I left Newcastle 1696 days ago on the 12th June 2006 - or: 4 years 7 months and 21 days ago. This trip has evolved into the Mother of gap years.
Five years ago I was working on an MSc at Newcastle University. I wrongly believed that this would be the last studying I ever did in my life. I am now 3/8 of the way through an online iPGCE at Nottingham University. This is a UK teaching qualification that costs 2900gbp. I paid the final instalment today which means I have to complete five more modules in order to make it 'worth' the money. I should be able to work anywhere in the World after obtaining this. Hopefully on reasonable salaries too!
Four years ago I was exploring Penang in Malaysia with Fen Xiao my ex-gf. She worked as a nurse at Newcastle Freeman Hospital before travelling with me for 5 months. She was originally from Wuhan in Hubei province in China. I wonder what she's up to now? Four years ago today she was touring the whole of Penang Island with me on a rented motorbike. We ate Laksa in small Malay fishing villages.
Three years ago I was on a flight from Taiwan to Manila. I ended up hanging in the Manila slums for 3 weeks before gaining my senses and returning to Taiwan. I was seeing Zi Ting who hails from Tainan Province in Southern Taiwan. I remember the delicious runny oyster omlettes she used to make at the night markets.
Two years ago I was flying from KL to Angeles in the Philippines. I hung out with a lass called Gemma from Olongapao. She was good crack. We visited Subic Bay as a break from the prolific sex industry in Angeles. That was my last trip to the Philippines after a total of 6 months spent on and off there.
Last year I was in Trang, Thailand starting to look for work in a different location. I was coming to the end of a 1 year contract as a maths teacher. I viewed it as a good way to build some experience in the sticks of Thailand. It also facilitated my reading and speaking Thai. I still miss the lads from Trang and I regularly call them.
Now I am in Headstart International School, Phuket teaching GCSE maths. I am also studying for an iPGCE. I have been in that school 4 months. I feel settled although it is harder work since I teach 25hrs/week with only 4hrs free to plan and mark etc. I know this island inside out now and I have a few lasses on the go which helps somewhat.
Phuket life
Not much to report in the last few months. I have managed to mess up romances with:
Nit 31 from Chaiyaphum.
Om 24, a kickboxer from Chonburi.
View 19 from Phitsanalok.
Nan 19 from Udon Thani.
Daa 19 from Udon Ratchasima.
Nit 24 from Si Saket.
Admittedly, 19 is almost half my age so I should be looking elsewhere. The fact is I don't think I'm cut out for a Thai lass. They are undoubtedly beautiful, however this beauty seems to come with a greedy streak that'll end in trouble. I reckon I can't afford one of these lasses on a mere teacher's salary. I've met many foreigners who have been scammed here.
I enjoyed a Christmas dinner at my local bar O'Malley's. I then attempted to quit alcohol and nicotine on Boxing day. I failed in this endaevour on New Year's Eve. The health angles are starting to worry me. I woke up on Boxing day shitting blood. I also had a huge lump on my gums. However, such is the lifestyle here on this party island, that it is very difficult to extract yourself from the fun. I am pleased I have a job through the week to mitigate the effects of 72hrs of booze every weeekend. I'm aiming for a dry February.
Trang
A couple of weekends ago, I just had to get off this island (Lee and I call it Glueket). I finished work on Friday, jumped on the bike and headed down to Trang to catch up with some old friends. The problem was that it was another insane boozing session. It's all I spend my money on! I watched Spurs equalise in the last minute against the Toon (similar to the Mackems away) before leaving my bike jacket at Mike's house. I then slept at a bar and left my weekend bag at that same bar (I still owe them 500bt too). I drove 4hrs home in only the clothes I was wearing. What a tramp.
On the way home a muslim lady let me sleep on her porch for an hour as I was almost falling asleep at her fried chicken stall. She lived in the sticks between rubber plantations. I was fretting incase her husband or sons came home to find a strange white man crashed on their porch. I woke up refreshed and continued home.
Smudge
Smudge, an old Royal Navy Submarine mate came to visit me in Phuket last weekend. Here we are below:
We had a wonderful time on the booze, spinning dits. We wore monkey T-shirts to remind us of when we sailed up the West coast of Scotland in 1996 (15 years ago - Jeez). He gave me a Russian Navy flag as a present. This flag now sits alongside the Thai flag on the bag of my bike.Niece
Here's my little neice Gabrielle. This is Craig's daughter. Looking good in her stripes. I hope she's worth as much as Andy Carrol when she's older (36M????)
Lingo
Phoom Jai - proud
Awww your neice is cute in the toon stripes! :)
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