Reuben's Routes: Part 1

In August this year, I decided the time was right for me to leave GPS Capital Markets after 4 brilliant years to go travelling. 1st September came: backpack at the ready, 12 weeks of clothes packed and I was off to explore the world. Here’s what I’ve been up to till now...

I planned my trip to last 3 months and wanted to see as much of South East Asia as I could fit in within the first 6 weeks. I also decided that this part of my trip would be with an organised group. I wanted to go with a group because being with other people and as part of a team, I believe would improve me as a person and what I am like as a team player in the future. 

So I headed off with 15 other people that I’d never met on a structured tour of Cambodia and Vietnam. 

First stop: Siem Reap, Cambodia. I had the incredible experience of seeing the sunrise over the famous Angkor Wat temple, trying the local delicacy of fried scorpion and cricket and quad biking through Cambodian rice paddies. 

We then travelled to Phnom Penh where we visited the killing fields and an old prison site from the Khmer Rouge genocide which happened only 40 years ago. This harrowing event was shocking to learn about and made me feel a great responsibility to pass on what I had learnt to my friends and family back home. 

Cambodia was a beautiful country: although poverty is rife, it has a rich culture and so many largely unexplored sites that I would recommend visiting.

A 12 hour bus journey, 9 hour sleeper train and lots of rice and noodles later (including for breakfast!), I arrived in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam. Crazy, loud and fascinating would be some of the words to describe Ho Chi Min. Although it was busier than any London street I’d ever walked down, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here (and the 50,000 motorbikes that beeped their horns at the slightest inconvenience!)

Another sleep train later - this time accompanied by a few friendly mice and cockroaches - we stopped off at a small city called Nha Trang which is up there with one of my favourite stops of the trip. I spent a wonderful day on a boat, enjoyed mudding at a spa and ate some delicious local Vietnamese food. 

Easily one of the funniest moments so far on my trip was being served freshly made spring rolls in the middle of the sea - that’s not something I’ll forget in a hurry! 

My next adventure took me to the charming city of Hoi An which reminded me of an old fashioned English town; small shops, cosy restaurants and a buzzing atmosphere. Many of these shops were small tailor stores - something that Vietnam is famous for. 

Interacting with a number of tailors around the city showed me that business can flourish anywhere with the correct assessment of market forces. Here, the tailors understand that customers want something bespoke, high quality and they want it fast, as most of us are only here for a few days. We think we’re getting an incredibly good deal, but I’m sure that within the context of the Vietnamese economy, we are paying top dollar. Of course, I had to get my very own tailored suit and I look forward to wearing it when I return to work in London!

The next and last stop on my Vietnamese journey was the capital Hanoi and my personal highlight of the trip so far: the spectacular Ha Long Bay. 

Many of you will have seen pictures of Ha Long Bay as it is the photo most often shown when advertising trips along the coast of Vietnam. I have to say it didn’t disappoint. This an enormous stretch of water containing over 1500 islands. I went on a boat trip around a few of the smaller islands, marvelling at the stunning views and clear sea below me. We then stepped off the boat straight onto a kayak: getting up close to the islands with a dazzling blue sky above me was another incredible high point of my trip. 

Before I knew it, my 3 weeks with the group was up and it was time to say goodbye to the first chapter of my travels. I’m so happy I chose to travel to Cambodia and Vietnam with other like-minded people and it was a great way to start my 3 months of travelling to 8 countries. 

I wanted to spend my final weeks in Asia relaxing and resting after the hectic travel schedule I had with the group. I had many recommendations for either the Philippines or Thailand: both ticked many boxes, offering stunning scenery and opportunities to relax. 

In the end, I chose Thailand (after an intense Googling session) because I thought it would be best suited to my likes and interests. Krabi island was the first stop and it was full of eating, drinking and swimming but my highlight was most definitely visiting Krabi Elephant Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to 3 retired elephants who were once used for heavy labour or for unethical tourism and the owner had saved these elephants and founded the sanctuary to provide them with better quality of life. 

I was blown away by their spiritual nature and their huge size. If ever the phrase ‘gentle giant’ was appropriate, it’s definitely with elephants. Their size makes them incredibly strong and powerful, and yet I was able to interact with them up close: feeding them bananas, walking through the forest with them and even getting into the pool to wash them. It was a truly remarkable day and being in such close proximity to these awesome animals was a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

Over the last week, I have been jet skiing, more kayaking, and slowly been topping up my tan (no sunburn yet!). A boat trip yesterday took me around the island of Ko Phi Phi on the popular and traditional longtail boat, discovering what the island had to offer. From nearly getting bitten by a monkey on Monkey Beach, to a fantastic view of Maya bay (the island made famous by Leonardo Di Caprio’s film ‘The Beach’), I really have been seeing things that will be imprinted on my brain for a long time. 

As I write this blog, I am on a ferry leaving the hustle and bustle of Ko Phi Phi. There are many islands on offer to young tourists like me on the lookout for the next adventure or thrill seeking activity. Due to my relatively tight schedule, I had to act decisively on the morning of departure as to which island I would visit next. With just an hour to spare, I chose Koh Phangan, managed to grab the last seat on the ferry and bag myself a room in a hostel. Stay tuned to hear more about whether my decision was the right one! 

A month in, I’m thrilled I decided to carry out my dream of travelling and am having the best time. 

To achieve the spontaneity and sense of adventure I wanted to experience on this trip, I’ve had to be decisive and organised. Planning last minute boat trips, hotel bookings and travel has improved my decision making skills while also allowing me to keep to deadlines and further improve my time and money management. 

There is a well-known quote that I’ve heard many times: travelling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. I have always believed in this idea but now that I am experiencing it first hand, I couldn’t express my experience in better words. 

2 months to go and I will continue my blog, keep an eye out to where I’m going next...