Steve Mandy

A break from the well worn path from time to time is another way of adding colour to life.

I have to admit, I wasn’t looking forward to a long British winter. The memory of winter in Yorkshire was like a dull ache. As soon as you have had the longest day, (daylight), you know you only have shorter and shorter days to look forward to. Eventually, you get left with 6 or 7 hours daylight. You go to work, its dark, you come home, its dark.

When I returned to UK this annual routine filled me with dread.

But, it doesn’t have to be that way. I cast my eye over the entire planet for an affordable winter escape.

Cyprus 2024

The first year, Cyprus seemed like a good option. My friend from South Africa, Zano, had set up his new home there and offered to help me get started. I thought, why not?

It was a lot of fun, finding my way in Cyprus. Not too many people spoke English and I found it a bit of a challenge at times, but, it was very different from Fishguard, an exciting place to explore.

I found it a bit expensive, specially accommodation. I didn’t leave there confident that I could afford a reasonable lifestyle and it was actually quite cold in winter. Puffer jackets were never far away. No rain, but cold.

I filled my days with art and a few projects I was planning for when I got back to Fishguard. It was a happy time.

Thailand 2025

I call this section Thailand, but, in truth, it could have been anywhere. Central America, Brasil, Phillipines, Vietnam, Cambodia. A dart into a world map. The flight prices guided me to Malaysia, I know, I called this section “Thailand”. It was the price of the flights and the promise of affordable accommodation that guided me there. But I thought, why not research Malaysia anyway. It might turn out that I like it enough to change my mind. To be honest, my mind wasn’t made up. I kind of had a picture of what I was looking for, but its wasn’t set in a particular country.

The thumbnail for this video says a lot. I was looking to meet real people and form friendships with local people.

I hit a luck in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. I found a backpackers in my affordability range. I am a bit old for back packing, but am I? Why not.

Chinatown Mingle Hostel

Set right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s (KUL) bustling Chinatown area, the heart of the tourist district. It was so easy to make friends with the other backpackers. The hostel prided itself on making sure its visitors left happy. They organised events and tours.

So, I had a great time as the video suggests. But, if you look back at the thumbnail of my aspirations, it was clear that I wanted to mingle with locals, not other tourists and certainly not expats.

Bangkok

I met a Thai girl online, her name was Wan. She lived in a town called Nakhon Ratchasima, otherwise knows as Korat. Thailand is full of old names and new names for places. Its confusing. Bangkok, is not called Bangkok. Its called Krung Tep. I don’t know why, but I do know its confusing when you are trying to buy a train ticket to a place that is called two names.

Back to Wan. I had never heard of Korat. Its a bit city, over 2million people, but its completely off the tourist grid. Why not head for there? If Wan turns out to be a good person to hang out with, it would be a bonus. I really wasn’t thinking romantic encounters. If she didn’t materialize at all, it wouldn’t smash my plans. I wanted to know what the real Thailand was like. It seemed to me that Korat would answer that call. It did.

Back to Wan. I messaged her and told her of my plan to go to Bangkok. It so happened that she would be in Bangkok on business at the time I intended to go. She offered to meet me at my hotel and we would go explore Bangkok’s famous temple, Wat Arun and Chinatown together. Great idea.

As you can see, we got on famously. But I had already made plans to go to Korat. It would be another week before Wan would be back in Korat. I packed my bag and off I went.

I arrived in Korat alone. Completely alone. I got off the train and looked around. I had booked lodging at another backpackers, The Khun Hostel. What I needed was a Bolt taxi, but I wasn’t sure how to use the app. I ended up catching a tuc tuc. It was expensive, but, to be fair, it was far.

I soon settled into a routine. Khun was in a student area and the hostel was inhabited with students mainly. But the thing I learned early on in Korat is that very few people speak English. I got by with sign language and pointing at things. Ordering food that I had no idea what it was, but I was happy. The accommodation was clean and private, there were loads of eating places nearby. I quickly became a local at one eating spot.

Finally, the thumbnail for my first video was formulating. NO tourists at all! Just me and Thai people. Real Thai people, studying to become a someone in this world. Thai people who don’t speak English.

In part 2 of this blog we get to know Wan a bit better and start having some truly interesting experiences, like eating bugs and worms.