Have fun kid, be a great experience. Stay safe. 
Brilliant I love a kid with adventure
I have took time out travelling a bit later in life than you in my 30’s I have rafted in Dominica SA, climbed the Matterhorn in 99, trekked in Kenya (and had a plane crash), spend a few months in Thailand (and got hijacked and drugged, as well as arrested) also a a four week trip to Peru.
Then added to that the obligatory drunken Benidorm fests (beer beer beer beer …and more…) and the Greek/Turkish family holidays 
It goes on 
Go for it my friend and I DO mean go for it
Better to have a shed load of memories when you are in the old peoples home rather than a shed load of money
Wow, didn’t expect this amount of replies, thank you all so much for your good wishes and thanks for the advice.
Oh, and one more thing…It’s been emotional 
A wise decision I think. Hope you have a visa for Thailand or onward travel booked or there’s a high probability the airline won’t let you board on a 1 way ticket.
Also hope you have got yourself travel insurance. It would be fool hardy to go without.
As someone else said, never get so drunk you cannot stay in control.
PM sent.
YOLO as the kids say, of course they’re wrong, you live every day, you only die once! Have fun
Y’know what? I don’t know you, aside from possibly seeing you a couple of times on the M25, but best of luck to you, and know that I am rather envious of you lol. At 26 if I had the funds and the cajones I would love to do the same.
I’m a firm believer in it’s not the money you can pass down but the stories you can tell. To me, that is a life well lived, regardless of how much dolla you take to the grave. Sadly I know too many "richest men in the graveyard " and hope I can avoid doing the same.
If you could, please pop in from time to time to tell us a story and please enjoy this chance. Best of luck to you Farnborough Boy!
A Singapore sling in the long bar at the raffles hotel is mandatory
Be safe, play safe …
The only 2 pieces of info I was given while in Oz was:
No glove, no love
Slip slap slop (the sunscreen on).
A couple of times I’ve had total strangers come running out of the house chasing after me with huge bottles of sunscreen, insisting I put some on there & then
Being as my last tongue in cheek reply was censored…Bugger off then !!! 
Can we all come with you.You will meet some amazing people on the travels.Some will be friends for life.
Not advisable to wear a Union Jack Tee shirt in Argy Bargy land.But who would know you were English if minding your own business.
Will you visit Machu Pichu.The temple up in the mountain.
Beware of pick pockets.At Western Union,family can wire money if lost or stolen.
If you see me on my bike on the way to the pool ,give me a wave.
The driving standard of foreign taxis is rubbish.
Agree the price before getting in the taxi.Watch your back.Have fun.Show us photos on here.
I have to go now.Dinner with the Mayor.
Bertie is the guest speaker.So i will dig out my bow tie and tuxedo suit.
I’m so jealous right now what an amazing experience awaits you,have a great time wherever you end up its gonna be a ■■■■ sight better than living here.
All the best to you.
FarnboroughBoy11:
Just thought I would say my goodbyes as on Monday I’ll be leaving heathrow on a one way ticket.
I had a few options at the start of the year and it was either, put a deposit down on a flat, buy a truck and start up on my own or to go backpacking and see a bit of the world, and with 14k saved and no ties I chose the latter.
I’ve had a good 4 years at it, got as much experience as I can and was lucky enough to drive a V8 that was only a year old for my company for over a year.
I don’t like the way the industry is run , there is just so much bull [zb] and pettiness it’s unbelievable, maybe I will change as I get older and just accept that it takes over 6 hours to load or tip a trailer but for now things like that I cannot agree with, and that’s just a tiny splash in the ocean compared to everything else that’s also wrong with transport at the moment. Just my opinion of course but I hope things change.So now at 25 a bit of an adventure awaits, so it’s Bangkok on Monday then I have until February to make my way down to Malaysia where I’ve got a flight booked to Argentina on a one way ticket. I plan to travel around South America drifting to where ever I fancy, there is no time factor, there is no route, there is no plan although I do want to get into Brazil for the World Cup at some point, when my funds start getting low Im thinking Australia for a working visa and then who knows, whatever happens I don’t want to be back here in this repetitive hole of a society.
I hope people haven’t taken me too seriously on here in my time, it’s been a good laugh and good luck to everyone with big respect.
Adios amigos!!
Have a great time,im off to Thailand next Saturday for 5 weeks,walk round with a smile on ya face,be respecfull,especially to the King and monks,dont screw up the money as its got kings pic on,never stand on any notes you drop, and try to street food its great,anything else ya wanna know just ask,
Brave move! Good luck and enjoy it.
Adios Amigo, I’m sure you will have a ball just be extra careful were you get off yer face It can lead to a heap load of unwanted trouble. Would be great if you were able to occasionally keep yer old mate’s back in blighty updated on your adventure’s 
All the best FB11 and above all stay safe 
Regards
Dave Penn;
Drift:
Better to have a shed load of memories when you are in the old peoples home rather than a shed load of money
^^^^^so true.
Watch you don’t catch any diseases fae the ladyboys 
The Pariah:
I’m a firm believer in it’s not the money you can pass down but the stories you can tell. To me, that is a life well lived, regardless of how much dolla you take to the grave. Sadly I know too many "richest men in the graveyard " and hope I can avoid doing the same.
Exactly how I feel. As I say to people money is only there to buy experiences and make memories. Cant take money with you but you die with your memories, and if its true your life flashes before your eyes at the end then I plan to die smiling.
toby1234abc:
I used hostelbookers.com for cheap rooms.Maybe share with up to 20 in a dormitory.
Or a single room on your own.At these places,fellow travelers offer great advice of what to see and do.Places to avoid.
The latest street scams and con artists.
Low booking deposit on line then pay up on arrival.In the Uk,ask somebody to photocopy the passport and other documents.They can fax the details in case of loss or theft.
Bank card phone numbers to record.Blood group to record.
Take expired bank cards and small amounts of cash while out at night so if mugged hand over useless cards so they think they have something.
A mosquito net is a must.Check for holes.Never buy drinking water bottles that are not sealed.Avoid ice cubes and salads.Rehydration sachets are handy.
Why is that mate?
All this gushing ‘bon voyage’ expect ‘am’ Farnboroughboy will be so overwhelmed he’ll decide to stay.
bad water
One of the funniest but odd memories from Thailand was when I was up in the north of Bangkok at the hugh weekend market. After wandering around for a while I paused & stopped to rest at an empty stall, & out the corner of my eye I spotted a rather beautiful & well dressed female, a sort of Niomi Campbell look a like, complete with bronze tan, bronzed long hair and a fine brown taylored 2 piece suit sitting not far away. I couldn’t help it and found myself staring at this person. Who upon noticing my stare growled (in a deep gravel butch voice) “Oi what the f*~* you looking at?” 
Though several weeks later I’m chilling out on the beach during the early hours at the “full moon party” in koh phang yang island. When a bloke nearby was approached by the Niomi Campbell person, complete with a rolled up beach mat under “her” arm, after whispering in the guys ear. They both sauntered off towards nearby bushes. Maybe someone should have told this recently arrived farang that the ladyboys head to the tourist areas during such parties.
Another time while on the ferry ( in the harbour) going to Koh Samui the ladyboys where getting boisterous & playfully push the farangs/backpackers. But 1 pushed my then German girlfriend too hard and she fell, so I threw him overboard …