Seeing the World—and Home—in a New Way
Ethan Uong | Oct. 4, 2010
Ethan at the foot of the Buddha statue on Lantau Island, in Singapore.
Henry Miller once said that “one’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” I too agree with this, in the sense that traveling and being exposed to other cultures opens your eyes to a whole new dimension. There is so much that the world has to offer and it's really up to us to make the most of it.
I was lucky enough to participate in the international research internship program called PRIME this summer in New Zealand. Upon receiving notification of my acceptance, I knew that I wanted to travel as much as I could after the program. Giving my budget at the time, I was only able to choose four or five countries and I chose Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam. In this dispatch I want to share with you some interesting facts and observations from my journey.
Let me just start out by saying that Sydney is the "darling" city of Australia. When you arrive there, you immediately start comparing the city’s layout to cities in the United States. The layout looks similar to a typical American city, but at the same time you can't help but notice a change here and there. The way I see it, it's a mixture of European and American influences.
The Sydney Opera House.
Aside from the obvious, such as seeing a koala or kangaroo and the Blue Mountain range on the horizon, you really need to try the famous market at the heart of Sydney called "Paddy's Market." It's the place for food and entertainment. After a delicious meal, I'd recommend going to Hyde Park a few blocks away where you can just sit next to a fountain and enjoy the breeze.
If the breeze isn't strong enough for you, then catch a bus to Bondi Beach in Sydney’s suburbs to have some fun in the water with the locals. Finally, I want to say that as an engineer, it was definitely a privilege to go face to face with the Sydney Opera House! I've always seen it in photos, but only by getting a close-up look can you see it’s majestic!
The next country I went to after Australia was Singapore. I didn't do much research on this country so I did not have many expectations, but as the poet Eli Khamarov points out, "the best things in life are unexpected."
I thought my life was complete after seeing the Sydney Opera House--then came the Esplanade in Singapore. The Esplanade is the Singaporean version of the Sydney Opera House, and this performing arts venue looks like a durian, an exotic fruit from Southeast Asia.
The Youth Olympics also took place when I was in Singapore and I was fortunate to see the fireworks during the closing ceremony. Singapore was the place where I had my first visit to a fish spa as well. That experience was amazing! You put your feet down in this small pond and let your mind think that many small doctor fish eat your dead cells away, slowly. I also went to Singapore’s famous Night Safari (open from 7 p.m. to midnight). It was a nice experience to be on their 40-minute tram because I felt like I was in Africa.
The Esplanade in Singapore.
Everyone knows about the no gum-chewing policy in Singapore, but did you know that once convicted of a crime, you cannot defend yourself? It's only a matter of sentencing. The phrase "innocent until proven guilty" does not apply there. Someone told me that practicing law is difficult in Singapore.
Finally, I want to tell you that my experience in this country was so amazing because of the food! You see a food court every block, literally. I remember being confused and frustrated because there were so many choices! Not only are they cheap, but they're food to die for! I loved the feeling of rushing in a food court, paying a few dollars, and enjoying the delicious food while bathing in the sun.
My next destination was Hong Kong. I was very lucky to have a friend in the country to help me out. I found communication in Hong Kong to be very difficult for me as I only speak a little Cantonese. Thankfully, I had my friend show me around. She took me to dim sum, where I learned that you have to wash your utensils and cups with the tea provided.
My hostel was in Tsim Sha Tsui along Nathan Road, a really long street popular for shopping and food. It rained a lot on my first three days and there was a typhoon warning, but overall the weather was really nice. When my friend and I went out for street food, I smelled stinky tofu for the first time. I will never forget that smell as it is quite... unforgettable.
Another place I highly recommend if time permits is Lantau island, which features a famous Buddha statue. The drive up there is magnificent enough. You get to see the luscious green mountains and cattle on the road. The skyline in Hong Kong is the best I've seen so far.
At 8 p.m. every day, there is a light show where the light synchronizes with music. One day in Hong Kong, I spontaneously went to Macau. Macau is a small island that you can visit in less than 12 hours. I literally went everywhere by bus in 10 hours. The so-called "Vegas of Asia" truly lives up to its name.
I'm in Vietnam right now, where I just landed a few days ago. From what I have seen so far, I can tell you that it’s a very beautiful country. But I’ve also seen many destitute people living on the streets and struggling to make a living.
Coming here has certainly made me see things in a new way. I am so lucky and blessed to be raised in America. There I have good sanitation, an opportunity to make a name for myself, and more than anything, the freedom to say whatever I want. Traveling to all these countries is something I will not forget. When I come back to the States, I am certain I will have gained a whole new perspective on the world.
|
