Southeast Asia is the part of the world my husband wants to visit most, but he could not join me on a tour of Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and Brunei. Fortunately, my girlfriends were ready to go. During this trip, I realized that traveling with your girlfriends (or sisters or daughters) is different from traveling with your partner.
Difference
#1: Fast vs. Slow Travel
Fast travel squeezes
many stops into one trip, planning to return to the place you could not get
enough of later. Slow travel means taking the time to experience the local
culture. Bill thinks it’s just insane to do the former. But not me and my
girlfriends. We can get our photos taken at a famous landmark. Then, next!
We started
with an overnight layover at the Kuala Lumpur Airport Hotel for a much-missed
authentic Hainanese chicken dinner. The following day, we arrived in Vientiane,
the Laotian capital. A day and a half got us to the top six attractions. We even had time for a Laotian Catholic
mass. Then, off to Brunei!
We also had
an overnight layover at the Dom Mueang International Airport. Even if there was
a Wat just around the corner, we hired a car to see downtown Bangkok. We got
awesome night views of the Grand Palace, the iconic Wats, and the home of the
father of the King. The next day we were ready for our day and a half in Brunei where we visited eight top
attractions.
Difference #2:
Fast vs. Slow Shopping
Women take
their time before buying (huge understatement). We scour a shopping area to survey
what things are available for women. When we find something we just must have, we
bargain for the best value. Men don’t have the patience to do this; they would
rather read a newspaper with a favorite cup at a cafe. They go to the specific
store where they always like to get an item. Full stop.
At the
Malaysian airport, we shopped for souvenir items. In Laos, we squeezed in a
trip to a Night Market near our Ibis Vientiane Hotel. We even made it to Chatuchak,
the biggest Night Market in downtown Bangkok, to buy $1 scarves. Never mind how
much the car ride to get there cost us! In Brunei we got stuck in the mall asrain
poured. We were able to get lovely scarves (again) for a “steal.”
Girlfriends invariably
find something; then the rest of us would say, “Me, too!” Or there is a real
answer when I ask, “Does this look good on me?” Shopping with them is quite synergistic.
The only drawback is, Bill’s not there to pay for the item(s). The solution: have
an extension of his credit card!
But there
are similarities, too.
Similarity
#1: Culture, History,, and Landmarks
Both love
culture, history, and landmarks. Bill would also have gone to the same attractions
with a big difference: it would have taken a couple more days. He would also add
a visit to war memorials or play in bodies…of water. He would also not spend any
time taking photos except to humor his wife.
Similarity
#2: Local Food
We loved the
most popular Malaysian Hainanese Chicken Rice chain in the KL International
Airport food court. In Laos, we spent big bucks to savor a Laotian meal at a
5-star hotel. In Bangkok, we had a sumptuous seafood dinner at the popular
Kuang Seafood Center. Finally, in Brunei, we splurged on a full-course meal at
the 6-star Empire Resort. Bill would have loved and paid for them!
