I
couldn't believe it, I had come all this way and now had no money.
Not knowing what to do I headed back to the guesthouse to try and
think and relax. I suddenly remembered what my fantastic parents had
given me just before I got on the train. It wasn't something I would
have ever thought of but I was now so grateful that they had. One
hundred pounds worth of travellers cheques would at least last the
three days I had left in Bangkok before flying out to Ho Chi Minh
City and I could get the card sorted before then. The pure relief was
so exhilarating! I headed downstairs with the ear to ear smile I
hoped would gravitate people to me. Five or six people were milling
around and chatting in the lounge I walked up and said hi to a
beautiful blonde girl and exaggerated the cheesy smile. She smiled
back and we began chatting for an hour or so then she said goodbye
and good luck, grabbed her bags and got in a taxi to the airport for
her flight to India. I could not believe how well I had done; I had
not felt scared or embarrassed at all, it was a rush to be so relaxed
around someone. Before she left she had given me her 'South-East Asia
On A Shoestring' book that would undoubtedly be invaluable throughout
the trip.
Next: Just One More Day
Read From The Beginning
Cozy Bangkok Guesthouse was a few minutes walk from Hualampong train station where the Taxi had dropped me off and charged me five hundred Baht for the journey. I was hesitant to argue but had read that it should be three hundred. After a slightly lacklustre complaint I handed it over and jumped out. Walking into Cozy I was greeted by two golden retrievers, one old and charming and the other a bounding puppy. The broad smile from the owner was then just what I needed. The short walk had been an eye opener to the chaotic and tiring streets of Bangkok. Crossing only one road and dodging the line of scooters that thought the pavement was a bike lane had taken a lot out of me, especially after the long flight. All I could think about then was sleep and I soon found what I was looking for, a big comfortable bed in a quiet room with a huge ceiling fan. I curled up under the sheets only to wake two hours later sweating, I had forgotten to turn the fan on. It was midday by my watch and I thought I should stay up to try and avoid jet-lag. The midday heat was stifling and I was struggling to acclimatise from the cold November evening I had left the day before. If I didn't need money I would have stayed in Cozy all day watching the amazing films on Star Movies or HBO but I had to get some food and had used all my Baht on the room and the taxi. I soon found a cash machine, popped my card in and entered my PIN. I was shocked by the response I got “There has been a problem, please try again”. I entered it again 6-4-3-3 but with the same response, I got the same chill travel up my spine I had felt in my bedroom, I was now panicking. I tried two more cash machines further up the street but got the same response “There has been a problem, please try again”.
Next: The Surprising Exhilaration Of Relief
Read From The Beginning
The
landing of the Boeing 777 was so smooth I couldn't tell whether we
had landed or not. I only realised when the pilot engaged the reverse
thrust that we were on the ground. As soon as we had stopped at the
gate hundreds of flustered and tired passengers unclipped there
seatbelts and rushed for their overhead bags. I couldn't understand
why on every flight I have ever been on people did this. I had a
theory that it may have partially been nicotine withdraw for some and
sheer competition or claustrophobia for others. I was in no hurry, I
couldn't check into my hostel for another 5 hours so sat watching
everyone and listening to my music ( I think it was Florence and The
Machine at the time). I was excited that I had already met a fellow
traveller, Karl was heading to China to marry his girlfriend and
teach English. He had met her on his last visit and couldn't wait to
get back to see her but was a little preoccupied about the thought of
living away from the UK. At our Mumbai transfer we wished each other
the best of luck and went our separate ways. I was genuinely happy
for him he seemed really nice, I hope everything worked out as
planned. I pulled my bag from underneath the seat and waited for the
crowd to pass, got up and made my way down the aisle. Walking through
arrivals felt like I was back at Heathrow, there was no huge
difference between the two airports. It took a while to get through
Passport control and customs but was soon enough in the queue for the
taxis.
next: Bangkok and Bust
Read From The Beginning
The
announcement I had been waiting for came, my flight had been called
and the flock of passengers had assembled at the gate. I was leaving
the UK not to return until the summer. My emotions were in a
whirlwind I didn't know whether I was happy or sad, I just felt in
limbo. Pulling myself together and remembering what I had promised
myself I smiled handed over my boarding card and stepped through the
gates. The plane was so comfortable and the selection of films was
awesome I would well and truly be in heaven for the next 15 hours to
Bangkok. Films were my escape, in a film you can be the star you're
watching and get lost in the fantasy world that has been created for
you. I last had that feeling whilst watching Man on Fire starring
Denzel Washington, the emotion of the story in it is so captivating I
couldn't help but be drawn in. The flight was over before I knew it
and as we descended into Suvarnabhumi Airport I caught my first sight
of the Bangkok skyline against a beautiful sunrise, it looked amazing
in the dim light of the morning. I could not believe I had done it, I
was looking out at my future. I was yet to know the strained yet
wonderful relationship I was to build with that city.
Ever since I was a kid I had always
loved airports, whether it was the start of a trip to a new and exciting place
with your beach shorts and sunglasses or returning home slightly sunburnt with
tacky souvenirs for your family. At an airport you are always going somewhere,
you are not stuck in a rut or standing still, the world is there and ready to
explore. I had never flown from Heathrow before and was immediately struck by
how massive it was, I had read that Heathrow carries over sixty million
passengers a year and I could definitely believe it. The worries of the trip
had subsided and excitement had taken over, I felt so ready to go and meet the
amazing people I knew were out there and see the places I had read about.
Slowly the excitement started to wane after two hours on the cold seating and
having exhausted my game of ‘guess where they’re going’ (which you always win)
I began to feel the familiar feeling of self-doubt snake back into my
consciousness. I had never been a very confident person and hoped that throwing
myself in at the deep end would help to
overcome this. I had made myself a promise that I would be the
version of me that was outgoing and fun as opposed to
the slightly reclusive me who had in the past been too scared to
answer the phone for fear of talking to anyone.
next: The Sunrise Over My Future
Read From The Beginning
The
blistering cold at the lonely old train station in my sleepy home
town of Coleford, Gloucestershire was biting at me whilst I sat on
the hard metal chair just in cargo shorts and a shirt. I had chosen
not to bring any warm clothes for the journey to Heathrow because I
couldn't spare any room in the rucksack. I knew I would miss that
tiny town I knew so well, it held so many memories from my childhood.
I remembered going to the park at the top of town to play football
with my with my parents and brother as a kid and the first time in
the pub with my friends. Although the place was quiet and some would
say boring it was definitely home. The 15 minute wait for the train
went quickly and I soon saw the train coming around the bend to pull
up at the platform. Saying good bye to my mum and dad was as
difficult and emotional as I expected it to be, even my dad had a
tear in his eye. They had been so good over the few weeks leading up
to me leaving, reassuring me when I had reservations about going and
cheering me up when I got down. They also paid for some of my
vaccinations and bought the malaria tablets I would be taking
everyday. The train pulled away from the station and for the first
time in a week I was excited and ready for the trip.
Next: Airports and Mind Games
Staring
down at my brand new, pristine, rucksack going through the list I had
already ticked off three times before, I suddenly felt a creeping
chill go up my spine bringing panic with it. I began dreading the
trip and had no wish or will to leave. I was twenty, just out of
college and this being the first time I would leave the comfort and
ease of my parents house I felt bolted to the floor. My only
experiences of other countries so far had been family holidays in
Europe where everything was provided and the most difficult decision
I had to make was what I would choose from the menu. This time though
I would have to find somewhere to sleep every night in every new city
or place I found myself in the completely unfamiliar surroundings of
South East Asia. Calming down and reassuring myself that everything
would be fine and prove to be an absolutely fantastic experience that
I would remember for the rest of my life I heaved my pack over my
shoulder and shut the bedroom door. I would not see the house again
for six months.
Next: A sad Goodbye
