I’ve arrived in Bankok in one piece, but my plans (and I use the word ‘plan’ very lightly here) are kind of falling to pieces. Nothing overly drastic, but give it 10 minutes and I’m sure that’ll change – like the weather here – and I’ll screw something up! I’ve already exceeded my expectations on that front.

Clearly I’m not going to be writing expert guides and tips on what to do here like every other travel blog on the net, and since I’m my only audience I might as well write for me and give a few tips:

1: Prepare for getting abroad

As in don’t just book a load of things with your eyes closed and then jump on a plane within a few weeks. I’d suggest getting everything done at least 2 months before, because that way you can spread the nervous feeling out over quite a long time and you’ll soon realise how crap England is instead of not wanting to leave and latching on as if it’s you mother’s leg and she’s forcing you to to school for the first time in your life and abandoning you to this classroom full of weird strangers.

I am fucking terrified.

That’s the last thing I thought I’d hear myself saying or see myself typing the day before I set off to do this whole ‘travel’ thing I’ve been wunderlusting after for the last 3-4 years.

I’ve been clamouring to get off this rock we call England and away from the sky that forgot it should be blue for so long now… and tomorrow I’m off to Bangkok… and I’m fucking terrified.

I don’t think I’ve ever been this scared to take a big step in my life; that first day at university was a bit scary, but I was excited about it for the most part. Heading off to India? No problemo, especially because I was going with 15 friends and then breaking away from the group to travel solo was pretty easy, too. Flying off to America on my own was a little piece of cake. But this trip, this time really takes the cake.

I’ve been planning this so long, preparing for so long and now I’m here I feel like my toes are about ready to fall off because I’ve never had cold feet like this before.

I’m sitting in my AirBnB room, alone for the first time in a long time as I’ve spent the last month or so staying with my uncle, aunt and cousins who I hadn’t really seen for years. I’ve never really been all that close to family and preferred my own company, but circumstances led to me having to take up home in that full house, where I got very little done and decided an AirBnB the night before I left would be the best course for finising thins up and getting used to being alone.

It’s going to take more than a little getting used to by the looks of it.