New and modified travelling skills:

After 10 months on the road I have now perfected some essential travelling skills.

1. Split second ability to switch off sense of smell and breath through the mouth. Protection from varied nasal offenses, including rotting rice, open sewers and fish markets.

2. Sixth sense that detects presence of cockroaches and rats. Still room for improvement, have recently been surprised by cockroach in toilet bag and rat running at me whilst buying bananas.

3. Highly tuned 'genuine beggar' versus 'dress up' beggar radar.

4. Black hair (straight or curly) blind spot. In order to preserve inner peace, have had to learn to turn a blind eye to stray black hairs which I can ordinarily spot at 50 meters. If normal black hair sensor was operational, would not have stayed at a single guest house or hotel in Asia.

5. Con artist blanking ability - expert aversion tactics deployed instantaneously, tactics include, death stare, ducking and weaving or 'go away or I will attack' body language.

6. Elbow body blow and rucksack shunt - required for survival in China. If you cant beat 'em!

7. 5,4,3,2,1 - ability to detect eateries that will be responsible for a 5-second dash to the nearest toilet. Still working on this one!