Travelling the world armed only with a laptop!
Welcome to my website. My intention is to spend the rest of my life travelling the world, visiting as many coountries as possible, whilst working at the same time. You could call me a digital nomad. This blog outlines the things I get up to, and all of the things I learn along the way. Hopefully you may find some of it useful. Failing that, just a good read! Enjoy!
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
I love trains, for some reason I get excited going on them. I think it was the rarity which I got the train when I was young, and that it was something of a treat and we knew we were going somewhere. The train from Hue to Hanoi was no exception!
Posted in Travelling tales
Hoi An, the tailor capital of South East Asia. You get there, with no intention of buying any tailored goods and I’ll bet you 20 bucks you’ll leave with at least one item of clothing! It’s too easy to!
Tailors aside, Hoi An is simply beautiful, another place with a strong french influence with dilapidated buildings that would make a HDR photographers dream. The river at night is simply stunning with lanterns adorning all of the trees and boats docked at the rivers serving as bars. But, there’s one thing that beats them all…
Posted in Travelling tales
Time for Nha Trang, the well renowned party capital of Vietnam. Well known for it’s beach parties, Russian influence (some places are fully Russian, so keep an eye out for that) and theme park I was fully looking forward to it!
Posted in Travelling tales
The bus ride from Mui Ne to Dalat sets you up perfectly. Driving mountain roads with views across sheer green valleys into a more temperate climate which awaits you in the peaceful yet tourist driven town of Dalat. Dalat doesn’t necessarily cater to your average backpacker though. This place is for loved up Vietnamese people looking to whisk away their significant other for a weekend of romance or whatever they fancy getting up to. With wedding shops at almost every turn it’s like they’re trying to force an ideal on the local lovers, whilst making a fast buck. These vietnamese people never miss a trick!
Posted in Travelling tales
From Ho Chi Minh the next logical place on the trail for the traveller who is trying to suck up as much of Vietnam as is humanly possible in the space of a month is Mui Ne. Located on the China sea Mui Ne is a windy, Russian ovverun slice of paradise. Perfect for kitesurfing hence the winds and with a fishing village full of circular bowl boats and reports of some amazing sand dunes I was sold and ready to bed in for a few nights.
Posted in Travelling tales
So, after almost four months on the road it’s time to enter my fourth country, Vietnam! The stories you hear on the road about Vietnam vary in their praise and disdain for the country. From amazing food and scenery to people who are less than accommodating it really is one of those places where you find out for yourself. After a while listening to people on the road becomes tedious as inevitably you have to make up your own mind. I dare say if everyone listened to me moaning and acted on it they’d be in trouble! First stop on the bus, Ho Chi Minh!
Posted in Travelling tales
Sihanoukville, the name alone rattles around the Indochina loop, infamous for its crazy partying, utter debauchery and it’s lawless nature. I couldn’t wait! I got into Sihanoukville on one of the luxury Ibis buses, the prices for all buses had gone up to 10 dollars although for some reason Ibis held their price at 10 dollars also, meaning I could get a slab of luxury for the same price. Free wifi on the bus (I still can’t work out how it works) and films that are actually watchable instead of the usual Cambodian Karaoke rattling through your ears (it’s times like that when I’m greatful for spending 7000 baht on some Sennheisers all those weeks ago).
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
After some time travelling I feel like I’ve turned into the typical weary traveller. I was feeling burnt out, run down and tired from all the constant socialising and partying; not to mention feeling as rough as could possibly be expected from drinking every day to excess and smoking way too many cigarettes. Add to this the constant eating in restaurants and lack of exercise and I was feeling less than 100%.
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
After arriving in Siem Reap from a pretty hellish bus my first impressions weren’t great. Pushy tuk tuk drivers and a city which looked so much like many other asian cities I’d been to. Jaded traveller or what? A few days in I’d find out how wrong I was, and how party hostels are sometimes a little bit too much to handle!
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
The journey from Don Det to Siem Reap is nothing short of a hellish bus ride. First off, you’ll need to get your ticket, this is available from any restaurant/exchange/mini mart on Don Det and should cost you around $35. When you get your ticket make sure to find out if it’s a VIP bus. If not, don’t take it, as that’s the mistake that I made when buying my ticket.
Posted in Travelling tales
After a lengthy bus trip from Vientiane to the port which serves the 4,000 Islands on the sleeper bus I awoke bleary eyed with a slight Diazepam hangover, a commonality for any traveller who wishes to be able to sleep on a night bus.
Posted in Travelling tales
Vientiane is the most boring Capital city in the entire world. Fact. It’s pretty rare that I give such a damning opinion to a capital city but it’s been uttered on the lips of many a traveller before me and I can only expect many travellers after me.
Posted in Travelling tales
Vang Vieng, the first thing that springs to mind when journeying through the mountain rides between Luang Prabang and this seemingly sleepy town is tubing. Vang vieng was a place that, at one point had almost a ratio of 10 tourists to every local. With tubing being essentially stopped in the sense that it used to be (think crazy parties on a part of the Mekong littered with bars, ziplines and masssive slides) there was talk of this place now being boring. Oh dear god no. I arrived in Vang Vieng to a chorus of rain which persisted for 2 days. This wasn’t a problem at all because every single bar in Vang Vieng seems to be showing either Friends, Family Guy or South Park. I have no idea why they choose to do this but it’s an easy way to waste a day so it wasn’t a problem for me!
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
In my effort to be more efficient I’m going to do a town by town blog post, hopefully that will make them a bit more succinct as a by product!
I really enjoyed Louang Prabang, for a town so small in size which is so humble in it’s offerings; a night market like most Asian towns and 11.30pm closing times it’s easy to think that you won’t be charmed by the place. I loved it!
Posted in Travelling tips
The slow boat down the Mekong from Houay Xai to Louang Prabang is one of those legendary journeys which get uttered from the lips of many a traveller around the north of Thailand so I had to indulge. The trip is a 2 day affair which takes you steadily down the jagged edged meanders of the Mekong river with a stop off in a quaint little town called Pakbeng which seems to only exist due to tourism.
Posted in Travelling tips
Having finished travelling around Thailand many people find themselves in Chiang Mai. Some people will go on to Chiang Rai but I decided to spend a few more days relaxing before I made my departure for the Laos border.
Posted in Travelling tales
Another late post! It’s so easy to get behind with these things it’s crazy, you’d expect all the free time you get when you’re travelling would mean the posts would come thick and fast but it’s sometimes more enjoyable speaking to new friends or just watching a film.
Posted in Travelling tales
I’d almost forgot to write a post about Pai in the usual whirlwind of travelling so I’ve taken some time out to devote to writing about the lovely Pai.
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
The last 2 days could be described in many ways. Probably the main way to explain it was eye opening! We met up with Hans, a Thai Buddhist Monk through the luck of a German friend I’d made in Chiang Mai around a week ago. The second we met him and spoke to him I realised my preconceptions of monks were way off the mark.
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
I love downhill mountain biking. When I was back at home I used to ride as much as time allowed and my wallet could stomach. Living in the centre of England has it’s drawbacks when you want to do a mountain based adrenaline sport! Even though there are some really good spots like Swinley Forest (also known as the Look Out) in Bracknell and Aston Hill in Wendover it can be difficult to get some prolonged runs in which really test you.
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
After my first night in Chiang Mai I was in the mood for adventure. Chiang Mai is a lovely place but seems somewhat soulless to me, as one girl I met put it “it’s all just concrete everywhere”. Cue meeting with Rob, a dutch guy and Christian the German. We were all on the same page as far as adventure went and the plan to ride to Pai was formulated over beers as always!
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
My stay in Kanchanburi was always going to be a short one. With my visa rapidly running out (where does the time go?) I had a maximum of one full day to see as much as was physically possible. I decided that Kanchanburi was going to be a solo affair for me, as much as I love company, I can achieve more of what I want when I’m alone. I’m stubborn like that.
Posted in Travelling tales
It’s been a while since I last wrote an update on what I’m actually doing so here goes, there’s a lot to remember! I think I need to find time to write blog posts more often.
Posted in Travelling tips
6 weeks into my travelling experiences I feel like a seasoned traveller. Although this may or may not be the case, especially as I’ve only spent 6 weeks in Thailand I’ve come to learn (or perhaps unlearn) certain things. I’ll try and break these down for you.
Posted in Travelling tips
As a contact lens wearer and someone who is currently suffering from their second eye infection in the space of a month due to some poor eye care practice I thought it was a good idea to write this post so other people who are travelling South East Asia don’t suffer the same afflictions as me! When you’re on the road it can sometimes be really difficult to maintain good eye care, hell sometimes it’s even difficult to keep your hands clean! Here’s a few things I’ve learnt the hard way.
Posted in Travelling tales, Travelling tips
For the last week I’ve partaken in a Muay Thai training camp. It was originally an idea of a friend of mine from back home and it sounded like a great idea. Picture the usual traveller scene; partying every night of the week, drinking so many Chang’s it’s a wonder how the brewery keeps up with the demand of the average traveller who finds a reason to celebrate something every day. Maybe someone new turns up at the hostel, let’s go for a beer! A group of new friends all go their separate ways, leaving party! Or a really good day was had seeing some mindblowing sights, definitely worth a beer to celebrate the days new experiences and to mull over the great things which were seen or done.
Posted in Travelling tips
One month on into my backpacking around Thailand and I think I’m pretty savvy with what you do and don’t need to make it through the land of smiles spending the minimum amount of money before you leave and during your stay in Thailand. There are a lot of blogs which tell you your packing list for travelling and what you need when you travel Thailand, which I took as gospel when I first left, but have come to realise that many of these are overinflated and expensive versions of the truth when living on a backpackers budget.
Posted in Travelling tales
It’s been a while since my last post so I thought best to force myself to stop having outrageous fun for an hour and sit down and write this post.
A day after I wrote my post I decided to leave Krabi, I had an awesome time there but after spending your days constantly in peoples company and meeting so many new people that it was impossible to keep up with who they were I felt a bit burned out. Roll on Koh Lanta. I’ve never spent more time horizontal in my life. There was a day in Koh Tao where I successfully done a big load of fuck all for about 12 hours. Koh Lanta raised the bar to a solid 14 of lazing in a hammock on my own watching the world go by. The place is seriously chilled! It was a welcome break to have some time on my own to gather my thoughts and process the extreme about of stimuli that I’m receiving at the moment.
Posted in Travelling tips
If you want to see as much of Thailand as possible eventually you will have to hire a scooter. Scooter travel in Thailand can be fun and carefree as long as you’re aware of some little tips and tricks which ensure your life is as easy as possible and that you don’t end up getting ripped off or having an accident.
Posted in Travelling tales
After my last post I done a few more days in Koh Tao, the chilled out vibe made it difficult for me to not be too lazy to pack up my stuff and head to a new destination. I’m ready to admit defeat with the size of the bag I’ve got. Everything ‘just about’ packs away ok, but it’s becoming a bit of a pain having to force things in to get it closed. Added to that I need some new shorts, I destroyed one pair at the full moon on new years; I forget how… damn those tasty buckets!
Posted in Travelling tales
Island life in Thailand is awesome. After the long 8 hour bus journey from Bangkok, which for some reason left 3 hours earlier than it was supposed to I arrived in Chumpon at around 3am. The second I got to the port I was amazed at the view of paradise which smacks you in the face as you step off the coach, albeit hungover from a few farewell drinks in Bangkok to aid the sleeping on the bus (I haven’t got into sampling the local valium just yet, but it’s only a matter of time for journeys like that). I couldn’t even see much as it was so dark, just the sandy beaches and palm trees was enough for me to get excited at that point.
Posted in Travelling tales
So, my time in Bangkok is just about to come to an end as I’m sat in a bar sipping a mid day beer writing this blog post. For those who have never been to Bangkok, let me tell you, this place is absolutely mental. The things I’m getting up to possibly even more so. I’ve been scammed, had the worst hangovers of my life, got into so many scrapes it’s untrue, and it’s only been 2 days!!
Posted in Travelling tales
So I’m currently sat at my mum’s house waiting for the time to come before I head off into the big wide world and experience every single form of culture shock imaginable!
Before I head off I thought I’d share my packing list, as a few people think I’m mad for the small amount I’m taking! The reasoning behind it as that basically I don’t feel like I even need to take much, all I need is a few electronic bits and enough clothes to last a few days – all of these places have running water (I presume).