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Published: October 18th 2006
It's now over fifteen months since I made initial enquiries to my employers about the possibilities of all this actually happening, a request brought on by an ever increasing decline into middle age and now, lots of musings, deliberations, decisions and sleepless nights later I finally consider myself to be in the home straight to departure. Don't get me wrong, there is still a hell of a lot to sort out and, Matt being Matt, it'll probably be injury time when those things are finally sorted but the essentials are in place and it's finally beginning to dawn on me that I'm actually going.
Even now, a month before departure , I find I have already learnt things about myself. The first and most valuable lesson being that I made a correct call when I decided I didn't want offspring. Necessary arrangements over my house allied to the kindness of his parents means that I have spent the last three months in the close proximity of Mr Joseph Astbury, aged twenty months, and while at times he has been an absolute joy to be with I have realised that shitty nappies and the 24/7 attention that goes with parenting is not for me.
The planned route, for those of you that don't know, will be to start with a month in South East Asia taking in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, followed by a month in Australia travelling the length of the East Coast courtesy of my East Coast Discovery Rail card and culminating in achieving a lifetime goal of seeing the Ashes contested on Aussie soil. A couple of weeks in New Zealand follows and then three and a half months in South America (Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil) before flying home from the City that gave me the inspiration to make this journey in the first place, Rio De Janeiro. At least that's the plan. The only certainties are the dates of my seven flights and even they are interchangeable free of charge so who knows.
Some of those places listed I've visited before but of those that are new to me I'd say that Chile is the one I have pondered about the most and the one that I am most looking forward to visiting. I don't know why, it has never before been somewhere I've longed to visit, it's just that it holds that little bit of intrigue as to what to actually expect when I'm there.
Accommodation on my travels will mostly take the form of hostels, economy priced bunk beds in multiple occupancy dorms. Not everyone's cup of tea, mine included if I'm honest, but essential to ensure the overall cost of this expedition does not become too excessive. Even Marco Polo worked to a budget. Besides, hostel dwelling has an undoubted advantage to solo travellers. Being couped up in hotel rooms night after night offer's no opportunity for social interactivity with other travellers whereas, from my limited experiences, hostel life is the exact opposite. Wherelse, other than prison, the armed forces or on public transport, can you wake to witness a complete stranger dribbling, snoring or farting unashamedly and not see them feeling mightily embarrassed once the details have become public !.
Methods of travel, other than the seven main flights that I've already purchased, will again vary from country to country, continent to continent and again be dependant on several factors; price, availability and time to name but three and it is not until the journey begins that these methods will become known even to myself.
People's reactions to this trip have been very interesting but have always taken one of two basic route's. Either the, "I couldn't do that on my own"/"You must be mad" opinion through to the more optimistic "You'll have the time of your life"/"You'll never come back" view. One thing of which I am certain of is that I will be back, on the 3rd May 2007 to be precise, and that other than that there will not be too many surefire things happening in Matt's world in the next seven months. The only thing that is for sure is that it'll be interesting.
Finally, a little request from me. I have said many times when people have asked me who is accompanying me that I actually want to go alone, that I don't want to travel with anyone else and that I don't want people to come out to see me (other than my little mum Margy who is planning a visit to Brazil). This may seem like I am being ungrateful for people's friendship but couldn't be further from truth. Although I am undertaking this trip alone, believe it or not, it is by choice but that is not to say that I want to cut myself off completely from everything and everyone that is special to me nor that there won't be times of deep loneliness. If you've taken time out to read any of the blogs that are posted on this site then please feel free to leave me a message, abusive or otherwise. They'll be very much appreciated.
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waymo
non-member comment
Cheerio
Asta luego old boy.