Exactly. If you are considering coming back to the UK then think again. There are Captains i know retraining as driving intructors(£10 per hour) for the inevitable cut backs. The market for jobs is completely saturated here.
Leaving a ship thats taking on water is one thing, trying to get rescued by the Titanic is madness.
As for the far east i just don't beleive enough of the future markets in Vietnam/Laos etc are well enough established to attract people from a 1st world background. Personally if i could look after my family adequately, i'd be off like a shot.