Towards Adventure

FLYING SARDINES IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA

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Updated:

October 7, 2017

Flying Sardines

Towards Adventure!! The beginning took place relatively smoothly, apart from the fact that once passed US security at the Pierre Elliott Trudeau international airport in Montreal, Karine has had a moments of panic, now well known to her close friends… OH NO! I FORGOT MY TRAVEL WALLET AT THE CHECK-IN COUNTER! (including passport, Vietnam Visa, international driving license, etc.). No trip would be complete or even possible without a mishap happening to Karine. We even have a nickname for these stories … the Bernècheries. I will try to capture and share them throughout the trip.

So Karine runs back, passes security on the opposite direction to return to the check-in desk and try to recuperate her wallet. Luckily, there it was. By chance, we had a spare time. Suzanne and Jean-Claude, Karine’s parents, drove us to the airport and we got there early.

But let’s go back in time a little bit. Preparing for a 6 months journey in Southeast Asia towards adventure and build a website at the same time, without having the slightest idea or experience on the subject, requires a lot of preparations. There were vaccines, subletting our apartment, moving our personal items, home, travel & auto insurances, Vietnam visa and more. Last week was pretty intense with the signing of a sub-lease agreement at the last minute and correcting our website. After much work, emotions, effort, decisions, sacrifices and goodbyes, the long awaited day is finally here, before us. Besides, you will notice problems with the mobile phone version of the site. We will fix it as we go. We still wanted to launch the web version and start documenting our adventures … and “Bernècheries”.

We started this trip in opulence, which will not be the standard for the remaining 6 months. We will have a controlled and tight budget to go 6 months without breaking the bank. Thanks to the loyalty points system, we have accumulated enough points to “reverve” our seats in business class and pay only $ 150 each in taxes for a flight from Montreal to Hanoi, returning from Bangkok back to Montreal. Cheap! Comfort seats that can turn into beds, 3 hearty services meal, champagne and wine. Such luxury we could get used to.

So Montreal-Boston, a flight of less than an hour. Lost in Logan Airport (little guidance …) a nice lady offered to take us to Terminal E in her shiny Range Rover !! Boston was a quick stop before taking the flight to Istanbul on that (9h30) on Turkish Airlines… Of course, Karine slept for 5 hours while I was fighting with my pillow. On arrival, in Turkey, we headed straight to the Turkish Airlines Lounge. We had spent some time there 3 years ago en route to the Philippines. Probably among the top 5 most beautiful airport lounges in the world. There is food in every corner of this amazing space of 2 floors, wine, alcohol, desserts and everything in unlimited quantities. Leather sofa, small rooms for a nap, showers, massages… Hard not to enjoy.

2nd “Bernecherie”. Karine returns from the bathroom and suddenly the panic takes shape on her face, she turns around and started running frantically in the direction she was coming from. Does she already has traveler’s diarrhea, I told myself? But minutes later, I see her coming back with a big smile showing off her new iPhone that she had forgotten in the bathroom and had retrieved at the lost & found desk. WOW, 2 “Bernecheries” in less than 12 hours, it promises … Then a shower and nap before our third flight to Hanoi, always with Turkish Airlines.

And then it hits us in the face. We travel in absolute comfort to some of the poorest countries in the world. Ouch! That’s sobering. We have not yet seen Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, but I am certain that all that luxury we are experiencing during this journey between Montreal and South-East Asia is unthinkable for many people in these countries .

So going towards adventure will ask a lot of humility on our part, in the coming months.

We use different websites and phone apps for our hotel, hostels, homestay, apartment or house reservations. Very convenient and often cheaper than in person at the location. By clicking on the icons below, you’ll get a discount on your next booking and at the same time, we will also receive a discount of our own.

WHAT A DEAL, NO?