The Asian Fantastic |

My boyfriend really wants to go to either China, Hong Kong or Japan next year, but I'm dragging my heels a bit because of how much it's going to cost.

I plan to go to all those places at some point in my life, but at the moment I'm young and I really don't earn very much in my current job and at this stage in my career, and with rent and bills and everything I just can't imagine saving enough money for such a big trip!

Hong Kong does look fantastic though, I'd love to just be there experiencing another culture, though I don't know how we would survive with such a massive language barrier.

I'd love to experience the place and the views and the people, and go out of the cities into the mainland and see the countryside, it would be absolutely fascinating. But just not now, when we're older and wealthier yes, definitely.

Photo: Steve Webel (Flickr)

‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles was written by Paul McCartney about John Lennon’s son, Julian. Cynthia and John Lennon divorced in 1968 as a result of John’s affair with Yoko Ono. Shortly afterwards, Paul McCartney drove to visit Cynthia and her son Julian because “We’d been very good friends for millions of years and I thought it was a bit much for them suddenly to be personae non gratae and out of my life” McCartney said.

Cynthia Lennon wrote, “I was truly surprised when, one afternoon, Paul arrived on his own. I was touched by his obvious concern for our welfare. On the journey down he composed ‘Hey Jude’ in the car. I will never forget Paul’s gesture of care and concern in coming to see us”. Originally entitled “Hey Jules”, the song was intended to comfort Julian Lennon as his parents were divorcing. McCartney is quoted as having said, “I started with the idea ‘Hey Jules’, which was Julian, don’t make it bad, take a sad song and make it better. Hey, try and deal with this terrible thing”.

Have a listen to it on your skullcandy headphones now that you know the meaning behind the words!

I'm off on my travels in a couple of months, so I'm doing everything I can until then to save as much money as possible, but I'm struggling trying to find new and inventive ways to do it. There just aren't enough hours in the day to work my little socks off!

I was thinking about investments, but I'm not sure about how much money you need to invest to see a good return. If I have enough I'd like to do it, but I want to make sure I'm not putting my traveling fund at risk, I need to know it's secure.

I also don't know how long-term investments like that need to be, because I want short term for now. I might visit the Rowan Dartington office near my work. I'm not sure it's the right kind of investment place, but they might be able to help or point me in the right direction.

Photo: SimonAlparaz (Flickr)

In two months time I am off travelling around Asia. First stop Thailand, then Maylasia and the Vietnam. From then on it is where ever the wind takes us!

We have got enough money to stay away for about four months (we have been saving for just under a year!) so we are going to make this a trip of lifetime.

I have already been out trying to get all my bits and bobs including all the travelling gear like a rucksack and insect repellent and a head torch.

But it is clothes where I am stuck. As I don't want to get anything nice to take away - just some jean shorts and t shirts, a few bikinis and then I have bought a couple of maxi dresses, which I can wear in the day or if I do go somewhere where we would need to look smart.

I am so excited!!

Picture: USC

I am very curious about certain recipes that have secret ingredients. A friend of mine makes a Thai Green Curry from an old family recipe that has several secret ingredients. She won't allow anyone in the kitchen when she is making this dish. It is very important to her know one knows what her ingredient is. I've tried to guess it before, I've even tried to buy it off her. But I don't think every penny behind Rowan Dartington would make her divulge the secret.

I think there is something so nice and so full of pride in this old tradition of keeping secret family recipes. I wish my parents had passed down something to me that I could only pass down to my children. I think it's a lovely idea, if not a little bit frustrating to those of us who want to know what that secret ingredient is!