Early travel moments
I was a lucky kid with travel. Me and my dad would always be abroad either on skiing holidays in the mountains or at my grandparents house in Spain. I'm pretty sure I got on m first ever plane at 3 months old and I think I've counted 29 times I've been to Spain and the last time was when I was like 15, that's quite a lot in 15 years. My dad's side I the family had money so I was lucky to get to go on holidays and see things.
I started to get these moments that have stuck with me all my life, like little snapshots of things I've seen. Like a time I was sat on a ski lift and looking down in the perfectly untouched snow glistening in the sunlight. My dad was the person who introduced me to travel so young through holidays together and I'm forever thankful and I will always live my travels through his spirit, hence the snowflake in the middle of my dream catcher tattoo that is in memory of him.
The first time I visited a place with such a strong culture shock was morocco. Dad took me there when I was 12 or 13 for a day trip as it was only a short trip on a ferry from the south of Spain. I was in total shock and amazement of everything around me. The people, smells, poverty, sounds. Camels in the streets and people trying to sell you everything and anything. I remember him holding my hand tightly through the busy little streets and I was just amazed and totally hooked on wanting to know more. How could somewhere so close to a place I know be so different.
That was the first moment in my life I remember thinking "I want to see the world".
South Africa's raw moments
Those that know me well know that I a little (lot) obsessed with Africa. Since my first trip in 2010 when I was just 17 I have always held the place close to my heart. It was my first travel experience alone, although I went out with a team of other volunteers of friends and people that had a big impact on my life. The whole trip was just a whirl wind of freedom, love and curiosity. I was in my element and I have never felt as at home as I did out there since leaving.
I was surrounded by the most incredible wildlife, waking up to hippos wallowing in the dam and the distant groan of lions walking near by. The red dirt and orange skies. My home at heart.
There were so many raw moments on that trip, from sleeping in the Kruger national park surrounded by nearby hyenas, watching the sun rise over the beach in tofo, Mozambique. The first time riding an elephant, feeding a load of orphans and seeing their beaming faces. Just thinking about it all give me goosebumps and makes my eyes sting and my throat block.
I've been out there twice since but those times I was on my own doing what I love which is horse riding in the bush and doing trails. I met so many awesome friends out there. What a place.
Here's some photos from all 3 of my South African trips...
My Summer In America
In 2012 I ended up getting a job in upper state NY working in an adventure camp through camp leaders. I met some AMAZING beautiful people that I cherish to this day. I saw some beautiful waterfalls, camped out under the stars, drank too much at the magical place alle the cellar spent days off usually hungover at beautiful lakes.
Part of my job was to teach basic horse riding to the campers and when we didn't have kids riding me and the other two horse girls would take the horses swimming in the lake. The raw moments at camp I remember on duty at night laying on the benches around a big open fire, star gazing and listening to the crackle of the fire, talking about where we would end up in life and how amazing the place was. Another moment was climbing a mountain and sleeping over night in the woods and waking up to the smell of a stale fire and the fresh morning damn smell. The last night of the final session where we lit a huge fire with the kids and let little Candles off the lake shore. If only I could turn back time and relive it all.
After camp me a load of people went to NYC and rented an apartment for a week. But the journey from camp to NYC was a drive I would never forget. In our bosses BMW convertible, me and Tyler singing our hearts out to Good Charlotte and Bowling For Soup and all sorts. Great little road trip!
We did the usual city site seeing and partying and just spending all the money we earnt at camp on having a good time. We had a rooftop apparement and spent most nights out over looking the sites of Harlem with the city sky line in view. Magical place.
After a week me, Katie and Amy (the other horse girls) and then Darryl and went to sunny Miami for a beach and party holiday before returning home. We relaxed on the beach, drank and danced the nights away. From strip clubs to big celeb hotels to skinny dipping to Miami ink. It was for sure a holiday to remember.
A few Americans snaps...
The Land Down Under.. So far.
I have been in Australia almost 3 months now and although it seems a fair amount of time I know that the best of times are yet to come. As you will know if you know me I'm out here with my boyfriend Callum and currently working for pgl put here as activity instructors and group leaders. We have seen some beautiful things like the darling harbour fire works in Sydney, the waves crashing in on the beach in surfers paradise, the kangaroos hopping through the tall grass in the sunset, buskers in the streets of Melbourne at night and the sun lighting up the skies in bright pink over the lake the other evening after a BBQ. I am very much gettin used to the chilled Ozzy way of life.
I love those raw moments you get from travelling. Where you take it all in with all the senses and just fill up with complete content-ness (there's that made up word again)
Life isn't meant to be lived in one place.
Complete and utter wanderlust 🌏✌️
