A Brief Synopsis of 2012

So the new year is nearly upon us and, as this year closes, we make way for a new milestone and new adventures to be had. Hello 2013! I just wanted to give a quick review of 2012, what it meant for me and highlights of this year from my home country.

To start off with, I began this year right up until June working and trying to save money for University and my trip abroad. I encountered magnificent up's and devastating low's in my love life, to which I have now found the most spectacular, special man. This was followed by a whirlwind last six months where I went backpacking around South-East Asia and then embarked on the next stage of my life at University studying a subject I love and enjoy.

England | London Baby!

London is one my favourite Cities and whenever I can I always pop down there, see friends and occasionally indulge in all the cool touristy things on often.

So if you ever get a chance to visit, here's my list of things to do and see in the Big Smoke:

Post-Travel Blues | My Top Ten Survival Tips

Here is my list to surviving those dread post-travel blues!

1. Talk to the people you met out there and reminisce.

2. Look through your pictures and re-live those days from the comfort of your home.

3. Find like-minded travellers; there's bound to be several flitting around in your local area, and talk to them about new and past adventures.

4. Plan your next trip and just be inspired!

5. Try something new, everyday, if possible.

England | Surfing in St.Ives

Travelling doesn't always have to be to exotic places abroad.

Recently I went on a surfing trip with my University Surf Club to St.Ives in Cornwall. We travelled by minibus down into the depths of South-West England; stopping off at Asda on the way to buy provisions, i.e. booze. The long journey flew by as we played drinking games, ate food, and generally got to know each other a bit better... For me, I didn't know anyone so the alcohol consumption and drinking games were a good ice breaker.

Featured Article on GapYearBlog | Frontier

Would just like to express a quick post of thanks to Frontier, who recently featured this blog on their Gap Year Blog and here it is for you to view:
http://gapyearblog.org.uk/blog/2012/10/31/volunteer-travel-blog-hannah-banks-the-frontier-se-asia-ethi.html

Thank you guys for the experience!

Vietnam | My last few days in S.E.Asia

Hanoi is a spectacular City, it feels very westernised and modern yet still withholds its Vietnamese traditions. Our first day was spent exploring the City, seeing a spectacular Gothic-like cathedral, buying new make-up, eating copious amounts of cheese sticks (they are immense) and purchasing cinema tickets to the new Batman film.

Our second day in Hanoi was slightly more cultured as we went on a tour around Halong Bay (Meaning: Descending Dragon). Our journey there was long, but we entertained ourselves by sleeping and watching the spectacular scenery race by around us. When we arrived we clambered on a boat, filled with other sightseers eager to cruise through the natural beauty. It was truly magnificent and words cannot justify it fully - it's one of those things you just have to see with your own eyes to understand and appreciate. The boat ride itself was fun as we ate a buffet of seafood (freshly caught) and rice. They took us through the caves which was amazing; they are massive and it feels like you've left reality and entered a pre-historic world underground.

Vietnam | The Journey from South to North

After saying goodbye to the teaching and forest volunteers we left behind in Phnom Penh, we took a short tuk tuk ride to the bus station and waited for hours for our night bus to leave - we found out later that the driver had taken a nap. To pass the time myself, Cat and Miri pulled faces, ate pringles and oreos till we felt sick, watched the other trail members attempt to sleep and contemplated taking sneaky photos (open mouths, drool and random subconscious movements...) which kept us entertained for the hours we endured on the non-air conditioned bus. Eventually we set off and reached the Cambodia-Vietnam border at 7:30am and proceeded through passport control and so forth.

The journey from the border to Ho Chi Minh City was over in no time and we arrived around lunch-time. As we sleepily plodded off the bus we were hounded by taxi drivers urging and pushing and pulling us to get in their taxi. Luckily for us, Miri knew they would only rip us off by charging too much for the distance we would need to go. But our hostel was a five minute walk away from where we had been dropped off so, naturally, we walked. By this point I was getting fairly good at swiftly hoisting my over-sized pink bag onto my back and trekking after the others towards our new home for the night. When we arrived in the hostel we were all ecstatic to be sharing a room altogether. Officially the trail was reunited and so we would begin our adventures again! We chilled in the room for a bit before heading down the road in search of food and exploring the City - we visited the huge central market, a Cathedral which was meant to look like Notre-dame and the post office.