Inspired by David Letterman and as a way to curb my horrible memory, I started doing TOP X lists for my travels in 2008.
Nigeria Top 20 - 2011-13
20. Mastering a proper response to "do you have something for me?"
19. Experiencing multiple power cuts during the day, but everyone just go on with business as usual...not something I'll "miss", but definitely makes me appreciate what I have taken for granted
18. The diversity! From Kano to Abuja to Lagos...it's all so different, languages, culture, dresses...keeping the various African language straight in my head is becoming a challenge
17. Going into the schools in Kano and getting the kids all excited because they don’t see foreigners often…one kid touched my hair and was amazed at its texture, the other said “we have people with white skin like you, we call them albinos” then she point to her albino classmate…it was a bit oblivious of her, but still cute…the third girl asked me to send her greetings from Africa when I return to my home country
16. Running aross the highway (and praying for my life) like average Nigerians...so can avoid another hour of sitting in traffic just to turn around
15. Figuring out all the different titles and how to address people respectfully...Nigerians love their titles, Alhaji, Chief, Oga, Chairman...etc. still clear as mud to me
14. Traveling with IFC/World Bank and escorted by police to avoid movement restriction due to local election in Lagos…apparently police escort is commonplace in Nigeria, but still kind of cool, being the first time
13. Hustle and bustle in Jankara market (and any other Nigerian markets, really), and just people watching in Lagos while sitting in endless hours of traffic is an entertainment to me
12. Engaging in shouting match & hard bargain with ANYONE I do business with (i.e. taxi driver, shop owner, vendors, partners, hotel staff, immigration officer literally ANYONE), mastering the art and win / get what I want every once in a while :)
11. Enjoying the unexpected peace & quiet in Lekki Conservancy
10. Exploring the Osun sacred forest and offering the "spirits" pounded yam
9. Seeing for the first time with my own eyes paper bag/plastic bag filled of money because it won't fit in the wallet (and someone offering such money in a plastic bag to "buy" me as his third wife)...really should just issue larger face value notes than 1000 naira...
8. The energy and enterprising nature of the people...the amount of stuff that's being sold on the street and the many many way people in Lagos can extract money out of you is amazing, one taxi driver charged me extra 100 naira for receipt because "it costs him to print receipt"...complete BS, but I give him credit for creativity
7. Learning the Nigerian handshake, and discovering my innate inability to snap with my middle finger
6. Sitting in local beer joint after work, laughing & joking with random strangers
5. Nigerian Food...so flavorful, so yummy! moin moin, suya, dodo, kilishi, pepper soup, bunse/puff puff...etc.
4. Getting a kick out of how Nigerians are always amused when they see me roll / turn the swallow (i.e. starch = pounded yam...etc.) with my hands!
3. Sitting in the middle of nowhere in Ogun, drinking "jedi jedi" (herb-infused local gin that is said to cure all diseases: malaria, diahrrea, back pain, you name it!) from an old lady who has specialised it for 20 years
2. Seeing traditional Adire (yoruba tie-dye) cloth being made in the back alley in Abeokuta
1. Learning to stay graceful and keep my cool under all sorts of crazy situations and having the confidence that I have now seen most 80% of the crazy thing that could POSSIBLY happen in this world!
MOSTLY:
The warm & friendly people that I work with and met in random places that shown me so much kindness and brought so much laughter & silly banters to my time here, making everything difficult dissolve at the end of the day!
Ethiopia Top - 2011 December
10. Up close and personal with numerous ancient treasures stored in tiny monasteries guard by one person with a gun9. Relaxing in the beautiful and serene lakeside town of Bahir Dar
8. Living it up and dancing the night away during New Years Eve at the Sheraton in Addis Ababa, super surreal experience of extreme wealth among extreme poverty...also quite an underwhelming, sudden count down to 2012
7. Yummy Ethiopian food and overdosing on Injera
6. Traveling back in time + losing track of time and day due to the difference in calendar
5. Yemrehanna Kristos monastery 40km away from Lalibela, and witnessing the unbelievable devotion from the pilgrims
4. Meeting little shepard kids in the Siemien Mountain range
3. Most adventurous 17 hour bus ride EVER from Gondar to Axum via Shire mixed with 4 breakdowns, 5 guns on board, 2 police checks, 1 kid passed out on the floor, full bus load of people, and endless gorgeous view of Siemien Mountain range along the narrow, windy road.
2. Visit to the Debre Birhan Selassie church in Gondar (photo on right) and awed by the most beautiful artwork dating back to 18th century.
1. Hopping between the rock-hewn churches in Lalibela and catching the early morning Orthodox service at Bet Maryam
Lamu Top 5 - 2011 November
I loved the constant local music playing on the street, friendly people welcoming us to Lamu constantly (although the endless Jambo can get a bit tiring after a while)
5. Donkey ride...donkeys are everywhere in Lamu, they just look like such a hardworker but never complains (to which I can relate sometimes)...and they are unexpectedly comfortable to ride on
4. Hearing the crazy juju stories
3. Chilling out at Peponi hotel, eating yummy food, and staring into the beautiful view at Shela Village
2. Express bargaining with the silversmith, and getting free mangos at the end
1. Sunset Dhow ride: sailing a dhow seems like a lot of work, so I was glad someone else was doing it...the town and the Indian ocean was just so beautiful, and when the night falls, and the stars begin to shine, it was just an unbelievable experience. Also saw the first 2 shooting stars of my life.
Rwanda Top 10 - 2011 June
10. Learning about Paul Kagame and his impact on Rwandan people, he is a fascinating leader/dictator that is single handedly rebuilding Rwanda after Genocide9. Adjusting to a super orderly, efficient infrastructure, something quite unexpected for a developing African country: from mototaxi (with a phone# in the back of the driver's helmet so you can call and complaint) to a completely litter free country
8. Getting used to African time for well worthwhile fish brochettes and grilled tilapia
7. Getting our plastic bags confisticated upon entering the country
6. Visiting the local medicine man/traditional healer
5. Visiting the Genocide memorial, watching some of the documentories in the memorial was difficult/heart-wrenching, but overall quite well done
4. Catching up with Sushant/Megha in their lovely home with Kidogo and Mukuru, I'll miss those double belly rubs
3. Hanging out with the street kids in Muzanze...one little kid (3yr old?) from the market came and held on to me (wanted to go home with me), it was hard to let him go
2. Braving the DRC border in Gisenyi and the unssuccessful bribery attempt to get a stamp on the passport (for those who are interested, the going rate is $200)
1. Gorilla trekking at Volcanoes National Park (near Virunga Mountains), the silverback charged at us on a steep hill when we first found them (thought we were gonna die), but then it accepted us and we spent 1 hr following them and seeing them play/eat
Kenya Top 10 - 2011 May
8. Taking a hot shower in the middle of Maasai Mara
7. Visiting the stunning Lake Nakuru covered by a sea of pink flamingo and pelicans. Its tranquility and beautify was an oasis in E. Africa
6. Getting in the wrong line for Likonis Ferry from Mombasa to Diani beach...we were the only girls in a largely men queue, and almost got stampeded
5. Riding matatus everywhere, talking to the conductors and experiencing the hustle and bustle
4. Chilling on the white sand beach and enjoying the cool breeze on Diani Beach with no one else there
3. Visit to the Kibera Slum...surprisingly, it was a very uplifting experience, it's such a strong (and self-sufficient) community, sure sanitation and living condition is horrible, but people are proud and always had big smiles on their faces...it's a place filled with energy, optimism, and opportunities.
2. Jumping and singing with the Maasai boys underneath star-filled sky in the middle of Mara (they gave me a Maasai name "Nalepo", it means "wealthy ones"...let's see if that comes true)
1. Maasai Mara safari game drive with a broken gear/bad battery and witness the lion-buffalo stare down...it's amazing to see how animals/human coexist and respects the nature
Colombia Top 5 - 2010 May
5. Beautiful white sand beach and calm ocean at Playa BLanca in Baru + the refreshing afternoon thunderstorm
4. Visiting salt mine in Zipaquiera + trying various street food
3. Endless tropical fruit juice con leche at Loncheria Bolivar in Cartegena..I LOVE GRANABANA!
2. Watching the stars in a hammock over some sweet mango and wine at Renacer guesthouse in Villa de leyva
1. Volcanic mud bath in Tutumo & getting "washed down" by a bunch of colombian oba-san feeling slightly violated...
Portugal Top 10 - 2009 December
10. São Domingos Church in Lisbon (by Rossio)...one of the most majestic church I've been (even though the interiors were completely burnt down and look unimpressive compare to the other guilded churches all over Portugal and Europe)
9. Biblioteca Joanina at Coimbra University
8. Cabo da Roca: the westmost point in mainland Europe: beautiful landscape, and who thought someone would look out to the ocean and thought there might be land on the other side!!
7. The endless search for the" imperfect tile" in the Azulejos...old tile artworks always have one piece intentionally rotated/misplaced because "only God could be perfect"...
6. Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in Evora...stunning chapel that while might sound a little creepy, but actually was extremely sobering
5. Midnight mass in Fatima on Christmas...accidentally getting in line to kiss a baby Jesus doll's foot (that has been kissed previously by hundreds of other ppl...I will never see a baby Jesus doll the same way ever again)
4. Visiting port wine cellars, tasting and learning about different port wine while making great friends
3. Portuguese sweets! Lots of them! Pastel de Nata, Travesseiro, Jesuitas, and some other things I don't know the name of
2. Soaking in Fado music at Tasca do Chico in Bairro Alto (twice), and seeing famous Fado singer Mariza
1. Dancing the night away, Portuguese style, in some traditional dance hall, with Paulo, CS friends, and strangers!
10. Back in colonial time experience on the Mombasa-Nairobi night train (literally, the train hasn't changed much since the British was there)
9. Nyama Choma (+ Ugali and Kachumbari) @ Tamasha with Frankie and Phillip from Kibera8. Taking a hot shower in the middle of Maasai Mara
7. Visiting the stunning Lake Nakuru covered by a sea of pink flamingo and pelicans. Its tranquility and beautify was an oasis in E. Africa
6. Getting in the wrong line for Likonis Ferry from Mombasa to Diani beach...we were the only girls in a largely men queue, and almost got stampeded5. Riding matatus everywhere, talking to the conductors and experiencing the hustle and bustle
4. Chilling on the white sand beach and enjoying the cool breeze on Diani Beach with no one else there
3. Visit to the Kibera Slum...surprisingly, it was a very uplifting experience, it's such a strong (and self-sufficient) community, sure sanitation and living condition is horrible, but people are proud and always had big smiles on their faces...it's a place filled with energy, optimism, and opportunities.
2. Jumping and singing with the Maasai boys underneath star-filled sky in the middle of Mara (they gave me a Maasai name "Nalepo", it means "wealthy ones"...let's see if that comes true)
1. Maasai Mara safari game drive with a broken gear/bad battery and witness the lion-buffalo stare down...it's amazing to see how animals/human coexist and respects the nature
5. Beautiful white sand beach and calm ocean at Playa BLanca in Baru + the refreshing afternoon thunderstorm4. Visiting salt mine in Zipaquiera + trying various street food
3. Endless tropical fruit juice con leche at Loncheria Bolivar in Cartegena..I LOVE GRANABANA!
2. Watching the stars in a hammock over some sweet mango and wine at Renacer guesthouse in Villa de leyva
1. Volcanic mud bath in Tutumo & getting "washed down" by a bunch of colombian oba-san feeling slightly violated...
Portugal Top 10 - 2009 December
10. São Domingos Church in Lisbon (by Rossio)...one of the most majestic church I've been (even though the interiors were completely burnt down and look unimpressive compare to the other guilded churches all over Portugal and Europe)
9. Biblioteca Joanina at Coimbra University
8. Cabo da Roca: the westmost point in mainland Europe: beautiful landscape, and who thought someone would look out to the ocean and thought there might be land on the other side!! 7. The endless search for the" imperfect tile" in the Azulejos...old tile artworks always have one piece intentionally rotated/misplaced because "only God could be perfect"...
6. Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) in Evora...stunning chapel that while might sound a little creepy, but actually was extremely sobering
5. Midnight mass in Fatima on Christmas...accidentally getting in line to kiss a baby Jesus doll's foot (that has been kissed previously by hundreds of other ppl...I will never see a baby Jesus doll the same way ever again)
4. Visiting port wine cellars, tasting and learning about different port wine while making great friends
3. Portuguese sweets! Lots of them! Pastel de Nata, Travesseiro, Jesuitas, and some other things I don't know the name of
2. Soaking in Fado music at Tasca do Chico in Bairro Alto (twice), and seeing famous Fado singer Mariza
1. Dancing the night away, Portuguese style, in some traditional dance hall, with Paulo, CS friends, and strangers!
Paris Top 10 - 2009 July
10. Monet's "water lilly" installment at Musee de l'Orangerie
9. The street markets, super cheap/good fruits right before market closes
8. Grand organ performance at Notre Dame de Paris, Cathedral in Rouen, and all the little beautiful churches
7. Metro performers on line #6 & #12 to school
6. Bastille Day firework display
5. Hugging the wheat field somewhere in Normandie
4. Monet's garden in Giverny
3. Chilling/sobering up at Tracadero plaza in front of the Eiffel Tower
2. The food market in Le Bon Marche (La Grande Epicerie de Paris)
1. Hell's kitchen - patisserie style
10. Monet's "water lilly" installment at Musee de l'Orangerie
9. The street markets, super cheap/good fruits right before market closes
8. Grand organ performance at Notre Dame de Paris, Cathedral in Rouen, and all the little beautiful churches
7. Metro performers on line #6 & #12 to school
6. Bastille Day firework display
5. Hugging the wheat field somewhere in Normandie
4. Monet's garden in Giverny
3. Chilling/sobering up at Tracadero plaza in front of the Eiffel Tower
2. The food market in Le Bon Marche (La Grande Epicerie de Paris)
1. Hell's kitchen - patisserie style
Cambodia Top 5 - 2009 May
5. Getting picked up at the airport on a TukTuk (not exactly what we expected) and getting dropped off at the Phnom Penh airport on a motorbike (along w/ all our luggages)...(again, Cambodian manage to fit more things on a motorbike than I could ever imagine)
4. Beautiful temples in Angkor. My favorites: Banteay Srey, Bayon, Neak Pean, Ta Prohm, and Angkor Wat (of course!)
3. Floating village on Tonle Sap
2. Crashing Wat Bo temple (near Siem Reap) and chatting with buddhist monks while on break from Sanskrit class
1. Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum & the Killing Fields of Cheung Ek...chilling reminders of the terrors only 3 decades ago and a somber glimpse into the sorrow behind the bright, gentle smiles on every Cambodian's face.
Vietnam Top 10 - 2009 May
10. Sunrise from the night bus from Hoi An to Nha Trang and eating Daofu on the Nha Trang beach
9. First time trying beetlenut in some market in Hanoi...it tastes bitter and NASTY!
8. Delicious lunch at a restaurant in Hue ran by the happiest deaf/mute man I've met.
7. Crawling through the Cu Chi tunnel (near Saigon) and fearing for my life nearby the "shooting range" where untrained tourists have access to real riffles and try to shoot at things...
6. Doing rounds of shots of moonshine w/ the locals in Dien Bien Phu, Yujin, Cathy
5. Walking through the Bac Ha market and the breathtaking rice patty terraces in Sapa
4. Floating on Ha Long Bay, falling asleep underneath the starlights, and waking up to the sunrise!
3. Attending series of awkward & very socialist meetings with the "Committee of Ethnic Minorities" (affiliated with the Vietnamese government), inadequately representing Univ. of Pennsylvania/America, and possibly making an appearance in the communist publication in June/July in a photo where Cathy and I stiffly holding giant boquets of flowers from our last/departing workshop
2. Making my first bribe at the Lao Cai station (near Sapa) to get on an earlier train back to Hanoi
1. Great conversations on the night train to/from Sapa, an unforgetable 7 course cobra snake feast + snake blood wine, and in the process, making great friends in Hanoi, Sapa & Saigon, whom I will never forget!
India Top 15 - 2008 December
15. Pani puri, pav bhaji, vindaloo, roomali roti
14. Sipping chai on rooftop terrace overlooking havelis, the fort, and kites in Jaisalmer
13. Getting randomly pulled to get blessed by some Jain sacred person at the Ranakpur Jain Temple
12. Bargaining with street vendor from the top of elephant ride on way to the Amber Fort (Jaipur)
11. Jen's burping, spitting, peeing, pooping while walking camel in Jaisalmer
10. Taxi rides in Bombay
9. Night train ride to Aurangabad
8. Ujjivan microfinance branch visit
7. Random detours with David R. during GIP
6. Cyclo ride through old quarter in Delhi
5.Visiting Sikh temple with random taxi driver in New Delhi
4. Ghetto ayurvedic massage in Goa and getting "steamed" in virtually a bag while sitting on a plastic stool inside
3. Sunset at Jaisalmer
2. Arguing fiercely with Henna shop owner in Udaipur then after a deal is struck, laughing and having fun conversation again as if the argument never happened!
1. Getting a beautiful miniature peacock painted on my nail by an Udaipur miniature painting artist
Jamaica Top 5 - 2008 October
5. Scottie's grill fish!
4. Jamaican breakfast: ackee and saltfish + a cup of blue mountain coffee w/ condense milk
3. Diving off the cliff at Rick's cafe (seeing others dive, of course)
2. Hanging out by the pool under the stars, playing drinking games w/ Wharton friends
1. Climbing up the Dunn's River Fall
Israel Top 10 - 2008 May
10. Getting used to walking into a mall with fully armed guards and metal detectors
9. Jeep ride in Golan Heights
8. Angela demonstrating swimming strokes on the hotel bed
7. Visiting Jerusalem
6. Dinner with a Druze family near Galilee
5. Israeli breakfast...it's soooo delicious and enough to last a whole day
4. Floating in the dead sea
3. Trying not to drown Eric, Angela, and Stanley in the oasis
2. Hiking to see sunrise at the Massada
1. Camping overnight in the desert and seeing the stars
Istanbul Top 5 - 2008 May
5. Turkish bath
4. Managing the "guys" that keep following us around town and learning to be more aggressitve and outright bitches with the street vendors
3. Beautiful mosques with delicate decorations and calligraphies
2. Underground water system
1. Dervish dance inspired by Rumi
5. Getting picked up at the airport on a TukTuk (not exactly what we expected) and getting dropped off at the Phnom Penh airport on a motorbike (along w/ all our luggages)...(again, Cambodian manage to fit more things on a motorbike than I could ever imagine)
4. Beautiful temples in Angkor. My favorites: Banteay Srey, Bayon, Neak Pean, Ta Prohm, and Angkor Wat (of course!)
3. Floating village on Tonle Sap
2. Crashing Wat Bo temple (near Siem Reap) and chatting with buddhist monks while on break from Sanskrit class
1. Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum & the Killing Fields of Cheung Ek...chilling reminders of the terrors only 3 decades ago and a somber glimpse into the sorrow behind the bright, gentle smiles on every Cambodian's face.
Vietnam Top 10 - 2009 May
10. Sunrise from the night bus from Hoi An to Nha Trang and eating Daofu on the Nha Trang beach
9. First time trying beetlenut in some market in Hanoi...it tastes bitter and NASTY!
8. Delicious lunch at a restaurant in Hue ran by the happiest deaf/mute man I've met.
7. Crawling through the Cu Chi tunnel (near Saigon) and fearing for my life nearby the "shooting range" where untrained tourists have access to real riffles and try to shoot at things...
6. Doing rounds of shots of moonshine w/ the locals in Dien Bien Phu, Yujin, Cathy
5. Walking through the Bac Ha market and the breathtaking rice patty terraces in Sapa
4. Floating on Ha Long Bay, falling asleep underneath the starlights, and waking up to the sunrise!
3. Attending series of awkward & very socialist meetings with the "Committee of Ethnic Minorities" (affiliated with the Vietnamese government), inadequately representing Univ. of Pennsylvania/America, and possibly making an appearance in the communist publication in June/July in a photo where Cathy and I stiffly holding giant boquets of flowers from our last/departing workshop
2. Making my first bribe at the Lao Cai station (near Sapa) to get on an earlier train back to Hanoi
1. Great conversations on the night train to/from Sapa, an unforgetable 7 course cobra snake feast + snake blood wine, and in the process, making great friends in Hanoi, Sapa & Saigon, whom I will never forget!
India Top 15 - 2008 December
15. Pani puri, pav bhaji, vindaloo, roomali roti
14. Sipping chai on rooftop terrace overlooking havelis, the fort, and kites in Jaisalmer
13. Getting randomly pulled to get blessed by some Jain sacred person at the Ranakpur Jain Temple
12. Bargaining with street vendor from the top of elephant ride on way to the Amber Fort (Jaipur)
11. Jen's burping, spitting, peeing, pooping while walking camel in Jaisalmer
10. Taxi rides in Bombay
9. Night train ride to Aurangabad
8. Ujjivan microfinance branch visit
7. Random detours with David R. during GIP
6. Cyclo ride through old quarter in Delhi
5.Visiting Sikh temple with random taxi driver in New Delhi
4. Ghetto ayurvedic massage in Goa and getting "steamed" in virtually a bag while sitting on a plastic stool inside
3. Sunset at Jaisalmer
2. Arguing fiercely with Henna shop owner in Udaipur then after a deal is struck, laughing and having fun conversation again as if the argument never happened!
1. Getting a beautiful miniature peacock painted on my nail by an Udaipur miniature painting artist
Jamaica Top 5 - 2008 October
5. Scottie's grill fish!
4. Jamaican breakfast: ackee and saltfish + a cup of blue mountain coffee w/ condense milk
3. Diving off the cliff at Rick's cafe (seeing others dive, of course)
2. Hanging out by the pool under the stars, playing drinking games w/ Wharton friends
1. Climbing up the Dunn's River Fall
Israel Top 10 - 2008 May
10. Getting used to walking into a mall with fully armed guards and metal detectors
9. Jeep ride in Golan Heights
8. Angela demonstrating swimming strokes on the hotel bed
7. Visiting Jerusalem
6. Dinner with a Druze family near Galilee
5. Israeli breakfast...it's soooo delicious and enough to last a whole day
4. Floating in the dead sea
3. Trying not to drown Eric, Angela, and Stanley in the oasis
2. Hiking to see sunrise at the Massada
1. Camping overnight in the desert and seeing the stars
Istanbul Top 5 - 2008 May
5. Turkish bath
4. Managing the "guys" that keep following us around town and learning to be more aggressitve and outright bitches with the street vendors
3. Beautiful mosques with delicate decorations and calligraphies
2. Underground water system
1. Dervish dance inspired by Rumi
Wharton Top 10 - 2007-09
10. Sunday brunches w/ my peeps! 9. Diamond's negotiation class
8. Studying at the Graduate Student Ctr w/ free coffee/tea (yes, I'm a geek)
7. Doing the Indonesian Saman Dance at Wharton International Cultural Show (WICS)
6. Wharton International Volunteer Project (WIVP) in Vietnam working on a fundraising project with Chi Em, a microfinance organization that serves the ethnic minorities in the Dien Bien province
5. Leadership venture at Quantico Marine Officer Training School...passing through 16 obstacle courses and being yelled by marines in your face for an evening!
4. Global Immersion Program in India: visited companies and government officials and learned a ton about India
3. Social wealth venturing class with Prof. Ian McMillan and working with a great group to plan for a start up NGO that aims to empower youth in developing countries by teaching them entrepreneurial skills and provide exposure/support network with college students in the developed countries such as US/UK
2. Meeting friends for life!
1. Kenwyn's Power Lab
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