Introduction

So there I was sitting at my desk hating the routine of my boring 9 to 5 existence, trying to find some way of sparking some excitement into my life. There were so many things I would rather be doing but couldn't find anything that inspired me, then came a bolt of lightning..... I needed some new scenery and meet some new people, that was the only thing that would recharge my withering spirit.

For many years I have held a desire to see Europe but never had the means to do so and that horizon seemed so far away that I never really seriously pursued the idea. Then fortune smiled upon me and I was gifted the means to make one of my lifelong goals a reality.

So with the horizon getting closer, and with the daunting prospect that i may have to make this trek across the opposite side of the universe alone, I figured I should use the internet for one of it's actual purposes (not just watching porn and illegally downloading entertainment) and make some friends that can offer some local insight or perhaps even hang out with when I am there. I have family in the UK (whom I have never met before) but some contacts in other countries would be useful. After hitting some chatrooms, I found a few people (both male and female) who understood my sense of humour and I had things in common with, and after spending a few months chatting on Skype and Yahoo messenger, we had built up enough trust to speak of meeting when I visit their respective countries.

So after a year of contemplation, consideration, planning and waiting, it is now 15 days until I leave the safety and comfort of the only country I have known and venture into the unknown and (allegedly) dangerous frontier that is Europe. I figured Eastern Europe will be the most difficult and dangerous part of the trip, so logically I decide to start here... If I can survive Eastern Europe the rest of the journey will be easy. First stop will be Romania. Most people have formed an opinion about Romania, and while I am scared, I am venturing there with an open mind. I know a few Romanian people both in Australia and Romania and others that have travelled there and it doesn't sound as bad as many people believe it to be.

I know very little of the language.... I know a few words in Italian, German and Spanish, French and most recently Romanian but it is nowhere near enough to hold a conversation. Hopefully my good looks and ability to accurately judge a persons character will serve me well.

I started this blog with the intention of sharing some stories of my adventures abroad.... maybe it will be the most exciting thing you have ever read.... maybe it will be fucking boring... who knows... I have no real itinerary and will basically go where the wind blows me.... the only rule is I cannot stay in any country more than 90 days without a visa and 90 days in total in the Shengen zone, which is another complexity in it's own right.

Anyway, we'll see how it goes. I will try to keep this updated as often as possible, if i survive. Until next time.