Eat, Drink, Pash

This post was nearly called "(I've had) The Time of my Life", obviously after one of the greatest films ever made (yes I own the DVD and maybe a friend and I had a Ghost included movie marathon when Patrick Swayze died). I resisted, and altered it to an alternative title to what I hear was an average book and an even worse movie (I still love you though Julia! Especially in Notting Hill!).

However, it did occur to me the other day, when being driven through the Cambodian countryside by a long-fingernailed tuktuk driver named Spider, that that's exactly what I've been having. Four weeks travelling solo has been amazing - I've covered parts of Thailand, a chunk of Laos and a tiny smidgen of Cambodia. And to quote another brilliant film, herewith a few of my favourite things from my trip:

 

Dragonfruit; cycling around the Wats of Chiang Mai; fruit shakes; learning to make Khao Soi, and Tom Yum Soup with prawns; being told I had "very good english" by a Thai woman who inquired after my nationality; supercharging Laos iced coffees with Thai whiskey; Playing drinking games with Beer Laos down the Mekong river on the slow boat; trying Buffalo Larp; learning to make Fish Amok; acquiring the no-nappy-wearing 8 month old baby of my taxi driver for the afternoon; daily fresh pineapple; rejecting all previous fashion snobbery for harem pants and tights-as-pants; street food spring rolls; cute little designer shops in Siem Reap and the weekend market in Bangkok; releasing lanterns into the sky on the bridge on new years eve; having a French kiss at midnight; mangy kittens and pregnant dogs; pad thai; going tubing in Vang Vieng but not making it into the water; red bull vodka buckets; the people; waking up with fluro orange paint all over myself after a night of Laos whiskey and snooker, with very little recollection of much; banana roti pancakes with condensed milk and chocolate sauce; having some extremely close calls negotiating squat toilets after a few too many Chang beers; sticky rice and mango; barbecued fish; noodle soup; traveller's bling of bracelets and beads; getting a tan on Koh Chang; running into friends from home on Khao San Rd and catching up over panang curry and mojito buckets; getting lost on the way to Angkor Wat, but having amazing wood fired pizza and beers after cycling sunrise to sunset; running into the same Aussies three days in a row and discussing the intricacies of bacon and volunteering; buying 5 pairs of ridiculous sunglasses; having my first sober spew in a very long time; manicures and massages, beer in hand; the sunsets; the freedom.

The list goes on. Now though, home. Tanned, tired and happy.