Jon the Traveller

So, here I am sitting in the restaurant of my guest-house, the New Siam 1 feeling pretty rough despite having had a decent while to acclimatise. I know its not jet-lag as I have had a civilised amount of sleep since arriving, its like every ounce of energy I had after each refreshing shower just seems to vanish with 30 minutes and I get to feeling really lethargic until I either sleep or have another shower. I know its not a hangover, as while I do get them, I am barely drinking alcohol here.

Just what it is has gotten me really puzzled and I cannot stand feeling like this all the time.

Answers on the back of your medical qualifications please!

Tags: Bangkok, Tired

So, its been said by someone, somewhere, much wiser than me, that “Hell is other people”, they obviously had never transited airports on long haul flights; its made me change “Hell is..”, to Hell is other people when found en mass in airports.

Seems people have an inability to walk in straight lines, follow obvious – REALLY OBVIOUS sign-age, not understand they can pay with nearly any currency at the checkouts in airport stores, and the really big one of mine: FAIL TO listen to simple instructions when it comes to boarding procedures.

Now it could be argued that they have been on the go for too many hours, have been dealing with their raucous and unruly offspring, have not travelled before or are just generally worn out by the never-ending amount of security BS airline travellers seem to have to put up with these days, however if I, the most impatient person in the world can get through it with a modicum of common-sense and without turning into a gibbering mess that does all the above, then why cannot the rest of travelling humanity? Or are we doomed?

People in airports really are Hell. Milton & Bosch just fluffed it.

Tags: Airport, Hell

For a few months anyway!

Im all packed and ready to go. I just cannot wait until tomorrow!  Being organised on Mary Poppins levels of organised is really bad at times like this!

I have my netbook all ready and sorted to try and get me some free/cheap wifi at Manchester Airport.  A joke I know as I do live a country where nothing is free, least of all its citizens!  However, thats not my problem as for the next few months, I find myself free of any of the shackles that have held me to my life in England for the past few years.  Roll on endless days sitting on beaches or chilling in a coffee shop somewhere watching other people life their lives.

Cannot wait until I land in Bangkok late on Tuesday.  Hopefully meet up with some people off of Facebook and share advice and a few beers. Either way, GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!

Tags: Airport, Trip

It’s going to be a boring week that will no doubt by the time its over, feel like it lasted an eternity.

I really have nothing left to do with regards to the trip, and as for life here, theres nothing going on as I move into “tightwad westerner” mode.

I do however keep finding new reasons to play this alot:

Cheesy as hell, but awesome regardless. Even better when you find out they didnt let Cowell and his pet X-Factor winner use it for a potential Xmas Number 1!!

Tags: Bored, Journey, Trip

So a tad over 3 weeks to go now. I really dont know if I have missed anything in all my preparations of late.

I have pulled out the old faithful backpack and am repeatedly deciding what to take / not to take. First few nights accomodation are all taken care in a few early destinations, I am doing that to slowly ease myself out of the comfort zone I have been in for the past couple of years. I’ve made my lists of important numbers and sent them to the four corners of the world in case of emergencies.

I really am stuck for wondering what else there is to do bar eat and sleep for the next 3 weeks! I hate this part of pre-trip preparations for that reason, and I hate the organised part of me more!

I was recently recommended a movie called “A Map For Saturday“, about a documentary maker/producer who jacked in his cushy NYC life and travelled the world backpacker style for nearly a year, its amazing how true to the majority of travellers it is, the comments made within it are what we concern ourselves with everyday while we are away from our own cushy lives.

Tags: soon, South East Asia, Travel, Trip

Well folks, its getting closer to my jump off date!

In the past few weeks I have dithered about things, and spent a touch to much money, but not enough to prevent this trip from happening.

However, that has all changed recently and with renwed vigour I am back on planning this excursion!  I have bought my insurance from Insureandgo.com at an awesome price; My parents have arranged a trip out to Thailand for Easter 2010 to visit me and feed me for two weeks and I finally got my hair cut so I’ll look respectable on the numerous photo’s I need for all the visa’s.

I had doubts about the trip, but I have been wanting this for so long that to not go would be a disservice to myself.

Tags: South East Asia, Travel, Trip

Jesus! It has gotten closer than I had thought.

I had not forgotten you dear readers, I have just been a very distracted person.

I have turned 30, played EVE alot, worked hard and tried to fight my spender tendencies, thats the hardest of the lot to do – worried alot about my costs for this trip, but however I end up I’ll manage, Ive had little cash on trips and in general before too!

Tags: Travel

Oh the memories!!! Brilliant tune, really bouncy, used to hit my nights during my “up” times and just blew the roof off!

Tags: Tune, Yeke Yeke

The Communist Regime is pretty much why I wont ever go. Tommorrow its 20 years since the end of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations.

The single most enduring image of which is this:

Tags: China, Tiananmen Square