What to do?

Having made my departure from Blackwood, the time has come to dust off the backpack, get out the camera and book flights to a cheap destination in South East Asia. Much to Kate's amusement, I am off to do some real backpacking. I intend to spend the next couple of weeks exploring northern Thailand. Watch this blog for gripping updates involving cheap hostels and wonky buses, disastrous train journeys and plenty of rain. Yes, it is the rainy season across South East Asia (I note England is experiencing some solidarity at the moment), but being voluntarily unemployed does not come around very often and so the weather can't be helped. If I am lucky, the trip will involve border crossings into Burma and Laos too, subject of course to the usual visa battles with the petty tyranny of officialdom. I have got a flight at sparrow's on Monday morning and until then it will be the usual pre-trip planning including the razor tight budget, a link provided below just for Leesie. I have already had my first comment. Kate says my picture, above, makes me look like a tortoise. You can always trust your wife to give honest feedback. If you are wondering (of course you are), the sepia picture at the top was taken in Candidasa, Bali. Until next time, take a Siesta, you know you are worth it.