Like many travel industry people, getting a new stamp in my passport is my addiction; a high I chase each time I go away and an overwhelming urge to keep travelling to maintain that feeling. After my ‘trip’, I return home with a killer hangover (jetlagged) and trying to recall whether or not I actually did all that travelling or if I dreamt the whole thing up.

Asia is still all a blur and the twelve hour time difference between there and home kicked my ass. But now that I’m back to sleeping and my high has subsided, I’m eager to share what I can remember of my two-week journey touching four countries, via seven flight segments, six hotels, with three of my cool gal pals.

It was my second time to Vietnam but my first to Ho Chi Min City (better known by its former name, Saigon). It was fry-an-egg-in-the-shade hot but that didn’t stop us from walking the busy streets armed with water bottles and fistfuls of cash to barter for trinkets and knockoffs at the markets. While skillfully avoiding being trampled by the motorbikes we; sampled questionable donuts bought off street vendors, endured reflexology on our tired swollen feet, took in a traditional water puppet show, and enjoyed a city tour by cyclo.

On the last day, two of us opted to visit the famous Cu-Chi tunnels, a network of underground tunnels built for the Vietnamese/American War. It was eye-opening. Living underground in those tiny tunnels in that constant heat with little ventilation on a diet of rice paper is unimaginable. And then you remind yourself that there was also a war, bringing your state of ‘WTF-ness’ to a whole new level.

Our next stops in Vietnam included Hue and Hoi An. In Hue, we spent a day touring the Forbidden City built solely for the emperor’s personal use and their Imperial Tombs. Magnificent! This was what we were all waiting for; to be taken back in time to an ancient Vietnam where dynasties of families ruled, and emperors and concubines roamed the lavish palaces and places of worship. We silently watched as visitors removed their shoes to enter and pray. They lit incense to pay their respects to the Buddha. The fragrance of burning incense was to become a theme throughout all of Asia.

In Hoi An we were lucky to witness the Lantern Festival! Known as the Venice of Vietnam, Hoi An boasts canals, bridges, and small streets lined with shops, restaurants and cozy café’s perfect for people watching. But during the Festival, the canals are lit up by floating lanterns placed in the water in exchange for good luck and by those honouring their ancestors. It was perfectly picturesque.

During the day, we rushed wildly from tailor to tailor excited to order custom made leather purses, shoes, and boots. If we had more time, we would’ve left with an entire new wardrobe. But between relaxing at the nearby Hidden Beach, taking a dip in the resort’s spa-like pool, and our daily massages and reflexology sessions, it’s a miracle I managed to get my made-to-order softer-than-butter leather boots and sandals delivered to my hotel five minutes before our airport shuttle. Phew!

Next, we went to Cambodia, the hottest place any of us had ever been to. A word of warning for those who can’t handle heat that rivals that of hell, don’t go to Cambodia during the hottest month of the year (April) like we did. Although the heat halted my pals at times, we still toured the famous Angkor Wat temples. When the heat forced them to sit, they patiently waited for me to run up and down countless temples to my heart’s content.

I have two favourite temples; in second place is the iconic and most pictured main temple that appears on the national flag. It’s well preserved, stunning, detailed. We watched the sunrise behind its peak and ohhh’d and aww’d snapping photo after photo. It’s hard not to love it.

My first love was Ta Prohm temple where Tomb Raider was filmed. In ruins and hidden in the middle of an overgrown jungle, the ambiance was storybook-like. I didn’t know where to look as I got lost wandering the maze-like walkways. Each corner I turned another six-hundred-year-old tree greeted me, growing wildly off the walls with roots thicker than a pair of elephant thighs stretching to the jungle floor. It was crazy to me that the temple was so old that the trees had time to grow to that size over top of them.

We did three days straight of temples and I couldn’t get enough of them. We refueled with foot rubs and yummy dishes like the coconutty Amok Chicken served in banana leaf and Beef Lok Lak.

Next on our agenda… Bangkok. Shopping, temples, Songkran (New Year’s), and water fights. Yes, water fights. We unknowingly stumbled upon Thailand’s most popular festival to celebrate the Solar New Year. The hottest items at the night markets were water guns, and protective Ziploc pouches to wear around your neck meant to store cell phones and money. We were very curious but didn’t ask the locals why these items were so popular. So imagine our surprise the next morning when a bucket of water was tossed at us while seated in the back of our Tuk Tuk. Our driver laughed, realizing we had no idea what was happening. Each time another Tuk Tuk drove beside us we ducked for cover but it was pointless. The riders armed with water guns took aim. Staying dry was unavoidable and we laughed like hyenas at the tradition, finally understanding the purpose of the plastic pouches everyone was now wearing around their necks.

That evening, we headed out to popular Khao San road. It was a bit stressful for my gal pals to say the least, so I felt bad for not being able to wipe the smirk off my face. The streets were alive with young happy people, throwing water, loud music and dancing. I was in awe (and soaked). We left the festivities before the alcohol-fueled partiers lost complete control but I’m glad I got to feel their energy and I even joined in at one point, dancing along with the crowd when I got lost in the mob (if you can’t beat ‘em…)

Finally, our last stop – Hong Kong! This big bustling city is a cross between Vancouver on steroids and a giant uber-cool Chinatown. With a beautiful harbour, high-rises that tower over old buildings under renovations covered by bamboo scaffolding, next to even older buildings peppered with colourful hanging laundry, and the mountains as a backdrop; there isn’t a shortage of things to fall in love with.

We ate at noodle shops, rode the metro, did the tourist hop-on-hop-off bus, shopped at many many markets. My favourite market was the Ladies Market which is lit up like Times Square at Christmastime. We watched Karaoke singers on the streets and window-shopped stall after stall of cool things. The air smelt of street food mixed with leather from knockoffs and the energy was intoxicating. I can’t wait to go back. I wish I took the time to have my palm read by one of those fortune tellers lined up on the street like one of my pals did. Maybe they would’ve told me I’d be back one day soon.

I like to think I learn something new each time I go away to justify chasing that high I seek. And I’m sure I do, I just don’t know what. I can’t identify the exact lesson. But I know each time I return from a trip I’m a little different. For some unknown reason, I appreciate my life a little bit more. I love my family more, my friends and all the things that give me comfort. So what’s the lesson? Is it the comparisons between other cultures and mine? Is it the comforts of my life that I take for granted? I already know how fortunate I am to be a Canadian girl, so that can’t be it. I suppose that means I’ll just have to keep travelling.

Read about my first trip to Vietnam: Volunteering in Vietnam