Jakarta's Congestion

I have recently returned from Jakarta as apart of UQ in Indonesia's 2018 team. Here is one of the stories I have published as apart of this trip.

USA 2017

Its been a little while since my last blog post. By a little while, I mean 7 months. Terrible, I know. Sometimes life gets in the way and time seems to fly by. I didn't mean for it too and I'm sorry. But I do have another travel adventure for you all.

In July, I went and visited the United States of America, a trip I had always wanted to make. Astonishing enough, it was like entering a movie. I couldn't believe it. This is going to sound funny, but it was the little things like the American accents, the money and the food that made me go; "Holy shit this place actually exists." Despite being apart of the western world, it was strange the American was so different from my own country (Australia).

From LA - VEGAS- NY , here is a snippet of my holiday, I do plan on making more thorough entries once I have a small break from my university work.

Until then,

The Perfect Gifts For Anyone Who Likes To Travel.

We all have that one friend who loves to travel. But what exactly could you get them? It's a little difficult to find something that is inexpensive and something that they don't already have.
Anyway, here is a list of some cool things you can buy them this Christmas!

1. Travel Wallet 

 Image: Forever New 

Travel wallets are super handy. You can fit everything from your passport to your cash. These are great for keeping everything together. Nowadays, some of them come with credit card and passport defenders. These are great for keeping your details safe!

2. Travel Organising Bags

Image: Typo

Now this might sound lame, but they are a very good idea. These are great for longer trips. They are great for separating your clean and dirty clothes and keeping all your things together.

3. Neck Pillows

Image: Amazon

Neck pillows are a must for long haul flights. They come in so many different shapes and sizes these days. From memory foam to convertibles there is a neck pillow for anybody.

4. Passport Holders

Image: ASOS

What better way to protect your passport? And they look pretty rad too.

5. Carry on bag

Image: ASOS

Carry-on bags come in all shapes and sizes. The best carry-on bags are the ones with different sections, it makes it easier to grab your things whilst you are in a hurry.

6. Money Box

Image: Pinterest

Not only do these look amazing, but they are able to help inspire your friend to save. They are so easy to make and but you can personalise them to your heart's content! If its more of a last minute thing, you can even buy them online!

7. A carry on pack

Image: Pinterest

Now by the time I got to number 7, I was beginning to stump on ideas. I was thinking about all the little things that you might need when you travel. So I thought, why not a carry-on pack? You're always going to need a luggage tag, cosmetics, socks and entertaining items. So why not throw all of them together and create a carry pack gift!

8. A Scratch Map



Who doesn't like a scratch map? Personally, I love to scratch every destination I've been too. Not only is it satisfying, but each destination is a different colour. These maps are so easy to get online too. I recommend this gift for any traveller!

9. Travel Gift cards



























Yes, this is a thing. Airlines, travel agent's and online travel booking services now offer gift cards. Usually these gift cards can be used for flights, accommodation and tours. So if your travel friend is planning a trip, a gift card may be the perfect choice!

10. A Travel Diary

Image: Typo

This last one is a personal favourite. I absolutely love the idea of a travel diary where you can store photos and all your travel stories. To make it even more epic and help them start it off, put a photo of you and your friend in the diary and write all the amazing trips you have had with them.

I hope this gave you inspiration, 

Why I Was Afraid Of Travelling Solo

I remember the night I left for Europe. It was 2am, the flight was called and I just wanted to be sick. I didn't want to go. The nerves were so bad that I didn't eat during the first 8 hours of the flight. I couldn't stop thinking about everything that would go wrong or what could happen.

But why was I so afraid?

Because people told me I couldn't do it. I was making a stupid decision which would only result in chaos. I wouldn't come home. I would get lost. I was an idiot. For a minute there, I believed them. Yet, it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life.

Here were the reasons why peers, family members and even complete strangers thought what I was doing was idiotic. These are the reasons why I was afraid to travel solo and how I overcame them.

1. I'm a female.

Lets be real. To all my female readers, how many of you have been told you couldn't do something because you're a female? Because you weren't fast enough? Strong enough? Smart enough? Well that's what happened in this case.

As soon as I booked the flights and told my friends and family, all I got was a negative response. A couple supported me, others degraded me.

I remember my grandfather asked, "Are you taking a man with you?" No I had replied, he looked at me like I was as if I was a fool.

"Why would you go by yourself?" my friend asked. I told her I wanted an adventure, she scoffed and looked the other way.

"You're a woman, imagine how many men would take advantage of a single, female traveller." My uncle had said. I told him I would stand my ground, he laughed and sipped on his beer.

When your own family and friends don't support you or your decisions, who will? But when you're travelling solo, you need to remember you are doing this for yourself. You're doing it to become a better person, to learn about the world around you. You would've researched, you would understand the risks. Remember who and what you're doing it for, none of their opinions matter.

2. I was by myself.

You may be an amateur or an expert when it comes to travelling. But no matter how much you prepare, there is still the fear of the unknown. Who are you going to call when you're in trouble? Where are you going to go if something happened? What would I do if someone strange approached me?

I may have printed all the maps and read all the tips online. I was as prepared as I could've been. But when you land you begin to explore, wonder and learn. You find out where the local convenience store is. You find where the train lines are.  You begin to understand your surroundings, the locals and the culture around you.

It's all about taking that first step. When you first step into the unknown, you realise it's not as bad as you once thought.

3. It was my first time travelling

Now, now. You're probably thinking; 'well, of course you would be afraid to travel if it was your first time'. But when you haven't gone travelling before, it can be quite daunting.

What do you pack? What can I put in my carry-on? Where do I go in the airport? But like before, that's part of the adventure. If I had forgotten something, I could always buy it if I needed. Sometimes I didn't even need it. But when you go travelling for the first time, you'll begin to understand what you need and what you don't. For next time, you'll know what you'll need.

Like I said previously, it's all about taking that first step. Once you've taken that first step, you're already half-way there.

Movie Review: Me Before You (2016)

Movie Review: Me Before You (2016)

Thea Sharrock’s film adaptation of Jojo Moyes’s Me Before You is a beautifully filmed, whirlwinded romance that will leave you weeping uncontrollably. It does, however, lack some detail that viewers would be demanding.

Louisa Clarke (Emilia Clarke) is a quirky, naïve 26-year-old women who befriends and eventually falls for quadriplegic Will Traynor (Sam Claflin). Being Will's carer, Lou does everything in her power to make sure he is comfortable, and prove to him that his life is worth living. 

Now before viewing this movie, I had read the book. So coming into it, I had expected the movie to be a little different. To my surprise it followed the book quite well. Yet, it felt a little rushed.

Within the first 5 minutes we met her family, Lou lost her job, she went to the job centre, she got an interview, then she met Will. The viewers had no real backstory to Lou or her situation. Then there was Lou’s boyfriend. The audience would have had no idea who Patrick was at the beginning. I had only known this information because I had read the book. But first-time viewers would have been lost within parts of the film. It felt like they had tried to fit too many components from the book into a 90-minute movie.

On the other hand, the cinematography was beautiful. Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin both did an amazing job bringing their characters to life. The chemistry between the two was obvious and fascinating to watch.

This movie is for those who loved reading the book. For those who haven’t I suggest reading it if you want to understand some of the basic aspects of the movie.

3/5

*This movie review was for a student edge competition.

10 Things To Do in Paris

Planning a trip to Paris? Trying to figure out what to whilst your there? Look no further. Here are 10 things to do in Paris. (Although there is loads more)


1. The Eiffel Tower
Now who goes to Paris and doesn't go to the Eiffel Tower? Its beautiful all hours of the day. Observe the tower from afar or travel up to the top and take in the view. Its absolutely breathtaking.



2. The Louvre 
Another popular tourist spot, the Lourve is one of those places you have to see. Not only is the art impeccable but the history behind the building is incredibly interesting. Even if you aren't an art fan, this is something that needs to be seen.

3. Paris Bike Tour
What better way to explore Paris than on a bike? Go with a tour group and discover all the highlights of Paris. Better yet, their are rentable bikes everywhere. Hire your own and get lost within the wonders of the city!

4. Paris River Cruise
What better way to explore the Seine river than on a river cruise? Go for lunch or dinner and explore the monuments surrounding the river. It's great for all ages.

5. Arc de Triomphe
Now in the picture it may look small, but I assure you this is one of the worlds biggest monuments. You can travel to the top and take in the view or walk around underneath and learn a little bit of France's history.

6. Notre Dame de Paris
One of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in Paris, it's not to be missed! Located in the central of Paris, explore the history this church has to offer.


7. Paris by Mouth Tour
Want to experience the french cuisine? The Paris by Mouth food tour is your answer! The cheese, the croissants and the snails, oh my!

8. Rue De Rivoli 
This one is for you shopaholics. The Rue De Rivoli is one of the most famous streets of Paris. It includes all the most famous high-fashion labels. So if you are looking for something to buy, this is your first-stop-shop.

9. The Catabombs of Paris
Now this is not the for light-hearted. The Catabombs were a previous burial place for the Parisians in the 18th century. It has approximatly 6 million remains.This is a spooky, haunting yet interesting aspect of Paris.

10. Disneyland Paris
Now, if you are a bit of a Disney freak (like myself) Disneyland Paris is a must! The parade, the sculptures and building include all your favourite Disney characters.Even if you may think its small, its everything you Disney fans have ever dreamed off.

The Travel Diaries: The Flight

14th July, 2015.

It was 2am and the dream of travelling to Europe was becoming my reality. I was sitting at the terminal, waiting for my flight number to be announced on the intercom. My nerves had skyrocketed the moment I walked into the airport. Needless to say, I was terrified. Then the flight number was called and I was on my way to boarding the plane.

You're probably wondering if I am afraid of planes, I'm not, I swear! But the fear of the unknown terrified me. Travelling across the world, by myself, nearly got the best of me. I was scared, but I was triumphant. I was doing something everyone seemed to disapprove. People thought I was crazy, they couldn't understand why I was doing it. I even had one person tell me I was going to get killed. But needless to say, I am here now and this is how my journey began.

Brisbane - Singapore - Dubai

Brisbane - Singapore

The journey to Singapore was the most uncomfortable. At the time I left, Brisbane was blanketed under a polar vortex. Because of this, turbulence on the way was a nightmare. You could feel every gust of wind against the plane, making it quite a bumpy flight.

I flew with Emirates on one of their Boeing-777's. Although their wasn't anything they could do to reduce the turbulence, the flight attendants were really helpful. If I had a question, they were very polite. I can't really say much about the food on this flight as I was too nervous to eat it. However from the menu options, it seemed like pretty decent food considering it was on a plane. From memory, the meal you could choose from were scrambled eggs or sausages. The trip from Singapore to Dubai was much better. On this flight, I wasn't as nervous as I was before and I had a far better experience.

Dubai - Paris

Dubai - Paris

After landing in Dubai, I waiting for a couple of hours in the airport for my next flight. Now Dubai is beautiful, but it was ridiculously hot and humid. Just walking in the terminal you could feel the heat from the windows.

Before I knew it, my flight had been called. For this flight I flew on the Emirates A380 Airbus. Let me tell you, that plane was HUGE! The first floor was just economy and the second floor was dedicated to business and first class. For economy it was pretty high end. It was more spacious than the Boeing-777  with the seats being slightly bigger. The windows though felt a bit smaller. The food was similar to before with options being beef and mashed potato and the other option being chicken. The entertainment was also fantastic. They had nearly every new release music and movies available, as well as old classics. 

The only problem I had on this flight was how far the seats could recline. Don't get me wrong they are quite comfortable when you are trying to sleep, but their isn't much room for your dinner tray when the person in front of you reclines their chair. You literally have to have your tray sitting on your lap because that's how far the chairs recline. 

Landing - Paris 

Landing in Paris, I had never been more excited. Despite my nervousness departing, I felt confident that I could get my own way from the airport to the hostel (and I did!). Maybe it was the friendly staff on board the flight, or maybe it was the back-up plans I kept creating. From here, it was the start of my amazing journey around Europe.