Good evening, or afternoon as it is in the UK. I headed for the beach, Koh Phi Phi at first, where the Film the Beach and James Bond Man with the Golden Gun was set. The bit where the films were set are alledgedly nice, but I didn't hang around long enough to find out, the rest of the Island is a tourist trap full of air conditioned bungalows with on-suite toilets. Not my idea of thailand, so I headed off in search of seclusion. I found some on Ko Lanta, the nest island along, but the only reason it was secluded was because it was rainy season and no-one was there, (luckily the weather was really good though) it was nice and cheap (90p a night on a beach bungalow with on-suite toilete) and quite, but after a book and a half I got bored of my own company and remembered why I hadn't chilled ona beach for over two years - because it's boring. Coupled with the fact that the only Thai culture you see is that which tourism has created over the last 15 years.

I was going to stop of somewhere else in search of the real thailand, but without a proper map and only the Lonely Planet to guide me, I decided that I wasn't going to find it now, and would wait until I visit Tom and Dave at Chang Mai University later in the year, who should know some real Thailand by then and can take me there... So I caught the 6 pound bus all the way to Penang in Malaysia, and arrived at 8.30 tonight, staying in a grewat little chinese hotel, (the woman even lent me a quid to get some food because I've got no Ringit (malay money) yet, what a star! It's about a pound anight to stay here too, in a dormatory of 6 or so other travellers.

I ate some great noodle soup and a black bean sweet deep fried seseme seed sausage for pudding. Good to be back in the real Asia, cheap food that you're not quite sure what it is...

I've applied to study at Penang University after Sinagpore, so tomorrow I'll rent a bike and go and pay it a visit. already I think I'm going to like it, this place won't be as sanitised as singapore will be. Exam results on the 1st, then I'm due in Singapore on the 8th.

Bye for now.
john

arrived in Bangkok Thailand safe and sound on monday morning at 6am. Went to get the airport shuttle bus but couldn't find it, ended up paying 10p for the public bus into the centre of Bangkok from the airport. Bangkok has a traffic problem, even at 6am in the morning. I guess it's about 15-20km from the airport, but it took 2 hours 45 minutes, standing, just what I wanted after a 10 hour flight....

Here on Koh san Road, back at my house guesthouse, but not staying, getting a night bus to Crabi, then off to some island beaches for a couple of days before island hopping down to Malaysia, already bought all the second hand guidebooks I need to stock a library, I'm glad I coulcn't find them in the book shop before I went, I've saved a small fortune.

Took my mobile phone out here, as someone said that it would work ok, and it does, turned it on in Bangkok airport and I got a message from T-mobile welcoming me to Thailand and a few txt messages from people. Can't reply yet, think I need a new service centre number first, and I won't be having my phone on much except for txt's, you pay for calling me in the UK, and I pay 1.50 a minute to get the call here. 07930 269682. e-mail john@cumbers.com

Off to rock the casba. john\\\

I made it back to watford on thusday. 240 miles cycling in total, left hull monday morning, 9.45am. 60 miles to retford to stay with Amy, then 67 miles to Market Deeping near Peterborough to stay with Matt, then 60 miles to Cambridge to stay with some of Sarah's ol University friends, then 55 miles back to watford, arriving here about 6.30pm. knees ache a bit, legs and arms a bit sunburnt, but good to have done it, not too much hard work surprisingly. did a video diary as I went so hope to put some of that up on web at some point.

family meal last night, then off to see my gran today, pub tonight, moon in watford, thenI fly out to thailand at 12.30 pm tomorrow afternoon. Probably going south to malaysia rather than north to Laos. will do Laos later in the year when I have more than two weeks holiday. Looking forward to going now.

John

Despite all exams finishing and not really having much to do I've been surprisingly busy lately. I find it difficult to function properly unless I'm under a bit of pressure.

Had 3 days work experience at BBC Humberside which was great. Clare Frisby organised it for me after she came for the trophy presentation at the University.

One day in the news room, one on radio and one on Kit (kingston interactive television) all were great. Really interested in seeing how news gets put together. The BBC has a computer system which lets one journalist see what other BBC programs have on their news bullitins and then swap stories, really powerfull.

Everyone was really friendly, a great place to work. A new BBC Centre is being built in Queens Gardens in the centre of town with new studios (TV and radio) and loads of stuff for KIT. It's set to open in Sept 2003 I think.

Mum and Dad are coming up today to pick up all my stuff, then I'm cycling back home tomorrow, (just for fun!?) Hull -> Lincoln -> Peterborough -> Cambridge -> Watford. 160 miles about. Sorted my bike out at the bike shop just up the road, was in there about an hour, really friendly guys helping me out. Got a speedometer to tell me how fast and far I've gone. And some padded shorts to save my arse.

BBC give video cameras to people and get them to do video diaries, I've got a couple of tapes to tape the journey, which I'll send back to Jen at the BBC to see if it's any good. If it is then there should be a video diary of it on KIT and the web.

I've booked my flight next sunday 23rd. Got a one way ticket to Thailand, two weeks travelling over land through Malaysia, before settling down in Singapore for 6 months. Should arrive there by the 8th. got a couple of orientation days before term starts on the 15th. I've also applied to study at Sains University in Malaysia afterwards, including a module in TV production.

Got my Thai Visa in Friday, there's a Thai Consulat in Hull believe it or not, so cycled down there to pick it up. You don't need a visa usually, but I'm on a one-way ticket so I do, they want to make sure I'm leaving I suppose. Filled in my form to say I'm intercolating a year and handed back my library books.

Went to a refugees world music festival in Queens Gardens yesterday. was good.

Everyone else has left the house, and all my stuff is leaving today. Goodbye to Hull for a year. Hoping to live on Cranbrook avenue when I come back, 2-50 even numbers, facing the route to uni, a good spot for posters in the window...

I'll let you know how I get on....

Bye for now, john

All done and dusted, last exam didn't go as well as the others, but a relief that it's all over. University end of year Ball at Beverley race course last night, really good night. booked a one-way ticket to Bangkok, Thailand on sunday 23rd June. Going out a bit early and then going to travel overland to arrive in singapore around the 8th July. Orientation day is on the 10th, Uni starts on the 15th. Going to apply to study at Penang University in Malaysia when I finish at Nanyang in Singapore in November. Some cool modules are on offer, including one in TV production. Laura and Sarah have left the house now, me, phil, tom and luke left, phil and luke leaving tomorrow, then tom next week, and me next monday. Parents are coming up on sunday to collect my stuff, then I still plan to cycle home on monday, chris may come up to do it as well. Need to sort out a route, and check the weather...