DISQUS

Congratulations on making it to a year, it's been wonderful reading about your personal journey, and it's really exciting to hear you plan to continue along this path.

I do hope you keep up with the blog, you are a truly incredibly talented writer, and it's always a joy to read your posts, especially ones that give such a great personal insight.

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..Mexico: Budget & Other Numbers</abbr>

This sounds like it's going to be good...

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..Slightly less rubbish with languages</abbr>

My parents had that album when I was a kid, and it was one of my favourites. This was always one that I skipped...hearing it again now, I'm susprised at how good this is. I clearly had no taste as a child!

I bumped into someone who was researching updates for the Rough Guide when I was in Laos last year and was impressed at how diligently she was doing her job, putting a lot of time and effort into visiting places (and not just phoning up or asking other people).

One of the things that guide books can be useful for is it find the places to avoid - if a sight is listed as a highlight in the Lonely Planet, you can guarantee it'll be mobbed. Places that only get a brief mention (or no mention at all) are usually much emptier.

I really regretted leaving my Central America guidebook behind when I was on a bus journey from Chetumal in Mexico to Tikal in Guatemala via Belize - we got loads of misleading advice from locals we asked questions from, badly advised on where to break the journey, and ripped off on the border (and this is despite speaking Spanish). Having the guidebook with us would have helped us to avoid some of those problems.

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..My own private world heritage site: the Plantin-Moretus museum</abbr>

Travelling solo is totally the way to do it....there are very few friends of mine I could spend 24/7 with and not fall out relatively quickly, just because of diverging interests.

The point about boosting self-confidence is so true too, it's one of the things that travel has really helped me with.

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..Choosing the right backpack</abbr>

If it was filmed in Mexico, I'm wondering if it was San Cristobal in Chiapas - I've been there and it looks very much like your first picture (and the third as well, actually), which is no surprise I suppose as they were both founded 15 years apart by the Spanish, and are both in highlands and largely populated by Maya (and San Cristobal was part of Guatemala right up til the 19th century).

It looks beautiful

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..The Last Days of the Incas</abbr>

Quite nice, but it's not a patch on the source material (yes, I'm one of the small number of people who think Rudebox is the best thing Robbie's ever done. Even if you don't, "We're the Pet Shop Boys" is bloody ace - even if it is a note for note replica of the original PSB version)

That's just had me spitting soup over my screen with laughter. I really love your writing - and as always, it's just serving to heighten my excitement about my forthcoming trip to Guatemala. Oh, and yes, that food looks lovely!

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..2008 Travel Round-up Part 2: Summary</abbr>

Happy New Year Christine, and thanks for a very thought-provoking post. I've made the same decision in 2008, to quit my job (and my comfort zone) to travel. My biggest challenge for 2009 is to make sure the trip isn't *just* a holiday, otherwise I'd end up back in my old life in 2010, which is not what I want; instead I want to find a way of using my experiences to build a different and better life when (if) I get back. How exactly I'll do that is something to think about, but thinking in terms of things that'd make me giddy is a great way to start.

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..2008 Travel Round-up Part 2: Summary</abbr>

Fantastic post, and very encouraging too - as a bit of immersion in Xela is on my itinerary soon after the start of my RTW trip next year. My only worry is I haven't allowed enough time for it - think I may need to extend my planned stay there.

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..I’ve booked my ticket</abbr>

Sounds very like both my Guatemalan border crossings (Belize - Guatemala & Guatemala - Mexico). Crazy, chaotic, disorganised, often disorientating, occasionally a tad scary, but ultimately all part of the travelling experience, and bizarrely enough now one of my favourite travel memories!

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..Winter walking in the Lake District</abbr>

Thanks Christine, I thought it was a very well-intentioned and considerate post, and was sad (but not entirely surprised) to see some of the reactions.

I totally agree with your point, and I really do think in time these places will exist less and less - it certainly seems like it's beginning to happen in Europe, and I think that's an entirely positive thing.

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..Ho Ho Ho</abbr>

Great post Christine, and while I haven't been to PV so can't comment on the specifics there, I do agree with your point overrall. There's obviously very valid reasons why separate gay spaces developed in the first place, and why they became so popular, but I do think the long-term trend will be for those spaces to decline in popularity over time as being gay becomes increasingly accepted and less of an issue. I've already noticed it in London where I (and most of my gay friends) spend less and less time on the gay scene as there's really no need to be ghettoised any more. Increasingly the younger gay men I meet reject the gay scene altogether for similar reasons, and are happy socialising in mixed spaces.

Despite all that though, there will always be an important place for gay scenes and gay holiday destinations, especially for the single (it's a simple fact of maths that in mixed environments, it's much harder for single gay men to find each other).

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..Ho Ho Ho</abbr>

Wow. Looks fantastic...I'm quite jealous! I see you'll be visiting lots of places I'll be going to next year, just a month or two before me in most cases, so really looking forward to reading about the trip.

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..Top 5 Favourite Islands</abbr>

Great itinerary...can't wait to hear how it goes, especially as I'll be heading to Mexico & Central America in March.

If you have time while you're in Guatemala - I'd strongly recommend Tikal, it's quite incredible.

<abbr>Geoff´s last blog post..Fright Nights at Thorpe Park</abbr>

What an amazing story...that's a really epic journey. And thanks for the advice too - I was hoping to do the trip from Siem Reap the way you did, I think now I will look for an alternative!

Thanks for the link Christine, and the pointers to a few blogs I haven't checked out yet, will be having a look now.

Are AA really that bad? I have to fly with them next year, not something I'm looking forward to!

Nope, hasn't changed my plans at all. I'm still planning to leave in March (for 12 months), and if anything it's increased my resolve - I'd rather spend the year enjoying myself than be stuck at home having to read depressing news about the economy every day. Plus with interest rates being high in the UK my savings are going up even faster than they were!

Geoffs last blog post..6 months to go

Less than a year ago - it was this summer, although things appear to have calmed down for now...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Cambodian-Tha...

If you want the perfect Pasteis de Belem...then I'm sorry to say all you need to do is what any guidebook tells you and go to the Antigua Confiteria de Belem in Belem - it really does live up to the hype (and is worth the queue). Truly magnificent, and a tourist food-trap that never disappoints.

& yes, Lisbon really is a photographer's dream, it's stunning.

Geoffs last blog post..Photo of the day: Mayan weaving

You think that's cheap, wait til you get to Laos. In several places (Although not LP & Vientiane) I had rooms to myself for US$5, and beer was I think US$1

Seeing as it was the Belgians who invented fries in the first place, I'd trust their judgement on what to eat with it. Belgian Fries + Mayo = Mmmmmmmm.

Geoffs last blog post..No swimming

All of the big Flemish cities are great - Brugge gets all the attention, but Ghent (Gent) and Antwerp (Antwerpen) are both fantastic as well, and often overlooked.

Geoffs last blog post..Istanbul

For me though I find it sad that it's quite rare that one of the many languages spoken is Dutch - most French-speaking Belgians I know speak little or no Dutch, and most of the expats only learn French, which means it's hard for native Dutch speakers to speak their own language in their own capital city.

Aside from that though, it is a wonderful place. Definitely some of the finest food in the world.

Geoffs last blog post..Istanbul

Great article Gary, it's not a country I've ever heard much about in the news or from other Travellers, apart from the bad stuff, so it's great to hear more. One more place to add to my list now...