Backpacking

The skies have cleared and the sun is shinning again making the city of Oslo bearable once again, and what better time to write on my now stagnant blog on what the last year has being.

Alot has happened over the last year, the majority of it "working" and saving for this current journey. Maybe this is why I have neglected to write as nothing too exciting has being going on.
Well for the last year and a bit I have been working on one of those big luxury yachts as a deckie; which is basically a glorified name for a boat cleaner. Lots of washing, polishing, buffing, painting, scrubbing and things like dropping the anchor and making sure we didn't run into stuff. I did have a good time on board and although we were quite lucky in that the boat travelled round alot I think by a year a case of cabin fever started to kick in.
Some of the amazing things..... Well without a doubt it had to be Alaska, the deciding factor that made me join this boat in the first place. What a truly untouched and magical place. Words just can't describe the beauty up there, a little bloody chilly for this Aussie guy but soon forgotten when face to face with a glacier millions of years old pushing into the Pacific Ocean.
The lowlights would have to be of course getting up at 4am; in Alaska! whilst it is blowing a gale and buffing windows so to look a million dollars before the owner got up. We did spend alot of time in America's West Coast, I think a total of 6 months in the end which made it possible to see some of the sights and experience the truly unique American way.

Then it was off to New Zealand via French Polynesia and Tahiti. I wish we had have done NZ first as it really lost its impact after Alaska, was much the same but less well...grand!
Saying this, we were in a boat putting around the coastline so not really seeing the true NZ, I still one day hope to do a road trip of the place as it seems like a beautiful destination.
I left the boat in New Zealand, which being right next door to OZ couldn't resist going home for what had being 4 years away. first stop was Sydney, which surprisingly I had never being to before. So Mel showed me around her big old city before I went to visit the parents in Queensland. It just so happened that my visit home coincided with Easter, so all the family was around and up to there old antics. Then it was back to Brisbane to catch up with everyone and sort out a few thing before saying Bonn voyage again after 2 weeks in my mother land.
Was so nice catching up with everyone about the old and new time but the most special thing was my cousins. Totally caught me off guard but was incredible seeing them again, especially the two youngest who were just babies when I left. Guess they are kinda like my sisters.

The one thing I did manage to do on the boat was to get totally debt free and save enough for this year of travel. Alot of people were surprised with how far in debt I was, a rough estimate was around $16,000AU which was really inevitable as I hadn't really had a decent paying job since I left in 2005. the one person I just can't thank enough for what he did and how he helped me out is Steve. You did so much more than you should have and god knows where I would be now if you hadn't had helped.

So after the whirlwind that was Australia it was back on the place and to my second home.....London.
I don't really know how to write this, so I'm just gonna write and see what comes out.
Originally I was going back to London to catch up with everyone and sort out my visas that I will need for this trip. Then my friend Monica decided to join me as she had never being to London before so was happy to show her the sights. Had an interesting and wonderful time there and was awesome to see everyone again and go back to some of the old haunts. Thanks so much to Charlotte for letting us stay at your place and giving up your own bed!!
So that was London, lots of sightseeing and what not then after a week it was off to Stockholm and where Monica joined me as well. Ahhh Stockholm well not so good memories there, not going to go into it too much detail as it still hurts quite a bit but ended up being quite a sad situation. After a few day there we moved into separate places and went out separate ways, I managed to screw it all up and just hope that something can be salvaged.

Now I have moved onto Oslo in Norway where I'm just trying to get my head together and get into the travelling "vibe", which seems to be quite hard to do this trip. I can't help but feel lonely which in the past I have felt before and is to be expected when travelling solo, but this time it just feels like If I can't see it with someone why is it worth seeing if you can't share it. Perhaps this is a turning point; the end of solo Jason perhaps? whatever happened it all part of the process...right?

The other thing about this trip I'm about to undertake and something that is going to be totally different to all the others, is that I'm going to be CouchSurfing the whole way. Now I absolutely love the CouchSurfing Project and what its all about and what it does, but it lacks one thing and that's the possibility of travel partners; not in the long term but at that very moment. Generally the people that are hosting you are rooted in the city, weather it be for a long or short time it doesn't matter as they have lives there. Fair enough, all good! What I am use to is hostels and the abundance of "travellers" in them, which more often than not meant that you had someone to see the city with and even better someone to travel to the next destination with, creating a friend of a kind.
By CouchSurfing all the way, which I have no choice but to do, means that this truly be a solo trip which I'm not sure if I am 100% ready for. But that's what its all about, discovering yourself? Well fuck I think I'm in for one hell of a discovery mission.

So that's the story as it stands today, I plan on getting at least down to Bulgaria/ Northern Greece by September and then it looks like I will be shooting over to Hong Kong in November/ December to meet an old mate and see some more of SE Asia.

The sun is setting here in Oslo, along with the temperature. Thanks to the scarf that was kindly donated by Laura (you rock!!) it's marginally warmer, I just need to work out how to tie this thing right!
Tomorrow I'm off to buy a big arse jacket before moving to the west coast of Norway for a couple of weeks of glacier and fjord hopping before mentally preparing myself for the challenges that lie above the Arctic Circle.

Check out all the pics here >>>
http://redmonkey.smugmug.com/

Thanks to Dan for this amazing shot in Alaska!

The last month has being quite the eventful one, especially in the job area as I have picked up another job on a yacht as a deckhand again. I'm giving it one more chance, to see weather it's for me or probably more to the point if the people in the industry are not all......well like the last lot.
It's a 52 metre motor yacht with quite the wicked cruising itinerary and is a bit of a world cruiser. I have joined it in the Caribbean where it will be cruising around for roughly one more month before heading through the Panama Canal and making its way up the west coast of America to Alaska over 2 months, then who knows where.

I was lucky enough to have to go to Paris for a few days to go for my visa interview to get a US Business Visa, which all went well and had a chance to see the sights of Paris and see some French theatre and attend a travel group with Pierre who I was Couchsurfing with.
As alot of people say that the French are quite rude I tied to tackle it with an open mind and yes I think they can be quite rude; in particular Paris, but no more than some of the other European countries, say Italy and like any big city Paris has got the big city attitude. But what a beautiful it is; quite romantic though. Great if you've got some hottie with you, less so if you don't and especially with a weeks to Valentines Day.

Before heading up to Paris I had a chance to see snow for the very first time; proper snow, although I didn't go for a ski but was still quite cool seeing the fluffy powder.
I also had a chance to do some driving on the icy roads where my normal driving skills were no good to me at all and managed to plough the hire car into a wall of snow after overtaking at speed just before a blind corner, which was rattling enough but then realising that we were just a metre from tipping over the edge of the mountain and tumbling down the side of the mountain!!

So am now in the Caribbean in just the nick of time as the funds were at critical level and just about to max out the second credit card. Now the steep and fast learning curve begins and where I must adapt to the "5 Star Silver Service" yachtie Jason, which I have to say has never been found before!

Check out the pics here >>>
http://redmonkey.smugmug.com/gallery/3818460_MJTfQ#215215310_GEkMi
http://redmonkey.smugmug.com/gallery/4421277_abdf5#251645258_hU27b

Being lucky enough to be back in Europe around the festive season meant that I could return to my old stomping ground in London & celebrate with a bang with some of my good mates.

After leaving the yacht & being flown back to Nice one week before Christmas, I ended up staying with my mate Steve at his friends join in Cannes where after he left was by myself over Christmas.
Wanting to make the most of it and at least feel like I was at home, I decided to cook up a storm and after discovering one of Jamie Oliver's cookbooks found the perfect meal for Christmas Day. Upon waking on Christmas Day and discovering that Santa has YET AGAIN forgot to deliver any presents I cracked open the wine and started preparing the feast for one.
One big chicken smother in salt and pepper and drowned in oil.
Then one lemon, some garlic cloves and a few herbs stuffed up his insides then covered in bacon rashes and lied to rest on a bed of potatoes before being roasted for an awfully long time.
In the meantime had turned on the telly and was reminiscing back to the good old days with every single pop chart number one from since I was still at school. Christmas is one of those weird days where you can think back years to where you were on that very day.
Well the chicken was done and totally beat my expectations of how it would turn out....it wasn't burnt!!! But then, like always I realised why I don't like cooking as in the time it had taken to cook I had lost my hunger and wasn't hungry no more but being that I cooked it I managed to fit in one tasty chicken breast before passing out on the couch.

After having to make a hasty evacuation from the apartment after being informed the owner was on her way back and will be there in 10 minutes, I headed to Steve's boat back in Monaco for a night before jetting off to London.

We'll I'm the first to admit that I've given London I bit of a bad rap in the past and it's not one of my favourite places but it did feel good to be back as it's like a second home and where all my mates are.
Staying with my friend Denisa who is living in an absolutely magnificent humongous ex-hostel/ex-squatters pad up in North London was quite cool and after catching up and having a good night sleep it was time to see what everyone else was up to.
Heading out to Brick Lane the night before New Years with a couple of buddies ended up being quite the night and was already exhausted before NYE had even begun!!

Well NYE came and went like any other year, but this year had a special touch about it as it was like being back at home again. I spent the first half of the night at some Kiwi party in a recording studio in Shoreditch where I was a bit hesitant to confess that I was an Aussie in case they all turned on me and to get away from their extremely discounted alcoholic drinks. Then it was off to Ministry of Sound to catch up with the gang again and see what's being going on before ending up at The Key & The Cross for the ultimate New Year's Day party where it got very messy indeed surprisingly quickly.

With only a few days of my trip remaining I caught up with a few other people before bidding farewell again & setting off the Madrid.

Check out the pics here >>> http://redmonkey.smugmug.com/gallery/4138284

Subject: Europe & Beyond

Russia to England via Glastonbury Festival
17th June – 22nd July (37 days since last email)

Hi there everyone!

Well I’ve finally decided to write another travel journal thing, so welcome aboard and grab a comfy seat as this will be a long one, I apologize in advance for the longnesses, but I can’t help it :p

Well I last left you all at the end of my Russia leg and the airport shenanigans that endured. Well it was off to the castle capital of Prague. I kind of had a brain fart on the plane and decided that I will probably take it easy in Prague and just check out the city as I really had to stretch out my money for Berlin, Amsterdam and the UK. So that I did, as strange as it was not being under a haze of intoxication I checked out the city for 4 days and just bummed around the park trying to spend nothing. It’s true what they say, that Prague has a magical feel to it, with all the coble stone streets and what not. Was a bit strange coming from somewhere where English is hardly spoken and written and nobody understands you, to a place where EVERYTHING is in English, a spose a bit too touristy and so many Americans (sheesh, thought I was actually there), but the absinth made up for all of that. I was a bit bummed out that I wasn’t in Russia, as I absolutely loved that place but time to move on as that’s the backpacker way and hey Prague has the Sex Toys Museum, very ummm insightful, some things in there I didn’t really needed brought to my attention LOL

Then it was up to Berlin for 4 days by bus from Prague, no passport control here, good on Mr EU . Now I have to say this first off the bat that I have NEVER being interested in any type of history before I arrived here, but a strange thing happened in Germany…I spent 5 HOURS!!! In a bloody museum about the Berlin Wall and German history, I couldn’t believe it, but that wall has got me so interested that I was buying souvenirs and all ekk! I think that because it’s so is so recent and that that kind of inhumanity was happening only 20 years ago make it all the more real.
But Berlin was a absolutely fantastic city (I think I say that about them all LOL), the culture and vibe in the place is awesome, graffiti and old posters everywhere, bombed out and deserted buildings and the club/bar scene is unreal.
Ok so imagine this, its midnight on a Tuesday night, tis a bit chilly and you go out looking for a good night out and you hear this distant thump from BENIGTH you, so drawn to the beat you go and check it out and next thing you know your walking up a small stair well and looking out of the top floor of a bombed out building, whoa! It feels very surreal, it might have being a house club but it did the trick LOL
But they do love there hard trance and have you ever seen a club with a LCD roof that keeps flashing pictures…was very trippy, those Germans where probably pumping propaganda into our brains LOL, ooooo and those crazy Germans love there kebabs, even more than Melbourne.

Next it was on an overnight bus up to that little old town called Amsterdam!!!!!!!
I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t have any accommodation as apparently it was peak season (no one told me that now did they!) but low and behold I found a hostel on a boat (anything is possible in this trippy town) so in the space of 12 hours I’ve gone from hostel to train to subway to bus to ferry to SHIP!
Was a bit out of town and was kinda bummed out about that when I first arrived, thought why the fuck am I staying on a boat in the harbour all the way away from the action (besides that old soviet submarine parked next door), but how wrong I was.
Staying in a hull of a ship, getting rocked to sleep every morning and staying with a crazy bunch of really cool people, didn’t really have to leave the ship, but had to check out this “fascinating” city and all it had to offer. So long story short…sex shows, sex museums, lots of tourists, relaxed laws, and pumping pumping Dutch hardcore music :D…you know the rest, then go retire back to my ship to recover for the next night LOL

It was time to leave Amsterdam and make my way to my new home…The United Kingdom. Was a bit worried about going through the airport from some of the stories I had heard on my travels on having troubles getting in. So I chose my airport carefully, Bristol it was, nice and close to Glastonbury, cheap as chips flight and relaxed immigration officials. Expecting a strip search and cross examination as being a 20yo male coming from Amsterdam to start a working holiday, I was prepared for the worse. All I got was a welcome to the UK and a stern warning that drugs are not as tolerated as Amsterdam and sent on my merry way.
So it was into Bristol, which by the way is a really cool city, Ill come back to Bristol, as Glastonbury Festival 2005 was starting to run through my veins.
Well I arrived at 4pm in Bristol on the Tuesday, one day before Glastonbury started and thought, fuck, I’m not really prepared for Glasto little lone camping for 5 days! So it was off to the local store to get some booze, water, food and maybe some camping gear. So 2 cases of beer, 20 litres of water, noodles, sleeping bag and a canvas garden wheelbarrow I thought I was hell ready for this wicked festival.

So here I am wheeling a wheelbarrow through the middle of Bristol at peak hour filled with beer and other assorted goodies and something ain't feeling right, what do you know the wheel is about to fall off and I’m just over half way back to the hostel, fuck me, that would be my luck now wouldn’t it. So I push me borrow into a bar and ask them to mind it while I go back and forth taking my assorted goodies to the hostel.
So its 10pm at night the night before Glastonbury and I’m stressing like a mofo, I’ve got to get a trolley before 9:30am the next morning when my train comes, managed to find a DIY store in the Yellow Pages and think its all sorted. I get up nice and early and get a trolley at the hardware store and think, you beauty, it’s sorted! and its 9:20am, nice one mate, nice one.
So backpack on with newly attached sleeping bag and trolley in tow with assorted goodies, im set, bring on the madness. Half way there something ain't feeling too right, wheel wise and all, and fuck me both wheels are about to fall off my newly acquired (but cheap) trolley. Now its decision time, its 9:40am, train rolls in at 10am, I haven’t even made it to Glasto and my trolley has shit itself and it’s unseasonably hot. Do I drag the fucker all the way to Glasto and the campsite?, do I call a cab and ditch the trolley and keep the goods? or try to fix it?.
Well the decision was made to ditch the trolley AND the assorted goodies, that’s right, 2 cases of beer were left in the park, don’t worry a tear and a tinnie was shed before we said goodbye, might have being the heat that gave me this delusional idea but think it was the right choice for all involved. Some hobo would have thought he had struck gold when he found that lot. Needless to say I was spewing and stressing and sweating and missed the train.
But my handy little rule of everything happens for a reason came to rescue me and I thought, mate its all good, it all happened for a reason and fuck me it sure did (funny that). So fast-forward to the Glasto gate (all very exciting, I’ve made it to the gates of heaven).

Now my plan was to never take a tent and just sleep in someone else’s, hell there’s 150’000 people someone has to have a spare space in there tent, right?.
I’m at the gate and waiting to get in and I meet this lovely group of people who just live up the road and have brought in a tepee type tent, one thing led to another and next thing I know I’ve got me a tent and another new set of festi mates LOL
Now one thing that I learnt rather quickly is that Brits act a lot older than they are, especially the teenage ones.
Thinking that they were maybe 19 or 20 and were talking about Uni, I found out about day two that they were actually staying in a tent full of 15 and16 year old school girls, was a absolute riot, was like being back at school, so innocent and just a riot to be around.
Well that was just the first 5 hours of Glasto and that’s about a page, better keep it short, I actually remember quite a bit, which is fantastic all be it surprising.
Well I could rattle on for hours about how good Glastonbury Festival was, but the music, the cider, the girls, the mud, the rain, the new friends, the trench foot and the smell were absolutely amazingly fantastic.
I could break down every amazingly good act that played but that’s too much typing and I’m tired. But Fatboy Slim had to be the best ever LIVE DJ set that I have ever seen, was more like a stage show with everyone getting 3D glasses (that’s about 10’000 of us), beach balls, dancers, massive screen, awesome lighting, the whole box and dice was out of this world. Some of the other acts where Basement Jaxx, Plump DJs, LCD Soundsystem, Hybrid, Garbage, Chemical Brothers, BT, Freestylers, 2 Many DJs and the list goes on and on, there were just so many stages and not all music, there was a circus tent, a cabaret tent, fire stage, so sooooooo much to do and so many places to get lost and loose track of time itself (or that could be that strong cider kicking in LOL).
We didn’t get washed out thank god, but there were a few mud slides and tents were buried and washed away and absolutely covered in water that mixed with those tipped over loos at the top of the hill (oh no!). I wasn’t prepared for camping at all little lone wet weather, so I donned my board shorts and rash shirt (yes it was a unique look LOL) and taped up my legs with garbage bags to slow down the onset off trench foot and off we go to do some partying.

Well as some of you may know, I ended up stretching my 5 day Glasto experience to 2 ½ weeks by picking up job after the festival had finished by litter picking for 8 hours a day 7 days a week. It turned out that I earned more money litter picking for 2 ½ weeks than I did back home and with less of the shit attached, plus I got fed for free three times a day and you can keep whatever you find and find some weird shit we did. Was a absolutely trip, we had the ultimate camp site going as people just literally leave all there stuff behind when they went home, so I got me some wellies, two tents, a chair, dooner (or duvet as the English say, la de dar), pillow, air mattress, food, beer, kitchen stuff, the whole lot, I only ended up taking on off the tents out with me when I left as it was know aptly as the “festiTENT – fun times for all™” and had way too many memories attached to leave behind.

Well I think it’s about time for my afternoon kip, I’m all exhausted now but buzzing with all the stuff that I’ve forgotten already.
Well next week is the God’s Kitchen Global Gathering Festival which I have postponed my 21st for then the weekend after that is Prodigy and then Creamfields, its fucken full on alright.
Well I’m missing you all but having a ball.
Not sure if my emails will be as frequent (not that they have being LOL) but will try and keep you guys updated with all my ramblings.

Take care in this crazy world
Jase :D
________________________________________________________

Check out the pics here >>>

Prague - http://www.redmonkey.smugmug.com/gallery/684489#29358018

Berlin- http://www.redmonkey.smugmug.com/gallery/684527#29358067

Amsterdam- http://www.redmonkey.smugmug.com/gallery/684629#29364478

Glastonbury - http://www.redmonkey.smugmug.com/gallery/702821#29715274

Bristol - http://www.redmonkey.smugmug.com/gallery/702849#29716060

Subject: Round 2

Bangkok to Russia
May 3rd 2005 – 16th June (45 days from last email)

Priviet from Russia :D

Well I thought it's about time to babble some more shit to you lot, that plus there's free internet at the hostel :p
Well it’s my last day in Russia and it's kinda sad. Its gets a really bad wrap in most of the guide books and other info around the place but the people here are some of the most friendliest people I've ever met, and more than happy to shout a few Vodka shots (although it did take us about 10 minutes to explain what "shouting" drinks actually meant)

We arrived in Russia via the Trans-Mongolian train, starting off in Beijing and shooting across to Mongolia then up to Moscow via Siberia. Was a fantastic trip, and ended up with 5 in our tour group with another 2 Aussies, a Kiwi and Irish bloke.

Mongolia was absolutely amazing and the women were truly stunning, which totally blew us away. I don't know I kinda thought they all walked around in layers and layers of clothes cause its so fucken cold, but to our delight they do not, more the skimpy skirts and plunging top variety and with the body of half Russian and half Chinese which to my shock is a really good mix.
But anyway, our City Leader in Ulan Baatar was a virgin tour guide, so we were his very first group, and we're not sure if he quit his job after us, but he was well tired, hung over and was very happy to get us on that train.
I don't think Mongolians are very big drinkers LOL plus we were his first Aussies, so nights of drunken loudness pursued. So anyway 2 nights in Mongolia, one night in the capital exploring the night life and the other in a Ger Camp out in the sticks where the sun is still setting at 10pm, sheesh

So Mongolia in a nut shell...beautiful women, friendly people, cheap booze and well…beautiful women LOL
So we packed all our shit back onto the train and chug off for 2 days off to Siberia and Irkutsk, after this is all went a little bit interesting.
So since were on the "Vodka Train" (yes that was our proper tour name) we thought since were going to be stuck on this train for 4 days straight we might as well stock up some beverages of the alcoholic variety. So 2 slabs of beer and a bottle each of vodka we head off for Moscow.

Ok so fast forward to the first night (4 hours after boarding) we decide to taste test of newly acquired spirit cause fuck were in Russia the vodka capital of the world right. So there we are stuffed into our cabin with our kiddie pig mugs and getting through our vodka. 2 bottles and an angry carriage maid latter we get a knock on the door from security (who knew these train had security, guns, bats and all!)
Since we had being reading our phrase book all day we kinda knew what he was saying plus the hand gestures helped. Ok long story short, he didn’t like us making a racket and was gesturing that we were pissed as fuck and to go to sleep or else we're off at the next stop. He left and we thought about it for a little and decided that that was not a good idea as it was only 8pm and hell the party had just started. So the drinking continued and he comes back with his security buddy and confiscates all of our alcohol - 2 slabs and a bottle of vodaka!
Not only that he tells the dining cart, drink trolley, and carriage maids not to sells us ANY alcohol or to bring any aboard (What a bastard!)
I really think our down falling was that we were running up and down the carriages and apparently one of the fellas threw up along the hallway walls and toilets LOL know wonder the maid was not a happy camper, must have being quite the clean up. But in all fairness we still had a hoot of a time alcohol or not.

So we hit Moscow and did the tourist stuff and finally in a month I get some good music, bout bloody time, was having some kind of withdrawal symptoms. All I'm gonna say is that Russian women are one hard lot, they just love to tease and drive you insane, but it turned itself into a challenge of sorts with everyone looking for the secret "pass-key".
Well that was in Moscow, St Petersburg the girls and people in general are much more friendlier and can speck a lot more English which is a god send, seems to make things so much easier not that we found the “pass-key” mind you
Well know one is hassling me to get off the computer, so ill keep on yammering, I don’t keep a journal so this is it right here.

Well since its fresh on the brain and the brain cells haven't yet died off, last night Faithless were in town and of course it was a top night as always, we missed the first hour as we got "stuck" at the hostel drinking vodka but nether the less made it in time to see the stadium absolutely pumping and afterwards after doing a bit of sloothing around the streets we found the only drum and bass club in Russia. Was like a god send from heaven, 3 floors of DnB, was heaven on a stick. My legs had being itching for a stomp since Asia, Thailand and even Russia the hardest it seems to get is Trance and Euro-Pop which is no good to no one.

Well fingers are starting to tire and you lot are probably drooling at the keyboard in boredom, so China and Bangkok are gonna have to take a back seat for now, until I still I see you all.

Will probably talk to you all after Glastonbury festival and might even meet up with a few of you mofos!
No new photos yet, Is quite the mission to get them off my camera and sorting them out, maybe next week LOL

Catch ya guys
Jase :D
________________________________________________________

Check out the pics here >>> http://redmonkey.smugmug.com/Backpacking%20Jaunts/189933

Subject: Hello All :D

Brisbane to Bangkok
April 18th 2005 – May 3rd 2005 (16 days from last email)

Howdy everyone!

Well first off I’m alive and well, my Gulf Air flight didn’t crash and burn into the Indian Ocean like expected!, was actually a really good flight and contrary to what people said they do serve booze, so good times indured :D

Well where to start, where to start. So much has happened in the past couple of weeks I could just go on and on, but I won’t bore the shit out of you all and try and keep it brief, the Internet is very expensive in Thailand (not too mention slow as a snail), you know I could buy five beers for the same price it takes to write this email LOL.

I can't even think back to how Singapore was, so I'll start of with Thailand and work my way back.
Arrived in Phuket which wasn’t so great, was just too touristy, so got out off there quite quick and into a cosy mini van for a 6 hour drive to the east coast where the ferry was awaiting to take us all to Koh Samui. Met up with some Singapore fellas who offered me some of there "goodies", and well lets just was it was a very long and kinda scary night, thought I was on some tropical island with there weird tribal fellas, anyway long story short, no more stuff for me in Thailand and this was BEOFRE the Full Moon Party LOL, managed to fix myself up and climb aboard the Full Moon Ferry.

Found me a nice pad in Koh Phangan with some magical views of the sunset and beach from my bungalow, really nice place to chill out and recover and a fantastic family running the joint.
Now the Full Moon Party, well I can’t really remember much (no surprises there) but after 2-5 buckets I was passed out on the beach for about 3-4 hours and woke up just in time to see the sun rise and dance off my coma to some wicked Psy-Trance. I found out later that the Red Bull over here has some kind of amphetamines which might explain my comatized state, and I spouse the Tequila didn’t help too much with that either LOL

Fast forward a couple of days (recovery + some wicked sun burn) and I'm in the scuba island of Koh Toa.
You are now talking to an ADVANCED deep open water scuba diver!!!!!!, yup scuba Steve himself. Absolutely fantastic reefs and so some pretty nice fish (both eating and looking ). One word of advice for anyone planning on doing a diving course, listen to the instructor about his advice on alcohol and diving and don’t go getting absolutely tanked the night before a dive. Didn’t think it would be that bad surely, a couple of drinks, I’ll be right as rain… well ended up spewing up underwater and couldn’t dive for a day because I was dizzy and disoriented. What seems to happen as you move down the water column and pressure groups, the toxins that you think have all gone get pushed up back into you brain and really fuck you up. That would have to be the longest hangover I've ever had, took me a couple of days to get back on track and finish off my course.

Ohhh yeah Singapore, did a shit load of walking and blistered up my feet really bad, so the only way to sort that out is to get numb which some cool refreshing Tiger Beer. Oh fuck now I remember Singapore....To all those people that warned me about Lady Boys (do I have to say anymore?). Anyways met up with a few people from the UK who have being living in Malaysia for the past year and a couple of us decided to go hit the piss and check out the nightlife, now being a Tuesday/Wednesday night apparently the nightlife ain't that crash hot, all the bars were closed by 11pm and were itching for another beer and what do you know 7 Eleven comes to the rescue, they sell booze, and a quite the selection I must say. Fuck me I’m rambling, you just want to here the lady boy bit right? Well hold your horses I’m getting there ok!

Ok so with freshly cooled beer in hand we set off for some nightlife and we stumble across a Japanese Karaoke Bar (yes there are pics ), all I remember is chugging down two jugs which were kindly donated as we realised that we had no money after they were poured and after pursuing there wide selection of tracks started singing Barbie Girl by Aqua (just admit it, you know the one I’m talking about!)

Heres where things get interesting, the stumble back home. So where walking down the middle of the street with map in full spread trying to find our way back home and not knowing where the fuck we where (turns out we were the other side of town, god knows how we got there), anyways we turn down this street and all of a sudden there where all there girls coming out (well I thought they were girls), she/he/it starts talking to the other guy I’m with in Malay, so I have no fucking idea what they are talking about, the only word that I recognised was "Blow Job" LOL. All I can say is thank god for my Malaysian friend as I would have got myself into all sorts of trouble as I was rearing to go LOL. I have however learnt a valuable lesson, which is go for the tap first or better still, look at the feet
Turns out I spotted ,my first Lady Boy in the day time on the subway in guys clothes except for some pink shoes LOL, he/she/it's feet were kinda small, so I left Singapore kinda confused and relieved LOL

Anyway, I could ramble on for hours on all the crazy shit thats happened, all I can say is that I’m having the best time of my life and that you don’t realise how much of a rut you get into just being back at home and not travelling anywhere, its only being two weeks and two different countries so far, but I’m just gob smacked to realize how much of a world out there needs exploring, I can't wait already for what my travels will bring, bring it on I say!.

Anyways gang, I’m off to find me some cheap accommodation and cool beer

Over and Out
Jase

p.s I've just realized that my contact grouping have fucked up when I imported them into Hotmail, so sorry to anyone who gets this and wonders who the hell this freak is

p.p.s Sorry for any spelling mistakes, I've being awake for 26 hours on a rickety bus and saw a dead body, well that my excuse and I’m sticking too it

p.p.p.s If anyone is interested, my tow nail fell off AGAIN LOL

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Check out the pics here >>> http://redmonkey.smugmug.com/Backpacking%20Jaunts/189933

The view from my bungalow

Scuba Crew!!

Full Moon Party