Travel blog

hi all,

only 6 days left. excited though sad. arrived in japan just under a week ago. my flight was cancelled so i was at bangkok airport for 13hours overnight and got no sleep whatsoever. finally arrived in osaka after 27 hours of leaving my hostel. the flight had to stop off in indonesia as well. osaka was really interesting. went to namba city and parks for a couple days, saw some shrines and shops. general touristy things. the hostel i stayed at was pretty awfull...2 triple bunkbeds in a closet room and had a horrific asian snorrer so again didnt sleep at all. met some really freindly people on the subway..everyone is so polite i japan..i love it here.

i arrived i tokyo a couple days ago via an overnight bus. took 10 hours and again had absoluetly no sleep. staying in akobonbashi area here. hostel is amazing. met my friend yuji who i met in l.a. he lives here and showed me around the city. brought a couple disposable cameras. went to visit some shrines and temples...saw some really cool architecture aswell. th food here is amazing. had sushi and noodles. went for a few drinks with yuj and his friends...theyre all so freindly. having a great time. looking forward to seeing everyone again.
bye for now.

xx

Arrived back in thailand from laos on the early hours of saturday morning after a 20 hour bus journey.(one thing i wont be missing thats for sure). Watched the fa cup final here in a bar full of pompey fans....it was amazing. went out celebrating afterwards. still cant believe it. been chilling around for last couple days. and heading to japan (osaka) on thursday night. looking forward to a new culture and experience to add to my travels though definately missing home now. not too long!!! uploaded new pics aswell. speak to u soon x

Hello,

Arrived in LAOS about 5/6 days ago. the border crossing was horrific. as was the journey there. had to sleep on a bus with about 100 asians crammed on for 4 hours (2 am til 6 am) as the border crossing was closed (opens at 6) only got 1 hor sleep the whole time and then we had no money for a LAOS Visas which were 25quid. had to borrow some of some asian guy. took about 2 hours to sort everything out...was so stressful. total bus journey was around 24 hoursin the end. arrived in Vientiene the capital of Loas. Its so different to vietnam...alot more relaxed here and less hectic...really like it. didnt do too much in capital. chilled and got a traditrional thai body massage whcih was amaazing. my hip clicked back into its proper place apparently. watched live band in the evenings and pretty much explored during the days. spent 3 days there and go a bus to VANGVIENG...which is where i am at the mo. love it here. its in the mountains next to a river...scenery is amazing and its reallyed chilled out. theyve even got a bar whcih plays famaily guy ALL DAY!!! Amazing!!! went tubing yesterday. basically involved renting a big rubber ring and u float don the river and get off at different bars along the way. each bar has different rope swings and zip wires and everyone basically gets really drunk. played football at one bar. such a fun day. though after the 10th bar we were tubing down the river in pitch black...was a tad scary. then had to hang off the end of a car to get back home and its was pouring with rain...all in all an amazing day out. think we are going to LUANG PROBANG next. north Laos. not sure if were gunna have time for Chang mai anymore as i leave for japan in a week. have to wait and see. ummmm think thats everything!!? p.s. fa cup final on saturday. can u tape it for me mum. thanks! play up pompey! x

Hi All,

Been in Vietnam almost 2 weeks now. currently in Hanoi (capital) where i arrived from Nha trang around a week ago. Had some good and bad times here. Went on a ridiculous boat trip in nha trang which must of had the gayest asian family on it possibly...they were all dancing around in speedos...its was pretty funny/disturbing. it did have a cool floating bar in the water though which turned out to be free. unfortunately i had my camera stolen off me in Nha Trang. some guys on mopeds sneaked it out of my pocket without me realising and then rode off. took me ages in the police station the next day to get a statement for my insurance. met some really cool vietnamese people though since ive been here. hanging out with a few. Then had a 36 hour bus jounrey (2nights)...was so painful...possibly worst journey of my life (even worse than the 10 hour standing train journey to thailand.

Went on a 3 day boat trip to Ha long bay and stayed on cat ba island. Did some kayaking around the thousand islands and slept on a boat for a night. then went mountain biking in the mountains...that was amazing.

Heading to Laos tommorow..anothr 20 hour bus journey. Spending around a week there and then heading to northen thailand to chang mai...hopefully do some elephant riding.

Only 4 weeks left...looking forward to returning and seeing everyone again. missing u all.

Love Howard x