Over the course of 2 years and 4 months of travelling we have created numerous diary entries.  Some of them are very lively, some of them very boring, some of them rude, some fractious, some opinionated and some just plain normal.  Whatever they are there is one thing that we kept common to all of them, we were as honest as we could be.  We tried to travel unbiased so that we could cut through all the marketing crap that goes along with so much of the travelling that people do and bring you the facts as WE see them.  We know that these diaries have caused people to be offended, interested, motivated, bored, whatever.  The main point is that we wrote them to be honest and we hope that they move you one way or another.

We have heard of quite a few people who, upon reading our diaries, have decided to go travelling for themselves.  There is one thing that we ought to state about forming that opinion from our words.  Once you start to travel look to find out where you think we could have done things differently, where we might have been mis-informed, where we might have got the wrong end of the stick, because that is when you will have your true-est experiences.  Above all, enjoy the diaries and, if you do decide to do this for yourselves, enjoy your travelling.

By the way, as a footnote of sorts I just want to note that travelling can be VERY boring, it is not ALL fun and games, it is NOT an extended holiday (well, not if you keep your agenda varied) and it is not perfect.  Just remember to trust your instincts and turn away from anything that doesn't tickle your fancy, even if EVERYBODY else is going it.  This is about you, not everybody else.

Finally I would like to thank my partner and erstwhile travelling companion.  We realised after a short while that I was better at writing the diaries because I can touch-type and because I'm anal about my laptop and she couldn't get near it.  However, I don't think any of these diaries would mean much without Zoe by my side to have helped shape how we travelled and to have been the sounding-board/editor for so many of these diary entries.  Another big thankyou has to go out to everybody who read our diaries as we travelled the world.  Sometimes you guys were the only reason we wrote the diaries, but looking back it would have been such a loss if we hadn't.  Thankyou again.

So, if you haven't left already, it is now time to go and check out these diary entries.

Thanks

Justin Thomas and Zoe Trodden
Your Intrepid "No no no, not another bus, no, no, no!!!" Explorers
The Big Trip Out

www.trod.co.uk - Zoe's new online shop selling gorgeous girlie stuff for little money
www.theorganicweb.co.uk - Justin's web design and management business