Published May 28th, 2007
in Pre-Trip Planning.
Looking toward the overtly metaphoric horizon, laden with goals and ambitions, the blazing reality of this trip is slowly setting, casting a gaudy edge to my imagination.
Suddenly the mundane ripples I have sent through my life thus far are bounding back towards me in the shape of intensely colourful tsunamis.
The same pint, in the same pub, in the same city with the same people isn’t quite as bad as I maybe professed. In contrast, the random gloop, in a random tavern, in a random city with some random people seems somewhat more neutral. Continue reading ‘On second thoughts…’
Published May 24th, 2007
in Pre-Trip Planning.
Somewhere in the depths of this site I’ve stated that “the only cost to really consider, is time”. Well, even though I lost my job in mid-April and I don’t start The Trail till June 30th (ignore the sidebar), I’m starting to realise just how precious time really is. It’s like my whole life is being compressed on a daily basis, tick-tock, tick-tock. The departure date is now embedded in me, and it appears as a dividing wall in my psyche. My current life on one side. My new life on the other.
In reality I don’t have to plan much more, all I have to do is sling some rags in a bag and buy some insurance. Add that to a couple of tickets, a passport and some visas and I’m hot to trot. The thing I’m not looking forward to, is The Goodbye. I’ve never been good at them, and never will be. A swift hug, pat on the back, kiss on the cheek and I’m outta here, with just a wink and a smile to leave by the wall. Continue reading ‘Can’t wait to say goodbye…’
Published May 23rd, 2007
in Uncategorized.
Regular eagle-eyed viewers of The Trail will notice strange things-a-happening along it’s misty path recently. A few posts and edits have gone astray, so to avoid technophobes chewing the mouse mat I’ll summarise what happened, in fairytale speak;
“I was sitting here blissfully daydreaming out of the window, when I observed a handsome young man (who we’ll call Softy Ware) sidle up alongside a gorgeous looking Aphrodite-esq lady (who we’ll call Katoo Theme). They didn’t appear to have enough in common, so Katoo swiftly sent Softy packing with a few harsh words. Softy wasn’t used to rejection so as he left, he stripped away Katoo’s blouse leaving her naked buxom bobbing around in the summer sunshine. Naturally Katoo was embarrassed, so she swiftly covered her entire body with leaves from the rare, Error Tree. Now covered in Errors, Katoo sulked off home as she leaked her dignity all over The Trail. Meanwhile, Softy took his smarmy ways back into a dark cave where he laughed for hours in the most evil manner. Continue reading ‘The Battle of MySQL’
Published May 10th, 2007
in Visas and Pre-Trip Planning.
I woke up this morning with the scantily clad Vicky, of STA Travel fame softly reading to me from the Lonely Planet guide to Mongolia. Tales of riding horse back through the Gobi desert before walking hand in hand into a warm ger (Mongolian felt lined tent), all to ourselves. She descried how she would pour me a glass of warm goats milk, before slowly stripping off her… KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!
I awoke with a start, (for real this time) and looked at the time on my phone, 09:03… KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! “Alright, alright I’m coming” I yelled at the front door with croaky morning-voice. Realising my naked display I grabbed a towel en route and yanked the door open to be greeted by a spotty faced postman “Did I wake ya, mate? Special delivery mate. Sign here mate”, I took a breath and secured the towel while making up a new signature for my mate. Continue reading ‘It’s, Энтони Стоун to you’
Published May 9th, 2007
in Insurance and Pre-Trip Planning.
It’s taken me a long time to realise this, but I think we’re at the stage where I can trust you not to go telling the world my secret;
My name is Anthony Stone, I’m 24 and I am a travel addict.
I spent nearly 2 hours yesterday reading a 2.5 year old thread on travel insurance. To save you the hassle I can summarise, use World Nomads or STA Travel. I know this contradicts yesterdays post about STA being overtly expensive (£795p/a!), but being a never-stay-down kind of guy, I rang them back and made a fresh enquiry. I spoke to the splendidly flirtatious Vicky about the pro’s and con’s (explaining my camera quandary) of the different packages she had experienced and she then proceeded to provocatively depress the buttons on her pink calculator before flicking her hair back (in slow motion) and relaying the price as a much more attractive, £274 (12mths exc USA). Continue reading ‘Sure, I’ll ensure I insure’
Published May 8th, 2007
in Pre-Trip Planning.
My head sank this morning. I awoke and immediately formed the intention of booking the £168 flight to Moscow I’d seen a couple of weeks back. Click click click. Tap tap tap. £223. “Noooo!”. I tried every flight scraper out there and was continually bombarded with that figure. Two two three. Two two three. It haunts me to this minute.
But fear not fellow fans of The Trail, as “Son of Maureen” I had another trick up my sleeve; I phoned the White Knights at STA and coyly requested their best fare. My tip on this is to always smile when you’re on the phone, I know they can’t see you but it comes across, believe me. So I smiled at ‘Nick the Knight’ and he regaled me with tales of being treated like a film star while in China. One seven seven. ONE seven seven. £177!? You beauty! I snapped his hand off and did a little jig in my living room while booking the ticket. Continue reading ‘Just the ticket’
Published May 1st, 2007
in Visas and Pre-Trip Planning.
Alas, UB Guesthouse was fully booked. Glad i checked now, one can only presume it was booked up by the aliens who would naturally be fans of the Naadam. But fear not fans of The Trail, I haven’t been forced into submission yet! I have secured a weeks accommodation at Idre’s Guesthouse and she’s kindly emailed me to say she’ll pick me up from the station on the 8th, bless her little cotton socks. I like her already. The fact that the dorm bed is less than US$5 a night (most travel speech is in US$) is also quite pleasing. Continue reading ‘Adieu, Passport. Adieu’
