As I write this I am on a bus on the way to Koh Tao. Ben is passed out next to me after a big night and we still have to make it onto the midnight ferry. Today is my 5th day in Thailand. I wanted to take the time I have tonight to reflect on my adventure so far. There have been a few pivotal moments in my life when I have simply said ‘screw it’, let me do this differently. Deciding to come to Thailand was one of these ‘screw it’ decisions. I had been facing down a rather boring month in Wellington and Ben C, being the incredible friend he is, talked me into dropping everything and going overseas. As a plan-alcoholic in recovery, this sounded equal parts scary and exciting. While not my first overseas experience, this is my first trip backpacking and my first trip going alone. Both undertakings have intimidated me greatly in the past. But, like with many of the things that have scared me, such as getting a new job and talking to new people, once I started, it was...