More of Thailand's good times.

Ok, so first, my apologies for the delay in keeping you updated. As you might imagine, when spending six days on the closest thing to paradise this good earth has to offer, hoping on a computer to write down one's thoughts is not the first thing to come to mind. That said, I'm going to make up for it now. Second, it is a 3:22am and I am ridiculously hot, having just come back from a night out and thus unable to sleep.

So, when I last wrote I mentioned we were going to a. head to Kanchanaburi Tiger Sanctuary and b. go to Koh Pan-Ngan. Well, we did one of those and I'm afraid it was the tiger sanctuary that lost out. We took an eight hour bus journey from Bankok's Hua Lamphong station to Chumphon port, before embarking the ferry that took us via Koh Tao to Koh Pan-Ngan. The ferry seemed to take a long time, but I suspect it was largely down to the lack of sleep and the fact that a dutch 'douche' decided to produce a guitar and serenade us with the likes of 'Bad Bad Leroy Brown' and 'Rocky Raccoon', sung to the same chord sequence and chords. Tedious, as you might imagine. Anyway, upon arriving in Koh Pan-Ngan, again dodging the taxi touts and heading towards Ban Thai, where we were reliably informed the Half Moon Party would be taking place, we found ourselves tipped out next to a 7-Eleven at the top of a sandy road that seemed to lead to the beach. This being the direction we wanted to pursue, we wandered down it, trying to look as if we a. knew what the signs for the likes of 'Liberty's' and 'Mac's Bay' were, before eventually stumbling across a One2Dive shop, run by a a behemoth of a Canadian, standing at 6' 5", called Jeff. Who was to become something of a regular feature of life on Koh Pan-Ngan. First, offering to stash our bags, recommending somewhere to stay and inviting us to his BBQ later that evening, we soon became immensely glad we had met him. Anyway, the resort we ended up in was the aforementioned Mac's Bay, run by the affable and invaluable Chaiwat. Who sorted us out with a very nice, four person, air-conditioned room for a more than reasonable sum of money.

Having gorged ourselves on Jeff's cooking that evening, we then headed into the jungle towards the rhythmic sounds of the Half Moon Party, only to find an enormously set-up worth of perhaps Global Gathering or any other decent sized dance festival in the UK. With people already dancing like lunatics (largely the Germans, oddly enough) and generally having a good time. We proceeded to spend the next 6 hours doing much the same, while running into Chris Nash, another Warwick alumnus and generally making friends all round.

The next day, thanks to a rookie error on the boat, did not start well for me. We had all failed to appreciate that sun+water+no suncream= SUNBURN OF DEATH!! Awaking to agonising sunburn is never the most pleasant sensation, but it is worsened by the fact that you really ought to be out enjoying the glorious azure waters and white sands of the beach, not 10 yards away. Regardless, the day had to roll on, so we made for the sandbar some 50 yards out from our beach and proceeded to relax there for a while before returning to shore and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing. The evening brought a night out with a mixed group of English, American and Australian guys and girls who were also staying at the hotel, in Hat Rin at a bar called Cactus, which puts on fireshows, competitions, fire limbo and all manner of other ridiculous games and activities one can partake in, should you desire. As well as pounding music to dance to and copious quantities of alcohol. All in all, a pretty good night was had by everyone. I have to add one, rather surprising note, watching the Manchester Derby in the pub before heading to Cactus bar, even I had to conceed that Wayne Rooney's goal was incredible.

Having been out until the wee small hours of the morning, one might imagine that we were in a rather worse for wear state, which, to be fair, most of us were, but regardless, we got up at 10:30am to go snorkelling at Koh Ma, off the north coast of Koh Pan-Ngan; another, much smaller, island adjoined to Koh Pan-Ngan, by another sandbar, which we cross before heading out into the shallows to snorkel. To say the fish were colourful, would be doing them a huge disservice. This trip was organsied by the super laid back Jeff, who laid on a lunch-time feast and then entertainment in the form of an American football, that we spent some hours throwing around in the shallows of the beach. The evening, again, brought a night out at Cactus bar, although we weren't out quite so late this time. Instead making it home by an early 3:30am.

The following day, we had planned on going to Ao Thong Nai Ban, supposedly the most beautiful beach on the island, in the north east, but owing to general sleep deprivation and the unanimous desire to just relax on the beach, we proceeded to do so. I got a Thai massage on the beach, just to add to the all round relaxed nature of the day and then we spent the rest of the evening at Jeff's dive shop watching stand-up comedy, while sat in hammocks. All in all, not a bad day.

The day after, however, we did make it the Ao Thong Nai Ban and it really was a treat. Even more beautiful white beaches and clear water, both in colour and clear of coral fragments, which made for much a much more enjoyable afternoon. We returned to yet another BBQ at Jeff's, this time gorging ourselves on freshly caught and cooked Red Snapper, before, once again, heading out to Cactus bar, for another night of mayhem and chaos.

Sadly, the following day, saw our return to Bangkok, this time by sleeper train from Surat Thani. So, after a further few hours spend dozing on the boat and bus to Surat Thani station, we boarded the train a little after 7pm and began the 12 hour train journey back to Bangkok. Where you find us now, having spent another, rather more active night out on the town. Attempting a 'ping pong' show, but giving up in revulsion unsurprisingly.

Our flight to Australia leaves in a little over 12 hours time, so I will bid you good night and I promise to try and keep you posted more regularly!

Joe

Thailand, taxis and threes.

So, we arrived, as you might have guessed. The flight was long but by no means the worst flight I've ever taken despite its length. Having arrived, dodged the first wave of locals trying to flog you a 200Baht (4pound) taxi ride for 1100Baht (significantly more) and made our way the public taxi rank we were then driven to our family friend's house in the back streets of Bangkok, while listening to classic country & western tracks such as 'Rhinestone Cowboy' (who knew Glenn Campbell had made it the Orient!). We arrived to find ourselves in a 'proper palatial' (thank you Ollie for summising so precisely) house in a compound, similar to those found in ex-pat areas of third world countries the world over. (We have just been informed today that there is also a swimming pool and basketball court, oh the joy!) We decided discretion was the better part of valour and spent the night chilling out, listening to music and for some, drinking a few beers. All in all, not a bad start to the trip!

Day two, rather inevitably brought both many hours of rather aimless wandering and even more predictably, a wander down the surprisingly short Khao San Road. It is a bustling, noise, chaotic and rather charming road however, with travellers of all descriptions converging together to indulging some shopping, Irish bars, fish foot treatments (which we partook of and I must say it is one of the most peculiar sensations I have ever felt, but I'm sure my feet felt immensely improved afterwards) and sundry other ridiculous tourist traps. Having eaten some food at Mulligan's, thai food all round you'll no doubt be pleased to hear, we then proceeded to try and take in some culture and set out looking for the Victory Monument. This turned out to be a rather boring roundabout with an similarly dull monument on it, which we had actually already seen. By this time, it was getting dark, stomachs were beginning to rumble and tiredness was beginning to creep over us. So, having failed to find a taxi who would take us we ended up getting a tuk-tuk, which is a real experience in any country. Having last ridden a tuk-tuk in India, the experience was actually pretty civilised in comparison, despite cramming all four of us into something not much larger than a small golfbuggy, with Bobby leaning out of the side, tongue wagging like a dog.

Today, thus far has seen us consume breakfast at our usual vulture like pace and decide to take it easy again, perhaps going for a swim and Jon and I have one little chore to take care of, but I wont spoil the surprise for you.

The islands call, so I suspect we'll head down to them tomorrow evening, having visited Kanchanaburi Tiger Temple during the day ideally. Island paradise, here we come!


Joe

Travelling transition and the Manics.

It is curiously appropriate that when I sat down to write this at my computer, as ever, the first thing I did was hit the spacebar to continue whatever was playing on my iTunes before I last left the computer and on this occasion it was The Manic Street Preachers' 'Further Away'. Not wanting to further examine the lyrics, the title itself is satsifying enough as a form of 'omen' or 'signal', call it what you like. It just struck me as appropriate.

Anyway, that time has finally arrived and I am off on my travels tomorrow. In fact, in 24 hours I will, with any luck, be about to board my flight to Bangkok, Thailand. Thailand being the first of our ports of call on our seven month, round the world trip encompassing three continents and at least five countries. So, commencing in Thailand, we then move on to Australia, New Zealand, America and Canada over the ensuing six and a bit (seven is so much easier to say) months. Now, clearly, we have a much more detailed itinerary than that, but I will spare you the intricacies.
Suffice to say, we travel around quite a lot in all of the countries listed above and any recommendations for things to do that are off the beaten path or perhaps missed by all but the most savvy of backpackers would be more than welcome. Certainly from my end of things anyway.
I will be posting photos from our travels and reporting, in some detail on what we get up to and where we go, as and when I can. I have no idea, however, how often I will have access to the internet and so you will have to just wait, patiently! So, having said a last few, not entirely easy goodbyes I will put the travelling to one side for the moment.

Not much to report fashion/style-wise to be honest. I have had one or two other things on my mind. Although popping up to London today did give me and always appreciated opportunity to dress up. Involving a combination of Black Watch colours and a chance to get out the good old full-length umbrella and look the true British gentleman, strolling purposefully around, tapping away, even though it wasn't really raining. One can never be to sure in this climate, you know! Oh, that and I found this delightful blog: www.unabashedlyprep.com, which, as you might imagine, is an American blog that focuses on the Ivy League Style, as sported by the likes of JFK and the myriad other Ivy League Alumni. It is always fascinating to open up another world of fashion and particularly one that is so well known and well entrenched in a society that is so close to ours and yet seems to have had surprisingly little, obvious, impact on us.

Musically, I have been enjoying the Manic Street Preachers recently, largely due to the coverage on the BBC Red Button that I stumbled across the other evening, while bored. Given that 'This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours' was one of the first CDs I ever owned, they have been sorely neglected. Particularly as I appear to have given away or lost the aforementioned album rather foolishly. Nevermind, I am well and truly re-enamoured and enjoying the lyrical highlights and curiously catchy glam-punk(?) and would urge anyone who enjoys the likes of Stereophonics, Ash or, dare I say it, Oasis to check them out or pursue them further if you haven't already. From the Unabashedly Prep blog linked above, I discovered the American band Locksley, whose song 'The Whip, features on this excellent video for Tommy Hilfiger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZDW14VxRXM and if you like bands like The Strokes, or any of the British Invasion bands I advise you to check them out.

For the moment, Joe out, but expect many more colourful and envy-making posts in the not-too-distant future!

Orange trousers, travels and Temper Trap.

Yes, I confess, I bought a pair of orange trousers today. Controversial and just a tad ridiculous I realise. I have, however, been looking for a pair of trousers that range outside the normal blue/black/grey/beige/khaki spectrum. As many colours as that is, they're not the world's most exciting trousers. I was specifically, if somewhat passively, looking for a pair of red trousers, which are something of a sartorial dichotomy. Or so I'm told. I've always thought that, provided one didn't wear them with a blue blazer and call oneself 'The Captain' (thank you How I Met Your Mother for that), they probably were ok. So, when wandering past H&M today in Windsor, what did I spy, but what I thought were a pair of red trousers. It didn't take much for me to not-quite-run into the shop and head straight to the menswear section to find these illusive trousers. Upon picking them up, I discovered, to my (initial) horror that they were orange. Yes, bright orange. Now, having shown them to the guys I was with and had the retorts 'I think they're hideous, but they are very you' and 'Yes, they are very you' any sane person might decide against it. I appear not to have listened to my sanity and went ahead and bought them. Here they are:

Now, there is a certain logic to my buying them, twisted though it may be. 1. I wanted, as I said before, a pair of trousers of more interesting colour and 2. I'm going away for six and a bit months to hot countries where bright colours are very much de rigeur, in contrast to grey, rainy Britain (much as I love it, it's not the most interesting palate of colours) where such things are greeted with disdain and disbelief. So, there is, as I said, a logic to it, after a fashion...

I have also just read this article on the Telegraph website: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8296752/Meet-Bill-Cunningham-the-original-street-style-photographer.html which shines a light on a man I had heard of, vaguely, but really knew nothing about. So, sartorialites, street style photography goes way, way back beyond him. Albeit in a rather less well known and rather less well publicised guise. It sounds like a fascinating documentary and I will be sure to catch it when possible.

Musically, I have been on a bit of a Guns 'N' Roses kick recently, listening to most of Appetite for Destruction and both the Use Your Illusion albums on my journey back from London today. If you either don't know or like Guns 'N' Roses, then more fool you. There's a reason that Appetite for Destruction has gone platinum 18 times. Not to mention VH1 naming Welcome to the Jungle the greatest rock song ever. Also, I want to bring to your attention the Temper Trap's album 'Conditions'. While you may not know the name of the band or indeed the name of the album, you will certainly know their first single from it; Sweet Disposition. Used on a multitude of adverts and trailers, it is an instantly recognisable song that has permeated the subconscious of the public, whether they know it or not. Go on, listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxKjOOR9sPU and tell me you don't know it. My point, however, is that the rest of the album is of a similar calibre and definitely merits further listening. The instrumental Drum Song is brilliant, while the song Science of Fear, pops into my head, unwarranted, at regular intervals. In other words, get it!

Now to the subject of the impending transformation of this blog and my impending departure. This Sunday I leave on the aforementioned 6 and a bit months' travels. So, expect lots of photos of sickeningly white beaches, sunny skies, beautiful sunsets and me and my friends making general tits of ourselves while on the other side of the world. Naturally I will endeavour to keep you posted on anything that I find of stylistic/musical interest, but rather predictably my travels will be my main focus. I'm sure you wont begrudge me that.

Two summers on the trot... It's going to be incredible!

Joe