It’s official, I’ve caught the travel bug. And by that, no, I don’t mean deli belly or some other horrible virus. Just a dizzying urge to explore. I can see why people become so easily addicted. It feels exhilarating to be spontaneous (I will be doing a skydive at some point – sorry mum!) and to live in the moment. I look back to how overwhelmed I was at the start and think how silly I was – I now realise how lucky I am to be able to take the time to explore what the world has to offer. I mean, where else can you be lazing on a beach with the silhouette of the city in the background then climbing a mountain the very next day?! – Certainly not little ole Norwich.

Tomorrow is my last day in Sydney and I can honestly say I could see myself living here. The whole atmosphere is surreal, from Bondi Beach to Sydney and Darling Harbour, which are only half an hour apart! I kicked off this leg of my travels by celebrating Australia Day in arguably the best place. Sipping frozen rosé on the terrace of the Opera House, overlooking the harbour. There was a boat show on the water and a demonstration of fighter jets in the skies above – you were spoilt with where to look. I then wandered down to The Rocks, where there was a street party going on; live music, food stalls and markets lined the streets. The food here is all sooooo good, I can see what people mean when they talk about putting on ‘the Sydney stone’!

In true Aussie fashion I have had plenty of BBQs and the hostels I have stayed in have put them on for free – even better! Rooftops are as trendy here as London and I have made the most of them, from BBQs to drinking to more relaxing activities like yoga classes. Yes, I even dragged myself up at sunrise (5:30am) one morning to watch the sunrise across Bondi beach from one. Sunset in the city topped this though – I took a cruise around the harbour one evening and the views speak for themselves…

I don’t think you’ve really explored somewhere until you’ve done some shopping there. Travelling, I have come to realise that you really do live in the same pair or shorts and mix up the vest tops occasionally (I have done 2 successful washes though – 2 more than when I was living at home!). That said, I can always find something I need: from flip flops to a new charger cable, along with 6 bottles of aloe Vera gel. Essentials.

The beaches here are the main reason I came to Oz. The obvious Bondi is just as cool as on TV and we even saw Bondi Rescue being filmed (Mia and I made sure we walked past the guy on the stretcher with the camera in his face a couple of times so we might actually make it onto TV one day). We walked from here to Coogee, past several beaches and bays, of which we chose Tamarama (nicknamed Glamarama for its laid back vibes and Abercrombie and Fitch-like visitors) as our base camp for the day. The walk was 8 miles in total so we definitely hit our step count that day! We also took the ferry across to Manly Beach, which was my personal favourite. The only way I can describe it is a really beachy town: havianas, surfing and salt-sprayed waves. The ferry also took us to Watson’s Bay, a smaller little town north of Bondi. Within the first 10 minutes I managed to have a little accident, which then meant Mia spent the next half an hour picking sharp shards of coral out of my hands and feet. Knowing how clumsy I am, getting this far unscathed is a miracle as it is! Bloody but resilient I left Mia on the beach to walk the 2 mile loop of the coast to the lighthouse and back, feet stinging by the end of it and ready to just spend some time lying on the beach.

You walk a lot when you’re travelling and your backpack will become like an extra limb. Exploring the Botanic gardens, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Paddy’s Market, Mrs Macquaries chair, Hyde park and finally the Blue Mountains is not easy in 30+ degrees so you end up drinking and drinking and drinking. It’s a workout in itself just carrying enough water to stay hydrated. The Blue Mountains were as incredible as I imagined, although the journey up the mountains was pretty scary with hazy smoke-filled skies and visible fires. After a 6am wake up call, Mia and I travelled to Katoomba where we then walked to Katoomba Falls and then a loop around to Echo Point and the Three Sisters look out. We decided to take the ‘Giant staircase’ and boy, they weren’t kidding when they named it. 998 steps down we realised that we were waaay off course and would have to actually go back up to get back to where we needed to be. So, 1,996 steps later, dripping head to toe in sweat, legs shaking from exhaustion we finally crawled to the top again, where we had just come from 40 minutes earlier. Calling it a day we grabbed a milkshake and headed back for our final night in Sydney.

Those of you who know me will know I like my home comforts. I wouldn’t say I am high maintenance but… I basically need things to be at least hygienic. The Australian heat makes you feel sticky as it is, so I cannot be living somewhere where I constantly feel like I’m not only sticky, but also itchy and unclean. Sand in the bed is one thing; I have accepted this and resigned to the fact that it is possibly, actually, probably my fault for bringing it in from the beach. But a big no-no for me is when other roommates leave mess lying around the dorm. I can deal with sand in my bed because nobody else has to. It’s when food is left out in the dorm (the air con is unenthusiastic at best so can hardly function as a fridge) that I start to twitch. Back home we would say it attracts mice but here it is worse. Cockroaches, spiders, probably even gators given the chance, appear when food is left out. The former became my latest victim after it decided it wanted to bunk with me for the night…

Let’s talk about sex next. As if you could even contemplate getting it on in a 40+ degree room, what’s worse is people think it’s okay and totally acceptable to do it in front of others. Like some budget, backpackers version of Love Island, couples have no shame and will fornicate – loud and proud – on the bottom bunk whilst some poor person above has to go along for the ride. Call me unadventurous but I am now in a private room because I came to Australia not Amsterdam.

Some people do have the decency to take their antics elsewhere… all the way across the hall to the bathrooms. I shared a room with a lovely girl from Liverpool in Bondi Beach and she said she had been kept up the night before by what sounded like someone crying. When she went to look if they were okay she discovered a girl and a guy… and another girl together in the bathroom. Needless to say, she soon realised the cries she heard were not unhappy ones.

Because I have been travelling alone I have been careful to book female only-dorms and after meeting one girl I’m so glad I did. She was staying in a 3 bed mixed dorm in Bondi when a man in his 40s checked in. (Most hostels have a 18-35 policy so he should not have even been allowed to be there). He seemed friendly at first, from England and apparently just doing some travelling. When he found out she was there for a few nights he extended his stay. But not only did he book a bed for himself, he also booked out the remaining bed in the room. Turns out he never actually slept in the room, only used it to hang out, which the girl found strange. She also found it strange how nobody else checked in, especially as the hostel was constantly fully booked. Then, one evening he handed her a note which read ‘I’ve booked a hotel for the night. Come and join me for £1k’ then below, left his number.

So, unless there are absolutely no female only or single/ twin rooms I will NOT be looking to stay in a mixed dorm. I’ve realised that you just have to be vigilant and have your wits about you because you can never be too sure what people’s agendas are. My top tip for other solo female travellers would be to not be too trusting and just stay safe.

Annabel x

Melbourne Itinerary

Tuesday – arrived!

Wednesday – walking tour around the city (free) and coffee with Mia (my travel buddy).

Thursday – wandered around the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Friday – explored the city lanes and art galleries (free).

Saturday – Great ocean road tour.

Sunday – Run around Royal botanic gardens then went to an outside bar to watch the McGregor fight.

Monday – Looked over the city from the Eureka sky deck.

Tuesday – Went on a tour to Brighton beach boxes, a wildlife centre and then to Phillip island to watch the parade of the penguins.

Wed – Chilled day reading on St Kilda Beach.

Thurs- Vegan pay-as-you-want cafe and wandered around Abbotsford convent. Then… the night bus to Sydney! (12 long, long hours).

So after spending 10 busy days in Melbourne I have come to Sydney for a bit more of a laid back beach vibe. Going to bed after day 1 and I now fully understand why factor 50 sunscreen is necessary. The sun is STRONG. You will burn even when it is cloudy. The sea breeze is veeeery misleading. I underestimated this. Basically, cream up and cream up again! And if it’s too late then bathe yourself in Aloe Vera. To the point where You and your skin will thank me later.

I have spent the last few days in Bondi, shopping in Bondi Junction, lazing about on the Bondi Beach and walking up and down the coast front. Today (Sunday 26th January) is Australia Day, so Mia and I decided to venture into the city. We arrived at Circular Quay, grabbed some strawberry daiquiri and frosé cocktails (they stayed frozen for about 3 sips) and watched a parade of boats on the harbour. There was then a sky show of fighter planes and overall a really good, busy, buzzing atmosphere. After this we wandered down to ‘The Rocks’ which was throwing a street party- live music, street food and a real party vibe. I feel more like I’m holiday in Sydney than Melbourne, it feels less English and the weather is incredible – the gorgeous beach helps too!

This said, I do miss some things from home:

• My bed – I knew that this would be a big thing before I left, I love my home comforts.

• An oven – apparently hostel ovens aren’t a thing and you can’t fry a pizza…

• Having hair that isn’t either frizzy and dry or drenched in sweat (there really is no in between).

• The gym – I’m doing a lot of walking (20,000 steps a day average) but missing training. Plus the cookies from Woolworths are just TOO GOOD.

• Going to the fridge and having my pick of anything. Living off porridge, sandwiches, pasta and bananas is becoming a bit boring.

• A proper home cooked meal – I would kill for a lasagna right now.

• A bath- sometimes you just need to have a soak.

• My family, friends and boyfriend. The time difference makes it hard to give people as much attention and you’d like/ they deserve. Also just the comfort of having human touch and interaction. I’ve never been big on PDA but I will make the most of it in the summer – sorry Lib but you’re getting a big squeeze too!

• Routine – still trying to let myself relax more!

• Space- I know I’ve been travelling alone but it’s hard to find somewhere to fully and completely have your own space to just gather yourself and relax.

So there we go, I’ve made my first move up the East Coast and so far it’s gone swimmingly (sea pun). Its easy to fill the days keep busy which is the best thing for me but this also means I’m absolutely exhausted by the evening and end up crashed out by 10pm most nights (I’m officially no longer a party girl). Mia has just joined me and she is also suffering the same fate – but maybe it’s also the day drinking and sun which is a killer combination. Over the next couple of days I’m looking forward to spending some more time relaxing and soaking up some sun on the coast before I head and stay in the city for a few days. Until then – any tips for how to get rid of tan / burn lines?

Annabel x

It’s Thursday 22nd January. Today marks my final day in Melbourne and I never thought I’d say this but I am actually a bit gutted to be leaving so soon. I overheard someone in my hostel bar saying ‘I came to Australia to find myself but I’ve never been so lost’ and this completely resonates with week one me. But week two Annabel has a completely new mindset. I needed to stop being so uptight, so set in my ways, so focused on having a plan and just ‘go with the flow’ – after all I did book a ticket to Australia with no set idea of what to do! I discovered the beauty of waking up every day and thinking that I could literally do anything I wanted. So I made the most of it: I explored the famous Great Ocean Road, I took a trip to Phillip Island to see the parade of the penguins (which was incredible and something I’ll never be able to experience again) and one day I just took a book to the beach and read. I’ve learnt to slow down and take a moment to experience living. I’ve met some great girls who have taught me things about the world and about myself and who I hope to stay in touch with as I travel North. We went to Victoria night market last night and danced to a live folk bank until it closed. I can honestly say I just felt content.

Today, Jo -a yoga teacher in my dorm – and I went to a vegan cafe in an old convent just outside of the city. It was non-profit and you gave a donation based on what you thought the food was worth. This for me was completely new but I think it’s a wonderful idea as everyone there volunteers. The food was also super tasty and filling (there was even chocolate cake!) After heading back to the city, Jo gave me a tarot card reading on the rooftop of our hostel. I was completely stunned with how the outcome reflected my time in Australia so far and the journey I hope to have. I wouldn’t say I am overly spiritual, but I do believe that everything happens for a reason… My cards talked a lot about having more self confidence and being trusting of people, which relates a lot to opening up to new people who I will be constantly meeting along the way. This is so important when you are trying to slot yourself into an already established group as it can be intimidating but you just have to put yourself out there. The majority of my cards were fire cards which reflects unpredictability, passion, enthusiasm and energy, but the most resonant for me was the symbolism of determination, strength and expansion. I would have said I was an extrovert before but really I don’t open up to many people. I feel like I have already become so much stronger in myself and creating relationships with people. It has also made me want to make more effort with preexisting ones when I go home. I was ready to throw in the towel by my third day but, thanks to the support from home, I persevered and I am so glad I did as I will be able to take away so much from this whole experience. I also drew two water cards, first and last, which was interesting. I have talked about not being a city person and wanting to get to the beach and this reflecting this side of me.

The element of water is symbolic of fluidity, feelings and emotions, intuition, relationships, healing, and cleansing. My cards read that I already have genuine relationships which I rely on for stability and protection and that I need to open my mind to the ideas of others who are different to me. I think this is true as I was relying heavily on the support of people back home, but it wasn’t until I starting to connect with people around me here that I really started to enjoy my experience.

So thank you Melbourne, it may have been a love-hate vegemite (Australian marmite) relationship but you have definitely opened my eyes to what this country and journey has to offer. I will be writing a post about my top things to do in Melbourne so keep an eye out for that. Next stop, the sand and surf of Sydney!

Annabel x

Yesterday I decided to move hostels as something about the vibe of the one I was in just didn’t feel right with me. People say the grass isn’t always greener but boyyyy the grass at my new place is GREEN. I feel like I’m in the Ritz of the backpacking world – fans above each bed, TWO pillows per bed, straighteners in the bathrooms… a rooftop bar! I’m surprised as my previous hostel was actually ranked higher (but I’m guessing the people there obviously didn’t stay anywhere else).

As soon as I moved in, the girls in my room (now a 6 bed not a 12!) were super friendly – all also young solo British backpackers. We clicked immediately. They invited me out for coffee and to explore the city with them. This communication and company was what I had been missing at my old place and what I finally realised travelling is all about. It’s about meeting people who want to also meet people to share experiences and adventures with. They encouraged me to sign up to the gym for the week and I’m excited to get back into training to help my mindset as well as my bikini body which will need to be ready by the time I get to Sydney on Friday… a girl can dream!

Going from a sweat box to a room with air conditioning also meant my sleep improved massively. Jetlag is still a thing (I’m writing this at 4am) but I am actually managing more than an hour at a time. Also, someone must have come in during the night as there’s now an extra body filling the bunk next to me but they didn’t even wake me – how considerate. The only downside is that I am now on the top bunk and it has no sides… let’s wait and see if I’m writing my next post from a hospital bed.

What I’ve learnt in the last day has been a breakthrough. Before coming to Australia I liked routine and stability – I think that’s why so many people were surprised when I said I was giving this up to travel on my own on the other side of the world. I liked knowing that I was safe, that I had a bed to go back to every night and people who I could call up and they would be there. But without change I wouldn’t have realised the possibilities that different hostels had to offer. I could have easily stayed in the other place, miserable and hating the experience, but I decided to do something about it: actually move my butt (and bag that’s bigger than me) and take action.

My top tip would be to obviously research before booking somewhere, the reviews are helpful at gaging the kind of people you will be sharing your home-away-from-home with. But also to go with your gut. If you’re staying somewhere that has good reviews but you’re not vibing it yourself then try moving – you can always go back. Book a couple of nights at first because you can always extend if you like it somewhere. And remember it’s not going to be your forever home. You’ll move on and probably stay in a lot worse and a lot nicer places. Enjoy the learning experience and most importantly the people you meet along the way. Oh and if you’re wondering whether to go for a smaller or larger dorm – go smaller if you value sleep and sanity!

Over and out from me as I’m going to try and get a few more hours in before another busy day tomorrow – night!

Annabel x

G’day from down-under! It’s day 4 of my adventure and so far it has been anything but plain sailing. Arriving at Melbourne airport I was quick to notice the air was thick with smoke from the ongoing bush fires all over the country. This, along with 30 degree heat was a stark contrast to the chilly, rainy English weather I was used to (but I’m not going to complain about some vitamin D). After walking miles feeling like my backpack would pull me over at any time I found my hostel tucked away down a small street. Dropping off my bags, I immediately went exploring these laneways. Coffee shops on top of clothes shops next to bars fill the buildings like a puzzle. Melbourne is famous for its coffee, apparently inventing the flat white, so I had to test this out and it did not disappoint. Thinking back, perhaps it was the caffeine and not the jetlag that kept me awake until 7:30 am the next morning…

Returning to my hostel, a 12 bed all girl dorm, the reality that I was 8000 miles from home finally hit. I’ve been to uni but never have I experienced the level of homesickness I felt over the next few days. It’s actually funny how you can be around so many people but still feel so lonely. I told myself that I had to just put myself out there and be brave so I did, joining activities put on by the hostel over the next few days. The first was a quiz night thrown in the bar of which I teamed up with a Brazilian, an Irishman and someone from just down the road at home who actually knew a friend of mine from uni! That’s one thing people said before I came out and didn’t believe until I experienced it – you WILL meet someone who knows a friend or someone you know from back home. We came third and won a bottle of wine – we were terrible but the other teams were just even worse!

The next day I joined a walking tour around the city with a few other hostels. This was the boost I needed as it gave me contacts which I then went for drinks with the day after. I then met Mia, who is going to be my travel partner up the East Coast. She’s from England but is living in Melbourne with her boyfriend who works here. She, like me, felt just stuck in a routine and bored so is leaving her boyfriend to work whilst she comes with me island hopping and wave surfing!

Sometimes you do just need some ‘me time’ though. I’ve sat and read in the Royal Botanical Gardens, watched the Australian Open in Federation Square and wandered around galleries and museums. (Oh and maybeee did some shopping and had to buy an extra suitcase – oops!)

Ive realised that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and completely lost. (I even looked at flights home the day after I arrived!) I have learnt to appreciate the people – family and friends – that I left behind who have been so supportive of me and pushed me to face my fears, be brave, be bold and mainly to not quit when I have phoned them telling them I’m coming home. Honestly, without them I would have let my fears get in the way. You’ll be reading this I hope – just thank you. Oh and don’t worry I’ll definitely come home eventually! Also big thanks to everyone who gave me tips who have travelled Oz before- you have helped me out with things to do and also my mindset.

They say that the first week is always the hardest, so writing this with honesty about how for me it is the hardest thing I’ve ever done will hopefully allow me to look back and see how far I’ve come. I came to Australia because it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, following in my mum’s footsteps from when she was my age. Once I finished uni I was not sure what I wanted to do next and felt unmotivated in the job I was in. So I gave this up, booked a ticket to Australia and threw myself into the deep end on the other side of the world. 2020 is going to be my year and, never one for making things easy, I decided that I would start this off by pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I like routine and I like my home comforts, so now: bed hopping from hostel to hostel (some of which I know won’t meet my high standards- bed bugs are apparently a common occurrence!?!) I am well out of my comfort zone of little old Norwich. My main bit of advise to people who are planning on doing this, or who have taken the leap but, like me, feel way out of their depth is to be brave. Take the risk. Talk to the person in the bed above you. Book a tour to meet other people. Put yourself out there and let people get to know you and you them. If they are rude, move on, there are a gazillion other people in the same position as you who will appreciate your company. I have already met so many people from so many countries and so many backgrounds. It’s only day 4 and I have had a dozen breakdowns (blaming the lack of sleep) but I am finally settling in and excited to get moving up the coast. I have another week in Melbourne before I leave for Sydney and have lots of things planned to keep me busy. Stay tuned for my next post about the Great Ocean Road tour I will be doing as I experience my first taste of the ‘wild’ Australia!