Not another cheesy travel blog...

Hi Everyone,

Yes I'm afraid it's true, I'm doing the whole cheesy travel blog thing. I apologise but its mostly for myself so I can remember all the little things that tend to get forgotten in amongst the big things that happen, but are still just as important to make up the whole memory.

I also want to look back and remember how I felt about things as they were happening to me, both positive and negative. One very clever trick of the human brain is it's ability to pick out the good things. After a while the bad bits just fade out into background and we only remember the positive. My best example of this is Duke of Edinburgh, there was definitely a lot of pain and tears somewhere up a Welsh mountain. But all that is clouded by the memory of how awesome it felt to climb to the top of Pen y Fan and struggling to put up a tent in gale force winds (and then watching it roll down a hill). So as strange as it may sound I want to remember how I felt during the not so good bits, like when I see people struggling to do the things I take for granted or when I just feel like flying home, eating a Pizza Express (had my last helping of dough balls last night for a while) and going for a drink in the Kings Arms with my friends.

On saying that I also want to remember the good bits and be able to look back and smile at the little things so please feel free to take a read about my upcoming adventures :)

Why this trip anyway? I decided that after nearly three years in fashion retail that it's no longer for me! However, I'm not really sure what is for me at the moment and seeing a bit of the world is something that's been niggling in the back of my mind since I left uni in 2008. So after a few months of worrying about leaving my job, being too old and worrying that I couldn't do it... I decided to take the plunge and do it! I picked India as it's on my list of places to go and I really wanted to experience a totally different culture to what I'm used to here in the UK. I also wanted to do something worthwhile, make a difference and have something to put on my CV rather than just bumming about for three months, so I've chosen to do a volunteer project in the Bhandra area of Mumbai.

When I've finished at the project at the end of July I'm going to see a bit more of Asia as I may as well take advantage of seeing places whilst I'm there. So firstly I'm heading to Nepal to see my friend and fellow White Stuffer Holly K as she'll be there visiting her boyfriend's family. Then on August 12th I'll be meeting some of my best friends Jon, Rosie, Nat and Jon's friend from uni Mike in Thailand (only 100 days to go guys). Another country on my list of places to go is Vietnam so I'm planning a detour there and perhaps Cambodia before heading back home.

So thats the what, the where and the why...now just a few thank yous to all the wonderful people in my life!

First of all, thank you to my parents. Without both of your love and support I would never have had the confidence to take this trip. I love you and will miss you both so much!

Thank you to all my friends for throwing me an amazing surprise leaving party and for being generally all round fabulous people all the time. Its at times like this you really realise who your friends are and the last couple of weeks has shown me that I have the best in the world.

Thank you to all my White Stuff ladies for a wonderful eighteen months working with you all. I had so many laughs and the privilege of meeting and working with so many great people that I otherwise wouldn't have met. Thank you also for all my cards, presents and coming to my leaving do!

I also have to mention Dan and Alex, who despite only getting to know me recently through Rosie, were kind enough to buy me a brand new rucksack for my travels. Thank you so much guys, its very much appreciated.

Also thank you to everyone else who have sent me cards, presents and messages :)

Anyway I'm waffling on a bit now so I will leave you with some idea of how I'm feeling right now...3 days to go = SCARED! Ha ha!

Thank you.

Lots of love from

Holly

xxx