HarrisH

Ok. So no wonder I've had a few messages of concern for my wellbeing. My carefully typed and outrageously entertaining post about my trip to Vietnam disappeared into cyber space. Still not really getting along with the internet here in Asia! Ok so you guys need a BIG update. Are you sitting comfortably? VIETNAM. was, in a word, brilliant. here are the places I went: - Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon): bustling, modern city filled to the brim with motorbikes whose choreographed chaos left me impressed and terrified in equal measure. Checked out the Cu Chi Tunnels.- scary Had a lesson in eating Pho much to the amusement of the Vietnamese. Caught up with Gin and Iain and their friend Devin. - Ben Tre: courtesy of the parents of Andy - another friend of Gin ... read more

Hi all, Where are my pics? I hear you cry... sorry folk but it seems internet and Asia and me just aren't really working out. It's not me it's them sort of thing. Laos internet was slow to the point of me getting angry. Vietnamese internet is fine but the few computers I've tried to upload pics on haven't worked so far. I will keep trying and endeavour to show you some of the 380 pics I have taken!! SO: End of Laos was spent in the 4000 Islands relaxing at the bottom of the Mekong in Laos, next to the Cambodian border. I was expecting a bit more from this - maybe accommodation which was more than a shed with a mozzie net, or some more decent food, or something. In retrospect I would have ... read more

Ok. Laos internet is driving me crazy. Filmed a sweet greeting for Claire's Hen's this weekend and was told it was going to take 5 hours to upload. I have nearly thrown a few tantrums in the 'Hi Speed' internet cafes... So here is a quick summary to make sure you are all updated :) 1 Crossed border from Thailand over the Mekong River into Huay Xai and got a bus up to Luang Nam Tha. Laos is BEAUTIFUL. full of thick rainforest covered in misty cloud (rainy season) 2 Did another overnight trek, this time going into the rainforest and staying with a really remote riverside village of Khamu people just near Luang Nam Tha. Brilliant Brilliant experience. 3 Headed down to Luang Prabang - UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saw a lot of temples. Swam ... read more

I am alive and safe and well (albeit a few kilos lighter after what shall henceforth be known as "tummygate" I'm in Laos which is a developing country and has an internet connection to match hence lack of blogs and photos. Will keep trying to update but might have to wait til i'm in Vietnam Keep it real folks ... read more

The observant of you will have noticed that I am STILL in Chiang Mai. After a week... unfortunately at some stage in most westerners' travels to the East you end up with Traveller's Tum. In my case, it has become a full on infection so I'm hanging around here until my course of anti-biotics finishes (Monday) just in case they don't work but it's been a nice excuse to do some reading and get pampered (Pedicure for 6 quid anyone? Or how about the AWESOME thai massage I just had for 4?!) So... one of the big pulls for coming up to Chiang Mai is the trekking scene - in the North West of Thailand the scenery is amazing - mountains and jungle all around and it's also a hub for Elephant farms. The standard trek ... read more

I recently read an article in the Metro (reliable source of journalistic excellence) that one sign of having an eating disorder is that you spend most of your day thinking about food and what you are going to eat next. Interesting. Literally as soon as I have finished breakfast I start planning lunch and same for lunch/dinner. Sometimes I plan what I'm going to eat at the weekend just to keep me going through the week. Well, luckily it was the only symptom I had, but those of you who are reading this will know how much I LOVE food and how much I talk about it (Ingeus crew: let's talk about what everyone had for dinner last night?) so part of this trip's main agenda was to get me some cooking skills and try some ... read more

We are in Thailand, so it always starts with a big smile and a display of interest: 'Where are you going? Where are you from? How long are you in Thailand?' and sometimes a compliment 'You have very pale skin" (FYI this IS a compliment here - you buy skin lightening cream in the shops where we would have tanning moisturising cream...) How nice, I hear you say. Those of you who have been to Bangkok know what's coming next... 'My friend he drive taxi - give you good price to see top 5 spots' 'You can't go that way - today is closed' 'Protests today - come with me to factory - today you pay same price as Thai people!' ARGH So my first few days have been overwhelming to say the least - my ... read more

SCARY THINGS ACHIEVED IN THE LAST WEEK: - I quit my job - I moved out of London - I took my first Lariam - I drove in London NECESSARY THINGS FOR MY TRIP DONE: - tickets purchased - visa (only for thailand though... I'm hoping that things I've read are true and I can get the others on arrival at borders...) - backpack purchased - jabs and malaria tablets sorted - travel insurance purchased - necessary bikini preparation (sort of. let's ignore leaving drinks/cakes/junk food) THINGS I STILL NEED TO DO WITH JUST OVER 24HRS TO GO: - pack backpack - book first night's accommodation in bangkok - realise what I'm actually doing... THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT MY COSY LIFE IN LONDON FROM THE LAST 3 YEARS: - working with my friends - living ... read more