A 12 hour flight. A jam-packed plane. And I soon realise that my African, Indian-looking friend (Azar) is more English than a Yorkshire pudding. He guides me down his story of living in London for the last 40 years as an Investment Banker and has a wife and 2 boys to which I apparently had to take note that the youngest (19) was regularly distracted from his studies thanks to the attention of flocking girls over his good looks! (tough life!) He was returning from...

Standing rather squished on the London tube at 8 in the morning and I've just discovered that the green matching-bag duo are a couple from Pennsylvania and are embarking on a 3 month trip around Europe together! She's never backpacked before, or even left the States for that matter, and he's backpacked once before, 3 years ago. He apparently realised on his last trip not to pack so much. (Where were you last week when I was packing!!) Brilliant accents I will add...

Koala Lumper Airport. 3 hours until I board. My gate has been changed to the complete opposite direction which means I'm back where I arrived in KL. As I'm walking I spot a random free wifi & computer area and figure I should let my family know that I've landed safely. I also notice there's a plug socket that looks awfully familiar to the English plug (which I had with me ready for England) and would be handy to charge my dead phone but I figured they wouldn'...

The adventure begins. The airport. Feelings of being unprepared, rushing around and being completely overwhelmed. Bags are packed...to the absolute limit may I add, but I manage to get an emergency-exit seat upon check-in which is like Christmas morning for a 5 foot 10 giraffe (lady). It feels slightly odd having to choose between writing 'lady' or 'girl' here when referring to myself. I don't feel like I'm either right now especially with a tortoise-looking gre...