Some travel notes

just some travel notes

In 2004 when I set off solo travelling around Asia, I loaded my backpack with around three or four Lonely Planets to cover the first batch of countries on my roughly sketched itinerary. Invaluable for my travels, especially for relatively-difficult-to-navigate India, but amounted to a medium sized rock in my backpack. Some say guidebooks have had their time. I would disagree, but I would say the best tips often come from fellow travellers. You find that when you’re on the road, or even before you travel. I’ve had some of the best advice from people I’ve met along the way.  A work in progress to help fellow travellers out, I’m occasionally adding some travel notes about places I know well, and writing the odd longer piece here and there.

About me

That’s me in Ayuthaya, Thailand

I’m Simon. Travel, music and life are what get me out of bed.

After making my way through a Geography degree in Wales, I’ve been spending a large portion of my youth either travelling, working in travel, working or studying in various countries around the world – predominately Asia. Until a few years back, I was based in northern China for four years. During that time I studied Chinese (Mandarin) language at Tsinghua University, Beijing on its Chinese language programme. I’d recommend it if you’re planning to move out East, and you’d like to go back to school for a little  while. I did an academic year and have since continued self-study.

I am passionate about Southeast Asia and China, and wherever I am living – presently London – my heart remains in Asia, and I am back visiting China and other parts of the east regularly.

That small town thing. Yes it’s a cliche, but anyone who spent their formative years in a small valley town will know the feeling of wanting to escape to the wider world.

For me this was a town in northwest England. I’d spend hours with a globe in my bedroom, dreaming of the wider world. I didn’t take a flight until 14, and didn’t leave Europe until I was 20 or the western world until I was 22. The East has been my place ever since.

Sound. During the pandemic when my travel prospects were looking pretty non-existent, I turned my focus to something different: sound.

Working on a few Youtube travel videos since 2009, I always knew something was off – and that thing was the sound. Visuals can be great, but if the sound is bad, utimately the whole project comes across as amateur. If that’s reversed – shaky picture but crystal clear sound, it matters less. There’s a strong argument then, that sound is the most important aspect in visual media, and often taken for granted – not noticed unless there’s something wrong with it. As I found out, this is often reflected on a film set.

I took a Location Sound Recording course at National Film and Television School (NFTS). Now, travel is back, and I’m back travelling when I can, but I am also working on short films, when I can.