Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, China, HK!!!!!!!!
Trip Start
Aug 18, 2006
1
23
Trip End
Ongoing
Bangkok, Thailand
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Its been a long 3 and a bit months since i have posted an update about my travels, and as sure as I am that you cant wait to spend 45 minutes reading a load of cod shite, i will most definitely keep this brief in the written part but ill post a heap of photos to make up for the lack of description for you to check out in your leisure.
But first of all, how is everyone??To my old friends and my newly acquired friends i can honestly say i miss you all and would be rather having a chat with you right now than sit here on this computer on another stinkin' hot Bangkok day.
China
So ill re-cap. Last time i wrote back in December i had just left Vietnam and arrived in China. what can i say about China, it was no doubt incredible. I spent a month there, and at first i thought it would be too long, but by the final couple of weeks i knew i wanted more time. The first thing I noticed about China coming across from South East Asia was the cold, but more interestingly i noticed the money that is flowing through China. Sure there are huge numbers of poor and people on the brink of starvation, but there seems to be a preocupation with dressing up their cities to look like the most modern places in the world. in a way it was little disappointing as some of the acient charm i expected to see everywhere was not there. but there were still pockets of acient china, and actually china had everything. i really loved. it. I would have to say my highlights of my time in China were the street foods, the train rides, the great wall (but not the minus 8 degree temperatures), the ancient cities, beijing and shanghai, the people and their strange and sometimes disgusting habbits and the other travellers i met, despite the fact that there were almost no backpackers around at that time of year. there a lot of things that are not so pleasant about travelling around China but overall, the good things far outweigh the bad.
Hong Kong
Although technically part of China, Hong Kong seems to be a world away. It is Modern, convenient, flashy, westernised, the english language is understood reasonably well and the people have manners (something you dont see on the mainland). Being in HK i had the chance to meet up with my friend, Christina, who now lives in HK. Thanks for the fun times darling, i put a big dent in my wallet but partied like never before, what a ball.
So aside from the partying, I took in a few of the sites and sounds HK has to offer. I was in HK until christmas day, the place was alive and packed and the streets were decorated beautifully. surely a city to visit again, with a bit more money to spend too.
Philippines
Christmas day 2006, 7.00am. well i had only gone to sleep an hour earlier but up i was to get a ferry toMacau and then a flight to Manila, Philippines. what a shite day.all in all about 15 hours of boats, busses, taxis and planes. the day did end on a good note however and was the first opportunity i had to experience the amazing hospitality of the Filipino people. Hospitality which I think is unmatched any where else i have been in the world. I started talking to a guy on the bus from the airport to Manila, within an hour i had met 20 of his family members (that wasnt even 1/8 of his family who lived in the surrounding streets), been fed and myself ans two other Filipino girls from the bus had been offered a bed for the night. The family was very poor and lived in one of the poorest areas of Manila, however they treated melike family over the next 5 days while i stayed there i had the chance to experience the way some real filipinos lived. The house had no running water or flashy amenities, but i was always comfortable and looked after incredibly. A truely great experience i wont forget.
It was timeto leave Manila and head for some beach islands as new years was approaching. I found myself in sex tourist capital of Philippines, Puerto Galera. Luckily i met two more great people, Rob and Alan, because if it wasn't for them i would have been a poor little white boy in a playground for the over 50's who like teenage girls. Thanks guys for a great few days and an unforgetable new years eve where it seemed one poor bastard shouted the whole bar all night, i dont think i bought a single drink all night. And to rob and alan thanks for shouting the sausages, shite that sounds sexual and it was not meant to.
Next i was headed for the island paradise of Boracay, perhaps it really is the most beautiful beach in the world (check the pictures!!!). I spent nearly two weeks here with some great people; namely Fat burrger and Shazzy, Kat, Ruth and Raab plus some other beautiful ladies and cool dudes. what a place, what a time. enough said, cant wait to go back.
Malaysia
After being away from mainland South East Asia for 2 months i couldnt wait to get back. So it was straight to KL. Id visited here before so really visit was all about eating Indian food. loved it. But of course i met some fantastic people and none more cool than bus buddie Rey (sorry we didnt get to catch up again but im sure there will be a next time) and amature, about to turn professional photographer, Azli. Azli, thanks for taking a day of work and taking me around parts of Malaysia i had never seen before. And thanks for the place to stay. Together we visited the old Malaysian town of Melaka and the capital Putrajaya. Do check out Azli's work on his website, he was even nice enough to post a picture he took of me and dedicate anotherone to me. http://www.flickr.com/photos/azlijamil01/366868285/ , http://www.flickr.com/photos/azlijamil01/362409259/
It was next onto Lang Kawi in the north of the country for some tax free beer, beach and sand. The town was quite disappointing and just intensified my desire to get back to thailand as soon as possible, but on the whole i had an enjoyable few days sitting on the beach, chillin at night, visiting the coolest toilet in the world and going on one really cool boat trip around the isalnds. But as one always will, i met some more fantastic people. Ok Danny i guess you were the coolest you twat. Iv been travelling with Danny for the last month and a bit and we have been having a ball (more about that soon).
Thailand
aaah how sweet it was and is to be back. Its been a busy last month and a bit but ill break it down quickly for you. On the advice of an Irish lady who sleeps with her mouth open, we headed to Koh Lanta, it was alright but not really the vibe we were looking for at that point in time. So we soon headed for Phuket, i personally hate this place but Danny wanted to check it out. We did have a fun few days and a couple of big nights where we were rudely awoken on the beach by staff trying to set up for the mornings breakfast, but we were soon ready to leave. On it was to Koh Samui, this place is fun and once again had some crackin nights meeting the Wallys (a bunch of young Kiwi lads) and other people. but again it was just a warm up for the week of party leading up to the full moon party on Koh Pha Ngan. Id been here several times before and in many ways it was disappointing to see all the negative changes which have taken place over the years, but we still managed to have a week of pure fun and shenanigans and also got the chance to meet up with old mates from home, Jamie, Jaq and Dylan, whom i had been at Koh Pha Ngan with 4 years earlier.
next it was back to the ol' Kok, Bangkok. Iv been here for nearly a month now. I have rented ana apartment and have just spent my time catching up with friends, re-catching up with people i met on the islands, visiting places around Bangkok and just having a jolly good time Bangkok style.
So in a nut shell thats been the past 3 months, its been an absolute blast and have loved nrealy every minute of it. So check the pics if you have time, there should be some good ones there.
So whats my plan next??? Well my darling and one of my very closest friends Jen (Jigga Boo) is coming to visit me this friday. We will stay in bangkok for a couple of weeks and then head to India (mid-March).I cant wait to see you Jig, am well farkin excited! Soon after Jen leaves, ill be flying to London to begin my life there. look forward to seeing those of you in Europe.
I do miss everyone very much, and im not just saying that. As much as I have been having a great time, i still miss my friends and family and cant wait to see you wherever you may be in the world. To my Melbourne friends, I expect to be home in October for a short stint, cant wait till then. I miss you and Melbourne!
Finally I want to congratulate my oldest buddy Gareth on his engagement to his lovely Fiance Beth, im so happy for the both of you.
Ok keep it fresher than a box of pringles in a fridge (i wont bother explaining).
Peace
Liam
Comments
Enter Title Here
love you pal, wish i was there with ya!
Hey there Partner!
Yo Dude!
Sounds like you have been having a blast around and about whilst me and the girls have been having a wicked time in your home country. I even managed to catch a couple of matches of cricket were we actually beat you, so i reckon we may almost be even??
Love Melbourne and been to a lot of the recommendations you suggested - so cheers had some top nights! Great Xmas and NYE on the harbour in Sydney and East coast has been amasing. Just got to Adeliade after 5 days in the Outback and flying to PErth Thursday before heading back to your home city for Paddys day.
Im getting back in May and the girls in June so give us a shout and ill show you the North of England's party scene (especially if you plan to come to Preston anyways!) So many stories to tell you, but wont bore you to much. Good luck with the rest of the trip!
Love Spence (Amy) xx
PS: flags communist style is defo a lot of fun! x
Fosheessee the chineessee
Great reading about ur travels around the world, my friend. thought you'd been beheaded in some refugee camp or sold off for parts and left in an icy bathtub.
I'll be booking a trip to thailand for sept/oct, really looking forward to 'the Kok'! Stay well and i'll pass on the travellog to the appropriate bro's and ho's. lots o luv the 2iczee