STA Explorer Bex is heading back to blighty and will be back on our fair shores within 24 hours. Although having previously looked forward to returning from her round the world trip, the prospect is making her a little nervous,

“Someone said to me the other day is that the hardest thing is when you get back absolutely nothing has changed and you just slot right back into your old routine as if you had never gone anywhere. That scares me a bit.”

Despite this worry Bex has taken the time to fill us in on what she has been up to since hanging out in Surfer’s Paradise. Although having taken in some coastal towns, it is the excursions away from the sea that she enjoyed most,

“The best times in the camper were when we went inland. We followed Waterfall Way up to Dorrigo National Park and that was brilliant. The drive there was right up a mountain on really twisty roads with fantastic views.”

There is a load more contained in the post about trips in the trusty camper including the discovery of a superb free campsite that wasn’t on any of the maps. To read all the details visit Bex’s blog, Bex’s Travel.

Not shy of wearing out the old proverbial shoe leather, Mike and Bex of Around the World in 6 months and Bex’s Travels respectively have moved on from Asia to Brisbane – and are having a wonderful time by all accounts.

“We love Brisbane, the weather is sunny but cool, we are wearing socks and shoes for the first time in months and months. It seems like such a cool city, with loads of really liberal little shops and we just have had a really nice time here…”

…says Mike. And Bex agrees, despite hearing that the place was really ‘boring’. Of course, however good a place is – it’s always about the company one keeps. Company that has been magnificent of late according to Bex…

“We’ve spent the past 2 nights sitting in our dorm with a big Irish group that we’ve met drinking goon (wine in a box, I don’t know why it’s called that), and I think we’re planning on going out somewhere tonight.”

Despite thoughts of Blighty already filling the mind of our intrepid traveller Mike as he nears the end of his epic journey, his adventures seem no less exciting – and ‘loving life in one of his favourite places on the trip’, he tells us of the wonders of Singapore,

“The amount of free things Singapore offers visitors and we have had a fairly hectic (not to mention sweaty!) past week and a bit in which we have drunk nothing but bought plenty of ridiculously cheap clothes.”

Thailand and the surrounding area had, by all accounts, seen ‘some of [the] best times’ – but ever moving on, Mike was on his way to Malaysia – offering some sage advice ‘wish people had told us how much cheaper Malaysia was going to be as we wouldn’t have bought clothes in Vietnam and Thailand.’

“Prangin Shopping Centre which was undoubtedly the best shopping centre I have ever been to in my life both in terms of price and stuff that was there. Pairs of trainers were generally around 10RMB (1.70pounds) although sizes were mostly too small for us”.

For more travel advice, and plenty more stories from Asia, read the full blog post here.

Sounds like Mike has been having a magnificent time in Thailand, and amidst hearty beach parties, swimming in clear turquoise bays, cliff jumping and romantic sunsets – he has managed to update his blog – despite the pricey internet cafes he came across on the remote islands. I doubt it’s worrying him too much though, judging by some for his experiences…

“The night before Full Moon was amazing and we stayed up and watched the sun rise on the beach and had the most amazing night.”

Taking inspiration from the Thai language while he’s there, Mike and Beki (his travelling companion) have also come up with a nice idea to help remember their stay forever,

“Anyhow on the third day we went through Taking Back Sunday and Brand New’s lyrics for things we could turn into Thai to make cool tattoo’s. I decided I am going to get “We’re just protecting ourselves from ourselves” from Taking Back Sunday’s One Eighty by Summer and Beki is going to get “We sleep inside of this machine” from Brand New’s Jesus Christ”

Anyone else have any travelling tattoos?

Although Mike was without his trusty journal in which he keeps tabs on what he’s been doing before transferring his thoughts to the online world, he’s still done a marvellous job of covering a month in Thailand.

He’s been to Chiang Mai, Singburi, Suphanburi National Park, Koh Tao and more. The more included Koh Pha Ngan where he stayed,

“[…] in Haad Rin where the famous full moon parties are held. Went to a half moon party in the jungle with Kate on our first night which was a really good night out.”

Unfortunately the ‘touristy’ nature of Haad Rin turned Mike off. However the location of his digs was most pleasing,

“Our bungalows are in the most beautiful location though about ten minutes away past a really quiet secluded beach and over a private walkway on some rocks. They look out over the rocks to sea, not bad for two pound fifty a night.”

For an off-the-cuff account of all Mike has seen and done in Thailand, including camping above the clouds, head to his blog, Around the world in 6 months.

Our bex’s travels are never short of incident, and whether it’s skinny-dipping with Swiss girls on Sairee Beach, meeting men who promise ‘a secret bush where they could go and be spontaneous together’ or getting involved with Whiskey Buckets - all her posts are thoroughly entertaining.

Taking us through her recent exploits, which have included ‘open water’ training with DJL Dive School – she says

“Diving was awesome, we went to Chumphon Pinnacle and it was really clear and we saw a whale shark! And just loads of other cool fish”

And that’s not all… But you’re going to have to pop over and read the rest for yourself. Keep an eye on the blog in the next few weeks too, because…

“I’ll try and update this a bit more often, sorry it’s not that detailed but basically we’re having a lovely time. Loads more photos are on the camera and when I next find cheap internet I’ll upload them xx”

Mike and Bex have travelled from Cambodia onto Thailand, moved into a plush hotel and begun a month long project with RealGap. It has its pluses as far as meeting new pals, but Mike is not entirely impressed, saying

“we are basically in a huge group with a tour guide and whilst we certainly are getting to see some interesting stuff it definitely feels as though the sense of adventure has been lost.”

It sounds like they’re having fun despite this though – and amidst a whole host of drunken antics, they have been busily looking around Bangkok – and taking in the scenery.

“We have gone to lots of temples (which are nice but they’re built in the style of Angkor Wat, and we’ve been to Angkor Wat so they’re not as good), and today we went to a school (we stood in front of a class and sang Incy Wincey Spider, and then they sang the Thai version), and a really lovely riverboat dinner”.

Keep an eye on their blogs, to see how the volunteering and chilling progresses.