over and over'. Erik looked up and said that he had been there earlier and just hadn't put any stuff down. So I told the dude I would move and he could have the bed but just chill out. He looked at the bed disgusted and picked up a hair (that was obviously not mine) and stared at me as he dropped it off the bed in the most over the top way possible. So I moved all my stuff and jumped to the next bed and passed out to the sound of him vigorously trying to clean off the bed. 

We tried to go on the walking tour but when we woke up it was crazy rainy and hard to feel like doing much. We walked to 'the meeting point' but according to the map (and me) we were not in the right place and we were too late. On our way back we stopped for some terrible coffee and chatted. 

Back home the majority of my diet consists of bean and cheese burritos and I had been craving one BAD since I had been in Europe. But they are heavily deprived of Mexican food so I had been on the look out. The night before when we had first arrived we had walked around a little to try to gain some grounding. I felt something staring and me, I turned to the right and not 2 feet away from me was a sign for burritos! I was so beyond excited but it was closed. So after a disappointing lack of walking tour we decided to cheer our selves up with burritos. It was one of the best bean and cheese burritos I've ever had. She put in as much cheese as beans and it was so big around I HAD to use two hands. Oh happy happy day. 

After a nap we decided to try the afternoon walking tour where we had and awesome spunky Hungarian guide who took us around the city and taught us soo much history. 

That morning we had met two Americans while eating breakfast. And when we got back that evening they invited us to go to the ruin bars with them and some other people. Ruin bars are essentially a bar on acid. It's and old abandoned building that they set up different drink shacks, shots over here, beers over there, ect. Then there are different rooms for dancing or sitting or rooms filled with plants and so much more. Then the entire place is filled with random graffiti, sculpture, lights, and pretty much whatever they wanted. It felt like Alice in wonderland for bars. And it was amazing! I spent the first part of the night exploring all the rooms and art and the second half talking to one of the Americans about his travels. Then broke it down on the dance floor. 2 different ruin bars and a gyro later. It had been a successful night. 

The next day we decided to explore the city ourselves. You meet so many people out here that a lot of the time you end up remember people by the place they are from and forgetting (or never knowing) their name. In Budapest we almost all called each other exclusively by our place. So Cali, salt lake(me), Oregon,  Australia, Canada, and erik(who was also from Canada) headed out to get lost in the city. We explored churches, coffee houses, underground tunnels, but mostly just the streets. 

We went for lunch at a noodle house and ended up staying there talking and making each other tinder profiles then playing match maker for each other and laughing our heads off for 3 or 4 hours before we finally decided we should give up our table. We wanted to go see a movie but after we found out they were only in Hungarian and they had no way to give us English subtitles we decided it wasn't quite worth it and got some amazing gyros.  At home pretty much everyone else had been drinking for quite a while and was already pretty whacky. After a few card games a British guy who finished a whole bottle of vodka threw up in his bed. I was over the whole drunken mess so I went to bed.  

The must do thing in Budapest is the bath houses. They pump geothermal water from the earth up into different sized and temperatured pools. They are AMAZING! The locals say they have healing powers. We went to the biggest bath house and there was SO MANY pools. 2 huge ones outdoors, one had a small lazy river in the middle (that we played in first), it was a cold morning when we got there so there was so much steam from the pools you could barely see around you. Inside there was about 30 pools. Ranging in size and temperature. There was size cold plunge pools next to jacuzzi hot pools. You were meant to go back and forth quickly between the two. Apparently at least some of the healing properties are true because I had blood blisters that completely went away during this process. They had so many warm relaxing pools that we tried all of. And multiple sauna rooms. My personal favorite was the large oval pool that had tons of jets pushing you around in a circle.  Essentially it was a whirl pool and you could zip around it so fast. We spent so long racing around. After the pools we were so hungry we got a delicious burger place right outside of the bath house. When we got back to the hostel we tried to plan stuff and get things done but we all ended up falling asleep on the table and called it a night. 

At this point in the trip I had a pretty heavy cough and cold (I guess the baths can't heal everything) and everyone had left that morning or the night before (bye Andy!) so I decided to take a rest day to try to heal. After sleeping the majority of the day my bottom bunk mate from turkey asked me if I wanted to make food with him. So we went to the market and got food that he insisted on cooking all of. We had eggs with peppers and tomatoes, bread, fries that he insisted I dip in yogurt, popcorn and a chocolate bar. I guess he took me agreeing to cook as a sign we were in love because for the rest of the night he called me 'my love', 'honey', 'babe' ect. So after telling him that was very wrong I spent the rest of the night hiding from him while packing and getting ready to leave that later night. 

I had been chatting with James and decided to meet in Rome so I purchased my ticket and left at 4 am to the airport. 

I loved the architecture and beauty of the city Bye Budapest!

Prague

OH PRAGUE! My love. I had planned to meet up with Andy, a girl I had met on a Facebook travel group at the bus station in Prague. She had arrived a few days before and because of all the problems I had experienced with getting lost previously I thought it would be easier to meet there right away. After I arrived she told me she would be a little late so I found a coffee shop to hang out for a while. Apparently we didn't communicate the name of the station properly because I quickly realized she was at a different one than me. She said she would walk over and be there in 5 minutes. About an hour later I finally heard back that she was there but we could not find each other. 1 more hours of running around search for each other it turns out we were at the same place there was just two separate parts that you couldn't see from where either of us were. After 3 hours of searching I finally found Andy and her friend James and we went to the hostel.

Our hostel was a 1 minute walk from the center square. Just a small walk down a little side street and we were there. Which was amazing because we were so close to everything!

My room was in the old side of the building that had huge painted cathedral ceilings and a great view. And as a bonus I had the place to my self. After settling in we decided to do a pub crawl to meet some new people. Where we met some Austrians boys and Irish girls and danced all night long. 

The night before we had decided to  do a walking tour the next morning. After a breakfast of huge crepes and some of the best fresh juice I've had we met up with our group. James was going to come with us but some how ended up in another. A super tiny group but we saw a lot of Prague. The old city, new city and Jewish quarters. Learned a lot, saw beautiful stuff. What more could you ask for? 

Prague in my opinion is one of the most beautiful places I've seen. Cobble stone streets and maintained old architecture. (Not like other places where there is only buildings mixed in with new architecture.) And I absolutely love it. 

James (we finally met up with him after he ditched us forever. Apparently he didn't know we were supposed to be best friends) had heard rumor of a monastery where monks made the best beer. So we trekked up the hill to find them. 

In a beautiful, peaceful monastery we found the small pub and enjoyed the drink we had been looking for. 

James again had heard rumor of the best goulash in Prague, and possibly all of the Czech Republic. It was on our way down the hil so we had no choice but to go. And it was amazing. 

We decided to take James to one of the clubs we had been to on our pub crawl. We had been jokingly terribly dancing all day long and when we got to the club it carried on. It was a Tuesday so the club wasn't bumpin too hard and we were the first ones on the dance floor. A lot of passionate fist pumps and arm flails later we were tearing up the dance floor. And as it turns out we all could actually dance very well. So about 50% terrible dancing mixed with 50% throwing down hard core moves made for an incredible evening of dance offs. 

The next morning it was snowing when we woke up. INCREDIBLE. It looked like a snow globe. 

We made snow angels and a snow baby named Henry and got in a snow ball fight with a 4 year old who ambushed me and James. 

The snow made all the cobble stones slippery which made everything more exciting. But trying to slide down an uneven street is a lot easier said then done. 

We started in the Jewish quarters looking at all the museums and the cemetery. 

(A old synagogue that has all the names of the Jews in the area that were killed in the holocaust) 

(The Jewish cemetery is above ground now because they wouldn't give them any more land. So the people had to start burying bodies on top of others. There is now 12 layers of bodies in the cemetery.)

(Ceiling of an old synagogue   That is now a Jewish history museum)

Next we wanted to explore the castle. James convinced me we didn't need a map and we just wandered the streets until we found one that looked good. And we actually found it. 

(James running to show size comparison)

(James standing the middle right next to the castle)

We paid to go to the top and took the  spiral stairs. 

We decided to find a traditional Czech meal and wandered around and wouldn't stop till we found a small restaurant with a menu that we couldnt understand the menu. We went back and met up with Andy and strolled through the streets at night. We found a bar that was 3 floors underground and just got more and more man cave the deeper you went. The very bottom was like a cave and every once of space was covered in taxidermied animals. The only other people in there were men over the age of 50. Andy was sick and decided to head out after we finished there so we went bar close to my hostel where we could sit and chat and just BS for a little while. And we did until we were the only ones in there and they had put up all be chairs and locked the doors. Once we were kicked out we danced (very literally) through the streets. 

 

Andy had to go to Budapest next because she was flying from there to Paris in a few days. So I decided to buy a bus ticket and go with her. The next morning walked back to the bus station that I had been dropped off but that wasn't the right one so we had to very quickly walk 2 miles to the right station where we made our bus with about 20 seconds to spare. 

High point: The most beautiful city. Also great company that made everything more interesting. 

Low point: Uhh...leaving! Also being at the bus station alone trying to find people I had never met for 3 hours and it getting dark and wondering if I would ever find anyone ever again.