2025 Joe in southeast Asia

  I take a night bus from Bangaglore to Kochi. Getting to the pick-up point is already an adventure. It's not a bus station of any sorts, but rather happens along a street. Multiple companies and routes use this spot as a pick-up point, so it is a bit of a challenge to figure out where exactly to wait. Of course there are not signs. But it all kind of works, stressing over anything is useless.  The bus experience was not a nice one. The bus has real beds, always one on top of another. Mine is in the very back and on top. Worst location in the bus I learn the hard way. Combined with the quality of the streets, I can hardly sleep. No more night buses for me.  Despite the lack of sleep I am in good spirits upon arrival in the morning. Google maps helps me navigate the 10 minute walk from the bus drop-off location to the local bus station. I take the bus to Alleppey. Construction sites look a little differently around these parts.  There is a lake and a whole system of c...

  On the 18th of September I set off for my 6 month trip to southeast Asia. The departure is quite unspectacular. I just grab my backpack, which I packed the night before, and close the door as I am leaving my apartment. The walk to the train station almost feels like any other, yet this time I won't be returning for a while. I trained myself years ago not to build up expectations when I travel, and I've stayed true to that since then.  A least picture taken at the airport before I depart on the first leg of my flight, Hamburg to Munich. From there I catch a plane to Dubai, where I am landing in the middle of the night. I feel tired and would like to sleep some. I have a few hours. The airport is beautiful, I walk around between beautiful stores and restaurants, which are mostly closed. I finally find an area with adjacent seats on which you can lie down on. There are a few others with the same idea, they look like they are Arabs.  After of few hours of dozing I catch my ...