The Best and Worst Moments of South East Asia

It's difficult to summarise my travelling in one post as so much happened and I experienced a lot of incredible things. However, travelling isn't just one big happy holiday, there are times where all you want to do is go home. I think it takes a particular type of person to withstand the challenges of long term travel, and I can 100% say that I am not the type. Since returning, I can honestly say that not once have I wanted to return at this moment in time. I certainly miss my adventures and am so happy I went but in all honesty, my life and home is here. I have my future career here, which isn't available abroad, so I'm grateful to have travelled but thankful that it only lasted 4 months.

So, as I experienced many highs but equally many lows, here are my best and worst travel moments!

BEST: Going to a Cat Cafe in Bangkok

This is an experience I have always wanted to do, and I finally ticked it off my bucket list in Bangkok. Just down the road from the MBK shopping centre is a really cool cat cafe! You can go in a have food and drink, whilst playing with the cats. We were lucky to have our own sat on our table which we could brush!

WORST: Turning up to our Koh Tao hostel

After enduring an 8-hour overnight bus and boat journey, the only thing on our minds was a nice shower and a clean room. Our hostel turned out to have anything but these things. The shower was absolutely disgusting and full of spiders (my biggest fear), and the rooms were so tiny that you could hardly move. The mattresses were like A&E plastic mats, and there were only two showers between the whole hostel. TWO!! Not only that, but because we had arrived at 9am, we had to wait until 2pm to check in after being up pretty much the entire night. Not about that travel life.

Around 5am in the morning, catching the boat to Koh Tao

BEST: Winning bowling whilst drunk in Laos

In Luang Prabang, there is not much nightlife. The main bar that every backpacker goes to closes at 11.15pm, so instead of going to bed, everyone goes... bowling! Yep, the bowling alley is open to 2am and serves alcohol, which means you can get drunk and bowl at the same time. Who knew that I was so good at bowling whilst being intoxicated?

WORST: Contracting a nasty virus in Bali

On our last day in Bali, I caught a horrible virus that left me feeling sick, faint, and incredibly tired. Not only that, but I also had to get up at 5am the next morning for what was the longest ferry journey to Lombok (which also doesn't have a proper hospital). I have never felt as ill as I have, and luckily it only lingered for about a week. My other side effects included puffy eyes, loss of appetite, swollen tonsils and my lymph nodes in my groin were tender and painful for about a week after. I thought I had contracted malaria! Thank god it didn't get any worse.

BEST: Tubing on the Mekong River

Whether you like it or not, everyone mainly visits Vang Vieng in Laos to go tubing, which is basically drinking in a rubber ring whilst floating down a river. You can stop off at bars along the way to grab some drinks. It might sound dangerous, but it is actually a lot of fun! At one point, I was very tipsy and the current was so strong that I was clinging on for dear life to a wooden pole whilst trying to hold on to my friends. The water wasn't deep so your chances of drowning are pretty slim, and as long as you are a sensible drinker, it can be a very fun experience!

WORST: Taking a hungover flight to Hue

Somehow we decided it would be a good idea to get way too drunk in Hanoi the night before our flight to Hue. This resulted in us meeting a friendly Vietnamese/American in a bar where he proceeded to buy us a lot of drinks, then dancing with some Americans in a club and trying the local delicacy of fried chicken feet, kindly offered to us by a lovely Vietnamese couple. It's safe to say that I woke up feeling pretty rough (and still drunk) the next morning. Throw a flight into the mix and you have the world's worst hangover. That's a day I never want to relive ever again.

My new Vietnamese friend

BEST: Watching Beauty and the Beast and eating Domino's in Hanoi

By this point, I was over half way into my travels and it had been a long time since I had tried any western food or visited a western style mall. I was also desperate to see Beauty and the Beast, so we hopped in a cab to take us to the nearest mall. Oh boy, this mall was so clean and shiny, which is exactly what I needed. We had Domino's pizza which is expensive for Vietnamese standards, but cheap for the UK. After, we went to the nicest cinema so I could finally get my Disney fix. I wouldn't have changed that day for anything.

WORST: Being on a bus that hit a motorcyclist in Ho Chi Minh

Whilst on our way to the Cu Chi tunnels, our crazy bus driver hit a motorcyclist off his bike whilst turning. My friend Charlotte was sitting by the window and saw the whole thing, and when I looked, all I could see was the man lying in a pool of blood on the floor with one leg at a right angle. Luckily there were two doctors on our bus who immediately went to help him. Another lucky scenario was the fact that we were close to a hospital. The paramedics turned up in what I can only describe as a trailer type ambulance, and the man was treated. It was scary stuff, and I'm confident that he had only broken his leg and cut his head. Vietnam is notorious for dangerous moped drivers, but when you are personally involved in a crash, that's when you realise just how much of an issue it is. The worst part? Our poor tour guide who had been flung into the windscreen during the collision then had to carry on leading our tour. Poor him!

BEST: Our day tour of Lombok from the locals

Lombok is a very quiet yet beautiful island. The best way to see it is to hire a guide for the day to take you to the main sites like the Tiu Kelep waterfall.  Our guide drove us around and let us experience the true Lombok. We were accompanied by his trainee (Apenkz) who was only 17 and really interested in improving his English. They drove us everywhere and our tour lasted the entire day. At the end, they took us to a secluded beach so we could watch the sunset, and it was here that I truly experienced the peace and tranquillity of Lombok. They also bought us some Ramadan local street food that most tourists don't get to try. It was delicious and is only available during Ramadan, so we really experienced the local way of life. It was one of my favourite days and the best thing is that I still have Apenkz on facebook, so can keep in contact with him!

Lombok Sunset

WORST: Bus journey to Pai

If you get motion sickness, you may want to prepare yourself for the bus journey from Chiang Mai to Pai. It has 762 turns, which resulted in the windiest bus journey of my entire life. Couple that with the fact that we were crammed into the back with very little leg room, and you have the journey from hell. The couple in front of us unfortunately couldn't handle the turns and suffered from motion sickness, which led to the rest of our journey smelling like vomit. Oh, there's also no way back other than the way you came, so you have to endure the same journey again. This time, I was sitting near the front and literally got flung from me seat whilst wearing a seat belt. Not for the faint hearted!

Trek America: Washington, Nashville and Memphis

In an earlier post I mentioned my travel plans to join onto a Trek America tour called the Southern BLT.

It's no secret that my favourite country in the world is the USA. I have fond memories of holidays in Florida and New York. I have even worked in South Carolina in 2015 for 3 months, however I still yearned to see the rest of this diverse country.

Southern BLT (NYC to LA)

One of my ultimate places that I have always wanted to visit in the world is LA, so it made sense that this tour ended in this city. Starting in New York and making my way across the country through the southern states, I would end up in LA after three weeks of exploring the USA.

So, on an early morning in September, I hopped on a plane (to LAX... not quite, but to Newark) and began my tour with Trek America.

An early start on our first day involved meeting my new tour group and leader, and loading our luggage onto what would become a place we would spend a lot of our time: the trek van.

Before going on a Trek America tour, it is important to realise that there will be very long drives, sometimes up to 8 hours long, so if you get bored easily or travel sick then this might not be the best tour choice for you.

Our first stop of the tour was in Philadelphia, where we ran up those famous Rocky steps, and tasted the famous Philly cheese steak. After a quick stop to see the Liberty bell, it was time to move on to our destination for the next two nights, Washington DC.

Rocky Steps

World famous Philly cheese steak

Washington DC is a city that I can only describe as serious , very clean and oozing history. Home to the Whitehouse and a lot of monuments, it is the heart of US politics and a great city to visit. A recommendation to do is go to the Smithsonian museums (which are free) such as the Natural History museum and the Space and Air museum. There are so many that you could spend days wandering around the exhibits.

Hello Obama!

Our first night was spent doing an illumination tour of the main sights, which are great to visit in the day and the night. Washington is the scene of so many movies, so it was great to be able to witness these iconic monuments in person. After spending our free day wandering around the museums, we checked out the local nightlife by going to Rocket bar to have some group bonding time.

After a whistle stop tour of Washington and a night stop over in Virginia, it was time to move onto our next big destination: Nashville!

Nashville in one word is crazy! It is bursting with live country music and line dancing. Although we were only in Nashville for less than 24 hours, it didn't stop us from partying the night away in the Honky Tonk bar, which has 3 floors with different live music on each one.

We stayed at the Nashville Downtown hostel which is amazing and around the corner from all the madness.

The atmosphere in Nashville is incredible, especially as we were visiting on the 9/11 memorial weekend. There was so much patriotism in the air which made everyone extra friendly and upbeat!

After a crazy 24 hours spent in Nashville, it was time to move on to our next destination: Memphis!

Compared to Nashville, Memphis is a little on the quieter side but still bursting with soul music. Our first stop was at Sun Studios, where the likes of Elvis and Johnny Cash have recorded songs there. To experience even more of the rock n roll music and southern food, we headed to Beale Street to get a taste of southern style ribs in BB Kings. As we were there on a Sunday night, it was a little quiet but was much needed after a crazy night in Nashville.

Graceland

Beale Street

Our full day in Memphis was spent exploring the home of the king of rock n roll: Graceland! This is Elvis' home and is fascinating for anyone who loves his music. I had obviously heard Elvis' songs but didn't know much about him as a person, so this was great for me to broaden my knowledge and really appreciate him as an artist.

Later on that day, we headed to the Peabody Hotel to watch the famous march of the ducks. This is a daily tradition that is famous and well worth watching. Rather than explain it, I've included a video of what happens, but you really have to witness it yourself.

Our time in Memphis sadly came to an end, but our next stop was the crazy city of New Orleans, which will be featured in the following post!

What I Learned From Final Year at University

So this week I officially came to the end of my degree!

It's been tough and a real learning experience for me. There have been many ups and equally many downs, but I guess that's the whole point of life.
I think it's nice to sum up final year with lessons that I have learnt myself. Of course, everyones university experience is different, but seeing as mine has come to an end, here are a few things I've picked up on:

1. A lot of people actually start to do work

When I first started third year, I missed freshers due to being in America. As soon as I moved back in, I wanted to go out and see everyone that I hadn't seen all summer, but even after the first week, most people had kickstarted their coursework, lecture notes etc. This completely shocked me as I felt like I had to start putting effort in, but I suddenly realised that I do the work and could have fun at the same time. Some people find the balance tough, so just because everyone else seems to spend all day everyday in the library, doesn't mean you have to. There will be a point (around disso hand in time) when you have no other choice but to practically sleep in the library, but my advice would be to enjoy freshers one last time and let loose before starting the work.

2. You have to grow up a lot

The was a point at the start of third year when I realised that graduating uni isn't all that bad, and the thought of starting full time work in the real world started to feel like the next adventure. I didn't seem to dread finishing, rather I was kind of looking forward to it. I started searching for graduate schemes or travelling programmes I could do after university. Also, although I enjoyed going out, it started to get a bit tedious and repetitive after going to the same club nights for the past 2 years. Nights in suddenly seemed more preferable and I started opting for staying in and completing uni work rather than a night out.

3. Make the most of third year

Your final year is easy when it comes to having a solid foundation of friends and knowing the university lifestyle inside out. One thing I will advise is to enjoy and savour being a student for one last year. I did this by joining a new society, where I made so many new friends. I also joined up to the universities RAG adventure cycling from London to Paris. These opportunities aren't easily available after uni, and it provides another way of meeting new people. It also helped keep me motivated with the last year of uni, and meant that I really felt like I had made the most of final year.

4. Enjoy the small things

You don't have to go all out for your third year, but simple things like going to the union for a snakebite or using our student discount at restaurants and shops means you are taking advantage of the last time you can enjoy these pleasures.

5. Don't pay attention to anyone else around you

Some people had already finished their disso before I had even started mine, which slightly scared me! But then I realised, each course is completely different. For starters, I was not doing a dissertation but rather a research project. Also, some of the people posting it on facebook went to a completely different university which means they operate in a whole different way. So relax, and focus only on you.

6. There will be a point where you will need to do some work

This happens at different points for everyone, where you get a sudden wave of realisation that you need to stop your partying antics and procrastinating, and buckle down to some work. Your finally year is not for partying, get that out the way in the first two. This is the year that people go to university for, to get that degree. So the sooner you start motivating yourself to work hard, the better and easier it will be. Don't listen to that person that calls you boring for choosing the library over the nightclub, at the end of the day, you are accumulating a lot of student debt to get a good degree, so it would be stupid to throw it away for a few nights out. The summer is for chilling, relaxing and partying. Right now, get those books out and start organising your education. It's only temporary, in a few months it will all be over and it will all be worth it when you're celebrating with a good degree classification at the end.

Final year doesn't have to be stressful. If you remain organised and on top of your work, it can be quite easy.
I warn you now, you cannot breeze through final year without stressing, panicking and maybe crying the odd time. I certainly did not, and there were times when all I wanted to do was give up, but knowing that it was only temporary got me through.
They say you get out what you put in, and I truly believe in this saying. I was one of the last person I knew to finish my exams, but I remained focused and tried to not let that hinder me from trying my best.

On a final note, if you are contemplating going to university, I would say go for it. It truly is a learning experience and builds you as a person.

I wish you the best of luck wherever you are in your education ladder!

A Weekend Up North

Last weekend I had the pleasure of travelling from the South coast of England all the way up to Liverpool!

Having only ever been to the northern cities of Sheffield and Manchester, which was only to look at the universities, I have never really explored anywhere around that area.

Forgive me if Liverpool isn't North to you, but considering I'm from South East england, anywhere that far away is North to me!

I met my friend in Liverpool after a 4 hour train journey there. We stayed in the Novotel in the city centre which is a stunning hotel with the best location, and even has a pool! We managed to get a really great deal using booking.com, so check this out for the best value deals on top hotels.

 I recommend staying near the Liverpool One shopping centre, as it's right in the centre of the city and all the attractions are within walking distance.

So, the first thing to do when we arrived was to of course go explore the shopping centre! It has a fantastic array of high street shops from Primark, New Look, Topshop to the more upper end shops like Michael Kors.

That evening we headed over to the restaurants in Liverpool One, and there is a big selection to choose from, ranging from American to Thai cuisines. Most of the restaurants here were chains, which is good for quick and cheap eats. We ate at Chaophraya, a Thai restaurant where I decided to be adventurous (for me anyway) with what I was ordering and opted for duck, which is something I never usually order. It was amazing, and definitely recommended!

After we took a stroll to the Albert Dock to see it at night, as well as getting a glimpse of the Liverpool wheel at night with all the lights on, before heading to a bar for some cocktails. The bar we stumbled across was hidden down some steps on Colquitt Street, but it had the nicest cocktails, was cheap and had shots out of chocolate cups! What more could you want?! Plus it had a really nice and chilled atmosphere which was a perfect way to end our first day.

Visit Bar Bodega for great cocktails

Day 2 was full of city sightseeing. We started off in Albert Dock, having a look around the shops before going to the Beatles experience. Of course, Liverpool is famous for being the birthplace of one of the greatest bands in the world, and even if you aren't the biggest fan of the Beatles, this museum is still so interesting and not badly priced!

Luckily I was a student so I could get in for only £11 on a concession rate, but even the full price is only around £15. This includes admission to the museum with a personal headset, so you can take your own time and listen to what you're interested in. The museum took around 1 hour and a half, and was a poignant tribute to the rise of the Beatles.

The experience didn't stop there, as the ticket includes admission to another attraction over by the pier head which includes an interactive 4D show. If you have time it's worth checking out, but if you don't want to head over there then you wouldn't be missing out.

After learning about the lives of the Beatles, we headed over to where it all began, Mathews Street, to see the Cavern club where the Beatles used to play. Around there are loads of independent pubs that are perfect for that Saturday afternoon drink.

Mathews Street

We also headed up the Radio City tower to get a 360 degree view of the city. This is great on a clear day as you can see across the Mersey, and sometimes as far as Wales! Plus it was only £5 so it won't break the bank balance!

With all the walking, we headed over to Bolt street, which is filled with loads of independent cafes and restaurants, as well as the usual chains. We decided to go to Central Perk, a Friend's themed coffee shop for some coffee and cake. It's quite expensive but the theming is cool with the typical sofas plus they play friends episodes all day! I also bought a huge carrot cake which was delicious, but was way to big so I couldn't finish it all!

Liverpool Cathedral

Next stop, we wandered up to the cathedral before making our way back to the hotel for a pre dinner swim. This time we ate at Albert Dock in a really nice restaurant which I can't remember the name of! But I definitely recommend checking out the restaurants around there as there are some really nice independent ones which aren't badly priced! Plus there is a really nice atmosphere to have a walk around after all the consumption of great food.

Our Saturday ended with a night out on the town. Liverpool's nightlife is notorious for being amazing, and it certainly didn't disappoint. You will find an array of bars and clubs, all situated around Concert Square, and there is something for 18-50 year olds! Expect lots of hen and stag does though.

After a busy weekend, it was time to head back south. Liverpool is truly a great place to visit and you can explore the whole city in just a weekend. Everyone is so friendly and there are lots of things to do and see for all ages. Whether its a historical and educational visit, or a night spent dancing away, check out Liverpool!

View from the Radio Tower

Review: One Direction at the O2 Arena

Hello Readers!

Today's post is to do with one of my favourite things to talk about in the world: One Direction!

Having supported them since they were on X Factor, and I'm not lying when I say this! I really did go to one of their very first gigs at the forum in Hertfordshire after the X Factor had ended. And I may have been to every tour they've ever had...

Anyway, I am not a crazy directioner, I promise! So on Monday I headed off to London to meet my little cousin and take her to see One Direction at the O2.

Since being at university, I haven't seen them or anyone live in a while, so it was nice to go back to that familiar feeling of excitement before seeing your favourite band live. Unfortunately we missed the support act so I have no idea how good they were.

Onto the review of their live show.

The tour was called 'On The Road Again' and was a collection of their greatest hits, plus tracks from their albums Midnight Memories and Four. These included Kiss You, What Makes You Beautiful, Drag Me Down, Story Of My Life, Little Things etc.

Usually pop concerts consist of 90 minutes of cheesy, danceable songs. I was pleasantly surprised that 1D were onstage for a full 2 hours, which is pretty good seeing as most of their audience members are of school age!

 It was a Monday and their fourth night at the O2 arena, so I wasn't expecting the same energy that they would have had from their weekend shows.

I was wrong, they performed with every ounce of energy to make sure everyone in that room got the same and best experience. This is a thing to be proud of, as it's so easy to give a poor performance because you are bored from the repetitive routine and completely knackered from performing 4 nights in a row. These tickets were certainly not cheap, so to come out of their getting my money's worth, and having had an incredible experience is a really nice feeling.

The atmosphere was amazing. It was hard not to sing and dance along to all the songs, even though I didn't know some of them.

I also felt that even though there were only four of them this time, you couldn't notice the difference from their previous tours. They united as a foursome extremely well.

After the concert had finished, I walked out feeling a little sad that this could be their last one for a while. It made me want to see them again straight away, and I guess all artists want their fans to feel this.

I feel like 1D should feel proud to have transformed into a very professional and talented band. There music hiatus will come gladly to them, as I do feel they need some time to recharge and regain their passion and excitement for their careers. All I can say to them if by chance they happen to read this, is good luck for whatever you choose to pursue in the future, and enjoy the moment while it lasts.

To my readers, if you want a fun and enjoyable night out where you can sing and dance your heart out, take someone to see One Direction!