The travel bug bites

The travel bug. Something you get out of your system once you've been travelling, right? Wrong. How can you ever shake off such an infectious disease?

I'm incredibly lucky. I've been to some amazing places - New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Bali, Thailand, Finland. I've seen some mind-blowing views and experienced some phemonenal things. But I've merely scratched the surface of what this world has to offer.

That's why I'm embracing my 'illness' and heading off on my next adventure at the end of the month... bring on Cambodia and Vietnam!

Developing Wings

Change is a theme that runs throughout my blog; indeed its one that has run throughout my life over the past couple of years. As the saying goes, I keep launching myself off cliffs and developing wings on the way down... So here we go again, my next big change: my job.

This Friday marks the end of an era, an era that has lasted five years - and my, what a five years they have been. There's been website launches, photo shoots, trips to France, coffee, technical articles, national press coverage, more coffee, exciting PR campaigns, national TV, wine, food, new friends. There's been hard work, there's been pride, there's been laughter.

There are times at the moment when I wonder what on earth am I thinking!? And it is certainly scary to be leaving a job I know so well and love so much. But therein lies the problem. Whilst I may have to keep reminding myself of this - I made the decision to move on because I wanted to be somewhere that I didn't already know and love, somewhere new, with new challenges and new people.

It is with a heavy heart I am leaving behind my amazing colleagues and without doubt one of the best creative communications agencies around.

But after all, we have to keep moving.

5 things I learnt at Oktoberfest

Big flashing lights, crazy rides, lederhosen, beer maids, wooden food huts, thousands of people, giant beer halls, lively music, beer, beer and more beer...

Oktoberfest in Munich is something everyone should experience in their life time. Having spent a long weekend there, here's five things I learnt about the crazy beer-fuelled festival along the way:

1. Beer is better at Oktoberfest

Why does beer taste better in Germany? Especially when wearing a traditional beer maid's outfit and drinking it out of a litre steiner?

I don't know the answer to this question. All I know is that it's true.

2. Traditional outfits are a must

My black and blue drindle is officially my new favourite dress. Having arrived with a cheap, short dress impulse bought online, it soon became apparent nobody does 'fancy dress' as such. With the exception of a few silly t-shirts and hats worn by those who didn't get the memo - and that were frowned upon by the Germans, even requested to be taken off in the most traditional (and our favourite beer hall, Marstall).

There are two options at Oktoberfest: normal dress (which even then is questioned) and traditional lederhosen and beer maids outfits. The latter is not only more fun, but the dresses hold you in in all the right places, and if you're blonde make people think you're actually German - always interesting!

3. Italian men get a little overexcited

Being mistaken for German did have its disadvantages, however. Namely the effect it had on Itlian men, who felt it was not only acceptable, but necessary to make comments, take photos, grope, kiss, even follow you. It was like they were on heat. Not cool.

4. The Germans don't do Jäger bombs

Jäger bombs... a beautiful British invention. Definitely not German. Jäger? Yes. Jäger and red bull? No.

We knew this from a previous trip to Berlin, but it's an easy fact to forget once you've had a steiner or four. Alas, our after party at a wonderfully trashy Munchen bar, involved drinking a wonderful concotion of Jäger and red bull, poured like you'd have a vodka and lemonade. Surprised it didn't blow our brains off!

5. Curry Wurst is basically sausage, ketchup and some curry powder

Curry Wurst is an essential when you're in Germany, no? Well, no.

I managed to avoid Curry Wurst on previous trips to Germany, and now I know why. There's nothing exciting or appealing about a bit of sausage in glorified ketchup with a bit of curry powder sprinkled on top. I'd recommend steering clear.

A weekend full of adventure

Jam-packed with cycling, golf, bowling, skating, football, cocktails, the most amazing swimming pool, good food and good friends, all set in the stunning setting of Sherwood Forest, what's not to love about a long weekend at Centre Parcs?

It was always likely I'd enjoy an adventure weekend - when I was younger I loved school trips to activity centres, such as PGL and Bowles, but a lot of years have passed since then - nevertheless, Centre Parcs didn't disappoint.

Even with a trip to A&E for my friend's rapids-inflicted injury, it was a spectacular long weekend. Waking up to see a multitude of wildlife out the window, from ducks to hedgehogs, moorhens, stoats, and our resident squirrels, Simon and Sammy; hopping on our bikes and cycling everywhere; hot chocolates at the country club; catching up with old Uni friends; it all made it very special. Plus, to top it all off we got to watch my beloved Leicester City beat Man U 5-3!!! Definitely one to remember.

I'd recommend Centre Parcs to anyone - I know I'll be going back. After all, we all need a bit of adventure in our lives!

La vie est pleine de petits bonheurs

Translated means 'life is full of little pleasures'. It's one of the phrases I discovered on my recent trip to France, one of the phrases that I loved. And one which elegantly sums up my lovely little break in Limoges.

When you only have a few days away, it's important to make the most of them. To me on this trip it didn't mean see as much of the country in as short a time as possible, rather it meant relax and enjoy the French way of life for a few days. I learnt some new phrases, practiced my French, ate lots of croissants, cheese, duck and mergeuz (some amazing spicy sausages), and drank lots of coffee and red wine.

Sure, we did some more active things than just eat, drink and attempt to speak French. We visited Etang Saint-Estèphe, a wonderful lake with a beautiful beach, and la Grotte de Villars, some stunning caves with prehistoric drawings inside; we even had our own back garden Olympics, with giant Jenga, Boules and Badminton. But it was the combination of lots of little things that made the trip truly wonderful.

Just out of interest, here's another French proverb I came across, which I enjoyed:

'It's the tone that makes the song.' Or as we say: it's not what you do, it's the way you do it. Alors...

Dancing in the rain

Yesterday as the skies opened above Dartford Park and the rain began to pour, I couldn't help but wonder why on Earth I'd let myself be convinced it was a good idea not to shelter in the nearest pub, and instead stay in the open air, soaking up the live music and 'festival' atmosphere.

One sodden playsuit, two cosmos, a mud fight and a hell of a lot of laughter later, I knew why.

It's not very often we just stand out in the rain, splash about in the puddles, jump in the mud, and truly embrace a storm. When I think back to the times that I have, it has always been ridiculously fun! In Orlando, we danced around Universal in the rain; when I was 15 we allowed ourselves to get soaked en route home, jumping in puddles like we were 5 again; and yesterday we rolled around in the mud and danced to The Beat like noone was watching (even though I'm pretty certain plenty of people were) - each and everyone of those times have been truly brilliant!

So ask yourself this: Why wait for the storm to pass, when you can be having a ball dancing in it?

Time for new things

"The spirit of trying new things is synonymous with self-improvement." 

I'd like to pretend I was philosophical enough for that to be the reasoning behind why I've decided recently to try lots of new things.

New flat, new town, new flat mates, new hobbies.

But really that's just something I read after making the conscious decision to change things. It is, I guess, in some ways true since it's my desire for continual progression that has brought me here. Though mainly it's my persual of fun and quest to avert boredom.

Since I realised I can't begin travelling the world again any time soon (some mini breaks to Europe aside), my latest adventure takes me to not so distant lands. Indeed, quite the opposite. But I figure, what I love about travelling is discovering the new, so why not apply that to my everyday?

Rally for Bally

Sadly cancer seems to be the common theme in my most recent blog posts, and it's exceptionally difficult to approach such a macabre illness with positivity rather than the morbidity one would normally associate with it.

But after seeing Jamie Murray's response to Elena Baltacha's tragic death from liver cancer last weekend, I felt compelled to write this. He said:

"It is very sad, but it kind of puts things into perspective a little bit. You've got to make the most of every day you have because you never know when your last one might be."

Indeed, just five months ago Elena had retired from professional tennis, was happily planning her wedding, looking forward to the rest of her life; oblivious to the fact that would be just a few months more.

So we should all 'rally for bally' and by that I don't just mean support the event and donate to Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis - although we should certainly be doing that too. I mean we should be, as Jamie said, 'making the most of every day', or as I prefer, making the best of everyday. Life really is short and I think a good way to make the most of it is to live like you may have only four months left. For all we know we may.

 

Family, we all need one

Over the past few weeks, for many good reasons, I've been spending a lot of time with my family.

 

I've always been aware how much my family have done for me - over the years I've racked up some debt to them, and I don't just mean the couple of hundred I still owe my Mum from my travels! But going away, and events since I've returned, have brought in to sharp contrast how short I've fallen when it comes to showing my appreciation.

 

But I am beyond grateful for having this wonderful bunch of people I can always depend on, no matter what, and now I'm making the best of everyday by enjoying their company and investing my time in truly appreciating them for all that they are. They're not perfect - after all, who is? - but they're mine, and I love them.

 

So here comes my words of 'wisdom': whoever your family is, whatever you call them (relatives or not), make sure those who are most important to you realise that they are, and enjoy the time you have with them, because it may not last forever.

 

Small boobs, big smiles

This is a blog not about me, but about an inspirational woman I once had the pleasure of working with, Jackie Scully.

Jackie shares my mantra of making the best of everyday; but that alone is not why I felt the need to write this - although the help she gave me when I was starting out work is worthy of a mention in its own right. This post is dedicated to Jackie because in the latest phase of her life, which tragically involves having been diagnosed stage 2, invasive lobular breast cancer, Jackie has not just been 'making the best of everyday', she's completely redefined the concept.

You need only read one post from her blog 'Small boobs, big smiles' to see what an incredibly inspiring woman she is. As well as providing practical advice to anyone else who has, or ever will suffer from the disease, she gives a touching account of her experiences, which in spite of the numerous challenges she's facing somehow always manage to draw a smile.

Jackie's ability to maintain positive and find happiness in the most unusual of places - there's not many people I know that having just had major surgery would be smiling away simply at the idea of hospital mash! - provides inspiration to us all.

So next time a problem comes along I for one, will be thinking of Jackie and her amazing ability to remain positive in the face of cancer, and I know it will help me find the strength to keep smiling too. So thank you Jackie for sharing your experiences - it can't have been easy - and for inspiring me, and I'm sure many others too! :-)

Readjusting to normal life

It was always going to be with a heavy heart that I had to return home from my travels. Put simply it's been difficult readjusting to normal life; a life which only a few weeks ago seemed a million miles away. But I don't see that as a bad thing. I mean after all, if I'd returned the same person as I'd left what would have been the point going in the first place?

So on my return to drowning England, and despite my fast fading tan, I'm determined to continue making the best of every day and to remember some important lessons I learnt whilst swanning about in the sun (yes, I did actually learn something other than the fact I like hot weather!)

I have learnt to slow down. Take it easy.

Before I left I was always rushing around at a hundred miles an hour, constantly on the move, constantly doing something. If I wasn't at work, I was socialising, if I wasn't socialising I was at the gym. What was the rush? Why was I running about like a headless chicken? Who knows.

I love being active and adventurous, but I now appreciate a bit of good old fashioned down time too. And if I have to wait, be it for a friend, in traffic, in life, what does it matter. A few minutes, hours, even weeks won't make a difference. Plus, there's always plenty of interesting things around us, which we so often overlook. I now see waiting as an opportunity to look and see what I would have otherwise missed.

I have learnt to let go of where I once was.

There are things, people, situations from my past that before I left I was struggling to let go of, that in all honesty if I could I would have turned back the clock and gone back to. Travelling to so many stunning places, so many that I fell in love with and grew attached to, and then having to leave them, taught me the power of letting go. I realised if I wanted to go to the next amazing destination I had to leave the one I was currently at behind - and what a great life lesson. We have to let go of where we were in order to get where we want to be. I can't turn back time and be back travelling again, and I accept that now. Whilst I'll always remember it with incredible fondness, I'm leaving my amazing adventure behind, so that I can move on to my next one - can't wait to find out what it'll be.

I have learnt it doesn't matter if you don't always have a plan.

Now, don't get me wrong I love a good plan. I plan at work, I make plans with my friends, I even planned a lot of our road trip, and I've always had a life plan. If you read my early blog posts you'll know last year I was starting to embrace the certainty of uncertainty and learning to live without a plan, but I think travelling has provided clarity on why. If you're always working to one end goal, what happens when you get there? A lot of people think when they get to the end of their plan, they'll be happy. But I've seen too many people (and marriages) finding once they get where they wanted to be, that something else is missing. Not always planning for the future, living in the now and embracing the new, for me is the only way to be truly happy.

Yes, it's good to have something to work towards (and I'm sure in time, I'll have some shape of life plan again) but don't defer happiness in favour of it. We are constantly changing, being shaped by the world around us, so I'm not too worried that I haven't decided who I want to be or where I want to go yet. Whilst travelling some of my favourite moments were those in which we embraced our freedom and decided to visit a place we hadn't already planned to visit, or to stay a bit longer at the places we wanted to stay, so why wouldn't that apply in the rest of my life? I'm going to become the person I end up becoming, and in the mean time I'm going to focus on enjoying today.

Diving and partying - Ko Samui & Koh Tao

So here it is, the end of the most incredible adventure of my life. Wow, has it been amazing! And the last five days have finished it off perfectly, on the beautiful islands of Koh Tao and Ko Samui.

It had been a good couple of weeks since I last had some proper beach time. So when we arrived on Ko Samui, I felt almost like I'd come home; back to the white sands and crystal clear waters I'd become accustomed to on my journey through the US, Mexico and Australia.

After a nice morning jog in Khao Sok, where rather hilariously I was joined by a mini pack of dogs (keep your puns to yourself), we headed in our open truck to the east coast. With a mad dash and a bit of grovelling to the terminal staff we jumped on the midday ferry just in the nick of time, with the only casualty being my beloved Havianas.

The unintended exercise was worth it, however, as we got to our resort in Ko Samui in plenty of time to soak up some sun, nearly drown in the sizeable waves and have a beer or two on the beach, watching the sun go down.

Throw in some nice food, a couple of massages, fire throwers, cocktails, a bit of Muai Thai, a lady boy show, pet monkeys, planking and some very dodgey looking rocks and that pretty much sums up our time in Ko Samui.

As you can imagine, it was a pretty fun couple of days, but as a more commercial island with little diving to be done, really Ko Samui - for me at least - was just the prelude to the paradise that is Koh Tao. 'Turtle island', as it's otherwise known (apparently due to its shape rather than an abundance of sea turtles) had all Ko Samui had to offer plus a whole load more. Our resort was nicer, the beach more paradise-like, the nightlife equally as crazy, and crucially there was plenty of scuba diving to be done!

In fact, it was my favourite diving of the whole trip. Despite the 6am starts, lack of whale sharks and an incident where one of the women couldn't equalise and we had to resurface, the warm calm water and dive sites just a few minutes boat ride from the shore are pretty tough to beat.

Huge shoals of barracuda, blue spotted stingray, stripy sea snakes, pink nemos (I've never seen them before), giant grouper, big napoleon fish, yellow box fish, moray eels, the list of sea life goes on. And I got to dive another shipwreck - always a bonus!

The only downside was on the second morning, first dive of the day when we descended 18m to the reef only to find a fishing net caught in the coral. The glassed over eyes of the ensnared fish in the net and the couple that continued to desperately squirm in a hopeless attempt to free themselves really was a harrowing site. And whilst I was determined not to let it ruin what was otherwise an incredible few days diving, it's clear the Thai government needs to do more to enforce no fishing over the protected reef as it's quite evidently continually being openly ignored. Otherwise, in a few years time there won't be any point diving as there won't be much to see. 

Okay, rant over. Koh Tao really is a fantastic place though and the last evening where I was reunited with my little 'Schatzchen' (or hunny to those that don't speak German), Denise from our northern Thailand tour, was my favourite night out to date.

A yummy dinner, nutella pancakes, delicious cocktails, buckets of vodka red bull, fire throwers, big rings of fire to leap through, late night swims - and all right on the beach, just a couple of minutes walk from our hotel room. Talk about going out with a bang - quite literally in my case as I fell (with some help) the 2 metres from the big pool to the shallow one. Oops.

Now following an evening in Chumphon, which was interesting in its own right, especially since support for the protesters was quite clear as people gathered en mass on the eve of the election to hear the protest leader's broadcast on a big screen, and our final sleeper train - I'm genuinely going to miss them - I find myself back in Bangkok. After some last minute souvenir buying, a massage and one final dip in the pool it will be time to say good bye to my incredible new friends, who I feel I have known much longer than I actually have, and head to the airport and home, where the real world awaits me *sigh*. Oh well, I can't complain. I have just had the best five months of my life after all.

Sawadee Ka Thailand, till next time.

Khao Sok National Park

I normally try to spread my blog posts out, but yesterday was such an action packed day I felt it deserved a post to itself.

After losing some members of our previous group and gaining five new ones (with some great street food, clubbing, swimming, sunbathing and a massage in between) we made our way over night from Bangkok, south. Arriving at 5am after a serious lack of sleep and a busy day ahead in Khao Sok National Park, I was dubious as to how it would turn out. But my reservations proved to be unfounded as I had one of my favourite days to date.

Our first stop was a local market, where our group 'CEO', Touch, showed us the local cuisine - different in many ways to northern food - and brought us some yummy breakfast pastry-type things.

We then headed to Ratchaprapha Dam to start our tour of Cheow Lan Lake, the beauty of which is indescribable. Jagged limestone cliffs, emerald green water, wildlife-rich rainforest and intriguing hidden caves.

After exploring the Pra Kay Pelch cave and finding the resident bats, we made our way past the various islands to a floating lodge to borrow kayaks, have a swim and eat lunch. After a good few hours taking in the scenery, we headed back to where we began our lake tour and ice cream in hand ventured on in our open-back truck to the monkey temple. 

Touch had promised we'd see monkeys and irrespective of the fact we'd already seen one on our tour of the lake we were still over-excited to find the monkeys were tempted down from the mountains by our stash of peanuts.

Some serious cuteness later and it was on to our accommodation for the night, sweet little bungalows and tree houses right on the edge of the national park. We had a nice, albeit somewhat reserved evening (only two vodkas with dinner) before a much-deserved early night.

Now it's on to the islands to conclude my adventure in the same fashion it began five months ago; on the beach and scuba diving. Bring it on.

Loving the simple life - Chiang Mai and the jungle

It's been a mere five days since my last blog, yet I feel I've grown more as a person in those five days than I could ever have imagined.

I've travelled from Bangkok to Chiang Mai via sleeper train - which in itself is an experience with the air conditioning blasting and snoring permeating from the neighbouring bunk; discovered the wonderful city of Chiang Mai; and trekked through the Thai jungle, meeting different hill tribes as we go.

It's taken some readjustment no longer having my best friends to share the adventure with, but I've been eased in to travelling alone gently by my lovely G Adventures tour group, the majority of which are fellow solo travellers.

Together we've walked, jumped and climbed our way through the jungle; slept on the floor of wooden huts in the freezing cold; washed in the river; ridden elephants; learned how to make the best spring rolls I've ever tasted; swum in waterfalls; played drinking games round the campfire; and accidentally capsized our bamboo rafts.

Travelling with a group of strangers, especially on a basic jungle tour was always going to teach me a bit about myself, but I've been surprised how revealing it has been.

Since my travels began I've noticed the most memorable and often the most enjoyable experiences for me have been when luxuries have been removed and we've gone back to basics: the Mexican jungle; Yosemite national park; Sian Ka'an nature reserve; and now the northern Thailand hill tribes. I have genuinely really appreciated living simply.

And not just in the 'it was fun for three days but now I'm glad to be back to civilisation' way that seemed to be the sentiment shared by the majority of my tour group. When others were missing phone signal, warm beds, hot showers, western toilets (although I do admit I have a greater appreciation for normal loos now), I was absorbing the different plants, wildlife, culture of the tribes; and rather than thinking of home and all the pressures that come with it, I was distracted by thoughts of how I could keep doing this for quite some time. It was amazingly peaceful and incredibly refreshing.

I've had a fantastic taster of jungle life and it's inspired me to try trekking again, next time for longer. Watch this space.

Sensory overload

I've been in Bangkok for two days now and wow has it been a sensory overload.

A different language, different culture, different people, protests, Singha beer, rice, markets, chicken feet, temples, boats, fish, Buddhas, Asian-style toilets, shisha, rice, gold, China town, Tuk tuks, shrines, Chang beer, monitor lizards, sarongs, mopeds, Pad Thai.

It's been crazy, a bit lonely, but it's been interesting and at times a lot of fun. Bangkok actually isn't quite as mental as I anticipated; surprisingly there are times when it's quite peaceful. It also isn't as steeped in history as I expected - a lot of the temples are newer than I'd have thought. 

There are some beautiful spots as well as some not so beautiful. I'm certainly looking forward to returning in a few days, when my senses have calmed down a little, to explore a bit more.