Happy One Year Anniversary!

Posted by Ling on July 16, 2010

Happy One Year Anniversary to me!  This time last year, I was crying my eyes out as I left my family and friends behind to go travelling.  What a year!  So much has happened!

As I was on the return journey back to UK, I reminded myself of all the reasons why I decided to take this big step last year when I left everything behind.  It has been an awesome year with mostly highs and some lows.

Here is what my year of travels has taught me :-

1.  If you don’t try, you will never succeed.

• I had cold feet about leaving and I was scared, but I knew I had to take the chance and do it.

2.  Travelling requires a nice sum of money.  Use this money wisely and don’t skimp on accommodation if you are a solo female traveller.

• I made the mistake of booking a budget 2 star hotel in Malaysia and spent the money I saved doing my hair (yes, I did!).  That night, I went to bed and under the bed covers were not one, but TWO toenails!!!!!  Gross or what?  Yes, I had lovely hair but two freaking gross toenails to share the bed with!!  Needless to say, I checked out the next morning and upgraded to a 4 star hotel and ended up forking out more money to pay off the 2 star hotel surcharge.  (FYI, the 2 star hotel you should NOT stay at is called Hotel Mingood in Penang.)

3.  If you have doubts about travelling with a friend, then go with these instincts and explain firmly that you would prefer to travel alone.

• I had doubts but I made the stupidest mistake and agreed to go travelling with this friend (we are no longer friends) in Thailand and Australia.  Within the first few days, he did the most disgusting thing…and I had to grin and bear it because I had weeks travelling with him.

4.  Pack the essentials only.

• I have an inborn ability to pack everything under the sun.  BIG MISTAKE!  Lugging a big suitcase up and down stairs can cause a lot of backache!

5. Feeling homesick is normal.  Just acknowledge it, but don’t dwell on it.  Focus on the bigger picture.

• And remember, your true friends and family miss you too.

6.  Be careful who you make friends with.  The more you hang out with someone, the more you become like them.

• I hung out with a Korean guy in Taiwan and my Chinese eye turned Korean.  LOL!

7.  Tiger Airways suck!

• Tiger Airways, a budget airline, is budget for a reason.  Avoid at all costs.  Here is a link to my review of Tiger Airways.

8.  Long distance calls can be a killer, so save money by Skype-ing loved ones.

• But be careful of spooky Skype encounters…

9.  Friends, the TV series, is a myth!!!  Not all housemates can be your friends!!

• Sometimes, we drive by the place I used to live and we wonder what has happened to Dragon Lady…

10.  If you fall in love with a country and you want to stay on, marry someone for their visa!!  JOKE!

• Rephrase : If you’re going to start a romance with someone whilst travelling, to avoid heartbreak, marry them!