10 Reasons to Travel in your 20s

Travelling; Pros v Cons.

Those lists- I've made 'em!

Having now travelled far and wide myself during my twenties, there were times I wasn't sure I was making the right decisions or felt I was missing out on too much back home. 
And you can weigh up these pros and cons all you want, but at the end of the day, if you really want to do something or go somewhere, make like Nike and JUST DO IT!!

Here are some of the reasons to add to your Pro list...



1) There's no time like the present
Ask yourself is there anything holding you back? Job? Partner? Kids? Chances are in your 20's you're still trying to figure out what you want or "finding yourself". Why not go find yourself on a beach in Bali or swinging on a zipline on the Philippines? 


2) You'll regret it if you don't
I'm not one to live my life by regrets, so when an opportunity presents itself to explore even a little bit more of the World, I'll take it! Screw the staff meetings or your dad's birthday- there will always be more of those to come. 
Experiences matter. Never miss out on the chance to have an adventure!


3) Money doesn't really matter
Travelling on a budget IS possible. Skip the 3-star-hotels for £3-a-night shared dorm in a decent hostel. You meet the best people and save those extra dolla's for activities!


4) You'll make friends for life
This one is especially true for me. Chances are, you're going to meet like-minded people who share your passion for globetrotting and exploring new cultures. 

5) You will experience personal growth
Learning from new cultures and the people you meet while travelling may teach you a lot that you didn't know about yourself. 


6) Work will always be there when (or if) you come back
Even if you have to leave your current job to go travelling, work will come by again when you're ready, trust me. We have all of our lives to work, but take advantage of your twenties to explore the World.


7) Think of the stories you can tell
As a child I was always asking my grandparents to tell me stories of their past, and having grown up during the War, majority of them were so varied and interesting. Although, when it came to my Parents or Aunts/Uncles, their stories seemed to revolve around work, buying homes, getting married and having babies. Which, most of my friendship group are going through right now and as much as that's so exciting for them, I want to be able to recount my global adventures to my children and grandchildren... with some censorship!

8) You'll experience new cultures, religion and food
I always find each of these so interesting and intriguing. 
Swap St Paddy's day for Yi Peng or a Burn's Supper for Vietnamese Pho. 
Tell yourself to try at least one new dish or experience a religious ceremony or building in each place you go. Take your senses on an adventure as well as yourself. 


9) Taking time out to discover what you do and don't want
This may be harder for some people than others, but often taking time out of everyday life can help us to understand the things we absolutely do and do not want in life, from the personalities of people we meet, to countries we visit or even the accommodation we stay in. 


10) JUST GO!
Chances are, if you're making a list in the first place, then you really want to go.
There's never going to be a "perfect" time, whether you're saving for a mortgage or just started a new job or relationship. 
Take a step back, breathe and trust that everything will fall into place. 

Stace x

Hangin' in Hanoi

We arrived in downtown Hanoi a few days ago around 10pm, to our hostel/nightclub, the Downtown Backpackers. 

Let me set the scene...

Overtired, hungover and fresh off a plane, our uber dropped us off at the building where people were spilling out into the street, drinking, dancing with the music BLARING into the night (basically, we heard it before we seen it).

Roisin and I looked at each other silently, thinking the same thing and hoping this was the wrong address, but alas, it was not.

We checked in and navigated our way through the bustling crowd with our huge backpacks and airplane pillows still nestled comfortably around our necks, praying that we would fall asleep as soon as we lay our heads down. Fortunately, and surprisingly we managed to sleep as, on the 7th floor, not a sound from downstairs was heard, not even the bassline of the music that somehow creeps into a locked dorm in a party hostel.

The other girls in our x8 bed room informed us that the music stops at 12 anyway, out of respect for the neighbourhood, and the hostel takes all party goers on a nearby pub crawl, which we partook in the following night, obv...

The Hostel is great for organising walking tours and day trips and the free breakfast is always a plus! 

The walking tour departs from the hostel every morning from 10am and is led by a local. Our group had to stick really close together, as the traffic in Hanoi is, (for lack of a batter phrase) like Fast & The Furious on crack! The mount of motorbikes on the road at once driven by everyone and their Granny is INSANE!!

Horns beeping every second, crossing the road is like a game of chicken so I fear for my life everytime we turn a corner or change direction. Some are even on the pavements so it's kinda like, where are the pedestrians meant to go?!?

Roisin even collided head on with one on the tour which was kinda the funniest and scariest thing ever rolled into one, but the driver just said a casual "Sorry", and rolled on out like it was a natural occurrence. 

We visited Hanoi's oldest Temple and our guide advised us never to walk through the main entrance of a Temple, as this is reserved for Royalty and Monks. It's always interesting to hear little tit-bits and advice from locals to gain a better understanding of the place and culture.

Next we visited the Markets where there were tailors displaying an array of brightly coloured fabric and material, fishmongers selling live crab and turtles and butchers still plucking chickens for all to see. Poor little chicky's :(

We had the opportunity to sample a free egg coffee from a local cafe, which to my surprise, I really enjoyed! Even though egg coffee comes iced, I would recommend it being served warm. Much yummier! Another opportunity we stumbled across was attempting to carry a local street vendors' double ended pineapple baskets! Those things are HEAVY! 

Hanoi people also wear pollution masks about 99% of the time, due to the gasoline and smoke in the air from the many motorbikes on the road. Now having experienced the City, I can understand why, as I feel myself developing a small cough from being outside majority of our time here. 

Our tour guide also recommended we visit Hoa Lo Prison and the Women's Museum while we were here, which both cost 30,000VND entry (roughly £1). 

Hoa Lo Prison was a prison used by French Colonists in Vietnam for politcal prisoners then later by North Vietnam for US Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War. It's a very harrowing place and we came out wanting to do more research on the Vietnam War ourselves after learning so much that had happened through the museum inside. I'm slightly ashamed to say I didn't really know much about it before we visited, but I definitely do now. 

The Women's Museum was an interesting visit too. 

We learned a lot from Women's rights in Vietnam, to marriage traditions, folklore, dress and religion. 

We're excited to tie up our adventure in Hanoi and finally book a getaway to Ha Long Bay to celebrate our friend, Katja arriving from Norway to join us on our Asian Adventure for the next 2 months! There are loads of travel agents to choose from, so it's a case of going around and finding the best deal for what we want to do.

Wish us luck!

Stace x

Chasing Waterfalls

In Luang Prabang, there are two beautiful Waterfalls on the outskirts of town that I highly recommend visiting should you get the chance;
Tad Sae and Kuang Si. 

Kuang Si

TAD SAE

The smaller of the two Falls, Tad Sae is located within a Forest, giving the impression the land is flooded by small rock pools of water, cascading over the limestones to the larger turquoise lagoon below. 

Visiting Tad Sae was part of a tailor made package from a local travel agent, where we cycled the rough dirt roads for roughly two hours through town to the Nam Khan River, which we then kayaked down towards the Falls. 

This activity as a whole cost us 400,000 kip each (which is roughly around £34), but the travel agencies offer various packages best suited to your tastes, plus you can always haggle for the best price. 

Ours included a personal tour guide, stop-off to Phannom village (which is famous for it's weaving and craft production), the kayak tour down the River to the falls, the entrance fee, lunch and kayak tour back to town. 

In total, the tour was roughly around 4-5 hours with a well spent afternoon taking a dip in the refreshing falls and of course, partaking in an instagram-worthy photoshoot!

KUANG SI

Kuang Si is the larger and more popular of the falls amongst the tourists and backpackers. 

As we visited Tad Sae first, we had planned on enquiring at the same travel agents for a trip here, but were lucky enough to encounter a local tour guide with a bus-like tuk-tuk who was taxi'ing tourists to the falls and back for a price.

This may sound slightly bizarre and unsafe, but backpacking in Asia is all about the haggling for a cheaper price, and the various random ways you can bag a tour or an activity just by taking an innocent stroll down the street. 

As I was haggling with the gentleman, I (for reasons unknown to myself) offered him a deal that if I could fill up the tuk-tuk bus of 8 people, he would take us for 200,000 kip each (£18), wait for us and bring us back.

So, myself, Roisin and a girl we met at the hostel over breakfast scurried across the street to the market to find willing, like-minded participants and preferably backpackers like ourselves. 

Luckily, we found another solo traveller and a group of 4 girls. BINGO!

It was almost as if the driver couldn't believe we succeeded in our challenge but he was happy to take us and I joked that he should pay us commission! It's always advised to establish a good relationship with the tour guide/driver/fixer as they are super knowledgeable about the area and trustworthy people just trying to make a living themselves. 

True to his word, he drove us to and from the falls where we basked in the absolute glory of the turquoise blue waters for a few hours in the 30 degree heat, and hiked to the top of the Waterfall in our flip-flops (side note- PACK TRAINERS if this is something you want to do!)

Which, you definitely should do, as there's a beautiful lagoon at the top covered by a roof of forest trees with slivers of sunlight creeping in to create the most gorgeous reflections of light on the water. 

There's also a pretty cool swing in the middle of the pool where of course we enjoyed another photoshoot for the 'gram. 

Both are definitely experiences not to be missed if ever in Luang Prabang. Both Falls are an exotic jungle paradise in their own right.

Stace x

Luang Prabang: First Impressions

So after a horrific, yet hilarious experience travelling, Roisin and I finally made it to Kouansavan Guesthouse in Luang Prabang, Laos. 

After purchasing a bus ticket from a travel agent in Chiang Rai last night, who told us we'd be picked up this morning from our hostel at 6am to be driven to the border at Chiang Khong: Correct...

She then said we'd be processed through the border and get our visas sorted: Also correct...

She then said we'd be taken to their sister bus company in Laos who would take us to the bus station for the bus to Luang Prabang: Again correct.

But what she refused to disclose was that we were the only two people getting the bus, (as the more popular option was the 2 day slow boat journey), and that we would be waiting 5 HOURS for the bus at a rickety old bus station with holes in the ground for toilets, a newsagent selling only crisps and water and a small cafe with limited and rather dodgy looking food options. We obv weren't expecting luxury but overtired and hangry, it was a long time to wait in the sweltering hot sun with not much to do except try to plan ahead for our time in the Country. 

Eventually we boarded the bus where it had about 16 bunk beds and reminded me slightly of the Harry Potter Knight Bus. At first it was fine, watching the sunset over the mountain terrain was beautiful, until it got dark, the aircon was freezing, I couldn't get comfortable as my 38inch legs didn't fit on properly and I desperately needed to pee. 

A whole 14 hours later at 5am we arrived in Luang Prabang and luckily, I wasn't asleep as the driver announced our destination so quietly. 
Knackered and grumpy, we gathered our belongings and haggled with a tuktuk to take us and another couple to our separate hostels. Unbeknownst to us at the time, we witness the Monks Tak Bat Procession, which is the time in the morning where the Buddhist Monks collect food from offerings outside homes. They walk in single file (oldest first) carrying their "alms" bowl. 
People wait for them, often kneeling, and place food, flowers or incense sticks in the bowls. This is a morning tradition for Lay people, which we soon found out from people at the Hostel. In hindsight I wished I'd taken some photos or appreciated it more at the time, as we never got the chance to see it again, but I do have the blurry memory through tired eyes.

Our Hostel has small dorm rooms, a pool, one communal area inside and outside but a good price for the little town. 
We're sharing a room with 2 Irish girls who are on their last leg of Asia, so we've buddied up together and bless them- they've already made us a list of places to go, things to do or avoid. All that they've learned from their travels based on their experiences, which is good for us as we're fairly new to Asia. 
They're also AMAZING at bargaining with vendors at the markets, which is something I want them to definitely teach us before we part ways!

ACCOM: Kouansavan Guest House
ATTRACTIONS: Tak Bat Monks Morning Ritual
VENUES: Night Market

Stace x

My Elephant Nature Park (ENP) Experience

On November 14th, Roisin and I arrived at the Elephant Nature Park in the Mae Taeng District (just outside Chiang Mai) in Thailand to volunteer working with Elephants for a week.
We knew we wanted to volunteer on our trip somehow, and as we'd previously worked alot with children and communities between us, we thought we'd try working with animals this time round, and boy did we have our work cut out for us!
From preparing the animals food, to enclosure clean up in the sweltering heat of the Asian Sun it was hard work, but definitely worthwhile and we would 100% recommend volunteering for such an amazing animal welfare project.

DAY 1

On arrival, we met Eak- our coordinator, who is so happy, helpful and eager for everyone to have fun on the experience. Keen to answers any questions (however silly they may seem) and absolutely cracks me up!  
Our whole volunteer group for the week is MASSIVE, so we split into 4 groups of about 20 to manage various jobs that need doing around camp. Ours is Group B (or the GROUP B MAFIA, as we were soon to name ourselves. Not for reasons of violence, but because we used to play the game, "Mafia" every night for funsies). 
Eak gave us the grand tour, and the space is HUGE! Suppose, it would have to be as they host a few heards of Elephants and staff, as well as the Dog sanctuary they have on sight too, which we're also allowed to volunteer for!
The Elephants are free to roam but each animal has a dedicated "mahoot" to care for them. All of the Elephants have been rescued (and paid for) with each volunteer fees) from abusers, trekking companies, illegal forced breeding programs, logging, street performances and circuses. Some have both physical and mental issues being treated for at the camp. I had absolutely no idea how awful these beautiful and intelligent creatures are being treated all over the World until I arrived here. In Asia, Elephants often go through the phase of having their "spirit broken", going through traditional rituals by Asian owners such as being chained up or walled in, being poked and prodded with hooked sticks, piercing holes in their skin with needles just to bend their will to their masters. 

Thankfully, this sanctuary (and others like it) exists and are trying to rescue as many Elephants as possible with the help of volunteers like us. 
It's really eye-opening just being here and learning each Elephants individual story from the staff and superhero founder, Lek Chailert. 

One Elephant has a leg injury after stepping on a landmine, another was rather unpredictable around humans after being so horrifically abused by a group of men forcing her to work on the streets for tourists, she even put her mahoot into hospital after throwing rocks and kicking him upon arrival at the park. A rather upsetting beginning to a story which has a happier ending, having myself and the rest of the volunteers actual in tears when Lek told us how...
This female Elephant, Faa-Sai was so angry and scared, she was causing mayhem around the park when a longer resident male elephant came up to her, placed his head calmly on hers and spoke to her, presumably assuring her she was safe here. 
Cue tears. It's okay, you can go ahead.
And you better believe Elephants can talk to each other, because trust me, I've seen and heard it already!
I don't and will never understand why anyone would wish to hurt these magnificent animals, but sadly it's still an ongoing problem in Asia. 

DAY 2

So I've just had the most terrifying shower of my life, but was even worse for Roisin who shared hers with an actual TARANTULA!!!!!
Now, for all that know me, I am shit scared of spiders. Of all shapes and sizes and unfortunately, the shower facilities here are covered in the wee buggers. Of all shapes and sizes. 
After psyching myself up and showering as fast as I possibly could, after hearing Roisin scream in the cubicle next to me I just ran out. Bollock naked. My nerves couldn't take her screams of terror, but when she started to nervously laugh at the current situation, I scarcely tiptoed back in, rinsed the remaining suds out of my hair, whipped my towel round me and ran back to the safety of our room to dry off. 
NOPE! I thought. I'd rather bathe with the Elephants thanks. 
I didn't feel very clean, but after all, we were in the middle of the Jungle and I had just shared my morning shower with about nine 8-legged beasties! 
*Shudders at the thought*

Apart from this our digs are pretty decent. 
We have a room to ourselves with hanging mosquito nets over our single beds like princesses. (Side note- it's a treat when backpacking to have a detached single bed without someone above or below you ala bunk beds.) 
Everyone has breakfast at 7am and projects start at 8am. 
It's all vegetarian food served here with fresh coffee and juice. Meals are initiated with the shrill sound of a bell and served buffet-style on the terrace, looking out onto the fields where the Elephants parade begins and the sun rises over the mountain in the distance. Every morning is like a postcard.
It is a little chilly first thing in the morning, but by midday the sweat literally drips off your skin, more so with the heavy lifting jobs round camp. 
Such jobs include:

- Unloading and stocking fruit deliveries
- Cleaning out enclosures and shovelling Elephant shit 
- Gathering driftwood 
- Cutting corn
- Bathing Elephants
- Feeding Elephants

It's not all work though. It's such an experience spending time with and watching these animals overcome their physical and mental disabilities, meeting some great like-minded people and getting to walk and play with some cute doggies too! 

                   



DAY 3

It's ma burfdaaaay, it's ma burfdaaaayy!
And it is sooooo weird being halfway across the Globe and not waking up to a card and a cuddle from my fam, but instead waking up to the sound of Elephants and stepping outside into the Tropical Thailand Jungle and not a frozen concrete driveway in Scotland. 

Today the Group B Mafia cut and harvested corn in a field about a half hours drive away from camp. 
Riding in the back of an open top truck (which ever-so-slightly resembles a cage) with about 15 other people felt like the beginning of a Taken movie. We definitely all become fast friends after this experience! 
It was sickly hot and hard work in the sun, yet oddly satisfying, as we cut down corn plants, tied them into neat piles and flung them into the Taken truck. 
We ate lunch in the shade and shared stories about the places we've travelled or want to travel. We shared weird Thai cookies as well as tips and tricks about travel supplies and budgeting. 
En route back to camp, we all had to sit, lie and awkwardly stand atop the cut corn plants and pray we didn't fall over the side on the bumpy ride home!

After dinner, the staff usually host an evening activity, and tonight was a lesson in Thai culture, which was super interesting. We learned words, phrases and songs (which I will type up if I get the chance). 
As we learned an Elephant song in Thai, Mix (one of the other coordinators) said there was another song we could sing- one that we all knew the words to already...
It was when the lights went out and the first chords to the familiar, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" song started I knew what was happening!

Roisin had told the staff it was my birthday earlier and asked if we could do something special for me tonight, which they did. The Kitchen ladies made me a cake, presented to me during the 50-odd volunteers singing to me in different keys and languages. 
Awks.
I don't blush or get embarrassed easily, but I hate being the centre of attention! However, being so far away from home and the familiar on my birthday, it was nice and comforting. I really have the best friend a girl could ask for in Roisin!
After my serenade, the Group B Mafia destroyed the cake over beers and games on the deck. What a strange but wonderful birthday. 

Bring it on 26! Lets see what you have in store...

DAY 6

I NEED A BURGER in my life!!!
I'm going crazy. 
I thought I could live this Veggie life for a week but I miss meat. I miss Chicken. I miss bacon.
*drools at thought of bacon*
Rami (a fellow volunteer) is American. 
Rami likes burgers.
Rami is driving everyone insane the past few days talking about burgers now everyone is craving one.

In other news, Roisin woke up this morning complaining of swimmers ear. (And she is a swimmer, so if anyone would know, she would), but "we haven't been swimming", I stated. 
And you know that 'don't-start-me' look that best friends give you sometimes? Yeh - that! So I backed off. It was making her grumpy. And basically, with a grumpy Roisin there's only one cure: you have to feed her. 
After breakfast and during our morning project she was isolating herself. Thoryn (a fellow Group B Mafia member) asked if she was okay, as she was ignoring him. 
So I tackled the situation while we were changing in our room after lunch to prepare for bathing the elephants. 
"You okay, hun?"
Nothing.
"Babe... you awrite?"
Nothing...
"ROISIN- WITS UP HEN?" Physically grabbing her by the shoulders.

Turns out she legit couldn't hear me, or anyone else because of her "swimmers ear", which she was now fearing could be a silicone ear plug lodged in her ear. 
Fuck.
So, to the staff we went and asked if they had someone on sight to take a look and enquired where the nearest A&E was. Turns out yes- they could have the onsite VET to take a look (which I LOL'd at, and many "Roisin's an animal" jokes were made) and the nearest hospital was an hours drive away. 
The Vet had a look but ddn't have any, erm... "human" tools, so the staff were so kind to drive us to the International Hospital free of charge.
Bless.

We were very impressed with the Hospital and how expat patients were handled. We ofcourse had purchased travel insurance but thought it was easier in the long run to see the Doctor, pay for the bills ourselves (an emergency credit card helps out a LOT n these types of situations!) and claim the money back with receipts as evidence. 

The Doctor recovered a small piece of Ro's silicone earplug from the ear in question, then  proceeded to pull out an even bigger piece from the other ear upon insisting she take a look inside, just incase! So glad she did or that coulda been in there forever, knowing Roisin! Safe to say, the silicone ear plugs were binned and foam ones were purchased on the way back home from 7/11: the best tourist-friendly supermarket chain in all of SE Asia! 
Also purchased from the holy air-conditioned grail shop, was a chicken burger and hamburger from the deli section.  
Which we ofcourse snapchatted and sent to Rami on route home!
(SORRY DUDE!)

DAY 7


Our time at the ENP has sadly come to an end :(

It has been one of the most incredible experiences I've had and cannot recommend it enough to anyone who's thinking about taking part, donating or volunteering. 
Elephants are such amazing animals who belong in the wild and do not deserve to be used and abused for our entertainment or as slaves for farming or trekking. 

We watched a documentary on Elephant abuse and listened to a presentation from Lek, who is such an inspiring woman. She is so strong-willed, passionate and determined to put an end to the cruelty Elephants receive on a daily basis Worldwide. 
Each Elephant at the park has been rescued by Lek, who often had to fight for the release of each one with words or money and her strength and courage to do so inspires me greatly. 

So, despite the scary spiders lurking in the showers, going veggie for a week and a quick dash to Hospital, it's been an unforgettable and awesome week! 
It's also sad splitting from the Group B Mafia, as we're only just getting to properly know one another, but we've all made plans to try cross paths with one another on future travels... including tonight, at a burger joint carefully chosen by Rami!
One last supper for the Mafia, then it's onto Chaing Rai for us followed by Laos.

ACCOM: Elephant Nature Park
VENUES: Rock me burger

Stace x

Chillin' in Chiang Mai

#PreviousPostUpdate 
OMG MY PHONE WAS HANDED IN!!!!
*I'd actually dropped it outside the Hostel and it was handed into Reception by another traveller yesterday. Luckily we were waiting in reception earlier to leave for the airport when the staff member enquired whether it was my phone!
I guess praying in the Grand Palace worked! Not only did I pray just for it's safe return, but for the safe travels for myself and Roisin. 

But we have arrived in Chiang Mai for a few days and so far, so good...

We travelled by air from Bangkok, which took roughly about an hour and 10 mins, and it's really beautiful.
It has a much more laid back and chilled vibe compared to the City. After the hustle and bustle of being tourists over a busy 5 days, it's nice just to kick back and go with the flow for a bit before we start our volunteer project on Monday at the ENP (Elephant Nature Park) just outside of town. 
After a deliberation of what type of volunteer work to do while away on this trip, we booked this project through STA a few months ago with brilliant recommendations from people who'd visited or volunteered previously. 
We will get to work with and for rescued Elephants in their jungle sanctuary for a week. 
Both animal lovers, we're really excited!

As for now, we're strolling along the dreamy little side streets with cute,cosy, candlelit bars with wooden shabby chic furniture playing soft, live jazz music.
It's so pretty here. Fairylights strung up around bar and cafe signs and little hanging flower pots from the roofs. 
We had a few cocktails earlier on a rooftop bar, where we spotted the busy Market down below, selling a variety of beautiful trinkets and clothing for a cheap price (and cheaper if you learn how to haggle). 
We're not very good... yet. But there's room for improvement!

I bought stereotypical Elephant print hippy-style trousers and I am sooooo coming back for little fairylight bulbs. I have decided when I buy a house, I'm coming to Chiang Mai Markets with an empty suitcase to fill my home with one-of-a-kind items.
Roisin just wants to learn how to make Roti: Like a delicious fried flat bread stuffed with sweet things like Nutella or Vanilla.
It's honestly more amazing than I just made it sound, I promise. 



ACCOM:  So! Hostel
VENUES: Oasis, Rooftop Garden Bar
              Night Market Bazaar
              The Corner, Restaurant

Stace x

Jetlag is not fun

Jet lag

noun

1. 'extreme tiredness and other physical effects felt by a person after a long flight across different time zones'.
2. e.g.,
3.       "Stacey was suffering from jet lag and needed to rest".

Me: @EdinburghAirport. So full of promise and happy smiles...

After 21 hours of travelling, through 3 time zones and 2 flight changes, Roisin and I finally made it to Bangkok in Thailand.

First impressions?
Not good.

Maybe it was due to the fact I was overtired, overhungry HANGRY, and groggy but our taxi driver from the Airport to the Hostel was not at all pleasant. 
Regardless of us informing him of the address and post code, he wasn't sure where it was and proceeded to roll his eyes and tut like he was a customer complaining to a Manager about poor service. He made me feel nervous, muttering under his breath (of which I can only assume was Thai for "bloody tourists"), huffing and puffing away to himself as if the rush hour traffic was our fault also. 

"Train - 30 minute. Taxi - 2 HOUR!"
He said. 

Oh really, pal? Firstly- I thought you didn't know where the Hostel was and secondly, fancy telling us this now when we're baw deep in taxi's n' tuktuks along the Bangkok version of the M8?!

I glanced at Roisin who was asleep beside me, catching flies. I'm so envious of her ability to pass out anywhere, in any position and still have such a good kip. I'm dying to shut my weary eyes but too aware of the current situation unfolding. This is day 1!!
I vow to myself to get back into PMA Mode (Production Management Assistant- a previous job position where I was basically a glorified travel agent for TV Productions) and produce detailed TI's (Travel Itinerary's) displaying distance, timings and budgets. 
I understand this may be a somewhat, difficult task while backpacking, but to have some sort of rough plan or guide would be ideal, or sensible at the very least. Not that I've ever used that word to describe myself...

Bangkok is dull, grey and rainy just now. Possibly reflecting my mood? 
There were people in the back of vans, legs hanging out. No seatbelts. No safety. No rules. I realise we're not in Kansas Scotland anymore...

There's a lot to take in and a lot to learn, but it finally hit me that we made it. Our new adventure can begin, and I sorta half-smile at the places, people and possibilities that lie ahead. Preferably after a good night's sleep!

Stace x