Pure Shores - Thailand.

In August this year I took my very first solo holiday overseas. I went to the south of Thailand for a week, which isn't a long time to others but I like to mark milestones whether big or small! The trip was everything I thought it would be; fun, challenging, hot, absolutely stunning and the perfect backdrop to All Saint's song Pure Shores.

I split the seven days in to seeing Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands, Krabi and a day trip to the James Bond Island. Thailand was the tropical paradise I had been hoping for and so much more. The people were so kind, friendly and tolerant despite the humidity and heat. The food, the food was next level! It was like eating your favourite Thai takeaway twice a day. I ate a lot of pineapple fried rice, pad thai and green curry. And the scenery, well it was just magical. The limestone cliffs, the green/blue water look just like the photos, but to be standing in front of it, being in the presence of such natural beauty, was very special. I feel like the photos are there to not just capture the scene but also the moment and the feeling, so that when you look back on them you remember exactly what it was like and how you felt.

Even though my Thailand stay was very short, I was determined to make the most of my week. I committed myself to being mindful and present in every moment of the holiday. I revelled in every new/different/exciting experience and soaked up the moments when it was just me, the sun, the ocean and a good book. 

Whilst I won't be excitedly hoping on the next plane to Phuket itself, I highly recommend going to Phi Phi Island and Krabi. Phi Phi was every part the backpacker friendly, party town island which I really enjoyed despite not being much of a party-goer. Krabi had a more relaxed, blissed out, quiet vibe that was a pleasant change from the aforementioned Phi Phi. Phuket, well, I found it a bit 'meh' after spending time elsewhere. I can't wait to go back and explore further north in Thailand. Everyone I spoke to on the trip asked if I had been to Koh Phangan which I haven't so it's top of the list for my next Thailand visit! 

London: Camden & back to the City.

Thankfully the sun was shining for my last day in London. It was also the day my sister Ruby was be arriving to continue our trip after her passport drama back home. And it was also the day London had its first whole tube network strike in 13 years which turned the city on its head. The roads were all jammed and people were packing the streets trying to get to and from where they needed to be. I, still so stoked to be in London despite the chaos, headed out to walk to Camden from my hostel in Soho without a care in the world. I had been leaving the hostel at around 8am every day and each day I was surprised at how quiet the city was at that time. I loved beating all of the tour groups to the streets and getting to see London without the heaving crowds. Being up so early I arrived at Camden Markets before they were ready to open. I wandered down to the canal and walked along soaking up the beauty and charm of place that would seem better suited to being outside of the city. On my way back to check out the markets I walked past a Cereal Killer cafe. This time i decided to go in and see what it was all about, and of course try a AUD$12 bowl of cereal. I ended up choosing a peanut butter jelly combination from the "cereal cocktail" list which involved peanut butter flavoured Capt's Crunch with strawberry flavoured milk and peanut butter "choc chips". It was both a sugar overload and the best cereal I've had in my life. The cherry on top were the TV screens that were playing shows from the late 90s/early 00s like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Saved By The Bell, the kind of shows you used to watch when you were a kid and your mum would be telling you to "turn the TV off and get ready for school!". 

After some more food from the Camden Lock markets and some vintage shopping I headed back to go and meet Ruby at Paddington Station for our romantic reunion. We trekked through the crowds of people and beeping cars back to the hostel to freshen up and then get out to see as much of London as we could in the time we had left. We treated ourselves to a fancy dinner and Aperol spritz's before catching Trafalgar Square and Big Ben before the sun set. We left London early the next morning to go to Paris. When we arrived in Paris, I missed London. I still do. It was awesome. 

London: Notting Hill & Kensington.

Oh Notting Hill. Your romance made my heart flutter and your pastel coloured homes made me swoon. I was certainly charmed to say the least. Just wish I had of run in to Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant whilst I was there...

London: Shoreditch.

If, when, I move to London I'll be living in Shoreditch, East London. Shoreditch was a melting pot of street art, grunge, sophistication and kitsch; aka my kind of place! Brick Lane was a haven of vintage clothes shops, cool cafes - most with a social enterprise purpose, bookstores and record shops. They hold a market on the weekend down the street which I unfortunately missed but can only imagine it would be epic! Once you're off Brick Lane and in to Shoreditch High Street you are met with super sleek cafes, gourmet food stores, boutiques and florists. I loved the high/low mix of the area. The people were young, carefree and oozed the ultimate London-cool. I had a case of FOMO as soon as I left!

London stole my heart.

These photos are from my first time and first day in London. It was also my first time travelling overseas on my own. London was the first stop of my sister and I's taste of Europe holiday however my sister ended up having some passport issues (make a note to always check your passport validity well in advance of going overseas!) and unfortunately wasn't able to join me for the first part of our holiday. I was thrown off by how sudden our circumstances had changed, especially because we had been planning this holiday together for months! I would be traveling and spending five days in London on my own before Ruby would join me and then we would leave for Paris. Being forced to go it alone reminded me of when I moved to Sydney on my own and how hard that was. Mostly for the part of not having anyone to share in the novelty of my new surroundings. I really didn't want to travel half way across the world for the first time and not have someone to share it with. I was so disappointed but that was the way it had to be and I had no choice but to be positive and trust that it was all for the best. I had an amazing time wandering the streets of London, working my way through my long list of places to go and things to see. It was like life wanted to give me some time and space to relax on my own and gently remind me that I'm capable of doing anything (which I tend to forget sometimes). I took my time, walked down random streets just to see where they went, ate whatever I felt like at the time and took a million photos to share here on my blog. My first day was filled with wonder, eyes wide open, head up to the sky and a smile on my dial. London stole my heart.