Essentials for an adventure holiday!

Today I felt like it was needed to create this list. Everything on it is purely things that I believe to be essential for my own adventure holiday though I'm sure most of it is stuff that we can all relate to.

Firstly, a comfortable yet sturdy rucksack. I think it's easier to carry things on your back than to watch out for whose child you're going to run over next with your way too big wheelie suitcase you just had to bring because it has a cool pattern on it.

Comfortable shoes, ones that have room to breathe yet are supportive and won't provide you with a blister the size of china that you will be moaning about the entire time because of your not so good shoes are rubbing on it.

A camera, depending on what you plan on doing during your trip depends on what to take. Regular compact camera is my go to but for my next trip, I have splashed out on a GoPro Hero Black5 (not sponsored but GoPro feel free to) because it has an amazing look to it and I think I personally will benefit a lot!

First aid kit! Knowing me - a bit clumsy - safety comes first. Always take a first aid kit no matter how big or small. Mine is measured on my clumsiness level but as long as you have the basic plasters, bandages, antiseptic etc you'll be fine to patch yourself up.

A phone- my friend pointed out to me he would take his phone on holiday and my first thought was I'm on holiday why do I need my phone but to me honest if on an adventure holiday and you are as clumsy as I have said I am, then you may need to call someone for help. Google maps have a great directions feature (also not sponsored but willing to be) so if you become lost you can find your way again. Phones are also handy to use as a camera if you're lazy and can't be arsed to take an actual camera.

For the germophobes out there a nice pocket size bottle of antibacterial sanitizer might be good too.

And to finish my not too long yet covers the bare necessities list for an adventure holiday, protection! Don't forget a hat and sun cream if your trip contains the sun and heat etc always wear protection!

I hope this helps just a little bit and you make it safely through your next trip.

Toodles for now.

I am back!

I have just returned from a 2 week trip to Orlando, Florida for the second time in the last 8 months. There was a time where we never went on any holidays growing up but now with my own job and money, I am able to expand my horizons just a little bit and do what I love to do most. Travel.

Like I said. I have just got back from Florida and I am here now to tell you about how I got there. I hope you are ready. It's riveting.

The first day of my trip was obviously a travel day so nothing too exciting. Coming from the Isle of Wight, England it is a little bit of a trek all with the ferry at 1am, an hour and a half in a taxi to Gatwick Airport, a long wait in departures (although that did include a full English breakfast at the residing Wetherspoon), a nearly 9 hour flight to Orlando and then finally picking up our rental car and heading to our hotel. It was long but totally worth it.

Our car was a Toyota Yaris IA. Now I don't know too much about cars but back home when you say Yaris we all picture a car an older person would have. A granny car as I call it. Not knowing that there are more than just the one type if Yaris. It was actually a nice car (See image below).

                                                    

We were all exhausted by the long day so our only thought was..... BUFFET! The best place for buffet in my opinion is Golden Corral (not sponsored). It is literally 15 dollars for all you can eat salad, steak, shrimp, chicken, pizza etc and not forgetting the desserts! They've got everything. I came out of there full, tired and ready for bed. 

Oh and a hotel room for myself was nice. First time ever I didn't have to share any of it! 2 beds worth of pillows were piled up on the one bed. It was so comfortable! Still woke up the next morning way too early though. Stupid time zones!

 

It's been a while again

Again, I'm sorry. Life get's ahead of you sometimes and it takes a while for you (or me) to catch up. A lot has gone on in my life since our last encounter. My 21st Birthday for one. I know! 21! I don't feel like I'm that age. It doesn't seem right. Am I that grown up already?

I spent my 21st in Florida. Orlando to be specific. Yes of course I went to Disneyworld! How can you not?! That's not all though. I was there for two weeks and along with the Disney parks we did all the SeaWorld ones as well. I had a great time there and to say I didn't want to leave is an understatement. I really didn't want to leave.

Not only was the place great but also the people. I met some of the nicest people in America and some in particular were incredibly nice. When I say some I mean a single dad and his little boy. Yes this is going to turn into a sob story but when I met these people, they made me feel so so happy. I've never met someone else who instantly made me feel that way ever before. People have obviously made me feel happy before but not like this. This was something else. The sad part about this story though is that I left. Well, I know I had to it was the end of my holiday but I left. I spent the last couple of hours sat in the hotel lobby waiting for them to make an appearance but they never did. All I know is the man's first name. I think anyway. The more I think about it, the more I question myself about whether I even know that. Maybe I don't know a thing, I'm just trying to convince myself that I at least know something.

I cannot find him. All I have now is hope. Hope that he's looking for me too. Hope that he'll actually be able to find me.

Mini Trip to Bournemouth, England

I have plans for 2 trips so far this year. The first of which is just a mini break to Bournemouth for 4 nights with a good friend of mine. It's 50 days away! The red marker is where Bournemouth is:

Why Bournemouth? You may say. Well since I am 20 years old and a particular band from childhood have recently reconnected with each other. We are of course attending one of their concerts. Which band is that? I hear someone ask. Busted. Yes, you heard correctly, Busted. They were one of the biggest deals back in the early 2000's for the younger generation so we are definitely going to be in attendance!

Like I say we are going down there for 4 nights. The first day will probably be a lazy one really, maybe explore the local area. Luckily since Bournemouth isn't that far away from us, a 25 minute ferry ride and a 45 minute train journey, we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn. Late morning will do perfectly fine as we don't have anything specific to do.

Day 2 of our trip will be an adventure to GoApe. It's a tree top adventure course with zip wires and high ropes etc. There is one not too far from Bournemouth, which will be the one we will go to, but there are also quite a lot of them dotted around the whole country. It will be a good experience. Here's a link to their website in case anyone in the UK wants to check it out: goape.co.uk

Day 3 we may go along to a local water park but don't get too excited it's a small town with a small park it's not like some of those crazy ones you get abroad. Also depends on the weather. Since we're going near the end of May, we are hoping for it to be lovely and warm.

Day 4 as of right now we don't have any plans for the daytime other than possibly doing a bit of shopping and grabbing some lunch. It's the evening of day 4 that we're all waiting for! BUSTED! I can't actually wait. It'll be my first concert too so it'll definitely feel as if I'm 8 years old again!

Day 5. The last day of our mini vacay does not involve a lot. Getting up and having a full English breakfast and then getting a train back late morning.

This of course is just a small trip, but hopefully it will lead to bigger trips or just a few more small ones at other locations!

My Travel Bucket List

There are so many places in the world that I would love to go and explore. The hardest part of having so many places that I want to go to is where to go first. So, I have created my very own Travel Bucket List of the top 10 places that I would like to travel to in my life rather than writing a full list which would probably end up having 95% of the world's countries on it. It kind of makes it easier to determine where to go. I will now only have a decision of between 10 countries rather than 186. I will also say that my top 10 is in no particular order except for Hawai'i. That is definitely the number 1 item on my bucket list.

My Travel Bucket List:

·   Hawai'i - Yes, I would love to travel to many places in the USA but by far, Hawai'i is at the top of my USA list. Hawai'i has a kind of vibe that I want to experience. From the gorgeous beaches of Waikiki to the unbelievable views from the top of Mount Olomana. There is so much to offer. Plus I would love to swim with the sharks. Scary yes I know but I do like to have a bit of adrenaline running through my system.

Mount Olomana

·   Thailand - To be able to be up close with elephants! Mess about with them in a river. How awesome does that sound? And to Kayak in the beautiful Khao Sok National Park.

Khao Sok National Park

·   South Africa - An African safari across the Kalahari Desert seeing all those animals in the wild. Lions, zebras, giraffes! I mean, I love to see them all at the zoo so to be able to see their natural habitat would be incredible. Also I want to hike up to Lion's Head and see the stunning views across the coast of Cape Town.

·   Australia - I want to learn to surf in the waves of Bondi Beach and visit the iconic Sydney Opera House. It's one of those things that you kind of have to visit whilst in Australia.

·   Fiji - I want to stay at the Poseidon Underwater Resort. A bit different of a view from your bedroom than in a normal hotel anyway! And plus those beaches!

·   Iceland - It's a pretty cold choice but not too cold if you go to the blue lagoon. I would love to snorkel and dive through Silfra. A gap between 2 tectonic plates where you will literally be swimming between continents.

Silfra

·    Switzerland - I want to learn to ski/snowboard so the best place to do that must be Switzerland or well I guess Austria works too. Either one of those I would just love!

·    Barcelona - I don't know what it is but Barcelona just sounds like a cool place to go for a weekend getaway! Considering it is only a 2 hour flight away, a long weekend sounds perfect.

·    Peru - I want to climb to the top of Machu Picchu and hike the Inca Trail.

Machu Picchu

·    China - I would love to walk along the entire Great Wall of China but maybe just a little bit will do. I hear it is pretty large!

·    Rio de Janeiro - Carnival seems like a fun time to travel to Brazil but the thing that I would love to do most of all is to hang-glide around the Christ the Redeemer Statue. Amazing views right there.

Christ the Redeemer

You may or may not have noticed that I did add an extra one on this list because as I was writing, I did think of another place that I couldn't help but have on here. So that's my top 11 destinations on my Travel Bucket List. This is going to take me a while to complete but hopefully one day it will be done.

February 11th 2016

After some people getting back from a club at 3.30 this morning, I went back to sleep and woke up around 9. I watched the latest episode of Chicago P.D. whilst I waited for a friend to wake up and then got up and ready.

Not much was planned for today. Just a trip to town to go shopping and a cafe. I ordered a hot chocolate without thinking. I had decided yesterday to give up chocolate for lent since it is the majority of my diet! I quickly changed my order to a strawberry and banana smoothie. It was delicious.

Went back to the house and relaxed. Had a Google. Had a sausage pasta dinner, some fudge, cupcake poptart and some sweet popcorn. Watched the end of Ant Man.

Very quiet day today and also my last day on my mini holiday. I go home tomorrow.

February 8th 2016

Today is the first day of a mini holiday for me. I am travelling off of our small island and into the real world by myself for the 3rd time in my entire life. Baring in mind 1 of those times I was dropped off at the ferry terminal one side and then someone was waiting for me the other so in actual fact I was by myself for about 25 minutes. The other 2 times I was travelling further than that. I had to get 2 trains. It'll take me 3 hours to get home.

The weather was showers with 60-70 mph winds. Trying to get across the water and walk round to the training station with a suit case was ridiculous. Nearly got blown over.

The train journey was pretty simple. I kept checking if I had all of my tickets and things though which started to get aggravating.

I arrived at my destination where my friend was waiting for me. We went to where we are staying, had lunch and then she went to a uni briefing and I wrote on here.

We went out for dinner at what looked like a fancy restaurant but was quite cheap. Salmon discharges and a pineapple, banana and passionfruit smoothie.

My night is finishing with Ant Man.