Bangkok Day 214 (21st Dec)

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Trip Start May 20, 2009 Previous
Entry Trip End Dec 22, 2009

  Bangkok, TH.40, Thailand
Monday, December 21, 2009

Getting up at 8am, god knows why, I began to get myself ready to check out of good old Merry V. I had a heart attack of near epic proportions as I nearly lost my mp3 player, leaving it in the toilet, forgetting and going back 5 minutes later and it was gone, oh my god! I asked around but no one had seen it, as I walked back to my room someone had it in their hands, what a relief. I hugged them and thanked them several times, what a dope I was, having never forgotten or nearly lost it I almost lost it on the last day, phew.

After this episode I chatted to a nice Australian women who had been travel ling around in South America for 18 months (teaching as well as traveling in Ecuador). We put our stuff in storage and then went over to the road adjacent to Soi Rambuttri, where we sat down enjoying the chilled out atmosphere as Andrew indulged in an Espresso and we both channeled our creative minds into our diaries. The rest of the day we killed by using the Internet, chilling out in Merry V, just enjoying each others company for the last time.

The time came for Andrew to depart, heading to Ko Samui, as we sat outside the travel agency waiting for his bus I gave him a good hug, said a few words, we agreed that everything was said last night and he was on his way, feeling I had to do something fairly dramatic or needed to say something else, I shouted as he walked away: "I love you" then turned away.

It had been an amazing time traveling with Dan, Steve, Hannah, Josh and Andy. But Andrew more than anyone else in the group will leave a lasting impact on me, we had so much in common, born on the same month in the same year for a start, both open-minded and embracing the experience of traveling, both with a similar sense of humour and able to get on with most people. We are so alike ("same same but different", whoops, sorry) yet hearing him be able analyse and talk about things in a different way to me, make me think differently, I loved listening to his take on subjects and especially when he had a different idea to me, because I liked learning from him and allowing myself to think in different ways. It feels like I have known him for years and I know he has still so many more interesting things to say to people (more then even what he mentioned) and he will have a great time traveling. See you in the future Andy. Pai 2009!!!!

As I boarded the plane for England I began to think more about the things I had been discussing with Andrew, how I love Asia, it will always have a place in my heart, the smiley friendly people, the ethos of not losing face, spreading happiness instead of anger and having such a great sense of togetherness with family and neighbours, even having a naive perception of the world (e.g. English people are all gentlemen) is endearing, to look a the world in such a positive light and see everyone in a good way it is intoxicating. Even the hustle and bustle of Asia, the in your face traffic and street sellers, tuk-tuk drivers, con-artists, none of the negatives phased me, It is necessary to have a balance and keep you on your toes, i like the not-so-great parts as it makes you appreciate all the good things even more. The constrasts of Asia are quite obvious, the fast paced city life against the slow-paced residential areas, the people who will openly embrace and help you and expect nothing back and the people who will turn you over to get anything possible. The place has so much to offer, it is like a second home for me and I can't wait to get saving to go again, traveling is who I am, it has made my life greater, I am more motivated, have more ambition and extremely looking forward to the future and now know what I want to do with my life for the next few years.

I am going to miss traveling but am really looking forward to seeing my family and friends, Xmas with everyone, boxing day in Worthing and New years with the boys in Manchester, meeting up with Leigh and Mo in Brighton in the new year and Dan and Hannah and everyone else I met on my journeys.

This blog has been a both tiring, arduous, fun, exciting and extremely worthwhile record of my travels which I can reflect upon at a later date, to help me remember the little details which made the trip. Thank you everyone for taking the time to read about my travels, my thoughts and feelings and the adventures and people I met on the road, I appreciate everyone's support even though people may have got a bit bored towards the end of reading this.

Thank you readers, I hope in some way this inspires you all to go traveling and have equally fun (or hopefully even funner) adventures, it really is one of the great enjoyments in life, it is living you life.

I'm going to stop with these cliches now because I'm going round in circles. Thank you and I hope to have your readership in January 2011 for Round-the-world trip number 2. Much Love, Lee Ivan Horscraft

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