The Travel Bug...

2009-01-16T03:55:00.000-08:00

So it's January 16th, a normal Friday morning in my house and I'm sitting waiting to hear how the job interview went this morning. Nothing particularly opportunistic or fulfilling; just a local call centre job that pays reasonably well and allows me to begin saving for my next trip round the world. Inevitably it all comes across as quite depressing when one starts to compare 'home' lifestyle to the travelling lifestyle but on a rainy January day in England I just can't help but let my mind drift to Byron Bay parties or to images of dancing the night away on Magnetic Island with backpackers we'd met only several hours before.

I don't from any angle want to slate England, normal working life or the apparent 'boredom' of home routine because I absolutely love the familiarity, the security and the welcome I always feel when returning to North Devon to catch up with friends, be back with the family and to indulge in the aspects of home life that will never ever change. I truly feel it is rewarding to have solid roots that always pull you back in, no matter how far away you travel. Some people seem to travel with the view that England is rubbish: the weather, the attitudes, the lack of cheer and the mundane routine that is coupled with the a working lifestyle. I on the other hand view this as a reflective attitude, a state of mind, and it is the way in which you view a situation which determines the positivity behind it. As for the weather, there were days we spent in Sydney that were dreary and wet; negativity goes so much deeper than a weather change, full stop.

Again, all this may sound quite serious for a blog about travel but I just wanted to stress how it's my love for home that, if anything, drives my passion for travel even more. It's not escaping England; viewing it in that way would surely make you bitter. It's definitely more a case of broadening my horizons in order to enjoy places more. In many situations, it even allows me to appreciate England further! I know the lack of marmite in Australasia definitely hit me hard ;)

My enjoyment of the last three month trip, travelling Samoa, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong, has led me to organise a second venture for around April or May. The planning part is almost as exciting as the trip itself and having spent the last two weeks trawling through travel websites, researching flights and tours and on the phone to every Tom, Dick and Harry (in fact Danielle, George and Julie) from multiple travel companies I have almost narrowed down the itinerary! Without boring those who have no idea where they are or what these places involve, the general plan is to fly to Peru in South America (via Miami!!!), to do the Inca Trail and the Amazon rainforest followed by Sydney (can't get enough of Australia!) and Perth, before heading home perhaps via Bangkok for a couple weeks in Thailand, depending very much on the bank balance!!!

I always do it, so I don't know why I always apologise, but I am sorry for the ramblings and if anyone has advice on any of these places or has any travel stories or ideas/opinions to share, please do! Catch the Travel Bug, it's expensive to cure but well worth it...Happy Travels everyone ;)

The Travel Bug....it's going round!

The Travel Bug...