Conclusion to our round-the-world trip - we have to do it again!

After thousands of $$ lighter and 50 shades darker, we are back, with unforgettable memories and experiences. We have travelled to 18 countries in 240 days. These 240 days opened our eyes, our hearts and, most importantly, our desire to see more.

In these 8 months, we only scratched the surface of each country, but we are already awed by the beautiful landscapes, the amazing wildlife, the fascinating culture and incredible people, be it fellow travellers or locals. The variety of food is just the icing on the cake. Let us share some of our experiences and hopefully they will help you or inspire you with your future travels. In our humble and personal opinions, amongst the countries we visited: 

1. The most beautiful country for landscapes: New Zealand. We also liked Vietnam for its countryside and Bolivia for its Salt Flat (Salar de Uyuni) and dessert scenery.   
2. The best place for wildlife: Galapagos Islands. We also had a great time with the wildlife in Australia, although we only saw a very small part of Australia.
3. The most culturally interesting country: Japan. Hands down.
4. Country with the saddest history: Cambodia.
5. Country with best food: Of course Li thinks China, and Lars thinks Thailand. To be more impartial, New Zealand has good quality food and Malaysia offers a nice variety.    

Because we were mainly after nature, our top 20 favourite places are:

1. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
2. Salt Flat and the surrounding, Bolivia
3. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
4. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
5. Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
6. Sapa Valley, Vietnam
7. The Great Wall, China
8. Iguazu Falls, Argentina
9. Tokyo, Japan
10. Lake Tekabo, New Zealand
11. Queenstown, New Zealand
12. Whitsunday Islands, Australia
13. The Great Ocean Road, Australia
14. Maya Bay, Phi Phi Islands, Thailand
15. Miyajima Island, Japan
16. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
17. Royal Botanic Garden in Kandy, Sri Lanka
18. Santiago, Chile 
19. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
20. Dubai, UAE

Top 10 most memorable activities for us:

1. Swimming with sea lions, turtles and sting rays in Galapagos
2. Snorkeling with black-tip reef sharks in Bora Bora
3. Sleeping overnight on the Maya Bay beach in Phi Phi Ley, Thailand
4. Overnight motorbike tour from Hoi An to Hue in Vietnam
5. Helicopter ride to the St. Joseph Glacier and Mount Cook in New Zealand
6. A night out in Tokyo, Japan
7. Doing nothing in Koh Lanta, Thailand
8. Snorkeling in Whitsunday Islands and the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia
9. Cruising in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam   
10. Driving a dune buggy in the dessert, Dubai

In addition to all the great places we've been to there are some places we didn't enjoy that much. Here are our top 8 places to avoid:

1. Bali, Indonesia
2. Inca Trail, Peru
3. Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
4. Pantenal, Brazil
5. Nazca Lines, Peru
6. Potosí, Bolivia
7. La Paz, Bolivia
8. Arequipa, Peru

And the tour operator to avoid at all cost in South America is G Adventures!

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Really. I am no longer scared of bugs and insects unless they reach a certain size. I welcome lizards, frogs and bats. They are the good guys. Germ phobia. What's that? :P

Travelling is not the same as taking a holiday. It's hard work. It requires a lot of planning and spontaneity at the same time. It is especially difficult to plan the next steps while you want to enjoy the moment at your present location. There were good days and bad days. Good days are the times where you were blown away by the scenery and natural beauty. Bad days are when you got ripped off by mean locals or fell sick. But how you remember and enjoy a place or activity all depends on your perception, which can be adjusted to make you happier. I learned a lot about myself on this trip. First thing to work on is PATIENCE!

After 8 months of travelling, the conclusion is that we are extremely lucky to live in Europe. There is a lot of poverty in the developing countries especially in Peru, Bolivia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It's hard to imagine the devastating living conditions, but when we saw them with our own eyes, we were speechless. We need to cherish the lifestyle we have in Europe/UK and be grateful everyday. Of course, next step for us is to adjust back to the Western prices. :P No more delicious meals for £2, fresh fruit shake for £1 or cheap taxi's, clothes, hotels etc. But at least we don't have to worry about sunburn, malaria, diarrhoea, or being ripped off. :)

Reflecting on travelling. It is a bit like religion. There are two kind of people – those who travel and those who don’t. It can be addictive, obsessive and passionate; It gives you peace, joy and happiness; it motivates you and gives you meaning of life; however, it doesn't make you fear death less, but it makes you have less regrets when you die. We believe that life is about creating experiences and memories rather than accumulating assets. So, we have to do it again in the future!