Guess who's back!

Yes, sadly its true. 10 months later Im right back where I started. Im back home.

But what a time I've had! I've seen and done so much. I've been so many places and met innumerable faces. Ive been to paradise at the Parhentians, rocked Thailands islands, and frolicked on Fraser. Ive been boozing at beachcomber, cained at Cairns and pissed at Phi Phi. I've seen things that have touched and moved me, from indigenous integration to the Cambodian killing fields to the Vietnamese 'victory'. Its been such a great experience.

I've been back a few days now, and its easy to get back into old routines (couch, sit, neighbours, watch, McDonalds, eat) but hopefully things will change. There are certain things I've learnt travelling that I hope I never forget. I hope I never forget the way of life in many of the poorer countries I went to, how they could muster a warmth and happiness beyond most westerners despite not having the latest ipod or dvd player. Without, in fact, much beyond food shelter and each other.

I hope I dont forget the injustices I've seen in the world and the rage it spurned inside me. From the mass slaughter of Cambodians that we saw evidence of, to the post war generation of deformed children in Vietnam we saw pictures of, to the tourists climbing Uluru against the wishes of the remnants of a crushed race.

But I wont forget the warmth and generosity either. From the guys in our guest house in Laos who woke up at 4am to let me watch a football match (Liverpool 0-1 Benfica, i wish i hadnt bothered!!), to Mr Johnny, the saviour of my trip who found my passport in Singapore and rang the British embassy, and then would not accept a single penny as thanks. What a man! And there have been countless guesthouse owners who've gone out of their way to help us, so many locals all over the world who just genuinely want to help you out. And the smiles. England could learn a thing or two about smiling from Fiji and Thailand, even Australia and New Zealand. I hope thats something I can continue.

I couldnt hope to list every quality person Ive met on my travels, the list really is endless. What I might be able to list, however, is things I'd never done before travelling! Here goes...

White water rafting, rock climbing, abseiling, sailing, surfing, scuba diving, camping in swags, driving a 4x4, driving a 4x4 on a beach, swimming with dolphins, riding an elephant, hiking up a glacier, fishing, going to a rugby match, riding a horse, eating: a worm, a cricket, goat, kangaroo, frog, wild boar, buffalo, bush tucker, drinking: cava, goon, mushroom shakes, riding a camel, zorbing, tubing, playing a didgeridoo, sandboaring, climbing a mountain, watching thai kick boxing.....thats all that springs to mind!

And I've learnt a few things that might be useful for the future. I've learnt that the Irish are everywhere, no matter how small the town you can be certain that it’ll have an Irish pub. I've learnt to tell the (subtle) difference between the American and Canadian accent. I've learnt to drink whiskey (it was so damn cheap in thailand i had to). Ive learnt how to say cheers in Thai, Thai jungle, Irish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Fijian, Danish, French, German, Dutch and Korean.

But now Im back, and its back to simple old 'cheers'. But its not so bad being home. By some freak coincidence my arrival in England brought me back exactly one day before my university reunion. Naturally I had to turn up unannounced and surprise everyone, and that night was such a laugh. Check out my latest photos to see! I had such mixed feelings about coming back home. I mean, how do u leave a sunny sandy chilled out Fijian island and come back to the grey skies of stanmore? Then again I've missed my friends and family, and, despite my most ardent protestations, real life must go on (must it?). I prefer to see my stay in London as just another stop in my great journey. Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, LA, London, where next? This is a somewhat necessary stop of course, theres a few people who might want their money back soon, namely Halifax, Nationwide and Natwest.

But, alas, this is it. For now. Thanks so much to everyone who read my journals, viewed my photos and posted on my message board. Feel free to post any final comments, but as my journey has come to an end, so to must this entry, and indeed, this journal.

Thanks again guys! See you all soon.

Si

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." (Lin Yutang)