3 Bucket List favourites.

Now it’s worth mentioning I have a bucket list the length of the Great Wall of China (ironically…not high on the bucket list)

My bucket list seems to grow everyday with new places i want to visit, and of course my partner will be with me along for the all the adventures as always.

I’ve been to a few places, and have an incredible trip to Iceland coming up (so that’s on the bucket list but I have this planned so will leave that for a separate blog).

So let’s start with 3 of destinations I want to visit,

Africa.

African Plains.

“The darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it”

Ignorance is bliss? No. Not when it comes to countries, travelling or experiencing new things.

I’ve never been to Africa but it’s so high on my list I need to get there and get my Nigel Thornberry on (kids show, brilliant).

To go on safari in Kruger Park in South Africa, or in Kenya is a dream (my partner has been to Kenya already, I can’t hide the fact that I’m still insanely jealous).

With its vast plains, incredible coasts and vibrant cities, this country is one that I will explore intensely. I would love to travel from Casablanca, Morocco all the way to Bettys Bay, Cape Town, experiencing the cultures, soaking up the music, people and trying new foods.

Cape Town, South Africa

A dream would be to take an old VW camper van on a road trip starting in Cape Town, up through Mozambique exploring the coast into Tanzania and finishing in Kenya for a safari adventure. Of course the west coast of Africa would need a road trip too, including Namibia and Botswana.

Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Coastline.

“Costa Rica is more than a vacation destination; it is an interactive sensory experience”

If that quote doesn’t make you want to pack your bags and go and explore Costa Rica I don’t know what will.

Interactive sensory experience? They should make that into the main tagline for a banner or a billboard ad.

With rainforests, coastlines, volcanoes and its immense biodiversity, this country looks incredible. It’s insane to think that Costa Rica takes up just 0.3% of the planet’s surface and holds 5% of its biodiversity. 25% of its land is protected national parks and refuges. Am I the only one who thinks that is amazing?

The wildlife for such a small country is vast, from fish and reptiles to its 1000 butterflies! They have a turtle conservation that challenges any in the world at being the best. It’s my goal to go there one day and be a part of the hatching at Tortuguero National Park.

Turtle at Tortuguero National Park

Although I will say, with its 20,000 different species of spiders and 34,000 species of insects, you’ll have to take a suitcase of bug spray!

An interesting fact is that they claim a 96% literacy rate, with the very poor or rural areas teaching classes over the radio so the children (and adults) do not miss out.

The best thing about this is you can get to San Jose from Miami in 2 hours (direct flights) and with a national saying of “Pura Vida” meaning “Pure Life”, why would you not want to visit.

Canada.

Banff National Park, Canada

“Canada is like your attic, you forget that it’s up there, but when you go, it’s like “Oh man, look at all this great stuff!”

I’ve wanted to go to here for years. I think my major obsession started since they hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010. I prefer the winter sports to the general Olympics.

The landscapes in Canada are breath taking. Stretching from mountains, lakes and forests, to the vibrant cities. I want to see it all.

Another road trip would be the only way to see this country. I would drive from Quebec and head west across Ontario aiming for Alberta. My main focuses are Banff National Park and visit Lake Louise.

Banff National Park is not only Canada’s first national park, but its largest. It’s home to 53 species of mammals including 80 grizzly bears and 60 black bears which reside within the park.

Along with the bears there are elks and cougars, all roaming around the 2,564 square miles of protected wildlife areas.

I would love to get in a car (preferably a truck for this trip) and drive. Exploring the glaciers, the mountains and the wildlife.

I would take some time out and just experience all these adventures. Even more adventures that I haven’t even spoken about. There are so many things I want to do, things I want to see.

Hakuna Matata

Commuting woes.

8 train carriages pull into my station, just like every morning. Doors stop in front of me (a skill I’ve perfected) and then it’s game on. It’s like the gate opening at the Grand National, a scene from World War Z, all for that one seat. That one beacon calling for everyone to act like savages.

Thousands of people commuting into London on a daily basis, you’d think by now people would realise at some point they might not get a seat, or a comfortable place to stand. However, there are dirty looks, rolling eyes and tutting.

I can’t decide if getting a seat is the best thing, you either end up as a table for someone’s paper or have someone’s crotch thrust in your face.

I’ve been shoved, tripped, squashed, sat on, hit in the face by bags and used as a pillow; and that’s this week alone.

The government puts the fares up every year as they say they’ve improved the services; I’m still trying to figure out what improvements have been made. As far as I can tell the only thing that has improved is the big bosses’ ever-growing waistline.

With the number of commuters increasing every day, you would think plans would be in place to accommodate these. However, we don’t have such plans. The issues and the things that need fixing are stuck together with tape and forgotten about until the glue dries up.

It would be nice if things were fixed properly rather than botched jobs. Until that day though, we will have to put up and suffer the, radiators on in the summer and off in the winter, the decreasing of carriages in rush hour and the increasing of carriages at 2pm on a Saturday.

Trains in the UK have issues in the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. When it snows there are delays, when it rains there are delays, when it’s bright sunshine, there are delays. No matter what the weather there is always a problem.

It makes no sense to me, but I’m not in charge, I’m sure the fat cats at the top know what they are doing. Hopefully.

Also in case you are wondering, I always get that one seat.

Hakuna Matata.

Dreams

Everyone has them, even if it’s something small, everyone has dreams. It doesn’t matter what size it is. If it gives you hope and it means something to you, then it’s massive.

I have so many dreams, every day I add more to my list. Here are some of mine.

Life dreams:

In the back of my mind I know what I want, it’s getting all that to the front of my mind that I need to work at. The perfect life for me is literally – and this will sound incredibly common, but to just be happy. In everything I do I try to see a positive side. What’s the point always worrying or stressing about how things will turn out when they haven’t even begun. So many people think the worst before they have even tried. I’ve learnt to let go of so many things, I’ve learnt to take every day as it comes. I spent so long thinking I was going to mess up or something was going to go wrong, when in fact I’d literally just woken up.

Now I have a clear mind on what I want in life. They boil down to 4 things, love, happiness, fun and adventure.

Travel dreams:

Where do I begin! Travelling has always been my biggest dream. There are so many places that I would love to see. I’m going to list my top 10 adventures I would like to go on:

1: Canada

2: South Africa

3: Australia

4: Costa Rica

5: USA (road trip)

6: Europe (road trip)

7: New Zealand

8: Alaska

9: South America

10: Asia

Travelling is something people do to find themselves, to have fun or just experience new things. I want to do it for the fun and for the experience. I already know who I am, I just want to live.

Travelling by yourself is great, but travelling with someone else is perfect. I plan to share my travels with someone. Make memories with someone.

Dreams are what keep me going but don’t think for a second I have my head in the clouds. My feet are firmly on the ground.

I will make my dreams a reality.

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live – Dumbledore

Laura

x

Growing Up

There are so many different ways you can look at this. Growing up in general, growing up because of an experience, growing up because others have, and growing up because you are made too.

 

Let’s break these down:

Growing up in general:

Now obviously everyone grows up, it’s inevitable. We can’t exactly stop it can we…or can we…no we can’t. Damn!

Growing up can be fun but what about the pressures? Well, of course there will be everyday pressures but who says they have to control you. Growing up, I took every day as it came, I never really thought about the future or worried about stuff (even exams…not a care in the world) and I still turned out ok. Sort of. I tended not to dwell on the thought of not being good enough or not what people expected, because at the end of the day, it was my life, my journey.

 

This leads me onto the next stage:

 

Growing up because others have:

Have all of your friends left school and got married? Have kids? Mortgages? Are you still at home with your folks, like me? Now, I let this get to me more than I actually should. I have a great life; I have a loving home, great friends and an amazing girlfriend. So why does it bother me that I still live at home? 

 

I have a good job, it allows me to travel, gets me new things, allows me to go out and live life. I should be happy with that, and I am, I truly am. However, there’s always that part of me that feels like I’m missing out because I’m not in my own space. 

My partner said to me the other day “why live your life for others, why compare yourself” this hit home if I’m honest with you. Why am I comparing myself? I have a blooming good life. I’m happier now than I ever have been. I need to just let go and live how I have been. Without a care in the world; well a little bit of care, but you know.

 

This brings me to my last stage:

 

Growing up because you are made too:

No one should ever feel the need to grow up. Yes, you have to change a little, but that’s just to get by. I’m a massive kid, I love going out and having adventures. I laugh way more than I should on a day to day basis and I smile pretty much 80% of the day. If you feel like someone is pressuring you to grow up or be a certain way, ask yourself are they really happy with their life. Let them be the ones that are stressed out, let them be the ones who have strict rules on what they can and can’t do. 

 

At the end of the day life is for living, whether you choose to do it with rules and regulations or if you just go out there and takes each day as it comes. 

Growing up is fun, it’s an adventure in itself, remember when you were a kid and just wanted to play out with your mates? How simple was that life? I plan on having a great life, an easy, stress free life. I know when the time is right to “act mature” but I also know the best times are when you can have fun, have a laugh, take every day as it comes and quite simply, live.

 

Hakuna Matata