So, it’s on.
The air tickets were booked more than 5 months back. And that was it. Travel insurance and other paperwork was done last week and I am off……
I have started my 48 day solo backpacking trip to two countries and am in first leg of the journey. To tell you the truth, it wasn’t a great start. I would call it risky. On this later,  if I feel like writing here.
But I am told I am the first Indian female to go solo backpacking abroad ! Is that so? Then Yayy!! …

Some of you are aware that I am going on a 48 days solo backpacking trip to 2 countries…. Two countries where language will be a big barrier. And I am going totally unprepared. A few months back I had booked just the to & fro air tickets and did nothing else after that.
And the time has come now.
After a few days in first country, I will be heading towards neighbouring country overland. This is interesting. Flying into any of the city there can get you a 30 day tourist …

Within the famous Snake Temple in Penang island, there are two wells called the two Dragon Pure Water Wells. These wells represent a pair of red eyes of an auspicious dragon. When the temple was being constructed, it is said that the door of Heaven was opened and a fierce dragon descended and landed in front of the temple with its tail facing west.

Notice board telling the history.
The two eyes of the dragon transformed into

The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, located at the heart of Malacca Chinatown, is a premier historical monument that has survived the ravages of time. It is the oldest functioning Chinese temple in Malaysia, founded in 1645.

The year 2009 is gone. It was satisfying as far as travel is concerned. Except for one or two, all places were new to me. Not many to count but observed and learnt a lot during the course.
And all these trips were personal trips, not work related.
It was Ratnagiri and Ganapatipule to begin with. Temples, forts and beaches greeted us with stories of their own.

Then it was Bangaluru. solo trip. Somehow I felt more uncomfortable in going

A Burmese Buddhist temple in Penang Islands.

Gleaming golden or glinting white symbolizing the firm faith in Theravada Buddhism…
In looks, there is noticeable difference between a Thai Buddhist temple and a Burmese Buddhist temple. And I thought Buddhist temple is just a Buddhist temple ! Not Thai, Burmese or Chinese etc.

A simple way to shoo away the deadly…
At the time of our travel to Malaysia, everywhere it was Swine Flu doing its job of scaring people. At KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) there were doctors to