Let me tell you straight away, I'm no travel expert. I'm a travel novice at best. This blog is primarily for my own enjoyment but will hopefully help those of you who wish to travel solo but have no real idea where to start.
I have, or I should say had, little travel experience. Growing up my parents always took us on holiday somewhere in The UK, mainly in the Scottish Highlands. It was bloody amazing and I wouldn't change a thing about it. Aviemore is still one of my favourite places ever and I look forward to taking my own kids there in the future, however, because of this I never had a passport, never saw much sunshine and certainly had very little exposure to other cultures. I always envied my friends who'd been somewhere exotic and came back with a tan, a beaded bracelet and those braids in their hair. Perhaps that's why I was so desperate to travel, or maybe the need to explore was something I've always had but although I was grateful for all we'd been given, I wanted more.
At 18 I got my first passport and took my first flight. I remember the sheer excitement (and terror at the ridiculous security interview I had to go through!) when I travelled to Inverness to interview for my passport. It was a door in to a future, a freedom, a life and I remember looking out the window of the train and knowing it would be the start of something. A month or so after I received my passport I was on a flight to Turkey. TURKEY. Imagine if you've never left the country how incredibly exciting, exotic and nerve racking flying to Turkey was. We got off the plane and I could have burst with happiness and pride and relief. Turkey was incredible, so beautiful. Often when I say I've been there people ask about safety but I truly never felt unsafe. Although Turkey was stunning, the food was delicious and the people were welcoming my trip wasn't that great (I went with my then boyfriend, we fought a lot and he didn't want to do much sightseeing). Looking back at it now I wish I'd done the things I wanted to do and saw the places I wanted to see however I don't regret the trip at all. It gave me a sense of freedom I've found no where else except in travel and it also made me realise I was much better off travelling alone. I will go back to Turkey and do the things 18 year old me didn't.
After Turkey I was buzzing with possibilities but stifled by reality. I had to finish my degree, earn some money, sort my life out and decide where on earth I was going next and how the heck I was going to get there.
AUSTRALIA. Two years later and I was on a plane. A plane bigger than I've ever been on and I was headed for Sydney. I've dreamt of going Down Under for years. I'm embarrassed to admit it's likely growing up with Home & Away and Neighbours that made me lust for the Aussie lifestyle but whatever the motivation was it stuck with me and when I needed to get out of Scotland I knew where to start.
I had to get the train to London alone (somewhere I'd never been), navigate the busy streets on zero sleep (there were tears!), find my hostel, the tube station and navigate to Heathrow alone for an International flight. That might sound like nothing to you but that was probably the bravest thing I'd done in my life and to this day probably the best thing I've ever done. I had no one to rely on but myself and very limited travel experience but it went smoothly and next thing I knew I was touching down in Hong Kong. After a 6 hour stop in China where I was photographed a lot (apparently blonde haired, blue eyed Scottish girls are hard to find in Asia!) I was back on the plane this time headed for Sydney. So much has changed since then and I can't believe it wasn't even a year ago. Touching down in Sydney was the start of my new life.
During my time in Sydney I've lived in the CBD for a couple of weeks, Lindfield on the North Shore and North Curl Curl on The Northern Beaches (heaven - get ready for lots on this place!) and each has given me new experiences, taught me something and made me love the city more.
I'm currently on a tropical bloody island!! I'm spending three months WWOOFING on West Island of The Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The islands are in the middle of the Indian Ocean and although closer to Indonesia still considered part of Australia. I have never been anywhere as beautiful, safe, friendly and isolated as this in my life. I've been here a week and I'm still in awe every time I leave the house. 12 weeks left in paradise, expect plenty of posts on my time here because it is an unspoiled treasure.
So that's it, that's my travel history so far. Two countries, 7 flights, 8 international airports, 4 cities. Very limited compared to most people I'm sure but I've caught the bug and I know it's only the beginning.
I've so much that I want to write on here that I've no idea what to put first so I thought I'd start from the beginning.
What is your travel story? Where should I visit next?
Until next time,
C x
