Old Man Take a Look at My Life To continue my journey north up to Broom, I could have tried to catch a lift from Coral Bay, but I didn’t fancy my chances, so instead I did the lazy thing and hopped on the Easyriders tour bus; It's benefits meant I wasn't waiting around, I was with fellow backpackers and I got to see the remote Karijini National Park in the Pilbara Desert - 600,000 square kilometres large! I also knew that there was approximately a 50 percent chance that the group would be great or rubbish. So, how’d the gamble go? Meet the Easyriderz crew Twats is a bit harsh it was just a shit assortment of people - eleven in all. I found myself to be the oldest person there; and when you have ... read more

So I’ve arrived in the country they call Australia - a name derived from the ancient Greek cartographer, Ptolemy (AD 90 - c. 168) who called this part of the world Terra Australis or “Southern Land”. It's also called the "Lucky Country", a phrase used ironically by its original author as an indictment of 1960s Australia but subsequently used as a term of endearment ever since. I’m sure there are some of you who have been waiting in eager anticipation for this one…you know who you are. As for other people reading this, in particular the anonymous - I'm not travelling to Australia to confirm your nationalisms about a land that you universally call "awesome', I aim to be opinionated and truthful with my impressions of what I see and experience. If you disagree with my ... read more

What I'm reading: V.S. Naipaul, Among The Believers: An Islamic Journey ...where was I?...I left off the last blog crashing cross the Celebes Sea on a thin piece of boat, gripping tight to the side of, thinking will I survive? I made a quick glance back and the little brown man was standing upright holding the engine motor arm - totally in control. He looked as if he had done this trip thousands of times already, a boring commuter journey for him. I had to walk to the ATM machine in town to pay the man, I told him I'd be back. I then got to the dusty town and a fifteen minute walk to the ATM where I had to withdraw the money for the boatman. As I stepped out of the booth, a man ... read more

Reflections on time spent away So, 9th July, and I’ve been travelling five months exactly; what can I say about this milestone other than I’ve definitely grown into it? Checking in to a new room, packing, unpacking, repacking has developed into a natural rhythm. Seeing new things, meeting strangers, making friends of strangers, shy aloofness has turned into open friendliness and the heat I’m utterly used to now. I could do this travel out of bag lark for a long time I think and I’m thinking of other travel destinations already - Africa, India, more of Burma perhaps? I never thought I’d think it (seems too bleedin’ obvious for a start) but the 9-5 job, house, Fridays evenings down the pub - there is an alternative to that. Don’t worry - I have no desire to ... read more

So I’m leaving Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) today to catch a flight from Singapore to Kot Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo. I thought I’d take the chance to write up my experience of Malaysia whilst on the bus to Singapore for the flight over. Penang Whilst at Bangkok I persuaded AJ that we should go to Penang, a UNESCO World Heritage site, famed for its historical and diverse architecture as well as its unique ethnic makeup. The train journey down to Penang would have taken 24 hours so we decided on direct flight with Air Asia from Bangkok. The engine stopped working on the tarmac of course and the lid was opened up. One passenger got up and left the plane and we all wondered as we took off again if we’d live. Immediately upon landing Malaysia was ... read more