Lee Abbamonte
Try to become the youngest person to travel to every country in the world
Jakarta, Indonesia
By Lee | 
3 Comments » I went into Jakarta doing something I don’t normally do because all I heard were very negative things about the city-I decided I hated it before I got there. That was dumb because I really enjoyed Jakarta. I thought it was an awesome, frenetic, fast-paced city that reminded of Bangkok during the day-I mean almost identical looking just substituting mosques for wats. If you’ve ever driven in from Bangkok Airport-Jakarta looks almost the same that you wouldn’t know where you were if you didn’t know. Then at night when it was all beautifully lit up and the streets had cleared out a bit, it reminded me of Singapore-which is a very good thing on both accounts because I love both Bangers and Singers as the Aussies say.
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Leaving Paradise in Bali
By Lee | 3 Comments » I’m really going to miss Bali. What a great place to hang out and relax in for a week or so. There is so much to do it could keep you busy forever. Or you could do absolutely nothing at all and love it. There are many different areas of the island that you could stay in and visit and the accomodation choices run from ultra budget dodgy places to the best of the best resorts. I only wish I had more time here in this paradise that I am thrilled I flew 24 hours to get to. I can’t wait to come back because there is so much more in the surrounding area that I want to see and do.
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The Bounty Hotel in Bali
By Lee | 2 Comments » I arrived back in Bali from Timor last night after a two hour wait for the visas on arrival at the Bali airport which was super annoying. But alas, I arrived at the Bounty Hotel; a mecca for sun, fun, Aussies and complete and utter debauchery. Friday night is their biggest night with an all you can eat and drink extravaganza for three hours before everyone heads out to the Bounty Bar which as I’ve mentioned is legendary around these parts.
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Hardcore in Dili, Timor-Leste
By Lee | 2 Comments » Last night I went out for a few drinks at this place called One More Bar and Cafe here in Dili, East Timor. It was one of those typical third world upper level open air bars with a pool and ping pong table (I love both btw). Anyway, it was especially interesting and fun because I got to really meet and interract with the people who actually live and work here. I got to hear their stories and learn first hand about the situation here and what goes on. I also found out that there was a demonstration 2 days ago where the army had to use teargas against the demonstrating students. This took place about one kilometer from where I am staying. Aside, from learning about East Timor, I was reminded once again why I love to travel and meet people. I also realized how hardcore you have to be to come here at all.
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Somewhere in the World-East Timor
By Lee | 3 Comments » If you know me and if you have traveled with me, you know I like to use little catch phrases and my favorite travel phrase is “Somewhere in the World”. It kind of encompasses everything, especially the obvious of where the hell am I. It’s like when you go someplace really random or wacky and you say to yourself kind of jokingly and astonished-where am I? I always answer “somewhere in the world”. East Timor or Timor-Leste as the Timorese prefer to have it be called is certainly somewhere in the world.
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Loving Bali
By Lee | 6 Comments » Today was one of those days that everyone needs every now and then. Wake up to a nice buffet breakfast sitting outside looking over the Indian Ocean. Then head over to Kuta Beach and surf for a few hours, buy a few things (T-shirts), have a nice lunch and then get a two hour massage for $15 total. That’s right, it really is that cheap here for really good massages. Everything else here is pretty cheap too and it is all good. Bali really is as good as advertised. I can see why people get stuck here for weeks at a time. In fact, I think I am eliminating Borobudur from my itinerary because I just want to hang out here in Bali a little more.
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My First day in Bali
By Lee | 3 Comments » After arriving late last night, Japan Airlines lost my bag, so I was fairly nonplussed about that. However, I knew I would have it the next day and just the smell of the air in Bali is enough to forget any troubles. This place may just be the perfect place to be. Since I didn’t have my bag, a bathing suit or a change of clothes from yesterday I decided to tour the island instead of hitting the beach today on my first day on Bali.
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In Transit in Tokyo
By Lee | 1 Comment » After a grueling 14 hour flight on Japan Airlines where the in flight entertainment system didn’t work, I am here in Tokyo and I just returned to the airport after heading into Narita for a little bit for lunch. It’s been 8 years since I was last in Japan and I forgot just how different the Japanese culture was from American. From the organzied group plane exercises to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) to the scores of Hello Kitty nonsense that goes on-it’s funny but at the same time interesting.
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Scenes From a Mall in Dubai
By Lee | 2 Comments » Yesterday was the final day of my trip and I flew up from Yemen to Dubai to catch my long flights home. I had a 12 hour layover in Dubai yesterday and I was debating what to do with myself. I had already seen everything that I wanted to see and in fact all there is to see as the rest of the city will be completed in a few years. So against everything that I believe in I went to the Mall of the Emirates which is the biggest mall in Dubai and one of the biggest in the world to kill the time. It was actually pretty interesting, as far as mall experiences go.
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Sana’a, Yemen
By Lee | 10 Comments » I don’t think there are too many places left in the world that would make God smile, but Yemen is one of them. Yemen has been inhabited forever and in many ways it is the birthplace of all our lives. In the days of yore, Noah’s sons knew it as the land of milk and honey, Gilgamesh came here to search for the secret of eternal life and most famously, a woman simply known as Sheba called this land of Yemen her home. However, since the book of mythology has closed, Yemen had been locked away in a hidden corner of the peninsula-until now. Yemen is coming of age and showing itself to the world and let me tell you: Yemen sits at the crossroads of two continents, with flavors of Africa, reflections of Morocco and reminders of Arabia and to travel in this most traditional of all islamic countries is a priviledge that I won’t soon forget.
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