Australia

28/02/2026

After announcing my retirement and planning to travel, today is the day the journey begins in earnest. I've weighed my bags and they come in at 13.9kgs which is perfect for allowing me to travel with cabin luggage and not having to worry about checked baggage. This will not only allow me speedier travel through the airport, it will save me money as well.

I have:
1 hat
10 underpants
3 socks
Shin stockings and blister socks
1 T shirt
5 shirts
4 shorts
1 pants
2 jackets

My friend Gooey is taking me to the Tullarmarine (MEL) today from Bendigo, so I am hoping to be there around 2.00pm and check into the airport hotel opposite T4. The hotel is in walking distance to the terminal, so I plan to check out airport T2 for tomorrow as I'll have to be up at 2.30am. The plane leaves for Da Nang Vietnam at 6.00am.

Gooey dropped me off at the airport at around 3pm, and as planned I went for a walk to the terminal. It's a 10 minute walk and later in the evening I returned to eat at "Grilld" where I couldn't resist the "Melbourne Burger". It reminded me of the old days when I used to travel a lot for business and I'm pretty sure this place used to be "Nando's". It was 8/10.

01/03/2026

Ah, the adventures of Asian toilets. The first thing you notice in Asia is the lack of toilet paper. Instead the "bum gun" becomes something of fear for any western tourist. As I sat on the toilet and forced myself to embrace the bum gun, I discovered I actually liked it. Apart from dripping water from my scrotum (which I figure will be ok if covered in jock itch cream) it cleans you way better than toilet paper. You actually feel clean! I like it.

But while on the toilet I something happened, I noticed myself in the mirror. Like WTF happened to Stephen. Once a reasonable good looking guy, I am now looking at the reflection of a FAT and unfit middle age person, who surely can't be that attractive to anyone.

I feel this needs fixing!! Not in a go crazy exercising, that wouldn't be genuine to who I am. But I can make some lifestyle choices. No more Alcohol would be a good start. No more coffee would be good too, but I'm not ruling that out just yet.

So far Malaysia doesn't seem to know what coffee is, and I've settled for an "Americano Hot". This is basically a black coffee and costs around $15MYR ($5.67AUD) which isn't cheap. Maybe this is just tourist prices in Hotels. I will be back proper in Malaysia in 3 months, so I will find out then.