Hey everyone, long time no see! Nah fa worry mi nuh dead yet I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying Jah or looking forward to their next trip. I've been riding a motorcycle, an old Honda Bonus 125 named El Diablo, around SE Asia for the last 3.5 months. Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia so far.

It's been one crazy ride full of beautiful countryside, amazing islands, awesome cities, hill tribes, remote villages, dense jungle, dirt tracks through rice paddies, fearless drivers, and so much more. Skinny dipping on a tiny island with Scandinavian girls in phosphorescent allege, Austrian cougar sisters, Scottish drinking contests, ping pong shows, drunken Muay Thai fights with locals, snake feasts, run ins with Cambodian mob bosses, mistakenly hitting on a Russian mobster's new wife, life and death battles with monster spiders in the bathroom piss drunk at 4am, being chased by a King Cobra on Phu Quoc Island. Rooftop bars in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, late nights at Heart of Darkness in Phnom Penh. $2 pitchers of beer, $1 spliffs, happy pizza and happy shakes at Happy Bars!!

Spending the night in an actual opium den in a very remote region, like something out of a Western movie. Home stays with rural families, random hammock bars on tiny lakes in the middle of nowhere. Having to spend the night in the jungle on small dirt track in North East Laos because of breakdown. Winning good money at hold-em tournaments and table games in casinos, losing good money on cock fights. Nearly drowning trying to swim to an island that looked alot closer than it was. The food is amazing, some of the best I've had in the world. Especially South Vietnam and Phu Quoc Island. Tons of great job offers and business opportunities. The money gears in my head are always turning, particularly in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where i have spent a good deal of my time.

My plans are to spend about the next 3 months bouncing around the rest of the region, spending 2 weeks in Myanmar (Burma) and a week in Singapore. After a short stop in New Zealand I'm heading to Fiji where I've taken a 3 month contract as a private Chef on board a sail yatch. It's a pretty good gig, 47' boat, only 4 on board, just the Captain, his girlfriend, a Dive Master and me. Free passage, unlimited dives and $20 a day. I have carte blanche over the entire provisioning and menu planning for the boat. Planned route as of now is, leaving Savusavu, Fiji mid june, cruising to and around Tonga, Vanuatu and finally sheltering for cyclone season somewhere in the Solomon Islands. Coming home for a wedding at the end of Sept and those are as far as my plans go. Been thinking about spending a year working in New Zealand since I still qualify for a WHV, but who knows...

This was by far the best decision I could have ever made for myself. My mind is clear, my heart is open. Mentally and spiritually I'm in the best shape of my life. Physically I feel amazing, I've lost almost 40lbs and after the sailing adventure should be back to my high school weight which I'm very excited about. Life is amazing and you should always do whatever it takes to make yourself happy. I am at peace with my inner demons and my past. I am no longer ashamed nor proud. I am who I am and people love me for it. I think about and miss my second home in Jah often and know I will eventually return. I wonder how the people of Broughton and Little Bay are doing. I wonder if this season was any better for my friends. I'd love to hear what the feeling is like on the island right now. Maybe a short visit in the fall before heading out for unknown once again. I hope everyone is well, and to all the newbies on here reading this, I'm just a guy with a long story who loves Jamaica and Jamaica loves me!!

Bless up!

John

WOW! Man, you have given me just a TASTE of your adventures, and I am already enthralled..I want details, man, details! Especially when you tried to swim to the island and almost didn't make it..and when you hit on a Russian mobster's wife by mistake!

What you did sounds incredible..would love to do something like that with the island of Jamaica someday..just spend a few months going where the wind and the inclination takes me..

Good to hear from you, glad you are having the time of your life. Be safe and continue enjoying yourself.

~ LostBeachBum ~ wrote:

'This was by far the best decision I could have ever made for myself. My mind is clear, my heart is open. Mentally and
spiritually I'm in the best shape of my life. Physically I feel amazing, I've lost almost 40lbs and after the
sailing adventure should be back to my high school weight which I'm very excited about. Life is amazing and you
should always do whatever it takes to make yourself happy. I am at peace with my inner demons and my past. I am
no longer ashamed nor proud. I am who I am and people love me for it. '

Good dayz, LBB. Jah IS with YOU! Congradulations on the sailing gig.

I am going to meditate on your words above...You are a Special Person, Jah Live!

Good Loard John, you really know how to travel. World Travler AND Chef. You are the MAN!!

safe travels LLB

Was just thinking about you the other day and wondering "where in the world is LBB ? And here you show up....
Wow...am so happy rhaving such a fulfilling trip....
I hope your going to write a book ...Would love it if you had a "blog-though it seems you have no time to keep up with it (LOL)

Continued safe journeys my friend....and keep in touch..

I'm just really happy for you-what an awesome experience..

First id like to tell all his friends that I'm very sorry to hear about Alfred. He was peaceful and gentle man with a wonderful smile and outlook on life that I'll always remember.�

Thanks for all the kind words everyone! I'm truly living my dream while at the same time realizing that many other people are doing the same thing. We might have all taken different roads to get here and are driving at different speeds but I don't feel as though im doing something different or monumental any more. Nearly anyone can do this, there are 100Ks of travelers around the world living free lives and making their way on pure ambition, will, skills and personality. Above all else though is the love of the unknown, exploration both physically, emotionally and spiritually. The sense of freedom you feel while traveling allows your mind to expand and your heart to open. I truly believe that I am becoming the person I really am and that would have never happened if I had kept living the life I was living.�

I have been writing my book, story by story little by little. With bits of my own words of wisdom and philosophy on life. It's funny, the more I write the more I remember. Sometimes it hits me when having conversations with other travelers about growing up and their lives now or before travel. That's the only time I feel different or alone. � You only realize just how fucked up your life has been when you get to you people who've lived "normal" lives. I'm typing this from my iPhone and write in a notebook so no sneak preview yet, but if I finish it and actually get it to someone who will publish and market it the right way, I think it's a best seller maybe even a movie �

Jajewel- when in burma I will keep an eye out for those beads, they look very cool and would make a nice necklace. Ill let you know what I find, I promise.�

Jennieb- it really depends on what country I'm in. Smoking in Malaysia kind of freaked me out because it's the death penalty there if caught. But I made it out alive. � I know how to handle myself and don't put myself in sketchy situations. Worst case scenario ANYTHING can be solved with $$. Yes I've seen the movies, midnight express, locked up abroad, etc... It would be a horrible experience but I'd never let it get that far but if it did you just handle it like you handle any other situation in life. Drugs are sold in the wild open throughout most of this region, police and governments are incredibly corrupt. Don't cross borders with anything and stick to a 2 spliff rule, just like Jamaica!�

Lola and Tammy- Thank you for the love! You have mine right back at cha! I'm glad the card is working out for you, it's saved me $100s in fees. You're a great group here, that's why besides Facebook this is the only social Internet site I frequent. I'll be sure to keep in touch.�

Jim/Donna- � I feel like THE man! Learning tons of new recipes and ancient cooking techniques. Getting incredibly fit and tan, practicing Asian fighting styles, becoming very in touch with my emotional and spiritual side. I'm going to make some woman a very happy wife one day

BP- I got back from JAH just before Thanksgiving and left right after.�

Suzan- sorry no blog just yet. No laptop and just too busy/lazy. I'll try to post a story here once and awhile if I stay in a place with a computer because this post has destroyed my thumb for the rest of the day.�

Bless up everyone and Irie vibes to all!!

John

Continued safe travels and enjoy to the max

wow wow wow-- at work now and spent a few minutes skimming your report. i look forward to reading later in full and with time to absorb everything. great adventure, thanks for sharing.