Phuket

The lads booked all our travel for the rest of the month one morning in Bangkok, while I was sleeping, so I havent a clue about where we're going for te next month. I'm sure I'll pick it up on the way...

In Phuket now. We took a 14 hour bus journey to get here.

Right, so the plan was for the travel reps to meet us at the hotel at half 5. We got there at 5, just in case! Eventually, they turned up at 6, brought us literally 100metres around the corner to the bus station, which we were unaware of, to wait another hour, maybe 2 for our magical "VIP" bus to Phuket. So, after waiting over 2 hours, we then we had an 11 hour bus journey through the night, with very little hope of getting any sleep, only to be dropped off in some shitehole of a restaurant at the side of a road, to wait for another hour for a minibus to take us to a tourist office......so we could wait another 2 hours for another foookin bus, which would take us to an hour away from where we're goin, so we'd have to get 2 taxis (6 of us) to the hotel...out of our own pocket!! We didnt agree to this! I feel like we're being taken advantage of so they can get more money out of us! I don't like being in the middle of Thailand somewhere, with our fate in the hands of these people. We tried talking to them in the tourist office about the situation. We told them we were not happy and this is not what we signed up for! So, the lady in the office informs us that she can get a driver to drive us all the way to our hotel in Phuket....for 600baht each. Pain in the sack that we have to pay extra. I dont see what the point in booking these things, payin for them, then bein told we've to pay more!! Bangkok is a kip! Thank god Phuket seems 234234% nicer so far...but will that last....?

also, im constantly hungry!! just had spag bol and chips and now im super starvin again!! like i had them maybe 20 mins ago!! wats goin on!!

Drunk in a Bangkok toilet

As I type this, im sittin on the crapper in a shitty bangkok hitel.


bangkok smells, its dirry, its cheap, its un-hygenic, the beer is cheap, the hookers are plenty, the locals are smelly.....but boy is it fun!!!

first nite, we came over after the 13hr flight or whatever.

land in the bangkok airport. taxi man takes us then halfway across thir M50, we get t othe toll bridge, he goes thru, then stops. heres where i frist get scared of bum rape. turns out he was stoppin to ask directions coz he didnt know where he was goin. he brouht us to the wrong place too in the end. had to get a local to show us. bags were heavy. so we get here anyway. go on the beer. i get shitfaced. them lot went asleep, i went solo. got shitfaced. even more!! al the locals start bein super nice to me to get money off me. i ended up gettin a full tour of the city for 5baht. google it. its like 20c. fo an hour. he brought me to a shop too to buy beer then while i bought a suit he got me ice and put it in me bag of cans so they'd stay cold. was cool. so ye, we went to all these sacred temples and churches. i saw a few monks. i was shitfaced, as i am now. havin a poo. a number 2. how are you. dont sniff glue.

so anyway, ye i was on the beeer the whole nite and met random ppl and start givin them abuse. hookers grabbed me cock, i told them to get the boat. next day, i actually got a boat. we saw some decrepid places. it was shit. cant trust this place. feel me bum is always on the table anytime we turn down an alleyway. place smelly.im tryin to think of a good thing about this place.............its cheap. thats it! nearly got rowdy wit a texan. me mate was hammered and was tryin to squeeze passed his chair so basically picked up the chair so he had to stand up so the texan was all like "thats not cool" and all this so anyway, im leavin and he walks out wit us. when they were gettin up to leave, me mate sorta apologised and hadshake and pat on the back. the yank says to me "man, i totally wiped a load of shit in that guys back!!" so im like " eh thats me BEST mate EVER!!" wit some extra exaggeration. like fair enough, i only met him like 2 days ago but still. so the yank was like "oh crap" so im like "eh either ur a liar or ur gonna get bet!"...lol so then he goes ".......im a liar!". i lol'd and he walked off. was gas. that was 2nite tho. lemme think bout last nite.

oh ye it all blends in. i've totally lost track of what day it is and time and all that. i also have a new number. 08-4664-1885. tho im too wasted to remember the diallin code so someone google it for me.

let me think wat else.

oh, theres wild cats all over the place. not normal cats, but skinny diseased lookin scrawny fookers. our alleyway leadin into our hotel seems to be the local toilet too. smell of piss off it. not sure if its the cats or the locals handlin the street side food stalls or what! nearly got in a fight with the tuk tuk drivers today too. lucky there was 6 of u and 3 of them! thats all i can say!

oh and all the locals speak irish too!! its gas!! brilliant!! oh and i insulted a belgian and a german and a 34yr old english fella whpo kept speakin like h was black!! the abuse i gave him! WAF!!

i'll think of more stuff to update yis wit. cant rememer it all. there'll be no pics for ages either. i've 250 photos. 750mb!! not a chance of gettin upploaded

so anyway, 22k in baht for everything for rest of month except beer money!!!! breakfast, din dins, accomodation, travel.....all paid for.

beach tomorrow. gonna be amazin. oz on 25th july. flyin to sydeny but not stayin. turns out we've a connecting flight straight to cairns so im gonna be miles away from me mates and me parents, who booked flights to see me in sydney. lol ooops!
so 10hr bus journey 2moro, before paradise. cant wait! i hate bangkok. it smells! bring on oz.....please!!!



oh when i was drunk, the tuk tuk man brought me all over the palce and made me buy a suit for 400euro. best ever suit but dunno how im gonna get it on the plane!!! lovely tho. i wa so wasted and the tailors in the shop start givin me free beer!! lucky gits!! i jsut put their kids thru college!!! lolzers, nite.


ps thank FOOOOOOOOOk for air conditioning!! like seriously, i just go into shops and pretend to look around just coz they have A/C!! serious. its lovely.

First stop: Bangkok

So, after a 14 our flight, we finally arrive in Bangkok. I've never been outside Europe before, so I haven't a clue what to expect. All I have to go on is what I've seen on TV, ie mopeds, smog, sweat and filth....I wasn't wrong!

We touch down in Bangkok International Airport and head towards Arrivals. The airport is amazing! Glass all around, with a luxurious garden inside with well kept trees and exotic plants! Ya woldn't get this in Ireland!! I'm impressed!

We finally make it outside, after going through a very cultural airport! This is where rality hits! There is literally people everywhere clammering to get our business, be it taxi, or tour of the city! We had already been nabbed by a taxi service inside so we had our "VIP Taxi limo" waiting for us when we got there. All our hopes of a fancy drive to our plush hotel vanished when a grey Hiace van pulled up and some local man started shouting at us for our bags. He loaded them into the back and herded us into the back. Luckily it had air conditioning!

We told him we were going to the Sawasdee Inn on Khaosan Road and we were on our way.

About halfway there, it came to light that he didn't know where this hotel was! We had to stop at a toll bridge to ask the local Police there. After a few minutes he came out, looked at a map, and we set off again. Around 20 minutes later, we were dropped at a hotel in the middle of Bangkok. The lady there was nice, and the locals seemed friendly. The lady was quite helpful and told us that in fact this was not our hotel, but ours was only down the road, but she'd take us there. So off we set, bags on our backs, down the road to what seems like their Grafton St! We spot an Irish bar! We'll be in there later, we agree!!

The lady stops halfway down the street and points down an alleyway. We seen a sign above it saying "Sawasdee Inn". We're home, it seems!

We walk down the alley. Its full of cats.....well, not cats as we know them, but more like rat cats! They're scrawny diseased looking yokes! Not nice at all! But we get to reception anyway. Not impressed. We check in, get to the rooms....not impressed! The rooms were horrible! The bathrooms were small! You could have a shower while sitting on the toilet, while brushing your teeth in the sink....but not with tap water, coz that will give you diarhoea!! I miss Ireland already!

We'll go exploring tonight. Hopefully first impressions can be changed...

June 25th 2008: The departure

So, the day is here! The day I have to say goodbye to eoinzy conrizzle, and say hello to Eoin Conroy, some bloke travelling the world! Boring!

I woke up this morning, with Anne-Marie beside me. She can't believe the time has flew in so fast. There was so much we didn't get to do. Now, I'm off for a year, with no idea where I'll be in a year! She's the same! Today sees the end of us as a couple. The prospect of an organised break-up is daunting, as well as confusing and perplexing. This is un-chartered territory for both of us. When we met, we both knew I was going away, so purposely tried not to get attached, but "unfortunately" we did! How can I handle a break up on a day I've to say goodbye to my family, my friends, and my whole life!! It wont be easy!

First stop that morning was to go get my hair cut! I'll be travelling for a month so thats the last thing I want to worry about! Heat and long hair do not go together!

Next, I had to go up to my mothers creche to say goodbye to her. It was hard, but had to be done. I also phoned my father, who was busy in work with a safety inspector so couldnt meet in person. In the back of my mind I knew all these goodbyes were leading up to the one that I never thought I'd be saying!

After a few last minute errands, I took my bag and got the bus into town and stopped into Anne-Maries place. We had intended to say goodbye here in the privacy of her apartment, but we wanted to squeeze every last second out of each other that we could, so she said she'd come to the airport with me and we'd say goodbye when we were forced to by the anti-cupid that is Aer Lingus flight FR137 to London Heathrow!!

On the bus to the airport, I was taking a few last snaps of Dublin on my camera. I don't know why. Maybe just for sentimental value.

When we got to the airport, everyone else was inside. We met them near the escalator to departures, where the tears were flowing and we got introduced to everyone elses parents. After what seemed like hours of goodbyes, we were finally ready to check-in. Luckily, everyone could still come with us to check-in. Another extra few minutes.......

As we walked down the escalator, I knew the time to say goodbye to Anne-Marie was getting closer by the second. We had both agreed to stay strong because neither of us could handle anything emotional at this time. Everyone had to stay behind the barrier while we queued. Last time I checked in here, we went straight onto the place from here. This would be the last time I would see Anne-Marie. With so many lumps in our throats, I dont know how we got to say a single last word to each other, but we did. In a room surrounded by hundreds of people queueing, you have to try maintain at least a little decorum. I achieved this by going into a nearly meditative state. How she handled it, I dont know.

So after a long queue, we finally checked in. I could still see her. Her eyes were welling up, as were mine. Is this the last time we lock eyes? It can't be!!

Luckily, it was not. It turns out we have to go through security in another part of the building. We would get another whole 5 minutes together!! It may not seem like much, but there and then, it seemed like an eternity. As I queued up to go through security, I kept turning to look at her. As I got nearer the front of the queue, both of us grew weaker and weaker, and let out a few more tears. She broke down. I did too. What did I get myself into!! She found all this too much, and had to leave! The last I saw of her was her turning around one last time to look at me, teary eyed, as she left the terminal building. I started crying again. This is the saddest I've been in years!

The rest of the day doesnt seem interesting, but suffice it to say, we flew to London Heathrow, stayed an hour or 2, then got our connecting, 14 hour, flight to Bangkok.

It begins....

Nearly time

So, I have had my going away parties. I have said goodbye to as many people as possible. I have sorted my visa, flights, spending money, passport, and basically done everything....except pack!

Ahhh, I hate packing!!

Luckily, this is where the lovely Anne-Marie comes in! They say that behind every great man, there's a great woman (so if she's a great woman, does that make me a great man?)! Over the last few days, she has literally dragged me shopping to buy bum bags, plug adaptors, sunscreen, electric shavers, etc etc...basically everything I could need! She has also packed all my clothes for me! Legend!!

So, as it stands now, on the eve of my "Trip of Destiny", thanks to Anne-Marie, I am ready! I'm not 100% happy I have to leave, but this trip is something I have to do! I kow I'll regret it later in life, when I'm tied down to a mortgage, with a few sprogs running around so this has to be done! I have been saying for years I want to do this, and I am now leass than 24 hours away from doing it......and yet, still no butteflies! :(

Getting close

The time is nearly upon me. Still, very little excitement! There must be something really wrong with me!

I have a few going away parties organised in anticipation of my departure. There are 2 Saturday nights left before I go, and both will be taken advantage of!!!

The first, just me and a few friends out in Dublin town. We ended up in The Village. Somehow, one of the boys blagged a pass for all of us to the "VIP" Section. It was a nice little area upstairs, over-looking the DJ on stage, with leather wrap-around sofas, and a private bar. Quite nice.

The 2nd party there was a lot more people. We went for a meal in The Hard Rock Cafe in Temple Bar. There was about 15 of us there. Afterwards, we went in search of a Japanese Karaoke bar, but unfortunately it was full, so we went around to corner to Ri Ra, where we were joined by a few more friends. I was wearing my suit out that night. However, Kelly decided to buy me a pair of speedos as a going away present. So, combined with a few beers, and a little peer pressure, it wasn't long before I had the speedos on over my suit! Superman, eat your heart out! I can say this though.....I looked amazing!!

2 weeks to go

2 weeks to go.....
I don't think it has kicked in yet. I am going on an around the world trip in 2 weeks.....and I am feeling very very.......meh!

Is there something wrong with me? Surely most people would be barely able to contain their excitement at going on a trip of a lifetime around the world for a year! Not me! I suspect it's because I've known I'm going on this trip since maybe 9 months ago, so the novelty has kind of worn off. Maybe.

Maybe it is because I am enjoying life at the moment. Free and easy, no commitments. A sexy girlfriend. A shed load of cash in the bank. Basically everything I need, which will be taken away from me in 2 weeks!

At the moment, I'm wary of Thailand. We will be goin to Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabe, Koh Pan-Ngan and Koh Samui, before returning to Bangkok for our flight to Oz. With the exception of Phuket, word on the street is that the hospitals are below standard. At home, I am 5 minutes from Tallaght Hospital. Over in Thailand, I will not know where anything is, should something happen.

Also, the water. You can't drink the water! I've been on holidays to, say, Gran Canaria for 2 weeks where you cannot drink the water. It was horrible trying to brush your teeth! I have a month of this ahead of me! Not to mention living out of a suitcase! Yeah, fair enough, I'm going back-packing for a year, but still, I like the comforts of civilised society!

Oh, and one more thing. We will be island hopping for most of the month. This is fine for someone who can, for example....eh, swim!! Yes, you heard it, I will be living on islands, surrounded by oceans, living in hotels with swimming pools, going on boat trips with snorkelling, and kayaking...and I can't swim! lol, what am I getting myself in for.....

The saving grace!

So I've had no luck with a job. I've been to meet a few recruitment agents, all of whom told me they had loads of IT jobs (lol I even got asked to be a recruiter by one flirtatious lady, coz apparently I was so brilliant that she'd love to have me working with her), but alas, nothing has materialised.

I have decided to go with Plan B.

While talking with a friend of mine, who works in a bank, I was informed that she could get me a loan of 5000euro the next morning! She'd fast track it through so I would have it in plenty of time. She is my saving grace!!

So, after a weekend to think it over, I decided to take the loan. I had the 5k in my bank the next morning! I kept checking my balance online just to look at it! It was great!! I just wont think of next year when I have to actually pay it back!!

So whats left to do now? I have transferred that 5k over to my Australian bank account, for spending money over there, and kept 1000 euro for spending in Thailand. Anyone I've spoken to has told me thats more than adequate for a month in Thailand. Lets hope they're right!