I am Thompson Boy

Hi Jaime, You might not know me but I have been following your blog since it was featured on Mashable . My name is Daniel and today is my last day at work. I am 33 this year and will be going on my first long term trip to Europe and South America starting in July. This trip will take 6 months to a year. Two years ago when I first went to India. I was bitten by the travel bug and realised how amazing and how big the world is compared to my problems at home and I don’t think I will be happy if I die not seeing all these wonderful places that I see on TV all the time. I have been a Nat Geo freak since I was a kid, dreaming about places like the Amazons and Egypt and its beautiful pyramids (though this trip won’t take me to Egypt but I will be there, one day). I thought you should know that because of you , I took the first step nearly a year ago. I found the courage through your experiences and also after learning how much you have spent. The biggest misconception out there is ...

Tufts University announced they’ll pay students to take a gap year between high school and college because the experience makes them more motivated and worldly. You’re probably thinking: That’s awesome! I want to take a gap year to be motivated and worldly, too. But I’m not a recent high school grad. (Cue silent tears behind gray cubicle walls.) When you're established — or early — in your career, it can feel like the gap year ship has long since sailed. You're officially in the workforce, cursing your cousin’s wedding for eating into your two weeks of vacation. But no matter where you are in your career, it’s never too late for a gap year .  Continue reading here...

If only there's less traffic but that's quite impossible considering that the world is overrun by people and kids and school holidays and such. #cameronhighlands

Backup my laptop at work with everything I worked on for the past 7 years. Another thing off the list. A few thousand more things to be completed. Credit: http://travelling-images.blogspot.com/2013/09/vintage-travel-poster.html

I am sure by now you would have seen some of your friends or friends of your friends holding this blue sign that reads: "You Should Be Here" etc, looking smug etc in their holiday pics and it's like what is it all about? Well, ladies and gentleman, let me introduce Dreamtrips by World Ventures - the latest thing that is sweeping through the country and the advertising community. I guess it's more rampant here because advertising people just want to spend and do everything fun and most of them could because marriage rates are pretty low. But let me get back to this scheme. It is without doubt MLM. It's not like MLM is a bad thing necessarily. Alot of direct selling and insurance etc one way or another are based on this model. You join as a member to get better deals/earn money or when you recruit someone, you earn something and your downliners will contribute to your earnings once they recruit or sold something. And so it continues. For most people, they just w...

How you do condense a life of numerous clothes, comfort, accessories and things for your face and hair and stuff? You know the drill. The answer is of course NOT by carrying a 100 litre bag. Even a 60+10 to me now looks and sounds absolutely mad. Disclaimer: I do own a 60+10 and it's heavy to death, top loading which is a hassle to look for things and not the most comfortable when you are lost trying to look for that hostel. I was mad enough to carry one when I was visiting Vientiane on a short half day trip before going back to the airport again to fly off to Luang Prabang. So back to my new bag - everyone thought I was mad to finally settle for 40 litre even though the 55 is extremely tempting with zip off daybag which is like value for money. But after reading the reviews on this baby, I am convinced that: 1. Front loading bags are the way to go 2. The smaller the better - yes esp for long journeys. If it's short then by all means carry all your shit. You will only suff...

It's been way overdue, but I was always curious about the exact amount spent. After all, those days I don't have tracking apps and wasn't so anal about every cents and dollars spent. So here goes. All based on the exchange rate a few years ago which was NZD1=RM2.5. Now should be RM2.7. Flights to Auckland via Emirates - RM3395 (could have done it slighty better for eg: cheap AirAsia flight to Melbourne and then connect to Auckland with Jetstar) Jetstar Airways Pty Lt Melbourne (flight from Christchurch to Auckland) - RM86.55 Jetstar Airways Pty Lt Melbourne (flight from Auckland to Queenstown) - RM559.83 Car Rental - RM273.18 Petrol Tekapo - RM36.90 Petrol Wanaka - RM28.57 TOTAL: RM4,380.03 Glacier Explorers - RM362.50 Queenstown Gondolo ride - RM67.50 Auckland Zoo entrance fee - RM62.50 MITRE PEAK CRUISES MILFORD SOUNDNZ - RM204.84 TOTAL: RM697.04 Absaloot Hostel - RM83.63 Te Anau Lakeview - RM76.27 JailHouse Hostel - RM91.57 Mt Cook Lodge - RM97.02 TO...

God, that's like really fast. Felt like I have not done alot of things and truth to be told there's a lot of things left to be done. 1. Mock packing - trying to do a few rounds of those to see what else is missing or what else is not needed. 2. Settle my bank account/finance - need to open a new account actually. Something I can do anytime. 3. Decided against an international driving license. Don't want to be bothered driving. 4. Still undecided on which pair of shoes and bag to take.....I know...I know.... 5. Settle the hostels at least for a few weeks ahead. 6. Cleaning up my space in office and home 7. Print some additional passport pictures 8. Backup my files and shit 9. Get more music And some other stuff. I am just being lazy and it's Friday and I am just too lazy.

It's not easy, hasn't been easy and still not easy for me to say no to beautiful clutches and bags. I am right now down to just 1) Balenciaga clutch - only because it doesn't have much resale value and the color and size is amazing for anything. It's also hardy meaning I can throw it around. 2) Coach clutch - Bigger size than Balenciaga, no logos and in a bright red with vertical stripes across. Probably wouldn't fetch much at resale but to buy a new one would cost me alot more. 3) Givenchy Pandora - I tried parting with this baby a few times without much success and truth to be told, it is a very versatile, unique and useful bag to own. Right now wished it was in any color than chestnut or almond (as it was called) I really want this because of its size and it's Céline for crying out loud. You don't need any reasons. But not buying it means I can see more of this and Italy

Just posted up another writing on Medium. Like some people said, if you want to try and do something, just start doing it. Doesn't matter if you are good or bad at it. https://medium.com/p/3adc259521a4

The thing with sakura is that, it's fragile. Wind blows or rains, it will fall. And I can't capture the beautiful falling sakura on video or stills. Best to just enjoy the moment. Someone told me that the Japanese (or most men) are pretty fleeting like the sakura. They only love you for just that short moment (just like the blossoms which last a few weeks and only for once a year) but I replied that it's better to be a sakura tree than a non significant tree that is never admired at all. Funny how you can get poetic that way with something beautiful. And he laughed. The beautiful Mt Yoshino and it's jungle of sakura tree looking alot like cotton candy The gorgeous weeping sakura tree in the middle of Maruyama Park in Kyoto - illuminated for only a few weeks Kyoto Keage incline - old railtrack but oh so beautiful with cherry blossoms along the way Just another bridge at another waterways in Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera temple, Kyoto Hanami (picnic) at Maruya...

LATEST UPDATE: 16/06/2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe - 22 Countries   Turkey (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus) 2-13 July *Greece (Athens, Santorini) 14-19 July +6 Albania (Berat, Tirana) 20-24 July Macedonia (Ohrid, Bitola, Skopje) 25-29 July Bulgaria (Sofia) 30 -2 Aug Romania (Bucharest, Transylvania/Poenari Castle/Sighisoara/Bran Castle) 3-9 Aug Serbia (Belgrade) and Montenegro (Podgorica, Kotor) 10-15 Aug Croatia (Dubrovnik) & Bosnia (Mostar) 16-23 Aug Croatia (Split, Parec) 24-30 Aug *Slovenia (pass through) 31 Aug +1 *Italy 2 Sept - 18 Sept +17 (2-Venice, 3- Venice/Milan, 4-Milan/La Spezia, 5- La Spezia, 6-La Spezia/Florence, 7-Florence, 8-Florence/Pisa, 9-Florence/Siena, 10-Florence-San Gimignano, 11-Florence/Sorrento 12-Sorrento/Pompeii, 13-Sorrento/Amalfi Coast, 14-Sorrento/Capri, 15-Sorrento/Rome, 16-Rome 17-Vatican City, 18-Rome) *Austria (Viena, Salzburg) 19-23 Sept +5 ...

Funny enough, alot of people do not know what is there to do in Hiroshima and what's the point of it. Obviously they have never studied history, as the name has always been mentioned since I was a kid. It was an honor to be there and also to see one of the most famous landmark in Japan - the floating torii gate of Miyajima - Itsukushima shrine.

I have recently learned to use the recording function on my satellite TV and some of the shows thats I tried were Fashion Police and of course the recent Tom Daley Goes Global - my friend seems to have an obsession with him but to me he is quite meh but then again twink is not really my thing and I have no patience with gays who claim to be bisexual and then gay after that. I suppose allowances should be given since he is still literally a kid. But truth to be told, he didn't HAVE to come out. But anyways.... The Guardian UK called it  "a poor excuse for a TV show"despite a ok premise for a travel show. If only. Well, I won't be harsh - after all I am not expecting Palin type of travel shows that will inspire you to do but rather looking forward to train wrecks and stupidity that you expect from Brits when they go abroad or to Asia. There are a couple of things to clear up: 1. Global in the title - I was just explaining to my sister that for alot of people, going ...

It was in July last year that I booked tickets to Japan. And yes the cherry blossoms are worth everything. Don't get cheated by the earlier plum blossoms or anytime outside the sakura season. Spent nearly a week in the Kyoto region and never looked back. Can't believe that people only take a day trip over from Osaka to Kyoto. I would do a day trip to Osaka instead.

Till Istanbul and then who knows. Bought a way one ticket and not looking back. This shit just got real.

To quote unquote a colleague who has been there like 3 times but each time to experience different sides of Japan (cause thats the kind of traveler we are) - only those who have not been there will complain that Japan is expensive. So let's have a look Stuff you can't control* MAS return flight - 895 Kyoto Accommodation - 486.38 West Japan Rail Pass - 647.51 Osaka accommodation - 326.64 Hiroshima accommodation - 108.33 (discounts due to staying at their sister's hostels in Kyoto and Osaka) Haruka Limited Express (airport express) + icoca - 127.95 TOTAL:  2,591.81 Stuff that you can control* Train, buses and transport (not covered by Japan Rail Pass) - 283.72 Food - 597.93 Entrance fees for temples/etc - 78.40 Laundry & Towels - 14.10 TOTAL:   974.15 Stuff that you don't really need Kyoto Baum cake - 52.92 Mont Bell hat for future travek   - 72.11 B mobile Internet Access - 132.38 GU (clothes and such) - 84.12 Micro Fibe...

No need to explain. He has beard, brain and loves history. Seriously, would you marry me? How do I find these lovely guys? Well for once, try stop watching E! for once and try educational channels and documentaries. Thats where you find some brains and these days, geeks are hot. Dr Chris Naunton has been a member of the Society's staff since 2001 and its Director since 2012. Chris is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Society’s affairs, ensuring 
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organisation. In 2012 Chris presented the BBC documentary Flinders Petrie: ‘ The Man Who Discovered Egypt ’ and was recently the lead Egyptologist on a new investigation into the death and burial of Tutankhamun for a TV film which was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK as ' Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Burnt Mummy ' and globally under various other names during 2...

Meant to be more discipline in documenting my spend - I always roughly know how much I spent on trips but never the exact detail and breakdown. So I posted some snaps from my last trip here but the damage is as below: Taxi to LCCT - claimed Taxi from Don Mueang Airport to Pattaya - claimed Accommodation in Pattaya - claimed Taxi from hotel to Pattaya Bus station - 30 Bus ticket from Pattaya Bus station to Ekamai Bangkok  - 13 Accommodation in Bangkok - 160 Bangkok National Museum entrance fee - 20 Day tour to Ayutthaya - 166.78 Train/bus tickets from Sala Daeng BTS to Don Mueang Airport - 7 Taxi from LCCT to home - claimed Underwater iPhone cover - 113.82 Eraman Duty Free gifts - 136.70 Not so legal documentations - 150 Food (as gifts), food, drinks and transport (train and boat rides) one week - 400 Total: RM 1,060.60 - 500 (per diem) = 560.60 At a glance it might looked like I did well - I didn't. Because it was a conference and I was staying in good hotel, m...

A little detour from my usual features of men - I have been following this artist from Japan called moriuo and apparently he has been doing gay related illustrations for local gay magazines and I have to say I love his subject - always 'cubby' looking Japanese men with facial hair. What is there not to like? I would so marry one if I can find him LOL it's all very sweet kind of depiction of gay life - meeting on subway etc and yes a dog or two thrown into the picture. I know some of you will just come in your pants thinking about a boyfriend with a dog. Well, an apt theme since I will be off to Japan. Wish me luck! Please follow him on: instagram.com/moriuo http://mogamoriuo.webcrow.jp/index.html