This week we've been whizzing around Asia on our first major tour. The fans here are crazy and we've been mobbed at airports and hotels. They want alot more from us than just a performance on stage - they'll rip pieces of our clothing and pull out our hair for souvenirs if they get the chance. This time we were prepared for the wild reaction because of past experiences - it's our third time here.
The first time we arrived here was a complete shock. Firstly, we didnt expect the thousands of fans who turned up at the airport and held a vigil outside our hotels. You'd think we were the Beatles. It was mental whenever we stepped outside to go somewhere. It was like a swarm of bees descending on us. I got a lump of hair pulled out of my head and runners whipped out of my bag. It was mayhem. In the end each of us had to have TWO minders wherever we went, just for protection. Its not that the fans are nasty, they just get over-excited. It was abit frightening at first, but you get used to it. Its just a different reaction to what we get back in Europe.The first time we came over it was a real culture shock because their doesnt seem to be any rules out here. There were people crashing and driving off and that was so weird.
The live show is a great buzz for us because its our first proper tour doing a full set. There are 14 songs in the show and now we really feel like a proper band doing huge concerts. By the time it comes to Dublin next year, it will be a major, major production with lots of surprises. Kian enjoys showing off his skills on the guitar during More Than Words and its a great feature of the show. Mind you, it hasnt been all fun for the lad. Poor old Kian had an upset tum tum due to the spicy food out here and he missed a couple of songs because he was sick. It was only a minor thing and he made a very quick recovery, so the show goes on.
I like trying out all kinds of different foods myself - but only when I'm home. I'll have Italian, French and even Japanese... in Dublin. When I'm abroad I'll stick to steak and chips in the hotel or head off to McDonald's. We all look for the big M when we're in foreign countries.
Its great being back together as a group after having a couple of weeks off. Believe it or not, we really did miss each other. It was fantastic to get the old scene going again and having a laugh on stage every night is just the best feeling in the world. We do have seperate rooms when we're on tour, but we end up in one of the rooms every night, having a few drinks and watching telly. We're all really close pals, which helps when you're together all the time. I'd hate to be in a band where nobody got on. That would be a complete nightmare.
We're going to be out of Ireland for the next seven weeks, which is pretty tough for me as I'm a real home boy. I really do hate being away from home, but I've got used to it. Its also turning out to be a great education for us because we're getting the chance to experience different cultures and to see new countries. No matter what you learn out of school books, you cant beat the real thing.
It was really weird being home recently because everywhere I went people recognised me. It was the first time that I really experienced that in Dublin. You forget that you're not just Bryan from down the road anymore. You're Bryan from Westlife. But I have to say all the reactions were very positive. Boyzone used to say how they got slagged off during the early years. It took a long time for them to be accepted as a proper band and that only happened when they were recognised worldwide. They led the way for us and now people actually respect what we're doing. Everywhere I went, people were saying, "Fair play to you, you're doing us proud." It was a great feeling.