Happy New Year everyone! It’s finally 2020!
I can’t tell you how happy I am to see the back of 2019. All over social media I saw people posting about how “amazing” 2019 was for them. The partners they found, the new job they started, promotions they achieved, races they ran, engagement rings they received, the marriage knots they tide and the new additions into their lives.
Not me.
No kids, no fella, no house but I didn’t really want any of that. Not my time.
I’ve always been a career girl. I worked my ass of all year in a job I was really good at and I was close to a promotion, only to see the company shut down. It was heartbreaking. I lost my job and I had to watch all my friends/colleagues go their separate ways too.
I tried to get another job but trying to find a job in the Travel industry just after Thomas Cook shut down too wasn’t leaving much to apply for. I decided that was it. I’m done with working in Travel because my main passion is Film.
I have a degree in film (shocking), my passion for blogging/YouTube got stronger and I rekindled my love for editing. Editing photos and videos is probably my favourite thing to do. I enjoy creating something new.
So what do I do…
I got a nice tidy lump of money (the amount is no ones business but my own) for being made redundant and there’s NO JOBS going right now. I suffer with anxiety which is what this blog is based on. The stress of looking for jobs and being unemployed again is getting to me. I can’t be on the dole again.
Thinking about my options and position actually made me think…what do I WANT to do.
I realised this is the perfect opportunity to do some decent travelling. Visit some of the places I’ve always wanted to see but working in a full time job would just limit my time and options.
I’ve got the time, I’ve got the money and now after 4 years of travelling, I’ve got the experience.
So where do I want to go…Asia and Australia!
YES! I’m going down under!!!
I’ve wanted to do the whole “back packing” thing for years but my anxiety always held me back. The thought of backpacking solo around Asia terrified me. Now, 4 years of travelling later I know I can do this.
So where am I going exactly and how am I doing it?
My experience on the road these past years have taught me that I enjoy trips a lot more on a organised group tour. So that’s what I’m doing. It’ll keep me stress free, I’ll enjoy it more and my itinerary is all planned out.
I got my friends at STA Travel to help me book the flights and tours. No blogger freebies or discounts! All my planning and my money.
I spent a few weeks planning my itinerary, choosing where I wanted to go and like anyone spending their own money, I waited for the sales!
Here’s the plan:
DUBAI
I managed to get a good deal by stopping in Dubai first before heading out to Asia.
My friend Stacey lives there now and I haven’t seen her in years. I’m really excited to spend some time with her and she’s done the whole travelling Asia thing before, so I can get some good tips.
I’ve also never been to UAE so I’m excited to tick off another new country, see the tallest building in the world and just see a different way of life.
Funny I thought I wouldn’t have any trip involving dessert this year…
THAILAND, VIETNAM, LAOS, CAMBODIA
I’ll be flying into Bangkok to join a 30 day tour around Asia with G Adventures. I think joining a tour straight away will ease me into my travels a little easier and hopefully I might make some friends to travel with afterwards.
The tour also has a variety of accommodation including hotels, hostels, to guesthouses. This will get me back in the swing of roughing it before I hit the islands and hostels are my main options to save money.
THAI ISLANDS
When I leave the trip in Bangkok, I’ll be on my own. Hopefully, with a few new friends to travel with to the Thailand Islands.
This is probably going to be the best part of the trip but the part I am the most nervous about because I’ll be “winging it“. I’m a planner. I love to plan my trips but this section you can’t really plan and there are several islands I want to visit.
You can do them in any order but I wanted to leave this section open in case I meet people and want to travel with them. Otherwise, I’ll be OK travelling round these gorgeous islands on my own.
BALI
I’ve been dying to visit Bali for such a long time and now I’m finally going. I can’t wait to do some surfing, relax, visit the Monkey Forest, temples, rice paddies, and markets.
This trip is another tour with G Adventures but I’ll be staying a few days before to maybe go to a surf school. Then I’ll join the tour to get the most out of Bali.
SYDNEY
I’ll be flying from Bali to Sydney where I’ll be reunited with one my best mates Hayley, who I’ve not seen in years. I can’t wait to spend some time with her and let her be my Aussie tour guide for Sydney.
AUSTRALIA GOLD COAST
After some teary goodbyes with Hayley, I’ll be joining my last tour from Byron Bay to Cains with Contiki.
Time to light the Barbie, hug a Koala, sail in Whitsundays and more surfing. Hopefully, the fires die down soon. It’s been horrible watching the news and seeing Australia on fire for so long.
I’m also interested in ticking off a major bucket list item in Cains….bungy jumping. After my recent visit to Costa Rica and doing the Tarzan swing, I feel slightly more prepared.
NEW ZEALAND
Before I leave, a quick stop by New Zealand is in order. I’ve got a week there but only to sample it as I know I’ll be pretty shattered by this point.
I know there’s so much to explore in Zealand and a tour would probably be better but I don’t want to spend all my money on things I should do, just things I want to do.
What I want to do is let my inner film geek, geek out at Hobbiton. Yes, it’s cheesy and touristy but I really want to see it. I want to work in film so being on set makes me really happy and at home.
Then, I go home.
That’s 8 countries in 3 months. My longest travel journey ever.
One thing, I must mention…I am not in any way shape or form going travelling to “Find my self”. Over the last few years, I’ve learn’t more about myself than ever. This year is dedicated to figuring out what I want to do next.
Where I want to live? My career path? What I want to do with my life basically? I feel very lost with my direction. Hopefully this trip will clear a few things up and I’ll have some fun, which I’ve desperately needed since all the stressful changes I’ve had in my life.
I’ll be vlogging the whole journey and hopefully this will help improve my editing skills too. I’ll also be covering the trip over on Instagram etc so if you have any questions about the trip just drop me a message.
I’ve got a feeling 2020 is going to be a great year!
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WHAT ARE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS FOR 2020 SO FAR? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS.
Aimee says
This sounds like an amazing itinerary! I am currently stuck between working and travelling, theres so many places i want to visit but not enough time to do it in! I admire you for organising this trip! Will definitely be following your travels on instagram/youtube! Enjoy and goodluck!
Katie says
Oh wow that sounds incredible! Not the best situation to be in job wise, but definitely the best way of handling it and getting more out of life I reckon. You’ll gain so much from the travel!
Diana Celine says
Hey Natasha,
I heard you were from Southport?…. me too! I’m hoping to slow travel the world with my family in our motorhome so will definitely be following your blog. So glad I came across it as my super power is anxiety girl … “leaping to the worst conclusion in a single bound” it’s great to see you being so honest. Keep it real!
Di
Xx
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