Sunday 29 June 2008

Random Musings and how a whole lot can happen in 3 months.

So, last time I posted, I was on hols in Thailand.

Now I've been back 6 weeks, have a job putting up marquees and managed to fall in love in Vietnam with the most simply beautiful girl I ever met in my life. Heck, I think I might even have found God.

Sadly, I'm not gonna talk about that stuff 'cos well its private. But, what I am gonna talk about is the negativity I've come back to since I've been back in the UK.

It's a sad thing to say, but having seen a decent section of the world and met some truly amazing people, it sickens me how lazy and happy to whinge everyone is over here.

I don't know when moaning became the acceptable response to absolutely everything but, I'm pretty certain, we've been put on this planet to you know, get of our collective arses and do something.

Instead, we have this blame culture where nothing's anyone's fault, it's all either the government or big business, or in fact, absolutely everyone's responsibility but their own. Here's the truth for all of you people, all those bodies are is groups of people. Get of your asses, take some responsibility and take some action to change. Ignorance and Inaction are the biggest crimes in the world today. So why not take some positive action to change?

Friday 28 March 2008

Hmm a long overdue update!

Ñow then, when we last spoke I was just leaving Malaysia. Since then I've spent a month in Thailand, mostly doing the Islands and have now been in Cambodia for half of my week long stay here!

First I have to apologise for not blogging more but actually my journal's in an even worse state right now!

Lets see, I continued to spend my first week or so in Thailand travelling with Neil and Leanne on the Islands of Phuket (don't bother, its shit and full of pikey twats), Phi Phi (Same same but different - actually not true on first impression but when I returned definitely so).

The one thing that did happen in Phuket on our first evening was our complete inability to find a bar. Having been excited by the sight of some Neon Lights I soon realised that there are approximately 2 kinds of business that have neon lights outside, Bars and of course, Neon Light shops. Sadly, this was the later. We did immediately afterwards find the world's most random bar, run in some Chinese dude's living room which was a shrine to Jazz and on our first arrival didn't sell beer - luckily he sent his wife to get some. It was all very strange. We also dealt (for what wouldn't be the first time) with the futility in booking rooms in advance in Thailand. Suffice to say the rooms we were told we had had mysteriously been sold. Gotta love those Thais!

After an amusing day on the beach followed by our first experience of the seedy world of pickup bars (not literally - don't worry Mum!) we headed to Phi Phi, where tourism has basically destroyed the beautiful island used as the basis of the appalling book to film conversion of Alex Garland's excellent debut novel The Beach. Can't really complain about where I stayed, it was easily the nicest (but commensurately most expensive) place I'd stayed in. After a night with friends, Paul and Natalie where I got inappropriately drunk on Sansung Buckets (Thai Whiskey - imagine Single Malt, well its nothing like that, imagine petrol diluted by dirty dish water and you're nearer the mark mixed with the very dubious Thai Redbull which evidence seemed to back-up may have contained amphetamines). Next day was nearly a write off. I went to the viewpoint looking over the whole island before managing to get stuck in the middle of the biggest cloudburst I think I'd ever seen. Water was literally running down the streets. So after that I essentially laid on my bed, watched telly, listened to my now dead ipod by plugging it into the wall (how practical!) and set about planning how I was gonna 'do' (rah rah Travelling) Cambodia Vietnam and Laos (Admittedly the plan has changed approximately 37 times since then but that session laid out the bare bones!) Oh in the evening it was off to the tourist muay thai which was hilarious but the real highlight was the WWE muay thai show at the end of the night - just too funny.

Next it was off to Krabi town, the maintown on the South West Thai coast to meet me old mucker from school Gemma. Three days, 1 night in Krabi, 2 in the nearby coastal resort (and full of irritating cock-jock wearing swedes) pf Ao Nang. Most of you have seen the photos on Facebook and given that it was Gemma's last weekend before heading back to the Woodbridge mothership, you will no doubt have heard her recount many of the tales of chaos that transpired there - suffice to say, I picked up a new travelling companion, the world's largest and least practical travelling cuddly toy, Terrence the bear. He's cool.

After that, I spent one of the worst days of my life stuck on a bus and boat surrounded by people from the one nation on earth that you can't criticise otherwise you'll be accussed of being one of the worst things imaginable. Suffice to say, they were loud, rude, pushy and didn't shut the fuck up for about 15 hours. My travellers calm was lost that day. Certainly went I got to my destination. Koh Samui, what a shit hole. Imagine breeding Playa de Las Americas with Blackpool and the back of Kings Cross station and thats what this shitty little hole is like. The most blatant examples of ripoff Thai entrepeneurship also occured on this island. Still, first night, met back up with Paul and Nat and Neil and Leanne for Neils birthday where we watched Muay Thai. Hilarious. Especially the Swedish girl from Contender Asia who got the shit kicked out of her!

Anyway, I had one day left on Koh Samui and as it happened I met up with me old mucker and buddy from home Bex Bostock, who was about to become my travel buddy for the next fortnight or so. A very funny night consisting of good food, and a Sham Rock show (you should see the video clips) before retiring ahead of an early depart for Ko Phangan.

I left Bex on the boat heading to Ko Tao and I jumped on the back of a pickup truck and headed to the Coco-hut resort, where I met PNNL. First day consisted of a lot of comedy pool action - including the 70's disco dance a few beers and some DVD's. Second night was the Black Moon Party. I was utterly boxed got a Superman logo painted on my chest and proceeded to sing all 182 verses of Chicago to the world and his dog. I also met a massive prick from Leeds. I wanted to break his face.

Then, off to Ko Tao. Met Bex, slightly off the beaten track where we stayed for about 6 nights. We met randoms, weird randoms, and disturbing randoms oh and a lot of ladyboys. But, Ko Tao was easily my favourite place on this trip. Cheap food, friendly people and the majestic bay where frankly you could sit down and swim on the beach all day. Shame!

Argh I grow tired of this.

Next up Krabi again Koh Lanta, Krabi again, Bangkok, Siem Reap, plenty of shits and not quite as many giggles.

Oh and next stop for me after Phenom Penh is Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam - Bring it on!

Saturday 23 February 2008

Malaysia

So I'm in Malaysia now, on the island of Penang.

Quite simply, Malaysians are the nicest people in the world. Yes, one or two will try to con you (like the "Yoggi man" I called a "F***ing snake oil merchant" the other day, and the numerous requests I've had to help people with visas - yeah, right). But, on the whole they're a wonderful people and the cultural merging of India, China and the natural Malay culture makes for wonderful - and cheap food! Seriously, my dinner last night cost about 60p.

Awesome!

Comics related - warning those of you who think I'm sad. Like I care.




Buy this, that is all.

And it's written by Paul Cornell who's written some of the best Dr Who episodes of recent years, including the 2 parter last season set in the public school with the Doctor becoming human and the excellent Jekyll which graced BBC TV shortly afterwards.

Sunday 17 February 2008

Farewell Honkers - it was truly Bonkers.

Wow,

What a town Hong Kong was!

From the utter crazyness of Mong Kok and the old town, with its "bird market" "goldfish market" and other random places, to the sheer obsession with shops.

Walking past shops selling birds nests, and other "delicacies"; the sheer obsession with capitalism that puts the US to shame; the rudeness of the people; watching people gamble like idiots in Macau; The Giant Buddha, perhaps the least spiritual place I've ever been too!

So much to say, it's a crazy place and well worth spending a week in if you're out that way!

Big thanks of course to Mylo for putting me up for a week and being a great host! And of course to the boys and "ladies" of Kowloon Rugby Club who made me so welcome both on and off the field. The Miss Kowloon contest has left many scars, thats all I really care to divulge right now!

Saturday 9 February 2008

So goodbye Australia.

Hmm its time to leave. Feels weird the whole idea of getting on a plane again after 2 months. It's weird. I've actually gotten so used to Australia. The other day for example, I walked around a museum, barefoot, with a stinger suit up to my waist, topless wearing only a hat and aviators.

Heck I find myself sat here at 6:10pm on a laptop in shorts, thongs and a VB beater like its the most natural thing in the world!

There are some things I'm not gonna miss about Australia though:

1) The general rudeness of the blokes
2) The strange obsession with the song "The Piano-man"
3) Greyhound drivers - are they really old or is it just the toughest job in the world? - so weather beaten!
4) Backpacker bars. These places are the scummiest places on earth, making student nights seem somehow flash!

Things I am gonna miss:

1) The Ocean
2) The sun - apparently HK's really cold right now!

The highlights? Oh there've been many, from being asked alongside my cousin Stu if we were a "couple of poofters" in the ironically named "Port Fairy", to trying to hitch a lift home on Fraser Island with my tour guide whilst in an extreme state of consciousness on Australia Day and proceeding to have an in depth discussion of the life and works of the Thievery Corporation with anyone who we could find with a ute!

Anyway, I'm off to Hong Kong tomorrow following what is bound to be a fun night of sleep at Cairns airport! Apparently it's cold! But, I've got a rugby game lined up hopefully. Eek! Should be good though, then off to Kuala Lumpur (or "oompah" as we prefer to call it_. I'm Horse confident that it'll all be apples!

Friday 1 February 2008

Hoa boy this place just keeps getting better.

So after the excellence that was Fraser Island (seriously, every bit a beautiful as the eponymous 'they' say). It was off to the Whitsundays fro an awesome 3 days of sailing and nights of sleeping on the deck and general boozyness (bekark has gone global folks!)

Anyway, back on dry land, it's raining (again) it's mid afternoon and I'm trying to work out where on earth I'm gonna be able to watch the England game tonight.

Oh and tomorrow I'm on a bus all day. Doh! This country gets better and better the further north you go though!

Friday 25 January 2008

Noosa

Well, I guess that's it for surfing from me. Having become mildly proficient at not falling over too much and even 'standing up' on occasion!

Noosa's a lovely little town - possibly my favourite place in Oz so far. Really chilled little hostel and lots of decent people. But the bar in town is horrific. Went there last night, not realising that when one of the girls I was with said 'yeah you've gotta be pretty drunk to enjoy this place' quite how drunk that meant. Suffice to say, several Jaegerbombs had no effect other than to give me a 'long dark night of the soul' at around 3-4 am local time causing me to consider phoning basically everyone. Luckily, not many people endured a phonecall from over-tired philosophical Harris!

Anyway, Fraser Island tomorrow for Australia day. It's gonna be good. I hope!!!!!!

Tuesday 22 January 2008

Eek I'd almost forgotten I had this!

Well I'm in Brisbane, and not a huge amount to report really. I've just had an excellent week long break from hostels, staying with the family near Surfers. The weather's improved somewhat and Brisbane although not brimming with activities is the city I could most see myself living in of all the ones I've visited.

Why

1 - well the river is exactly like London, except the boats are cheap!!!!!

2 - The girls are unbelieveable.

In balance, 2's more of a swinger for me. But, the bad news:

The comic store is woeful.

Oh well, win some lose some I guess!

Friday 4 January 2008

Australia, land of surf and sunshine.

Or not, having finally left Sydney with the intention of learning to surf before I reached Surfer's Paradise, I find myself in the middle of a rainstorm and high pressure cyclone. Which means lots of rain and no surf.

So, I'm spending a lot of time visiting sights and walking along the ocean, looking at the water. It's all getting highly, highly frustrating!

I'm in Port Macquarie which is a lovely little seaside town for the next day or so, it's got a Koala hospital (cue excrutiateingly sick photo opportunities!) then I'm on to Coff's Harbour, land of the Giant Banana, before a few days in Byron and then I'm on the Gold Coast. Woo hoo!

PS I appreciate Australia's in the midst of a massive drought so don't despise them for rain!