One Big Adventure...

Three hundred and thirty days, eleven months, forty cities, seven countries, two friends.. One big adventure.. When I said my emotional goodbyes and set off alone in the taxi to Heathrow Airport all those months ago, many things were running through my mind. Looking back now I was just a scared, nervous girl going out into the world, armed with only a backpack and a few prized possessions. I'd always wanted to go and travel this amazing planet we live on and finally my day had come when it was all actually real and I was beginning this crazily huge adventure. I wanted to pinch myself because somehow this just couldn't be happening. On the day of my departure I remember feeling that I'd changed my mind and I no longer wanted to go. Nerves had taken over from the feeling of excitement, and I was just too scared to comprehend what I was about to do. Obviously after a lifetime of having this dream, and after months of preparation there was no way I was turning back now. The taxi pulled away from my childhood street and as I looked back a million blurred thoughts were taking over my mind. My adventure had only just begun and I honestly had no idea what to expect or what was this year was going to hold for me. As I prepare to return home to that street that holds so many amazing memories for me, I realise just how far I've come and how much I've learned and how much I've changed since that day in October 2013 when I first made that giant leap into the world. So where do I begin in trying to summarise this incredible year that I've had? Travelling for me hasn't just been about seeing the world and the amazing places on offer, but it became a personal, emotional journey, and with each step that I have taken I have discovered something new about myself. Firstly I have just had the most incredible experience of my entire life. When I finished university I thought that life would never get better than those three years I spent in Southampton. I met some of my best friends there and had the most incredible experience I could have ever asked for. Nothing could ever beat that as far as I was concerned. But then I came travelling. Don't get me wrong, uni is still one of the best things I've ever done, but the opportunity to travel this beautiful world is just something so unforgettable and life changing. The countries I've visited and the things I've seen and done just can't seem to work their way into words. I'm still in absolute awe at some of the incredible experiences I've had and some of the amazing places this world has to offer. Arriving into Bangkok, Stef and I both didn't have a clue what lay ahead of us. Neither of us had made any kind of plan of where we were heading next or what we planned to do. We very much were going with the flow and that was exciting; to have no plan and to just be out in the big wide world. Anything could happen and we were sharing this adventure together, which was just amazing as looking back now I don't think I could have done it alone. When I think back to what we have achieved since that day so long ago that we touched down into Thailand, it all just seems like some distant dream. I've had to pinch myself many a time throughout this trip to check that this has all been real and now when I look back on all my amazing memories, it's hard to believe it ever really happened. It's been almost a year since I first left on that plane and it's just incredible, it feels as if it's only been a few months. I've seen and done some amazing things and learned so much. Ultimately everything I have learned along the way comes down to one thing: a new found appreciation for life and everything in it. An appreciation for living out of a backpack: A valid lesson I think that is gained from travelling only with a single backpack is the realisation that you only need a few precious items to live. Everything within that one backpack is your whole life and it's amazing to realise how little you can survive on. I've not had a hair dryer or straighteners at all throughout my trip and have embraced the natural, wild look. I've barely worn makeup and certainly have not been dressing to impress by any means. It's incredibly liberating to realise that things like makeup and nice hair play such a huge part in our everyday lives back home, but are things that can be sacrificed and lived without when travelling. I've had a few basic tops and shorts in one small backpack that I've lugged around two continents for eleven months. The clothes get boring and I definitely do miss making an effort and looking nice, but other things take priority. I haven't worn heels for nearly a year and have basically lived this last year in flip flops. Going back home to reality and trying to attempt a night out in heels is certainly going to be interesting. That's the fun part about travelling though, is not caring what you look like or what other people think. You're just here to see the world, like all the many other backpackers you meet along the way, so who cares if your hair is wild, untamed and unbrushed? Little things like looking good soon take a back seat and although at first it may have seemed daunting it's actually so nice not to worry about the way you look. An appreciation for realising it's not where you are but who you're with: One of the most important things I've learned since coming travelling is it's not about where you are, but who you're with. I've also decided it's important never to solely rely on the opinions of places from other travellers. I do think it's important to learn from other people and to gauge what a place is going to be like before you visit it, but I don't think you should ever listen to someone if they tell you that you should absolutely not visit a place. Countless times throughout the trip, I have had people telling me not to bother with a certain place, but thankfully I've ended up ignoring their advice and finding out for myself what I think of it. Thank goodness I have done this, as it turns out the places that people have tried to steer me away from have been some of my favourite places, and I ended up having the best time there. What other people may consider a mundane, ugly or horrible place could be completely changed by the fact that you're with good people and you've made amazing memories there. I think it's all very well for someone to advise you not to visit a city, country or whatever when they've had a rubbish experience, but that does not reflect on the actual place itself. For example Stef and I were told, practically begged not to bother with Koh Phi Phi in Thailand, but knowing we'd regret it if we didn't go, we decided to give it a shot. If it was not we had hoped, then at least we would have tried it and we wouldn't be looking back thinking, 'what if,' or 'I wish.' One of the biggest things about my trip was not to have any regrets. We were grateful for our new friend's advice, but this was OUR trip and we wanted to decide for ourselves if we liked the place or not. Well Phi Phi turned out to be one of my favourite places, it's truly beautiful and Stef and I had such an amazing few days there. It's one of the places I look back on with a smile. We met great people there, had such a good time and it's definitely up there with somewhere I'd love to return. So what would have happened if we had listened to our fellow traveller and not gone to Phi Phi? We would have missed out on an amazing few days and would have constantly wondered what it would have been like had we taken the chance. Travelling and indeed life are about taking risks and just trying everything at least once. That way you come back knowing you've really done everything you possibly could, and you've lived life to the full. One thing is for sure I do not want to ever look back and wish that I had done things when I had the opportunity and regret it later in life. An appreciation for other countries and cultures: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia. Travelling around Southeast Asia was without doubt the most incredible thing I have ever done. Six very different countries in one captivating continent. Moving on every two or three days to a new place was completely exhausting but so worth it. Each country was unique and special in its own way and the best part about each one was learning about its history, culture, language and people. Each place was beautiful in its own right and I experienced some amazing things in each one, even if it was just a taste of the local cuisine. Whilst in Asia I obviously got a taste of a very different culture to that of western civilisation. It was eye opening to learn about how people live in countries that are not quite so well-off as our own. In Cambodia in particular, the poverty was very prominent and rife, where we witnessed young local boys scavenging for food out of dustbins. This was such a shock and very upsetting, but for the boys and the other locals it was just a normal part of life. I definitely came away from Asia with an appreciation for my own life and how lucky we are. We sometimes moan about our lives and wish to be wealthy and have nice things, but there are people in some of these less fortunate countries who are just trying to survive the daily grind and feed their families. Even basic things made me appreciate how good we've got it at home and how easy it is to take advantage of these things. For example, the pure luxury of a western toilet in comparison to the typical squat toilets and ever so delightful 'bum guns' instead of toilet paper. Obviously I won't go into depth about this, but I'm sure if you use your imagination you could try and gain some insight into what I'm talking about. The general health and safety of our own country in comparison to Asian countries is just amazing. We may complain about restrictions that laws and governments have put in place to keep us safe at home, but in Asia anything goes. The roads for one thing certainly have no rules and it seems as if everyone makes it all up as they go along. Hilarious to witness but scary to put your life into some of these people's hands. Of course there are obvious things which you also start to appreciate in your own country. The language barrier is one of them. It's absolutely hilarious trying to translate the shabby English in restaurant menus and trying to explain something to the locals with their broken understanding of the language, but it becomes an issue when something important has happened and you just can't seem to communicate with the locals. When Stef had her belongings stolen in Vietnam and we were at the police station trying to file a report, it just felt like a headache trying to get it sorted. It gives you a new appreciation for your own country where you understand and speak the language. The most important thing I think I learned whilst in Asia was the history of some of these amazing countries. Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia in particular have each gone through their own share of hell and it was incredible to learn about the sufferings of some of the people from these places. The genocide in Cambodia for example still felt so raw and prominent within the country and it was so heartbreaking to learn about something that happened so very recently. As upsetting as it was learning about the traumatic things these countries have gone through, I found it was very important to submerge myself into learning about them, as again it makes you appreciate the life you have and perhaps how easy we have it in comparison to others. An appreciation for experiences: An important lesson learned very early on in my trip was how much more valuable experiences are than money. And that's not just with travelling, but every aspect in life too. A new friend had once said the wise words, 'you can't take money with you when you die, but you take the memories and experiences with you.' Throughout the course of my journey these words have stuck with me. I could save all my money and never spend it.. And for what? What do you gain from years of saving? Life is about living and for me I want to live it to the absolute fullest. I want to know I've done everything I could have possibly done. There's no way I ever want to look back on my life and regret things I didn't do. I want to do it all now. And yes that costs money and I have been frivolous with my spending since being away, but you know what, it's all been worth it and I would do it all again to take home with me all my amazing memories. "Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer." I'd seen this quote countless times before I came away and now it all makes sense. It's so true. My wallet may be coming back a lot lighter, but I am truly rich now in memories, laughter, experiences and fun. The time that I've had since I've been away has been absolutely incredible and worth every single penny. That's the way I want to live my life. It may seem careless to some but at least I know I have lived my life the way I wanted to and I regret nothing. An appreciation for the little things: It's so easy to take things for granted in every day life and of course I will admit that I used to complain about stupid things before I came away. But when you live a simple life and only have a few precious belongings, it makes you appreciate the everyday things a whole lot more. A duvet, a warm, private room, my own shower (that's hot!), people not stealing my food from the fridge, not getting woken up in the middle of the night, a place to hang my clothes. The list is endless at things that are all part and package of the travelling experience but are little things that become so important again when you have them back. When you've had nights of broken sleep on a long and bumpy bus journey, you start to appreciate a comfy bed again. Or even just having a little bit of me-time, where you're not constantly having to introduce yourself to people and ask which country they're from. Just to be able to cook dinner without loads of backpackers doing the same thing around you. These have all been part of the experience and I would never change anything about any of it, but it really truly does make you appreciate the little things in life. It makes you appreciate and miss your normal, basic routine. An appreciation for home: Ultimately after everything I have learned whilst travelling, it all comes down to finding a deep appreciation for everything you left behind. Before I came away on my journey, I could not wait to leave my hometown and fly the nest into the world. I had itchy feet and just couldn't wait to leave the little town I'd grown up in as I felt there was more for me than what it had to offer. Nothing makes you appreciate your home as much as going away. I remember my dad had said that the best part about travelling was the coming home part. At the time I didn't quite believe that would ever happen to me and a part of me wondered if I would ever come home. But now as I am preparing to return home I understand completely what he means. It's a lovely feeling seeing home in a new light and finding a special appreciation for what you already have and where you're from. It's been incredible exploring these amazing places I have been to and learning about new and different cultures but really there is nothing quite like home. I have never been more excited to see the white cliffs of Dover, Dover Castle and the ferry port; places that I took for granted before coming away and never giving much thought about. The fact that I'm coming home to England also gets me very excited. You start to appreciate and feel proud of where you're from and so many people say they would rather live anywhere else in the world than our country but I feel proud to be British and I can't wait to hear some English accents again. And it isn't just the places you start to miss and appreciate, it's the people that make up our home and our everyday lives. Every day when you're travelling you meet new people and as amazing as that it is, there's nothing quite like your own friends from home that you've known for years. Many a time I have been socialising with a new group of friends and have felt a pang for my old ones. New friends are amazing, but they're never quite as amazing as the people you have known and loved your whole lives. "No one ever realises how beautiful it is to travel, until he comes home and rests his head on his old familiar pillow." One thing I am certainly looking forward to when I return home after the monstrous flight is my own bed. I've found a new appreciation for the simplest of things such as a warm duvet and your own room, but really nothing quite beats the feeling of returning to your own bed after a significant time away from it. Ah the feeling of pure bliss I'm sure I'll get when my head hits that pillow for the first time in a long time. I cannot even describe the feeling I have at what I have achieved in this last year. I came away to 'find myself' as is the cliche but as cliche as it is, you do find yourself. Or realising who you were all along. I think that is a more appropriate way of phrasing it. It's so easy in our hectic lifestyles to forget who we are and to get caught up in the daily grind, but coming away travelling reminds you that you're alive and young and carefree and you need to do all the things you want to do before it's too late. I now have the travelling bug and I feel I just want to travel forever and knowing that I've at least satisfied a little bit of my craving to see the world makes me so happy. I've always wanted to do it and so many people SAY they're going to but never do. What's the point in talking about and never doing it? Life's too short for that. I've learned so much about the world, other people and cultures and ultimately so much about myself. I've learned I can be put in any situation and come through at the other end, even if was tough or trying in ways. I know that if I really just put my mind to stuff now, I can pretty much do anything. I've jumped out of a plane, what can't I do now? This year has been incredible and I feel I return a better person. Even if it's not something others can directly see on the outside, I know that within my heart something has changed and I know I'll never be the same again. As I've said before, I may not be coming home with a tan, but I come home with so much more than that. Until the next time..

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