🛬 Twenty-one days & twelve flights later...
Letter 157
Hi, my name is Jen. Welcome aboard my weekly reflection on life and its lessons that I call Letters from a learn-it-all. Among my ranging curiosities, lately, my walnut is obsessing over how to use creative constraints in poetry, comparing cultures specifically of islanders, and what it means to be spiritual.
You can catch up on the past letters here. If you are reading this for the first time, I’d love you to sign up below to join the other learn-it-alls:
Aloha fellow learn-it-all 👋
Greetings from Honolulu, Hawaii! 🌺
The attractive customs official enthusiastically said “welcome home” to me as I stepped back onto US soil for the first time in 3 weeks. I love to travel, but man oh man, I am *grateful* to be back. The air feels lighter to breathe. I have relief and gratitude for my home
May 8th was quite literally the longest day of my life. It was 48 hours long for me since I went backward in time passing the dateline in Fiji. I was in transit for roughly 35 hours which makes sense since it is 6,806 miles from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Honolulu, USA. Here’s some ~fun~ math for you: 6 hours buffer of traveling to and from airports + 7 hours in the air to Seoul + 14-hour layover in Seoul + 9 hours in the air to HNL. Phew 😮💨
You read that right. I was in four countries across three days. And not just merely in the airport but out and about experiencing those cities in a Hindu temple in a cave, an Anglican church, a Korean spa, and lastly most importantly in my bed in Honolulu. People say that travel is so sexy and fun but there’s so much more to it than meets the eye. I still managed to find a smile at the halfway point running on two hours of sleep.
I’ve been running on fumes the last few days trying to recuperate and shake off this lethargy. Writing this week’s letter (though late) is something I’m so grateful for so thank you for reading :)
Now, let’s dive into letter 157 from a learn-it-all. Enjoy!
❓Question
What were some highlight moments, observations, travel apps, and plane essentials from the 21-day trip to Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and South Korea?
✈️ Travel Reflections
I still have a lot of journal entries I need to fill in, receipts to process, thank you cards to write, and photos to organize before I close up this 21-day Southeast Asian adventure.
I had never been to Asia before. I went with three main intentions:
Exploring a new part of the world to better understand humans from different cultures
To take a break from working (as much) by surfing, scuba diving, and freediving
To have quality time with a childhood friend in Malaysia and Indonesia
I am pleased that I met all of these intentions. I also made some new friends, like (Visa mentioned last week), and did two solo trips while in Seoul, South Korea, and Singapore. I learned a lot about the world, its people, the ocean, and myself. I’m still trying to figure out how to properly communicate these lessons and integrate them into my life today.
Below is my attempt to sum it up at a high level despite my fallible memory:
🌟 Three highlights
Breathhold. Before I came on this trip I could only hold my breath for 30 seconds. After some practice with daily free dives during my time in Indonesia and Malaysia, I got my breath hold up to 50 seconds. I love how focused I get on my breath in this newer practice for me. I can see it taking my mindfulness to a whole new level as well as helping with awareness of my anxiety.
Eight scuba dives. Scuba diving with clownfish, hawksbill turtles, lionfish, octopus, mantarays, and baby sharks. This was absolutely epic. I’ve found that with each buddy that I go with while scuba diving I get so much closer since you cannot use words, it is purely relying on hand gestures and eye contact to communicate underwater.
I did my first drift dive ever and quite honestly didn’t love it because the current just took me and wouldn’t let me pause to stalk the fish. It did however force me to use my lungs much better to use my buoyancy. Note to self: scuba diving is SO much more affordable outside of the US
The sunrise hike on Padar Island in Komodo National Park. I woke at 4:40 AM to make it to the top of this mountain for sunrise and it was horrendously crowded but SO worth it.
👁️ Thirteen observations
Spent the most time I’ve ever in my whole life on 12 plane rides over the course of 21 days.
Used up a whole entire stick of deodorant (with some help). From this data point, I can say that I was quite a sweaty human
Took a cold shower lit up by a full moon
My daily ocean dips made me feel hygienic enough that I didn’t take an actual shower for over a week while in Indonesia. It felt like a waste of time because the second I would be “clean” I would be back in the ocean soon after
Gratefully did not see any viper snakes while going on a sunrise hike up Padar Island
Komodo dragons only live in Komodo National Park and I am grateful to have been able to witness such an archaic being. They look like mini dinosaurs
I introduced myself as Jennifer because it felt more formal and better known as a name rather than “Jen”. I haven’t gone by my full name since my business resume in university or high school.
My definition of “normal” is different in Malaysia and Indonesia
Bidet toilets that always end with water everywhere
Don’t expect to get a knife for dinner. Cut the beef with a spoon instead.
Napkins are not freely given or even available so bringing tissues is the move especially with the finger foods at an Indian restaurant
I think I got better at using chopsticks and maybe my spice tolerance went up a wee bit!
My skin and height made me feel like I stood out. A few selfies were taken with me with people I didn’t speak a single word to. I felt like a celebrity and it was odd. I had never done that before.
Indian Aunties in a sari store thought I was British as they congratulated me on my country’s recent coronation. I quit reading the news a couple years ago so had no idea what they were talking about
Enjoyed surfing at Pedang Pedang Beach but I like surfing in Hawaii even better. I feel more comfortable and confident there and overall thought Bali was overrated. (A blog in the making so please chime in if you’d like to edit that piece)
It made me feel like a fish out of water to be surrounded by many individuals who are on traditional linear career routes and are severely disciplined in their religion. My logic to move away from comfortable things like a salaried job and my family to a foreign place like Hawaii without knowing anyone nor having the certainty of my job security seemed quite crazy to everyone I came across. I said I wanted to look for joy in my life and that seemed like such a foreign concept. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
There is more in common among humans than there are differences. It is humbling to notice as a foreigner that we all love eating yummy food with loved ones or spending a beautiful day outside at the beach playing frisbee or going in the Ringko caves right at 3 pm when the sunlight is peaking in and glistening on the murky brisk waters.
Check holiday schedules before you go. The Islamic holiday Hari Raya at the end of Ramadan happened while I was in Tioman Island, Malaysia so I couldn’t find a ferry and bus ticket to Singapore. I had to take a flight back to Kuala Lumpur and then to Singapore which geographically made zero sense.
💭 Some other travel thoughts worth noting
📲 Five Helpful Phone Apps
XE: The money market changes every day and when you have four different currencies in your wallet it is so helpful to have this to. It works offline without the internet as well! As someone who studied finance for four years in uni, I found this fascinating to track.
Airalo: data is cheap (like 3G for $7USD cheap) and it relieves stress to have an esim for getting in contact via WhatsApp with Grab drivers (Asian Ubers) and using Google Translate
Naver Maps: This works better for accuracy on the train and bus for public transport than it does for Google Maps. Don’t even try using Apple Maps. (or I’m just quite biased that it is never as accurate outside of the USA)
Splitwise: “going Dutch” is so much easier using this app and splitting things across different currencies between friends.
Google Maps offline maps: Download the map of the cities where you are going before you go so that it will load even if you do not have service.
🧳 Eight travel essentials to bring
Cash of your home currency. I’m grateful I brought more than enough USD
A second wallet for noncountry currency and so you don’t have a wad of 800 USD in your wallet. That makes it awfully hard to haggle if you are trying to get a good deal too
Noise-canceling headphones. I’m over the top and bring my AirPods Pros and my Bose Headphones. I like how my Bose ones have a Mic aux chord that I can use to watch movies.
Eye mask. This is a game-changer difference between sleep and no sleep for me.
Pack a journal of course. That’s a given. Bring a non-fountain pen for the plane because it will indeed explode. I’ve already learned this lesson.
Ziplock bag for passport in case it rains. Less stress. A dry bag is even better if you have one.
Eyeglasses or be blind instead. That’s better than wearing contacts and drying out your eyes. I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.
Mouthguard/ retainer, toothbrush, and paste. It’s simple things like these that make a difference. Oh and Korean Air gives these out along with slippers. How nice :)
😵 Six moments of reverse culture shock
It’s so expensive here in Hawaii. I paid $27 for a smoothie and sandwich at a health shack. I get a napkin at the restaurant and don’t need to bring my own tissues.
I can swallow the tap water.
English everywhere.
Familiar American cars on the freeway. I see Teslas and trucks.
No bidets. Good riddance.
I don’t need to use google maps to know where I’m going.
🖊️ Writing Poems
Mind over Matter
It’s as if my mind Is more neurotic When I try to be New and exotic. My humanity Bleeds idiotic.
🎬 Watching
I have a new obsession with clownfish.
They mesmerized me the past couple of weeks during my scuba dives and snorkels. They are beautiful beings. I am still crafting a poem together to showcase this love, but for now, this clip from the epic movie Finding Nemo will do:
🔍Word to define
grace: courteous goodwill
1 simple elegance or refinement of movement: she moved through the water with effortless grace.
2 courteous goodwill: at least he has the grace to admit his debt to her.
• (graces) an attractively polite manner of behaving: she has all the social graces.
3 (in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.
• a divinely given talent or blessing: the graces of the Holy Spirit.
4 (also grace period) a period officially allowed for payment of a sum due or for compliance with a law or condition, especially an extended period granted as a special favor: another three days' grace.
5 a short prayer of thanks said before or after a meal: before dinner the Reverend Newman said grace.
Etymology
c. 1200, "to thank," from Old French graciier "thank, give thanks to; praise," from grace "mercy, favor, thanks, virtue" (see grace (n.)). Meaning "to show favor" (mid-15c.) led to that of "to lend or add grace to something" (1580s, as in grace us with your presence), which is the root of the musical sense in grace notes
🌟 Quote to inspire
“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.”
— Robert Louis Stevenson
📸 Photos and Shoutouts of the Week
Allison Mobley. I met her in 3rd grade when she moved from public school to the Christian private school that I grew up in until 8th grade. Everyone used to think we were sisters given our similar physical features. We then both went to the same *huge* public high school where she dove and I swam. We also went out of state for uni, and then moved back to the Midwest in Chicago. This was the first time I had quality time with Allison since pre-covid in northern Michigan where I attempted to teach her how to ski. Note to self: I am a better surf instructor than I am at skiing. I cannot wait to teach her how to sail this summer in Michigan. Nearly two decades of friendship!
She loves the water just as much as me, going on adventures and making health-conscious decisions (given she is almost done with med school). Allison loves studying wine more than anyone I know. You can check out her wine Instagram here.
Nic Hurrell. I met him first during a Write of Passage in the fall of 2021 and then during Michael Dean’s Writing Studio. He values curiosity, and courage just as much as me. It’s so neat to meet another Internet Friend for the first time IRL. We got to jam on all ideas over some Vinyasa yoga, party waves while surfing, comedy, and Thai food! A couple of weeks ago, Nic resigned from his full-time corporate job to go all-in on his new cohort-based course called “Sprouter”. You can check out his Substack here!
I appreciate you reading this!
If ideas resonated, I’d love you to leave a comment, reply to this email, or send me a message on Twitter @JenVermet. If you forgot who I am, I welcome you to my online home.
Never stop learning 😁
Mahalo 🌺
Jen
PS - in case you missed last week’s Letter 156 🐉 Writing Poems on Baby Komodo Dragon Sighting, Dragon Fruit & Life at Sea
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