And so to the land down under, The Australian tourist authority, rather nicely I thought, sent an Australian cliche to meet me at the airport. A man, with the look of Mick Dundee, in full khaki regalia asked if he may just squeeze past me in his indigenious brogue "Scuse I there matey mate!" at what was later recorded as 4.3 on the richter scale off the coast of Java. When I arrived at my lodgings in Sydney (the house of Miss Jo 'Sparrow' Liddle's fath...

A 2 day stopover in Hong Kong with a stinking cold. This place is dangerous for the budget traveller - not just because accommodation is so expensive (unless you opt for a 4 quid a night hovel like me) but the shopping is pretty damn good as well. Apart from that, Hong Kong is the manic place you would expect - with the nice touches of rural areas you wouldn't expect, a lovely view of the city lit up of an evening, and the most active OAP's you will ever see...

Ok - my last weeks on the Philippines saw me run like a hound from hell away from the seed. This first plopped me in the countries capital Manila via an entertaining plane flight which included a pub quiz...... Genius! The steward read out a famous line from a film and the first one to raise there hand (on a boeing 737) won a free bag! Mr. Kostalopididocus at easyjet has a lot to learn..... In Manila I gave my local chum a ring who took me to ..... bars of s...

All together now - "God Bless The Philippines". I left you last high, dry and shoeless in Bangkok. What krazy (note crazy spelling of crazy. Crazy!) skrapes (note cr....etc.) have you been getting into since then Simon? Gather close children, gather round t'open fire, and I'll tell thee. I donned the oriental shoehorn and prised myself out of Thailand (Frying Pan) into Cebu City, Philippines (Fire). First stop was the island of Bohol where I turned up, ...

Happy New Year one and all! Hope you had a good one wherever you where, and here is to a great 2005. I'm here in Bangkok after a very strange 5 days before going to the Philippines tomorrow! After returning to Bombay from Goa, Annette and I went to the airport where we said a teary au revoir after what has been a great 6 weeks in India. Then suddenly - there it was - I was on my own for the first time..... s***! I touched down in Bangkok after less than...