"Hey Budgie, do you want to travel around south-east Asia with me?"

"Sure!"

One word. Just one. Even saying "I do" when getting married gives you the chance of bailing out halfway through your answer. No second chances here though, I was well and truly up the creek. And never mind the paddle, boys, I didn't even have a canoe! Without knowing which countries we were going to (not that it would have made much difference), I was about to embark on five months worth of pain, misery, excitement, enjoyment, extreme cold, extreme heat, jungles, mountains, deserts, elephants and camels. And...