Leonard Austin

A great quote:

“We have to end apartheid and slow down the nuclear arms race, stop terrorism and world hunger. Ensure a strong national defence, prevent the spread of violence within central urban areas, work on the middle east settlement, prevent US military involvement overseas. We have to ensure that the US is respected as one of the world’s economic leaders. Now that’s not to belittle our domestic problems, which are equally important, if not more. Better and more affordable long -term care for the elderly , control and find the cure for the AIDS epidemic, clean up environmental damage from toxic waste and pollution, improve the quality of primary and secondary education, strengthen laws to crack down on crime and illegal drugs. We also have to ensure university education is affordable to everyone and protect the Medical Health Service for everyone plus conserve natural resources and areas of nature beauty and reduce the influence of political action committees.”“But economically we’re still a mess. We have to find a way to hold down the inflation rate and reduce the national debt. We also need to provide training and jobs for the unemployed as well as protecting existing US jobs from unfair foreign imports. We have to make England and the rest of the US a leader in new technology and at the same time preserve our historical companies. We need to promote economic growth and business expansion and hold the line against income tax and hold down interest rates while promoting opportunities for small businesses and control mergers and big corporate takeovers.”

“We cannot ignore our social needs either. We have to stop people for abusing our welfare system, while still providing food and shelter for the homeless. We need to oppose racial discrimination and promote civil rights while also promoting equal rights for women but change abortion laws to protect the right to life yet still maintain women’s freedom of choice. We have to control the influx of illegal immigrants. We have to encourage a return to traditional moral values and curb graphic sex and violence on TV, in the movies, in popular music, everywhere, but allow freedom of choice to those above a consenting age. Most importantly we have to promote general social concerns and less materialism in young people.”

Patrick Bateman

There are a few cool things in the world that would really love to try, I’m not just talking about the latest tech from the big players like Apple, Google or Microsoft. I think the heavily funded small guys have some really innovative ideas.

23andMe

https://www.23andme.com/

23andMe is a retail DNA testing service providing information and tools for consumers to learn about and explore their DNA. It covers information such as Ancestry and Health; things like finding and connecting with relatives, map the global origins of your ancestors, tells you whether you carry any inheritable diseases or whether you are generically more at risk to certain diseases.

Basically it’s cool.

Cost: $499

ZEO

http://www.myzeo.com/

Zeo claims to be a personal sleep coach and is essentially a brain wave monitor linked to an alarm clock and an online application. It tracks sleeping pattern which include, hours of sleep, REM sleep, Light sleep and Deep sleep furthermore it rates you sleep which provide you with a sleep quality and quantity. If you subscribe to the web application it will also provide you with tips and tailored recommendations on how to get the most out of your sleep.

Although not avaliable in the UK.

Cost:$349

Fitbig

http://www.fitbit.com/

Fitbit accurately tracks your calories burned, steps taken, distance traveled and sleep quality. Fitbit contains a 3D motion sensor that tracks your motion in three dimensions and converts this into useful information about your daily activities. You can wear the Fitbit on your waist, in your pocket or on undergarments. At night, you can wear the Fitbit clipped to the included wristband in order to track your sleep. Anytime you walk by the included wireless base station, data from your Fitbit is silently uploaded in the background to Fitbit.com

Again not avaliable in the UK!

Cost: $99 (a bargain!)

Then there is the normal stuff

Xbox – (update: just bought one)

Nice Watch

Digital SLR Camera

iPad

Mini-amp

Amazon wishlist

https://www.amazon.co.uk/registry/wishlist/1XN6FKURTK4RN

And that’s it, Im sure there’s load of other stuff out there just waiting for me to find an put onto my wishlist.

My new year resolution for 2010.

1. Visit 2 countries I haven’t been to before
2. Learn to play an instrument
3. Learn to do a back flip off a wall
4. Learn Ballroom Dancing
5. Get a resting pulse rate of below 55bpm – (Done Jan 15th)
6. Drink more water
7. Pay all standard personal outgoings through recurring passive income
8. Eat less red meat
9. Read at least a book a month
10. Reduce alcohol intake to within Government recommended amounts
11. Find a PLP
12. Be true to myself

I’ll just come back from travelling and I’ve had a couple of friends email me asking how to get around China and South East Asia so just in case anyone else wants to know below is the info:

Hi,

If I was you I would head down to Yangshuo then to Nanning cross the border into Vietnam (try and get a bus/tour bus that takes you all the way from Nanning to Hanoi).

Otherwise take the train to a village on the border, a tuktuk to the actual border, then on the other side a taxi from the border to the nearest town then a train or minibus to Hanoi. Make sure you book ahead and stay in the Hanoi Backpackers Hostel and make sure you tell the minibus you have reservations etc otherwise they will try and take you elsewhere.

The go on the 3 day halong bay trip with the Hanoi Backpackers. On return do touristy stuff in Hanoi (war museum) then head south to hoian drink and bit, you can hire a scooter off a local and go look at the marble mountain, you can also surf there which where the GI sturfed in the Vietnam War, there is also an accient temple which is worth going to (make sure you have a guide as they are mines in that area) girls can get stuff tailored there however the quality isn’t as good as in Thailand.

Then head all the way down to Siagon, read guide books to find out where to stay there however do the Cucci Tunnels. Cross the border to Cambodia, Phom Phen via a 2 day tour see some stuff on the way (we used smiles tour company). The mountain on the border between Vietnam and Cambodia is amazing.

Phom Phen is a bit of average however go to the killing fields, S21 and the Russian Market, we stayed in Yellow Hostel I think.

You then have two choices:
1. Head south to Sihanoukville, lovely beach, quite and vice very cool, we stayed there for 3 days however didn’t feel like this was enough, it’s about 3 hours south of Phom Phen. Then head back up to Phom Phen and then do option 2.

2. Head north to Siem Reip and Ankor Wat, spend a few days there its really chilled out but a bit touristy. Hire a Tuk Tuk for a day to take you around Ankor, I paid about $14 however it may have gone up a little, you also have to pay $20 entrance for a day pass which both time I’ve been was more than enough time. I have also heard there is an awesome floating village somewhere in that area however I didn’t hear about it till afterwards, but apparently well worth looking at.

THIS BIT IS IMPORTANT!!!
When heading over from Siem Reip to Thailand, Bangkok make sure you get a taxi, do NOT catch a bus. The road it shocking bad only a few buses actually make it, none if it rains. Despite what they say you can fit a max of 4 people in a taxi.

Once in Bangkok, do Phi-Phi (West Coast), Koh Tao (East Coast: driving PADI if you have time) and get a full moon party in at Ko Phangan (East Coast).If you have time head up to Chiang Mai and Pi, and then over the border into Laos via the slow boat (2 days). Otherwise fly from Bangkok to Luang Prabang.

In Laos make sure you do: Luang Prabang (loads of out door stuff), Van Vieng and if you have time Paske (4000 Islands), Phonsavanh (pain of Jars) and Bokeo Nature Reserve (gibbon experience book early, like 2 months early).

Laos is awesome if you want more info let me know, also if you want to do diving in Koh Tao use the drive company Coral Grand.

Anything else just email.

Leonard

So I’m pretty much going to give up everything to go travelling around the world for 9 month. I’ve sold my car, taken a sabbatical from my company and told all freinds and family.

I consider this a huge step but one that had to be taken before I got tied down as then i would never be able to go.

My plan is:

UK–> flight –>China

China–> overland–> Vietnam

Vietnam–> overland –>Cambodia

Cambodia–> overland–>Thailand

Thailand–> overland–>Malaysia

Malaysia–> overland–>Singapore

Singapore–> flight–>Australia

Austrlia–> flight–>New Zealand

New Zealand–> flight–>Fiji

Fiji–> flight –>USA

USA–> flight–>Canada

Canada–> overland–>USA

USA–> flight –>UK

I’ve booked the tickets through STA Travel on a round the world 7 stop ticket and everyone thinks I’m mad, except the person i’m travelling with. To be completely honest though, I really don’t care, this has been a dream of my for pretty much 7 years and I can’t wait. The ticket cost around £1400 (incl. taxes) plus £100 for our working visa for Australia and £60 for China and Vietnam Visas; oh yeah also £350 for 10 months of insurance (hard core all sports included, can’t wait for NZ).

Most of my friends think that 3 months to get from Beijing down to Singapore could never be done and not only will we have huge problems we’ll miss our flight, bollucks we’ll be fine.

So all I have to do now is work my arse off so my company’s finacially fine, my coleagues happy and I have no loose ends. No probs, 2nd Oct 2007 here I come.

Update…

OK so pretty much no one is happy with me right now. My Business partner’s girlfriend and his mum both hate me and are slowly turning him against me. My girlfriend thinks that we aren’t spending enough time together. My Mum thinks that I should wait a few years and get everything settle and sorted before I go, and I’m not going to tell my Clients as I’m pretty sure they’ll shit a chicken.

I’ll tell you know 6 weeks is not enough time to get anyones life sorted for a 9 month break, I f*ing knacked and now work harder than I’ve every worked in my life before (6:30am-1am everyday!!!). Anyway only 2 weeks to go and counting…