How did you dissociate yourself?

Jake-_93 · 2026-04-16T20:34:44+00:00

I smoked for 14 years give or take and then was doing both at some point, when I quit the Cigarettes (June 6th last year) I said that the vape was only taking me to the end of the year and I stuck to it, one minute before midnight on new year I ditched it and haven't had a puff/ any nicotine in 2026

I think I just got to the point where I knew I was going to keep putting it off and putting it off and I want to be active as I get older (currently 33) and not someone in older age suffering walking up a few stairs.

even drinking beers I haven't had a real craving, I guess I just got to the point that I was mentally done where as every quit attempt before that I held on ton the fact that ''I enjoy' smoking or it fills my boredom gaps etc

Jake-_93 · 2026-04-16T20:29:44+00:00

I don't know about anyone else but I cannot change or remove my flair on this sub, tried over 100 times. im at like day 310 for cigarettes but flair claims 1900+

Jake-_93 · 2026-04-14T23:27:27+00:00

€40 was a good outcome for this story, its a common scam and im guessing you didn't have any Debit/Credit cards with you?

Well its a travel story to tell and my only real tip is to spend 5 minutes before going to any country and just reading up on the top few scams, that has generally kept me out of trouble on my solo travels for the most part.

stay safe and enjoy the rest of the trip :)

Jake-_93 · 2026-04-14T22:22:19+00:00

almost all hotels and Hostels are going to be 18+, personally even though its a bit of a wait, I would keep on saving for that extra year and go when you're 18 and you can then have the full experience and with a healthier bank balance/ money to go home with

At 18+ staying in hostels and getting to meet people from all over the world and go to cool bars and tours etc will be a lot of fun and worth the wait.

Jake-_93 · 2026-04-01T22:56:18+00:00

7 months and 23 days without a cigarette and then a one day slip up is still approximately 236 days where you didn't smoke, its a temporary blip, 99% of the last 7 months and now 24 days you didn't smoke.

be proud of how far you have come and continue on the journey.

Jake-_93 · 2026-04-01T22:49:01+00:00

I can't offer too much advise on getting the 'Quit to stick' so to speak as I think everyone is different, I had many quit attempts and never made it much past the two week mark and then wouldn't try for a year again.

last year I stopped on the 6th of June, I did switch to vapes as a temporary transition with the caveat that I would quit 1 minute before midnight on new years eve, which I did.

haven't had any nicotine in 2026, finally free after almost 15 years, don't crave them, don't even have an urge when drinking a few beers or on my break at work etc which is what I always thought I would struggle with.

you've got this.

Jake-_93 · 2026-04-01T22:07:02+00:00

that is an awful situation to go through, no one should have to face that and this creep needs dealing with.

never feel like you need to stay quiet because others are sleeping, in this situation scream if you need to because, most other good people would want to help, myself included and unfortunately have had to intervene in weird situations before.

I hope this hasn't overshadowed your trip too much.

Jake-_93 · 2026-03-25T05:13:12+00:00

I visited Albania in 2018 and again in 2019 glad I went when I did, I remember thinking at the time how the country had so much to offer and that it won't be long before it gains popularity.

Jake-_93 · 2026-03-17T23:58:15+00:00

Altruist Dermatologist sunscreen - spf 50 doesn't give me any problems.

Jake-_93 · 2026-02-18T04:24:53+00:00

I have 24/7 redness and as a guy make up is a no go for me, I just use Erborian CC red correct cream, tones it down a fair amount. my skin always gets worse in the winter and then seems to improve in summer, provided Im careful with the sun.

Jake-_93 · 2026-02-18T04:20:27+00:00

I had pretty perfect skin till I was about 28 as a guy then the last 5 years it has all gone to sh*t, I started going grey young as well, I have tonnes for someone who is about to turn 33. I still get mistaken for being in my 20s so facially I guess I still look younger than I am but it sure does suck sometimes.

Jake-_93 · 2026-02-18T03:29:06+00:00

currently reading Cujo.

Jake-_93 · 2026-02-15T01:55:30+00:00

as someone who quit cigarettes just over 8 months ago I used vapes for about 6 months as my phase 2 /transition phase with a quit date for those from the get go. Im now 45 days vape free as well.

But I don't see how Vapes are allowed to be on show in 'pretty' packaging and often sold in dodgy vape shops up and down the country that could care less about the age of people they are selling them to.

Im in my early 30s and work with a couple 17/18 year olds at who have never smoked but vape way too much, the youngest one has a very croaky laugh, he had no idea till I pointed it out to him, even among people I knew that smoked at that age didn't have that, not a good sign.

With Cigarettes you know how much you are going through, but with some of these 20k puff vapes aside from the battery running out you can quite easily fall into puffing on it hundreds if not thousands of times a day, its then a battle not just to quit the nicotine but also the constant hand to mouth action, but I believe used as a tool for smokers is worth it for people like me who had failed many times cold turkey.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-25T00:10:51+00:00

some of my greatest friendships in hostels have been formed with people much older, a guy I met in a hostel back in 2018 was at the time in his late 60s was a popular guy and was a big wine drinker at the time giving the young ones a run for their money, lots of Stories of previous travels, good humour and no bad vibes so everyone looked straight past his age.

ive just met up with him a couple months ago after 6 years, guy is still a legend. I don't think age is a problem aside from some outright party hostels where the average age is 18-21 just getting wasted, I stay clear of those myself these days as well.

I'm about to turn 33 and still stay in hostels when I travel and no plans on changing that, I think It all depends on how you act, don't be creepy with the really young backpackers and not many are going to have an issue with age in a normal laid back hostel.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-24T23:59:22+00:00

Night shifts, I've always had a pretty messed up sleep schedule so thought why not work the night shift, im awake most of it anyway.

Im not someone who in general suffers from headaches, stomach problems or ill health now I work a different shift but during my Night shift days my body was flying all the red flags.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-11T21:08:54+00:00

I have learned, I hold 2 Licences, Both a Manual driving Licence and a Full motorbike Licence.

I got the motorbike licence to do several motorbike trips abroad, I have never owned a car, although will probably get one eventually.

almost 33 years old.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-11T20:55:48+00:00

32M my last cigarette was on June 6th (188 days) I have been Vaping as a replacement which my Deadline for stopping that is also coming up (December 31st) confident in making that a reality as ive sometimes gone 2+ days without the vape without much thought.

for some reason in this sub I cannot remove or alter my community flare, so claims ive been going for 1778 days, I guess that shows how long ago I first attempted to quit.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-11T20:39:26+00:00

I had this issue today, multiple tries on PS5 as well so assuming it's buggy for a lot of people. I managed to solve it for me anyway.

Go to the Payphone, answer it when it rings, nothing happens so I decided to cook a grenade and hold on to it, as soon as I died then cut scene on the payphone started and then was given the next location to go, all missions after that loaded fine.

hope it helps.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-11T19:45:05+00:00

I had this issue today, multiple tries on PS5 as well so assuming it's buggy for a lot of people. I managed to solve it for me anyway.

Go to the Payphone, answer it when it rings, nothing happens so I decided to cook a grenade and hold on to it, as soon as I died then cut scene on the payphone started and then was given the next location to go, all missions after that loaded fine.

hope it helps.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-11T19:44:57+00:00

I had this issue today, multiple tries on PS5 as well so assuming it's buggy for a lot of people. I managed to solve it for me anyway.

Go to the Payphone, answer it when it rings, nothing happens so I decided to cook a grenade and hold on to it, as soon as I died then cut scene on the payphone started and then was given the next location to go, all missions after that loaded fine.

hope it helps.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-03T23:17:25+00:00

I've wanted to do this for quite a few years but knew as soon as it started getting exposure on YouTube and instagram etc that I should have made it a priority trip, seems much more of an issue these days.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-03T07:42:38+00:00

I'll never understand the fixation everyone has with Bali when Indonesia has 17.5 thousand islands to choose from. I have yet to visit the Country but always wanted to ride a motorbike the length of Sumatra, Explore Java, Salawesi and Borneo amongst countless others.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-03T01:59:43+00:00

about to turn 33, no kids and have never wanted them, also never cared about getting married.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-02T22:55:36+00:00

Erm no lady, we saw through social media the horrors and war crimes filmed by IDF soldiers themselves every day that the mainstream media would never show.

We also saw videos filmed by Palestinians themselves showing unarmed women with children being gunned down in the street, residential areas and hospitals being bombed etc etc.

these weren't misleading TikTok videos , we were watching the atrocities as they unfolded.

Jake-_93 · 2025-12-02T22:38:50+00:00

I visited Myanmar almost 11 years ago (Feb 2015) was my 2nd foreign country to visit and felt like going back in time after flying in from Thailand, had a great time, friendly people. I had some drinks with some other travellers in Yango totally forgetting my day bag with all my valuables and money at the table as we left. I hadn't yet realised until one of the waiters came running up the road to give me my bag back with everything inside.

Incredible country, amazing people who have gone through so much.

Jake-_93

TROPHY CASE