The incredible sunrise as we landed back in the UK. And seeing London from the plane. And working out where my house is.
Autumn leaves and a sunny and surprisingly hot walk in the park
My little flat and my fabulous housemate.
Archives for posts with tag: travelling
The art house on Naoshima that was totally dark but also actually wasn’t. Really cool. Left you smiling and laughing at how your mind and your eyes work.
The ferry across to Teshima.
The adorable tiny cafe for lunch with the vegetarian meal and the creamy vegetables and the fruit because we had no meat.
Hiring electric bikes. It felt so free and fun. And so necessary to have the electric boost!
The red art house with the fish and the mirrored toilet.
But mainly, Teshima Art Museum. I’ve never been to an exhibition or gallery as good in my life. It’s knocked all the rest of them off the top. It was incredible. The size, the shapes, the light, the water and the way it moved. The way it left no trace. It was outstanding.
Discovering our creepy looking hostel is actually an adorable place with a beautiful shower room and a delicious vegetarian dinner. Don’t just a hotel by its run down Soviet looking cover.
Koyasan. Beautiful red temples against an unexpected blue sky. Wandering around in the afternoon was pure joy.
Our home for the night – a monestery with a beautiful garden, real paper doors and staffed by monks.
Discovering vegetarian snacks at the 7/11
Our elaborate vegetarian dinner. Numerous bowls of delicious things.
The beautiful onsen. The big wooden bath, the wooden stalls and the bamboo bowls. It’s all lovely.
The sound of frogs and crickets and wildlife in the garden just outside. It feels so lovely and quiet and still up here.
The beautiful fushimi inari. Walking up the mountain under them and taking a hundred photos.
Tame wild deer of Nara. They make funny noises.
The giant golden Buddha
Watching the kids and the teacher scramble through the hole the size of Buddha’s nostril.
Omelette on rice for lunch. Surprisingly delicious.
Delicious rice and soya sauce thing for dinner.
More KitKat flavours!
Oh Tokyo. So many things.
The amazing coffee from our hostel.
The fish breakfast from the traditional little shop.
The shrine in Harajuku, walking through the big trees to get there.
The tiny puppies in the puppy hotel.
The apple crepe.
The view from the Lost in Translation bar.
Memory Lane and the delicious soba noodles.
Golden Gai and the tiny bar playing Spanish music.
Not really sure what day it is or whether it’s been a whole day. But…
Slippers onboard
The film on the plane with that women from Girls that I like. And watching it at the same time as Han.
Arriving in Hanoi to a very quiet airport. Perfect for napping before the next flight.
Finding my first white hair. Bizarrely this made me really happy. Even though my boyfriend pulled it out.
Finishing work early and meeting my boyfriend to go shopping for travelling bits. Which is exciting in itself but its also the first time I’ve really seen him since last Thursday.
Dinner with two close friends. For the last time before we leave. Which is sad. It the night was fun. We named our top five fruits. Watermelon, grapes, plums, apples and kiwis. If you’re wondering.
Getting my micro fleece for travelling I.e. getting to go shopping. Yay!
Our roast dinner – pork, crackling, amazing Yorkshire pudding and crispy potatoes. Well worth not being a vegetarian for a day
A message from my mum
Seeing a man yawn MASSIVELY out the train window. A really big goggly eyed, dislocated jaw yawn when you forget people can see you.
A wild flower growing in our little balcony garden
Realising that its a month tomorrow until we leave on our big trip. Yikes!
Working from my boss’s garden, in the sun, with the birds singing, chickens roaming around and the smell of cut grass in the air
Having a complete stomach flip of excitement that we’re leaving in 5 weeks to go travelling the world. EEK!
Coming home to hug my boyfriend’s super warm body and feeling safe
Listening to Ben Howard, wearing my purple rain coat I bought in Cornwall and walking along in the slight rain reminded me so strongly of everything about our holiday in Cornwall last summer. Our first real holiday together, my favourite place and the moment we decided to go travelling together for a long time. Who knew walking in the rain would bring back such happy memories
I tried on all my clothes I’m taking travelling when I was supposed to be working. Exciting and much more fun
My boyfriend had a meat free lunch today because its National Vegetarian Week. I’m sure he’s doing it for all his own reasons but I feel a little bit touched, like he’s doing it because he knows it will make me happy. Either way, it’s great.
My boyfriend stretching me out by pulling my arms up high. Feels so good and always makes me laugh too
My boyfriend did a fake pack in the rucksack that he bought yesterday to check it was the right size. It was. So he was happy. Which made me happy. And probably more so because we have the same bag. Matchies! (He obviously isn’t wild about this idea)
I started clearing one of the cupboards in our flat (I got excited, I love sorting!) and found my favourite bag that I’ve decided to take to work tomorrow. Despite it being not at all the right size or shape. But it IS tan leather. So it’s obviously perfect.
Lying on my balcony in the sun and feeling properly hot and sweaty
A day where I got to do lots of things I’ve been trying to do but never found the time (or motivation). Basically I worked from home today and it meant I didn’t exactly spend all my time doing what I was supposed to do.
Trying on my travelling clothes. And getting excited.
Leaving work in the sun to go shopping for a bikini
Being brave enough to go for a poo at work (the toilet is just a tiny room off our one room and is not at all private)
Finding out our New Zealand visas got accepted. Hurrah!
A few drinks with close friends at a nice pub where we chatted about all the amazing things we’ll be doing when we’re away.
My denim jacket. I haven’t worn it for ages but I remembered how much I love it.
The adorable tiny ducklings and the mandarin duck on the canal. And the coot that ran across the water for ages.
After a nap spooned up with my boyfriend we both rolled over and at the same time bent one leg, then the other and then wiggled our hips. I liked how exactly symmetrical our movements were.
My new rucksack for travelling (the other one wasn’t right. But this one definitely is). After I tried it on I walked around the shop with a big smile on my face. It’s The One.
When he showed me a card that said ‘I love you so much I want to squish your face’
My rucksack for traveling arrived!
My old boss told me that my leaving present would be vouchers for buying books on my Kindle. Perfect as I didn’t realise how expensive they were
The sky this evening. I didn’t take a photo but trust me, it looked amazing, beautiful clouds and such a perfect colour.
Walking to the shop without my music. It was surprisingly quiet with just a few birds to keep me company.
Sending off our visa applications to New Zealand. At the exact same time (I counted down and made sure we both pressed send together).
Seeing a friend we haven’t seen for two years as he’s been living in India
Getting our vaccinations, looking at bags and being one step closer to going away
Walking throughout the gorgeous St James’ Park in the brilliant sunshine, looking out on the sparkling water, the colourful blossom and the abundance of birds – herons, pelicans, geese and fluffy baby geese.
The first BBQ of the year. Hello halloumi
Frightened Lego Frodo
Squishing my boyfriend’s bum
More travel plans coming together. And just generally thinking about it all. Eek.
Hearing my boyfriend clean the bathroom whilst I was still snoozing in bed
Changing our travel plans so that we now go to Denmark, Sweden and Finland. I was so happy I danced around the room.
The shorn alpaca in Kevin McCloud’s Man Made Home
Three little things 