The start to my journey of Self-Discovery – Episode 1
My Dream: I had such an intense burning desire that was glowing so bright deep inside I could almost see it. It was a sign that I needed to discover. To visit an Asian metropolis of 10million people, a rice paddy field, a village in the depths of a jungle, something, anything.
Take a step out of my usual farmer boy comfort zone to get a sense of realisation.
To be a better person.
“I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth and had a fantastic childhood. I thank my raising for that. But realistically I knew nothing about respect. To learn about the world was so important to me – I needed a wake up call. It’s always been a dream of mine. To realise how fortunate I am. I am not going long. Only until I realise who I am.”
– I said this to my mum before leaving home for the final time
Hello and welcome to my Travel Blog here on Create Your Moment Blogging!
Back in 2015 I wrote about my travels through Asia and Australia.
That was a long time ago and I feel that in most part, they were constructed without purpose, with no real direction and poor quality that resulted in me subsequently taking them down. But fast forward nearly seven years I have decided to re-release them.
This time, adding bits, taking bits out, giving everything a little more of a sense of direction. I will give you some tangible; hints and tips, topic insights and focussed articles as well as much more material all in order to help with your travels. I hope you will find what I have to say useful, exciting, and more than anything fun. Please like, share, subscribe and spread the word about this amazing platform!!
Thank You.
FOMO is actual a real thing…
I thought the Fear Of Missing Out, FOMO acronym was a hashtag manifest. But I personally experienced FOMO when I missed out on going to Thailand with two close friends due to studying at the time. I can vouch that FOMO is real. Seeing so many of my friends indirectly fulfilling my dream of discovery inspired me so much.
In particular Dan Day, Jamie Lambert and Jack Almond, who feature on this website.
They were having the times of their lives! All three have been huge inspirations for me. Dan Day for his around the world travels, and both Jamie and Jack for how they were spending most of their time integrating with the local people in Cambodia and Thailand.
I’ve been following their travels via social media for years. This is what I believe assisted in the ignition of this burning desire I had deep inside. They played their part in lighting the torch for me to follow.
September 2014:
I had recently completed my qualification for a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. It was time to reward myself with a quick break away before returning home and making a go of a career.
May 2015:
Walking into my room throwing my backpack onto my bed, suitcase onto the floor and laying back next to the bag on my bed staring at the ceiling, I couldn’t help but feel a little deflated. Another drunken holiday away…A week away in Magaluf on the Spanish island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean. As elegant as it sounds, and honesty is Magaluf is a notorious party destination for many Europeans, but mainly the English. Through time, this had become my usual type of drunken holiday.
Of course I had fun and a great time, but I didn’t feel full, I wasn’t satisfied – and I definitely didn’t feel rewarded. It wasn’t what I needed. Nothing to learn about life and respect. The only thing I learned in Magaluf was to drink beer, through a pipe, while doing a handstand, with a blindfold on.
And a snorkel.
And flippers.
The next day while visiting my mother I booked an open/return ticket to Thailand to go away for only maximum of a month. Not to do anything too outrageous. I didn’t want to do the whole Full Moon Party thing, to get drunk every night, or to visit any Ping-pong shows.
What I needed was to have a trip away, volunteer for a few weeks, go off the beaten track, and conclude it all chilling on a beach before returning home.
May 2015 – August 2015:
I needed to save. I worked 12-hour days, away from home, for 6 days a week for a few months.
This took me to the point of near exhaustion. But I knew I needed to get this hurdle out the way because the finish line was in sight. The finish line being the tarmac of the runway in Thailand at the start of my month long adventure….
Thank you so much for reading.
Ashley Paul Cox
(WHEN DAN, JAMIE AND JACK HAVE RELEASED THEIR CONTENT I WILL SHARE THE UPDATES! )
