2024 Travel roundup

2024 Travel roundup

Monday, 30 December 2024

From solo adventures to romantic getaways - and seeing much more of the UK, this year's travel looked a little different than it has done in the past. 

Bali 2.0 - April

My adventures for the year started in April, a little later that usual when I realised I hadn't left the country since my last Bali trip, six months prior. 

Promptly after I had this realisation, I was on my way back to Indonesia. 

The last trip was a little chaotic, and that's how I like it sometimes! But this trip wasn’t about escaping or chasing something, it was about relaxing and truly enjoying the moment - and that felt like a bit of a turning point for me. 

I realised that I finally felt at ease with my life on this trip. I was more free and easy with my money so I just had a really nice time. 

Apart from the usual joys of solo travel I skipped the hostels and stayed in nice hotels, paid more for the fancy spas and pretty much bought myself whatever I wanted. That being said, I still enjoyed the usual indulgences of solo travel. I went to two different cafes for breakfast most days, booked motorbike Ubers to nowhere just for the experience of being on the back of a bike and cancelled hotels on a whim because I changed my mind at at check in. 

There was no rush, no stress, nothing to achieve, just the luxury of time and space to savour it all. I also took my skates with because I missed them on my last visit so I managed to squeeze in a couple of skating sessions amongst the swims and massages. 

Dubrovnik with friends - June

Last year, I vowed no more girls’ holidays because whilst I loved spending time with my friends at home, the trips themselves never quite did it for me. But when the boys decided they wanted to join, I took a chance - and it completely changed the experience. Strange, isn’t it? 

I think that, and the length of this trip made all the difference. It was only a couple of nights and we all shared a three-storey air bnb in the centre of town. While holidays with friends still aren’t my style, I enjoyed this one more than the others, exploring within the city walls, sharing big group meals, and soaking up the amazing weather. 

Spontaneous Mallorca - June

I remember waking up one sunny Saturday morning and booking this trip on a whim because I fancied a paella. 

There are still so many places on my bucket list, but there are also a few that I will happily go back to again and again - because they are easy. I hadn't been to Magaluf since I was 18, but this was definitely one of those not needing to think about planning it trips. 

It was quite comforting to be back as an adult. I knew where everything was but no longer cared for the party scene, just the beach day clubs that I couldn't afford before, the nice restaurants by the ocean and the serenity of an early night. 

I took my skates again - and of course I managed to eat at least one paella a day! Mission accomplished. 

Suffolk Countryside Retreat - June

As our relationship started to change, Dan took me on a couple of weekends away! The first, was a cute little countryside lodge, that we arrived at as the sun was going down on a warm Friday evening. With a Chinese takeaway & bottle of wine in hand, we lit the fire pit outside and ate by the flames. 

Waking up the next day was very peaceful, looking out the window to we were surrounded by woodland grass, wildflowers and the sounds of birds chirping in the morning sun. 

We took advantage of a slow, lazy start before going to the local town and the beach beside it. After that, Dan took me to Thorpeness Mere and rowed us around the lake on a boat. This was before I knew he'd spent a chunk of his childhood on a rowing boat so I was both surprised and impressed. It was all very romantic. 

On the way home the next morning, stopped off in Cambridge for a private punt on the river Cam, complete with more wine - and pizza. 

Discovering Bath - July

A week later, Dan took me to Bath to show me around the city where he went to uni. We stayed in a very cool apartment for a couple of nights, drank cocktails in the sun & wandered around the campus. Bath is very cute. 

East Coast Road trip - July

A three week, American road trip with my boyfriend - of just two weeks at the time. 

It was a big risk, agreeing to that many hours in a car with someone I'd not spent a huge amount of time with but those long journeys on the road became my favourite part of the day and created the kind of connection that only comes when you have nowhere to be but together. 

We spent two days driving through the blue ridge mountains, watched a space rocket launch, ate breakfasts in old school diners, got caught with the roof down in Storm Debbie and decided we'd like to live in Washington one day. 

To top it all off, we were upgraded on the way back and flew home first class. What a dream. 

Devon Seaside - August

I actually visited Devon multiple times after this trip, (I'm posting this blog from there after spending Christmas by the seaside) although this was the first and we stayed for a whole week so it felt more like a holiday! 

We were there the Shaldon regatta - a lively week of traditional water activities in Dan's cute and very small hometown. It was a relaxing week by the water and a good chance for me to see where he grew up. I tried paddle boarding for the first time, went for lots of dog walks and got to spend my birthday on a boat! 

Canal Barging in Rugby - September

My mum went a bit rouge this year and decided she wanted a family holiday on a canal barge. It was totally out of character but we all agreed and six of us spent three nights on the water in Rugby.

 While it was an interesting experience, the weather really wasn't on our side. I did however still very much enjoy the family time and the many pub stops along the way! 

SkateLove'24 in Barcelona - September 

Barcelona holds a special charm for me after last years solo visit, and this year, I returned with Dan for a roller skating festival set up right by the beach. 

We accidentally booked accommodation outside of the city so it was quite a long commute into the centre, but the plus side of that was that it had an awesome private beach which we spent both mornings on. 

Once we were there, we enjoyed a skating, exploring and, of course, more paella. 

As I said last year, I'd always avoided Barcelona but it has since become one of my favourite spots in Europe. 

Tagging along in Brighton - September

We actually went to Brighton twice this year but in October, we stayed overnight. Dan had a meeting and I decided to join him. We arrived late and left after work the next day but I was able to get a table at The Burnt Orange, a restaurant we missed out on when we were there in August and it alone was worth the visit! 

I also really enjoyed the drive there and back, it reminded us of road trip. 

Bali 3.0 - November

My third Bali trip in a 12 month period but this time was different because I had company! Highlights include tree house villas, concrete bathtubs, late night discussions over exotic cocktails, hourly Gojek orders, lazy pool days & lots of steak.

Travel is one of my greatest joys in life and 2024 brought some very happy trips. Beyond that, this year was hugely transformative for me. Filled with personal growth & self development, big changes in who I spent my time with, a deep sense of connection and happiness that I've not really felt before. 

I'm entering the year ahead feeling more positive and excited than ever!

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Bali Beyond Myself: How Travelling as a Couple Shifted My Experience

Bali Beyond Myself: How Travelling as a Couple Shifted My Experience

Monday, 9 December 2024

I've written a lot about solo travel. Between the backpacking adventure, moving to the other side of the world on a whim and my mum having a meltdown every time I say I'm going to go on holiday alone, it's defined so much of the past seven years of my life and taught me a lot about both myself, and the world I live in. 

I love to travel solo, it's a part of who I am but now I’m lucky enough to have someone to join me on some of my trips; and it is an entirely different experience when he does. 

Bali wasn’t just my adventure this time; it was ours. I've been forwards and backwards a lot in the last few years but this time felt like I was discovering it all over again. 

Travelling with my boyfriend was different to being there alone. It wasn't compromises as such; just adjustments I was happy to make. It was a fresh take but I loved every moment of it. 

One of the first things I noticed was the need to consider someone else’s preferences at every turn. Normally, I’m up with the sun, but when I woke up 6 hours before he did on our first morning I didn't really know what to do with myself. I became aware that I couldn't (shouldn't) get up and go for breakfast at 5 am if I'm jet lagged like I have done in the past - so I grabbed my journal and tried to make sense of it all in the morning sunshine. 

Otherwise, it was more of a good thing. I enjoyed having someone to discuss where to go for dinner with; and checking if he wanted to go the the spa at 10 am or 11 am wasn't exactly a huge problem. 

The only time it did bother me was when I felt bad for changing plans - which was through no fault of his - but something I do very often when I'm solo. I had booked a cliff side hotel, like Rock n Reef because I know he loved being by the ocean. I just so happened to forget how anxious the stairs made me feel last time until we arrived again. 

Usually I only have myself to consider so I would have bolted asap but I knew he liked it there so I didn't react as quickly. After the second anxiety attack however, I made the call to move hotels a day early. I felt guilty for prioritising myself, but decided it was the right thing to do because my reaction was so strong, it would have ruined the next two days for the both of us. 

One thing I did miss, was the motorbike taxis. He wasn't keen, so we got cars everywhere but that was nothing in comparison to the good things being with my boyfriend brought. 

Travelling with someone else gave me the opportunity to enjoy things I’d previously avoided. 

Staying in Air BnB's, wandering around after dark, and even drinking alcohol was suddenly safe in a way that never was when I was travelling alone, and that was something I really appreciated.

I also really enjoyed seeing Bali through Dan’s eyes. Watching him try my favourite foods, seeing him in awe of the spa I'd booked in the middle of the jungle and sharing some very unique accommodation  made everything feel fresh again. 

This trip really reinforced how I feel about the importance of our connection. We're a few months into our relationship now and having time together, away from the calls of every day life was my favourite part of being in Bali together. The deep conversations, memorable moments and shared happy memories were a daily occurrence that sadly we just don't have time for when we're at home.

It wasn’t always easy to let go of some of my solo habits, but it was worth it for the time we spent together. Bali will always hold a special place in my heart, but this time, it’s not just because of the hotels, the food, or the long lazy afternoons, it’s because I had someone to share it with.

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Moving Out, Moving On

Moving Out, Moving On

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

My last post mentioned I've been living in Chiswick for a few weeks but until this weekend, that wasn't the full story. 

On Sunday, I gave my notice and picked up the last of my stuff from my room in Wandsworth. 

It's a happy story, I'm moving in with my boyfriend and that, I'm very excited about, but closing the front door for the last time caused some totally unexpected emotions.

Leaving the house, I cried. I know I was unbelievably sad when I was living there, but that room was my safe space, away from the world and everyone else.

I moved in with my mum's help; and Charlie, my plant. Mum agreed to take the tube, but as soon as we reached the station, she decided one flight of stairs was one flight too many and insisted we get an Uber across London. I remember driving past the Shard with Charlie by my feet.

Within ten minutes of arriving, we almost smashed the window. The room was so small that moving my single bed meant pushing it halfway through the old, wooden frame. We unpacked my suitcase, went for lunch, and then she left. That evening, I built up the strength to end a relationship I had been trying to escape for six months, that is why I moved in the first place after all.

After that, I didn't know what to do with myself. For the first three nights, I ordered Too Good to Go bags because I didn’t know how to put a meal together.

I never really got the hang of that. Instead, I built a life so busy that I was never home for dinner anyway.

For the first six months or so, I had the most magical summer. I’d work from a little desk with the window wide open and the sunlight streaming from the south-facing garden. It was boiling that year. Even isolating with COVID wasn’t too bad, I’d spend hours on my single bed with my legs hanging out of the window enjoying the sun.

I experienced real friendship for the first time that summer and with the whatsapp chat going 24/7, my room is where we built it. I loved getting ready for a night out in the tiny space I had, in front of the cheapest mirror I could find, with my music playing as loud as I wanted. 

Being so close to the nightlife meant I was able to afford an uber home. I felt like a joy like no other ubering home, drunk and content, waiting for Deliveroo to bring KFC after a night of chaos at Northcote Records with the girls. Excitedly dragging myself out of bed the next morning for brunch.

In those three years on Haldon Road, I grew up. I learned to look after myself and to figure things out. I now know how to use a washing machine.

But after a wild, single, summer with the girls, I was cold, we all were, and I was lonely, worried that it was going to be like this forever. I felt like I was just waiting for life to begin.

Trying to run away from the sadness, I started going out every single night, finding any excuse I could do not have to shower at home because it was too cold. 

I went from very happy, to very sad but I was always relieved to come back; it just meant I needed to exercise for 20 minutes before got into bed in the winter.

After exhausting myself all week, I’d seek refuge on Sundays, going to bed at 4pm. During the week, I’d sit there and cry my heart out, day after day, at precisely 10:15 am, just after I'd taken my work break to write in my diary. I learned a lot about myself in that time, but I think I healed huge parts of myself too.

I recovered from the breakup, received life - changing medical news, booked holidays on a whim and heard that my granddad had two weeks to live - all on that bed in my little room in Wandsworth.

The winters were brutal, especially the first one. I had to pull out my summer duvet because even my winter one wasn’t warm enough on its own. I wrapped myself in two dressing gowns at a time and wore the boots I’d taken to a snowy wedding in Norway around the house just to keep warm whilst I worked.

My mum suggested a hot water bottle, but I didn’t even understand the concept. How blessed I was to have never been that cold. She bought me one for Christmas, and it changed my life.

And candles. When it was cold, those little flames kept me company on miserable, dark days working from my room. But they remind me of happy times too - the nights when I finally started feeling content with staying in on my own. Getting into bed, lighting a candle, and watching the sun go down through the open window. And every time I blew one out, I made a wish.

The dressing gowns, blankets, and snow boots that kept me warm when I couldn’t afford to turn the heating on, I don’t need anymore, because those candles made my wish come true. And now I’m in a place where everything just feels right. My life is different now. I’m happy again.

Looking back, that time in my life was so unbelievably miserable, yet it was such an important phase. 

I moved in with one suitcase and left with two cars full. 

I moved in scared, but I moved out confident that no matter what, I can look after myself. 

I moved in single, and out in a relationship with someone I'm excited to spend the rest of my life with.

I built my life there. I built myself there. I’m a much more well-rounded, confident, and capable person than the girl who moved in three years ago.

So, an ode to my little room in Wandsworth. Thank you for everything.

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