Thursday 25 October 2012

how flygirl got her groove back



Fiji is a popular destination for my clients. Whether it be a honeymoon, quick getaway, quality time with the kids or cruise stop, it usually gets rave reviews. It is also a popular destination for backpackers.

Occasionally, however, if I happen to suggest it to a client I may get a reaction such as "BORING!", "but there's nothing to do there" or "but it has no real culture" etc... I have also, on many occasions, caught my colleagues referring to Fiji as a 'flop and drop' kind of destination (see my feelings on this term here) and reinforcing these myths that really couldn't be further from the truth.

Every country has culture and Fiji is no exception - it just isn't what we busy westerners think of when we consider what may define one. I believe that this magnificent country and it's beautiful people deserve to be known for more than just pretty stretches of sand.

My love of Fiji goes back to my 21st birthday. I had had a rough year: two close family members passed away in an accident, I broke up with my boyfriend of four years, and some strong friendships ended. It was pretty tough. For my birthday, my parents gave me a whole bunch of money (oversized novelty cheque to boot!) to go away. I was thinking Egypt but my parents laid down some conditions: it had to be a "real holiday". Read: sun, beaches and boys. Fiji it was.





I ended up at Beachcomber Island (above), and then Octopus Resort on Waya Island. Sure, I partied - a lot - but then I settled into the island life routine. The true magic of this place lies in the resounding "bula!" you get everytime you walk past someone - like everyone is truly happy to see you, like it's a big deal you're there - and the way everyone makes you feel like you're just meant to be there. They don't 'dumb down' their way of life for you, instead they show you how to embrace it and in turn, they embrace you.




I have since been lucky enough to go back to Fiji for work, and I plan to take Boyfriend sometime soon. I will also one day take my children as it's a place little ones can learn a lot from - they can explore, relax, and learn about the world in a vibrant, friendly and safe setting.
flygirl's top experiences:
  • The Nadi Faces and Places tour. It includes the Hindu Temple, a local vllage and a delicious lunch.
  • Island hopping: if you're staying on the mainland (Viti Levu), head out to South Sea or Beachcomber Island for a day.
  • A Sunday church service - Fiji Style: even if you're not religious, it really is awe-inspiring.
  • A river and waterfall tour: there are several variations but it's a great way to see the interior of the country rather than just the beaches.
flygirl's top places to stay:
  • Denarau: Sofitel, Radisson (this one's for the kids)
  • Mamanucas: Beachcomber, South Sea, Mana, Liku Liku
  • Yasawas: Manta Ray, Octopus, Viwa
  • Coral Coast: Mango Bay (a 'flashpackers'!), Outrigger, Shangri-La, Warwick or Intercontinental

In the words of a song played on the ferry to Beachcomber: "Where the girls are easy and the boys are hard to get - that's the Fiji Island way!" (Disclaimer: I saw none of that.)


                              
Local church, Viti Levu


Local village, Viti Levu


Fun on Beachcomber Island


Monday 15 October 2012

R-E-L-A-X




There’s a term commonly used in my industry: the “flop-and-drop” holiday. This is generally a holiday, or even an entire destination, where there’s not a lot going on and the idea is to relax, have a mai-tai and swim in the resort pool. It’s not a term I particularly like because I think it gives people who may not know much about a destination an excuse to pigeon-hole places and thus give “informed” recommendations, but by the same token I can understand why a term like this may be used.

Conversely, I find this term can be used by those who feel the package holiday is beneath them (you know the ones, the I’m-so-cool-I-can-do-it-all-by-myself backpacker types who make snide remarks about package holiday-makers) and if used in this way it can shame the less ‘adventurous’ into feeling like they’ve made the wrong decision.


The thing is, there’s a time and a place for everything. I make jokes about how I’ve sold out because I’m more of a package tourist now, but there’s a reason why I travel differently these days to when I was nineteen. For one, I grew up. That doesn’t mean all backpackers are immature gap-year kids, but what it does mean is that I have a career, I’m time poor, and when I’m away I want to spend the least amount of time possible trying to get organised. I’m also happy to pay more for the experience. I also like organised tours, because it means I’m motivated to get up off my arse every day and I know I’ll come back with all sorts of stories. It’s also likely I’ll meet some nice people on the way through.

So, this being said, my next few posts are going to be about some destinations a few people are quick to dismiss as “boring flop-and-drop holidays”, and why I think everyone should give them a chance. 

Sunday 30 September 2012

young, dumb and on the run



A few years ago, I hit a point where I had no idea what the hell I was doing. I was too young to really know how to fix the problem, although wisdom is a very subjective thing so even though I would do things differently now, in ten years I will think I was a dumbass back in 2012.
Anyway, I decided the solution was to run away.
Not ‘run away’ in the ten-year-old sense where you run away from home and hide out in the park until dinner time when your mum comes and picks you up, but in the sense that the idea of staying put was so overwhelming, so awful and so depressing that if I didn’t leave I would scream, tear my hair out, and probably die (or some other example of the histrionics nineteen-year-olds are prone to).
Off I went to Europe. Looking back, I like to picture it as something akin to the movie Euro Trip, with Amsterdam hash cookies, pervy Italian men on trains who say “mescuzzi” in sultry tones, and accidentally ending up in Bratislava. It wasn’t like that though. Yes, I learned how to drink beer, took up smoking like all the sophisticated European girls do, and salsa-danced with a bunch of soldiers in a nightclub in Budapest, but it was more a journey of growth than a “can’t-remember-half-of-it Contiki tour” (not that I am opposed to these in ANY way).  There were tears for sure and I learned some pretty hard lessons about people, but I also learned about my own strength which had, until that point, eluded me somewhat. I did things I would never have done before that, I went out on my own and made things work, I made friends and I lost friends, and I stood up for myself when I needed to. I guess it was my own personal form of rebellion.
As with all my travel so far, I learned a lot about myself. Seeing other cultures in action often gives you a reference point for your own life and I think travel gives you the opportunity to develop as a person. It is rare that I would go somewhere without having this in mind.
I don’t run anymore. Not everything in life is peachy but I have it pretty good now. And I know that most things can be fixed one way or another with the three Hs: Hard work, Humility and Humour.
By the way I don’t smoke any more – it was a short lived phase. Health over cool factor and whatnot. I do, however, enjoy a nice beer… But the only bloke I would salsa with is Boyfriend (and that is a big ask!)

catacombs, paris... chillin' with the dead

Tuesday 11 September 2012

grandma's monkey business



We sat on the bus and thought about our trip so far.

“Are we boring?” Boyfriend asked me. I tried to answer diplomatically but the truth was… yes. We were both giant sticks-in-the-mud. We were two unimpressed old biddies out to see the world then criticise it. We had already had an altercation with a tour guide, complained about our local representative and lectured people about respecting important sites (namely, the ANZAC grave at River Kwai).

The day’s tour guide offered us the opportunity to get out and see a monkey show and, of course, we scoffed. Monkeys should only be in the wild; exploitation; can’t encourage this behaviour; yada yada yada. We weren’t paying for that!

Then came the dreaded question. “Honey, are we boring?” We compared ourselves to some of our friends. Would our friends see the monkey show? Yes. Did our friends usually seem to have a lot more fun than we did? Yes. So it was settled… We would see the damn monkey show.

We tried to enjoy it, we really did. We even had our photos taken with one of them. But we just couldn’t hack it and raced out of there as soon as it was over.

Outside, one of the girls on the tour asked if we’d been to see it and when we replied the affirmative and gave her our wrap up she said, “Yeah, I didn’t go. I don’t want to encourage that sort of behaviour.” We were put in our place!

So 400 Baht down, 30 minutes later we realised we might as well get back in the mud, because that’s where we belong.



a fun but terrible person

Thursday 6 September 2012

the getaway plan




We’d been counting down for months. We made lists. We made plans. We made more lists. What were we going to do? Where were we going to go? What were we going to buy? We were two more farangs in Bangkok and we were going to let loose.

Bangkok got us.

We’d had such a crazy month, working so hard and then both quitting our jobs (!) just before we left. We were so exhausted and stressed out - we just needed a holiday. And although we weren’t out and about every five seconds, I think this holiday was just what we needed.

The highlights:

  •   Bai Pai Cooking School in Bangkok. It’s an absolute must! We were taught by Chef Noi, a contender on Iron Chef Thailand (for realz!) and her stunning assistant Darin. Best moment: When we took a picture of Chef Noi and she declared “I’m a movie star!” before Darin’s comeback: “yeah, as a stand-in for Chewbacca!”
  •  The Floating Markets. The actual boat ride TO the markets is my actual highlight, but I had a great experience throughout. The fried banana chips are a real treat, and only 20Baht for a whole bag.
  •  Paying our respects to the ANZACs who died as POWs building the Burma Railway. The gardens they rest in are beautiful, too.  
  •        Hua Hin. We stayed at the Anantara Resort and Spa and it was such a lovely way to finish our holiday. Four nights wasn’t enough; I could have chilled out there for a month.


The low-lights:

  •         A couple of rude and dishonest tour guides/reps really let the team down. We are always told that Thailand is the Land of Smiles but maybe not for all! However, we were determined not to let them ruin our day and, funnily enough, once I told them what I do for a living they were nice as pie.
  •         The local kids on field trip running around and yelling in the cemetery, although I do understand that they have very different traditions when it comes to honouring the dead so they probably just thought it was a nice garden.


The neither-here-nor-there-lights:

  •   The Tiger Temple. Yes, the concept is cool, but once I had a good photo I didn’t need to take a million more. The whole idea of donating to take pictures didn’t really gel with me either; I would rather just have given them a donation because I wanted to support their work. The tour guide didn’t like this much.

Fly Girl Tip: do what you want to do. Bankgok’s a big place so take each second as it comes!

houses on the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi

Tuesday 4 September 2012

thailand in pictures



FACT: my photographic skills are horrendous.

FACT: this will never, ever be a photography blog.

but here are some photos anyway...




Boyfriend, who can actually take a decent photo, unlike me, gives it a go on the River Kwai.


Bridge over River Kwai (Burmese Railway), Kanchanaburi


My new friend! Tiger Temple


Boat trippin' through the canals to the Floating Markets


Our little boat


Sampling the local brew

Pretending for five minutes that we like monkeys (more on this later)



At Red Sky Bar on the top of our hotel (the Centara Grand at Central World)


Amazing nibbles at Red Sky Bar


How to handle an annoying Boyfriend

Boyfriend gets sophisticated at the pool bar





Saturday 18 August 2012

north korea WILL happen




I’m not going to get all romantic or nostalgic and say, “it’s a place I’ve always dreamed of” because it’s not. It’s not my Galapagos Holy Grail; it’s not even close. It is, however, an important piece of my World Puzzle. And one day, I’m determined to put that piece in place.

I figure, the world is what it is. As with anything, you take the good with the bad. There are two sides to every story and whatnot. But the key is always to form one’s own opinion. I understand that in North Korea, travellers are subject to propaganda and only propaganda, and it could be very hard to see how the ‘99%’ live in such a place. But even so, to witness whatever I could with my own eyes would be fantastic.

I know some people who agree with me and I certainly know some who don’t. I completely understand why it wouldn’t be on everyone’s list and I realise that timing is key. I won’t, for example, be heading there on my honeymoon or at a time where I can only take a week or when I just “need a holiday”. I’m sure it’s not that kind of place.

I guess half of the appeal is to be able to say I’ve done it, and to have the passport stamp to prove it. Plus, the following excerpt from the DFAT Smart Traveller website makes the whole thing feel a little James Bond-esque:

“Showing disrespect, including in jest, to the country's current or former leadership or their families is a crime in the DPRK. Foreigners in the DPRK are closely observed by the authorities, which may include searching belongings in hotel rooms and monitoring telephone and facsimile services…

Photographing roads, bridges, airports, rail stations, seaports, or anything other than designated public tourist sites can be perceived as espionage and may result in confiscation of cameras and film, and/or detention. Photographing scenes of poverty or other things that may cause a negative impression of the DPRK may also result in confiscation. You should ask permission before taking photographs in the DPRK, including of officials, soldiers or other people. DPRK guides can provide permission to take photographs. Attempts to engage in unauthorised conversation with DPRK citizens may be viewed by security personnel as espionage.

My ignorant 15-year-old self would say, "pretty cool, huh?"


photo courtesy of flickr/Joseph A Ferris III and this article from businessinsider.com

Friday 17 August 2012

perspective




Does anyone remember Couchsurfing? For those who don’t, it’s a website where you can meet other backpackers and the basic concept is that anywhere in the world you have a couch to crash on. It’s a great way of seeing the world for those on a budget, and offers the chance to hang out with locals in each place you visit. For more insight read Brian Thacker’s Sleeping Around; it’s great.

The reason I bring it up is because once, a long time ago, a young guy wrote to me from Aleppo, Syria, via the site. He was the “Ambassador” for Aleppo, which basically meant he had hosted a lot of couch surfers in his time, had a really good rating, and his passion was to show tourists around his hometown. Being 19 or however old I was, Syria wasn’t really on my to-do list yet, but I was really interested in what he had to say and I was fascinated and inspired by the passion he had for his home.

Of course, I can’t turn on the television, radio or internet now without hearing about the violence currently occurring in Syria and more recently Aleppo in particular. It always saddens me when these things go on, as they always do, and I have followed news on the Arab Spring closely (I’ve had to anyway because of my job). However, I think it’s so easy for us to be vaguely saddened by what’s happening but then to be able to ignore it because we have more important things to deal with right here.

I find myself thinking about this young man, so ecstatic about the city he was lucky enough to call home, and wondering where he is now and what he’s doing. I can only hope and pray he’s okay, and that he’s either fighting the good fight if that’s what he feels is right, or he’s in a much safer place. Either way, I hope he’s still teaching people about his country and reminding them of its place in the world.

He gave me a different perspective on a part of the world that was unknown to me, and for that I will be forever grateful. I hope thousands more are lucky enough to be given the same opportunity.

photo courtesy of Reuters

Sunday 29 July 2012

the sell out


I’ve done it. It’s true. I’ve sold out.

I finally booked August’s holiday and after all the to-ing and fro-ing, what did I book? 5-star Thailand.
It was dirt cheap, which is what I can afford. It’s Asia, which is what I love. But it’s 5-star, which is what I seem to have gotten used to and I don’t like to settle for less these days.

Once upon a time I didn’t care. I had my backpack on and as long as I had electricity and running water I was set. Once I even flirted with a hostel manager to secure a spare bed in the staff rooms after I had been left without a room in a fully-booked city. I did what I could and lived on the thrill. Now I couldn’t think of anything worse.

I’m staying away from Khao San Rd on this trip (well, it might pay to visit anyway) and I expect King beds, welcome cocktails, spa baths and 24 hour room service. My main aim in Bangkok is to acquire tailor made fashion and jewellery, then we will head down to Hua Hin to to lie on the same beach as the Thai royal family.


The silly thing is, I’m really not spoilt. Though I say I couldn’t think of anything worse, sometimes I actually feel like doing it again - because travel isn’t about the creature comforts, even though they’re nice to have sometimes. It’s about the experience, making new friends, learning new things, forming new memories. Every time I head away I come back a slightly different person because of thethings I’ve seen or done. I may get the opportunity to try the nicer places sometimes because of my job, but where I sleep is never the bit I rave about when I come back.

The purpose of this trip is to spend some much needed time away with Boyfriend. We have been working so hard and we're so strung out. Plus, this will probably be our last getaway for a while as life will be busy for the next 18 months or so, and there will be some massive expenses to boot. I just want the kind of holiday where everything's taken care of and we're free to roam around, shop, lie on the beach if we want to and not have to worry about where we're going to sleep tomorrow night.

And after writing that last paragraph, the concept isn't actually sounding too bad to me anymore...

Wednesday 18 July 2012

happy birthday nelson!


A short post tonight; I just wanted to say a big happy birthday to someone who is a big inspiration to me.

He doesn't know me; he doesn't know I occupy a place in the world. He certainly doesn't know how much I admire and respect him, or the influence he has had on my thoughts, beliefs or the way I view the world and the people in it.

Happy birthday Nelson!

We all see the world in different ways, through different eyes, and in different contexts. Some of us are religious, some aren't. Some of us are "upper" class, some of us are "working" class. Some of us are black, some of us are white, some of us are lots of variations in between. For me, with my background and beliefs, this is what I feel: Jesus told me to practice forgiveness, but Nelson showed me how to do it.



chillin' with Nelson, March 2012

Tuesday 17 July 2012

the lucky country



(slight language warning)
Today I was lucky enough to hear about the journey one of my clients had been on before he reached Australia. It’s disjointed, it has big holes where I didn’t pry to get further information, and I have no proof of any of it. I don’t care. I consider it a privilege that he told me.
Born to a Turkish father and an Iraqi mother, he was born in Iran but denied a birth certificate or passport in Iran because of his mother’s nationality.
At age 12, his parents passed away in an accident.
He travelled through Turkey to Malaysia, who sent him to Thailand, who sent him to Indonesia. He then ended up on a boat headed to Christmas Island.  It was a 12 day voyage but after seven days, all the food and water supplies were gone. People died on the boat, and many were ill.
When he arrived on Christmas Island, he repeatedly asked for water, but his request was denied until processing was finished. He then remained in detention for nearly three years.
He’s here now, working hard and studying to make a better life for himself. He’s friendly, funny and a little bit flirty too. Yet a lot of the time, the reaction he gets when he strikes up a conversation is “We speak English here, so fuck off until you can talk properly”.
So many things about this story break my heart.  I guess the main thing though is that after everything, this young man was bounced around from country to country like a pinball only to be held like a prisoner in a country that values freedom as highly as ours – and that doesn’t sit right with me. I also hate that we are lucky enough to have political stability, a bicameral parliament with representatives of all citizens sitting in it, and an unalienable right to vote, yet we have a bunch of clowns running our country who are incapable of doing anything about this issue.
I find it incredible how opposite the two of us are. He spent his whole life travelling, trying to find a home, while I continually leave my home in search of something greater. I hope I can continue to remember this next time I have my passport stamped (after all, I’m one of the lucky ones just to have a passport).


Monday 2 July 2012

european daydreams



Seven reasons I wish I was in Europe right now:

1. My BFF lives in London

I keep forgetting this fact. I bought a new car a little while ago and went to cruise round to her house, then realized she doesn’t live there any more. I went shopping with Boyfriend and he just didn’t help (bless him). I just want to rock Oxford Street with my bestie.

2.  Edinburgh Fringe Festival

My favourite city. My favourite festival. The world needs a laugh and Edinburgh is the perfect spot to have it delivered. This place serves to remind you not to take life too seriously.

3. Summer Solstice

Because I'm just desperate for sunshine!

4. The weather

See above my friends! It’s freezing today and when I look out of my office window it feels like night time.

5.  Tour de France

I love the atmosphere of Paris at any time, and I love the French countryside ten times more. I love the Tour Down Under and am so lucky to live in the beautiful South Australia, but combining the Tour with the lovely France is just a winner.

6. Euro 2012

There’s nothing like a bit of European rivalry and football brings out the best of it. I love the passion a football match invokes in the crowd and I could use the excitement right about now!

7. The food

I’m on a diet. It’s no fun. I’m trying to look good for a black-tie ball this weekend but I’d rather be sitting at a café in Santorini or Venice eating and drinking the day away. It’s my favourite part of traveling.





sailing croatia, 2008


Saturday 23 June 2012

devouring one country at a time




I’ve had cabin fever for the past few days. I’m sure it’s as a result of the constant bed-work-dinner-bed-work routine I’ve had going on all week and last night I couldn’t hold it in any more.

I can’t say I’ve been up to anything exciting but I did go out to dinner both nights and had some amazing meals: Indian last night and Chinese tonight. Chinese for me is always a bit hit and miss but we managed to find a fantastic, authentic little place which on our side of town is incredibly rare and had the most delicious duck ever.

The combination of cabin fever and an empty stomach got me thinking about the best and worst meals I’ve had while travelling. Everywhere I’ve been had amazing meals and not so great ones, but lets face it I love my food and it’s my number 1 priority when I’m overseas (my waistline will agree!)

Of course, Asian countries will always take the cake, especially SE Asian cuisine! If you ask Boyfriend, the ultimate Japan lover, he will say the land of the rising sun has no competition, but for me it’s all about chilli and fresh flavours and amazing street food. Excepting the time in Vietnam when I accidentally ate dog…

I was geared up for delicious Middle Eastern flavours when I headed to Dubai: shwarmas and meats and pork-free bacon. It didn’t really deliver. A lot of the food was dry and a bit tasteless, but who knows, maybe it was dumbed down for a bunch of westerners. In terms of bacon, I expected good old-fashioned turkey-bacon, but it was veal-bacon that was served. Interesting…

Seafood, seafood, seafood! As a lobster fiend, Fiji really is my paradise. I was once served a lobster-themed meal: lobster bisque to start, lobster with garlic butter for main course and lobster-shaped cake for dessert!

Yes, France screws with my body clock (sweets for breakfast, heavy food for lunch, ploughman’s dinner, cheese for dessert). But the flavours! And I really have no idea why “French women don’t get fat” because I sure as hell did!

Italy  was okay. I’m sure I’ll be reprimanded a lot for tis, but nothing particularly blew my mind here…

…But Croatia was a different story! Fantastic fish dishes, cured meats and the best gelati I’ve ever tasted (better than Italy, no joke).

And I could keep going on and on, but that might take precious time away from eating my way around the world!


Friday 22 June 2012

how i knew

I sat in the Beach Bar at Byron last weekend, taking it all in. The rugby was on and All Blacks were playing Ireland. Boyfriend is a Kiwi and thus a mad All Blacks man and I'll admit it makes for tense World Cups.

For some reason though I wanted them to win. Even though I'm of Irish heritage (who isn't these days?). Even though my favourite color is green. Even though Kiwi pride bloody annoys me!

I realised it's because I'm so in love with Boyfriend. It's puke-worthy. It's gross. It's "Un-Austrayan". But he's so cute when his team wins and it's the best feeling in the world to see him so happy.

So go All Blacks! (until the next World Cup anyway)

kicking goals





On the 23rd June 2011 (exactly a year ago tomorrow) I sat down with my manager at the time and penned some goals I hoped to achieve. Today I found these while clearing out my computer and I was a bit surprised to see how things have changed.

Sure, there were some I definitely didn’t achieve, and there were some that I’m not even heading towards anymore because my priorities have changed. But what surprised me was the legitimate shock I felt when I looked at the ones I had achieved. Admittedly, I missed the deadline on some of them, but I have achieved them all the same - it just took a bit longer than expected. But some of them I made with eight months to spare!

I have been struggling a lot lately with a feeling of not being good enough or never being able to do enough or compare to everyone else. Logically, I see that this is really a complete load of BS but the mind isn’t always 100% rational.

Looking back on this time last year I can finally see just what I have managed to achieve. I’ve started a life with the person I love (which I think is the most important of all), I’ve forged a career and been promoted, I’ve seen some amazing parts of the world, I managed to buy a new car, I’ve dealt with some really tough times and come through the other side much stronger and wiser, and I’ve met new people and made new friends who make my life so much richer.

You have good days and bad days, good months and bad months, good years and bad years. What I think I’m finally starting to learn is it all comes out in the wash…

And “I get by with a little help from my friends”!



Friday 15 June 2012

freakin' hippies




It’s time for a getaway a bit closer to home.

This afternoon I’m heading to the sunny Byron Bay with Boyfriend and four awesome girls who I didn’t even know six months ago, but who I’m growing to love.

It’s “Team Trip” time, where we pool the funds together for an office getaway where we can get to know each other, bond, hopefully have a few too many drinks and explore somewhere new.

I wasn’t sure about Byron at first. I don’t subscribe to the hippy lifestyle and, although I hate to be judgmental, all that came to mind at first was tie-dye, dreadlocks, vegan menus and stoners… oh and people who reek of patchouli. BUT I'm expecting this place to prove me very, very wrong and I can't wait to see what it has in store for me.

Apparently, Byron is in the caldera of an ancient volcano which of course excites me a lot and will not excite anyone else on this trip, guaranteed. No matter, I accept myself as the nerd that I am and will get my happy juices flowing by reading this while everyone else “smashes tins” on the plane.

And back to hippies.

I am all about rules, I think we need “The Man/The Establishment” and I don’t know how I feel about randomly hooking up with all sorts of people: I’m not really a “Free Love” subscriber because I think you need to work hard for that! But I will concede that  it’s nice to love one another and just be free from judgment and negativity and that’s what I really need this weekend. So Hooray For Byron!

…Somehow though, I don’t think a trip to Nimbin is on the cards!

“Peace Out”.


Saturday 9 June 2012

an "inspirasianal" escape




The time has come to make a decision on what to do with my annual leave in August. We were originally planning on spending some time in China and Hong Kong (both places Boyfriend has been to but I haven’t) yet for some reason, as much as I knew it would be a great trip, it just wasn’t exciting me as much as it should have been.

Now, we have decided to cut back on the budget as we’ve had some big expenses this year and we would like to start planning for the future a bit more (we know there will be more massive expenses to come!) so back to the drawing board we went.

Working in my industry has some advantages and disadvantages. It’s great because I have so many options and resources at my fingertips, but it’s hard because the last thing I want to do when I get home is plan a holiday. Work kind of sucks the fun out of that! On top of this, after the last 12 months I’m not sure I can even be bothered getting on a plane… but the important thing is to spend time with Boyfirend, explore the world together, grow as people and create new memories. So that’s what we’re going to do.

It seems we’ve settled on Cambodia. No matter how many times I visit South East Asia, it seems I cannot escape it’s pull. It’s toxic – in the nicest possible way but, in some cities, the literal way too. The way affluent Western influence merges with centuries-old Eastern traditions and beliefs never fails to enthral me. The happy-go-lucky attitude of its people and the way no question is off-limits makes me feel so alive and complete.

I will never forget as an 18-year-old who had never been overseas walking in to Ben Tanh markets in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City so unprepared for everything I would experience over the next two weeks. Not least my first full conversation with a Vietnamese person: she simply grabbed my boobs with both hands and asked, “why so big?!” I really had no answers to give her.

A lot has changed in six years. I’ve grown up a lot and had a lot of experiences, both at home and abroad. I feel I understand people better and I understand cultures, religions and ideas better than when I was 18. I embrace differences and I like to make the best of them.

I’m looking forward to getting away again; to spending time with Boyfriend and experiencing new and exciting things with him, and also to learning about myself some more. I think that really is the most important thing in life because if you don’t know yourself, who do you know?


Wednesday 30 May 2012

how to build a bridge




Everyone knows the saying "you can't pick your family". Usually, my response to this gem would be "well, why would you want to anyway?" I am very close to my family, although I don't see any of them as much as I'd like to, but I don't need to see them every day to know that they're there for me whenever I need them, and vice versa.


Well it turns out maybe some are more than others!


I hate fighting with family. It makes me feel absolutely wretched. Recently, I had a bit of a tiff with a couple of members of my family over something really trivial. Yet, three weeks on I still think about it every day and get hurt and angry and upset all over again.


I'm usually the kind of person who forgives very easily (my Mum would even say too easily) but never forgets. But this time, there's been no closure to the situation and every day I feel more awkward about it. I don't want to alienate myself from the people I love over something so small but I'm honestly finding it really hard to let go.  I feel like the whole thing was really unfair and unnecessary and I hate that there seems to be nothing I can do about it.


I want to go over to their houses and just give them a big hug and tell them I love them, but pride stops me dead in my tracks. I don't want this to be seen as an apology or an admission of guilt for something I didn't do! I don't want to let them win and I don't want to let poor behaviour win.


Yet something in my brain tells me to grow up, be the bigger person and "build a bridge and get over it!" It's the classic Angel v. Devil type scenario. 


Another argument between the two sides is this: one side says I might as well apologise because no one else will and the responsibility to make everything okay again always rests on my shoulders, and let's face it, I probably did do something wrong because I usually do; whereas the other side says: screw it! Stick up for yourself once in your bloody life, woman!


I don't think I'll build that bridge just yet. Maybe I'll build a canoe instead and head downstream...


You can't pick your family, you can only fly away from them!


Wednesday 23 May 2012

i'm in love with a shooting star...



some things truly blow me away.


anything space-y (galaxies, shooting stars, this solar eclipse), always does it. as i've said before, i love the feeling of being insignificant. but sometimes, it's about the little things.


people say that a lot: "it's just the little things". it could even be a cliché, but everyone knows clichés are always true otherwise they wouldn't be a cliché. and sometimes life IS about the little things. 


take rain for example. i love the smell. i love the sound of it on the roof. i love being rugged up inside playing board games or some other family activity while watching water gush down the windows (like being a little kid and going through the car wash - remember how cool that was?)


or the feeling of getting home on a freezing cold day and putting on a warm pair of socks. or the look on my puppy's face when he sees me at the front door each night. or when my little sisters give me a big hug. or when my girlfriends and i get together with a bottle of wine and talk too much about our boyfriends.


i love it when my clients pop in just to say "hi!" or they call me before an appointment to see if i want a coffee. i love it when i feel like i've genuinely taught someone at work something useful. i love it when my boyfriend asks me to help on his work projects.


but most of all, i'm in love with life. a lot of the time i forget to be, but when i remember, i appreciate just how lucky i am to be here, able to smell the rain and watch the stars and get up at 6am to help Boyfriend at work (well... maybe not the 6am part!)