The Final Chapter
I'm in Moscow International Airport, awaiting a flight back to where my trip began: a journey that's taken me from Malaysia to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos ends 183 days after it started in Balham, London.
Along the way, i've slept in around sixty hostels and hotels, at friends' houses, on…
Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a f***ing big television, Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose a three piece suite on hire purchase in a range of f***ing fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the f*** you are on a…
Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a f***ing big television, Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose a three piece suite on hire purchase in a range of f***ing fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the f*** you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing f***ing junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, f***ed-up brats you have spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life . . .
The Final Chapter
I'm in Moscow International Airport, awaiting a flight back to where my trip began: a journey that's taken me from Malaysia to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Camb…
Having survived Bangkok (we saw no evidence of trouble at all), we're currently sunning ourselves on the beach, topping up our tans and spending as little money as humanly possible. I've been …
The aftermath is appalling. Dishevelled youths limp and shuffle through the streets, their bodies daubed in blue permanent marker, their eyes bloodshot and their bodies aching. It's early mor…
I spent an hour tonight hanging around on a Cambodian street corner. Contrary to what you might think, i was not soliciting. I was waiting for Rachel and Christina to arrive in Siem Reap ahea…
Is it okay to take photographs of a mass grave? Is it morally acceptable for a tourist to record images of human remains? Does it demonstrate a lack of respect? These are questions we needed t…
Melanie
I love your final blog, I have loved reading about your adventures and I am still in shock that you and Rachio are coming back as friends. So glad your both safe and cannot wait to see you both soon.
x
Rob Ward
Questions, questions, questions!
Yes, i'm better. Yes, i know you're going on holiday. Train to Leeds, sort some stuff out, head to Brid as soon as i've sorted the house and stuff...
Will definitely see you before you go...
Love you too x x x x x
lauren
hope you're feeling better roberto..!! stay safe in Thailand, we go on holiday on the 30th may you know..? when do you reach england? how will you get from london to whereveer you're going..? when are you coming home...? love you loads and hope we see you soonx x x x x
mum
That is such a typical robert remark. I didnt bother asking you not to go to thailand knew it would be a total waste of time. Stay safe love you loads xxxxxxxxx
Rob Ward
Lauren, it's too late i'm afraid. I'm in Thailand cos i'm skint and it's the cheapest place to be. And i'm flying from Bangkok when i come home. But i'll not put myself in harm's way. Although if i do get shot i'll take this opportunity to wish you happy birthday for next week...
lauren
hahha very funny....!!! i got my postcard, it was lovely thank youi although it would seem that i'm too predictable and far too easy to wind up now... asif you let ,e think you had forgotton me, i was genuinely upset about it. Anyway sounds like you had an awesome time at that makeshift water park, very unlike you..!! love you loads x x ps don't go back to thailand yet x x x
Rob Ward
Hello Daniel.
I didn't get any easter eggs, i'm afraid. I'll probably be back before your holidays - but only if i can find a cheap way to get back! It's chuffing expensive!
joanna
we are going on holiday soon in 6 weeks bet we dont get as brown as you!.did you get a easter egg? lots of love danielxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rob Ward
Lauren,
Sorry to hear about your poverty! You'll just have to wait and see about a postcard...
I kind of agree with you about the bodies in Cambodia, but at the same time i think being able to see exactly what happened ensures that nobody will ever forget exactly how horrific the acts of the Khmer Rouge were. Also, Cambodians don't have quite the same beliefs regarding the burying of the dead, but i guess that's for another blog...
lauren
just read your cambodia post... that sounds so so sad.... and although i understand the point of you wanting to show the atrocities that happened there [especially to all of us sheltered from such things] i don't think i'll be looking at your photos, besides your words and descriptions create a picture that says enough to me. i think these people should be given a proper ceremony and burial rather than there bodies being left,they should be given them some dignity, that they lacked when they were living.
lauren ward [sister]
Is there a card winging it's way to me yet? glad your still having a good time and i'm dissapointed to inform you that desperate times have caused me to crack open the thailand tin and tax my car, but we may win the lotto yet!!
love you loads x x ps i won't forgive your error until i get a postcard through my letter box...
mwah x x x
greg
Rob,your writing just gets better,this recent post on your experiences in Vietnam has moved me to tears,utterly brilliant prose.If you don't end up doing this for a living it will be a crime
