Backpacking in Thailand!

Catching the backpacking bug...- Thailand. 

It's almost the one year anniversary since i set of an amazing adventure to Thailand. I never really blogged about it last year but i did make a video of it all- World Challenge Droylsden Academy Team- Thailand 2014. So give it a click and a watch, it took me a ridiculous amount of time to edit, i ain't no pro... 

In July 2014 i took of an amazing 3 week backpacking adventure where if found myself completely out of my comfort zone.

Seriously, it was such an eye opener. I am one who loves traveling but the way me and my team were able to immerse ourselves into the culture so much made it a once in a lifetime experience. I most definitely caught the travel bug... I'm not going to lie it had it's ups and downs like peeing in the jungle and not being able to shower have a proper shower for days (and when we did the hostel showers were not so good... i'm talking about being able to sit on the toilet and have a shower.). Oh, not to forget being eaten alive by mosquito's. But the positives certainly outweighed the negatives. 

I was a bag of nerves before i left because i really had no idea what to expect and the fact me and my team controlled everything from accommodation, to travel and even to the whole budget was really daunting. However, as cliche as it sounds- its made me a better person. One thing I've took away from this experience is take every opportunity life throws at you. Yes the fundraising over £3,000 was damn hard and being away from home for three weeks made me home sick, it was all worth it in the end. 

I'll leave you with some snapshots of the trip and i'm more than happy to read comments or even answer questions:)

Left-Right: Ria (me), Atlanta, Jess

One of the not so good times... Leeches are not so nice... 

Hard at work:)

Khao San Road, Bangkok

Ria x

A few days in Belgium...

Recently i visited Belgium with my college History class. The entire trip was orientated around WW1 and so we crammed in many visits to historic monuments and sites. I saw masses of white graves of fallen soldiers which is unbelievably overwhelming to look at. Not to forget the thousands of names printed on to the monuments. The statistics that are thrown at you in text books are really brought to life and really do hit you right in the face. Yeah geeky i know, i really don't care haha. 

Obviously, as i was taking in the great amount of info being chucked at me i admired the beauty of Belgium. One thing i have to say about Belgium is that it is very very green. Like seriously green. As you take in the view from a height there are towns nestled into the green land below. The architecture of the houses in Belgium is so interesting and really cute. I just want to live in one the tiny houses. I have one question though- why do i all the houses have shutters on their windows?. Oh, and the streets are so clean such a contrast to Manchester which is not so clean... 

There's also soooooo many bikes. I wish Manchester was a bike friendly city like Belgium. But we didn't have to best experience with all the Belgian people as one biker got a little angry because we parked for 5 mins covering a bike lane. Lets just say he called us all 'rude English pirates' to our coach driver. Who by the way was so lovely giving us a little personalised tour of some monuments. Thanks Dave or Phil (i can't remember his name!) on 'Bibby' the coach.

On the last day before we caught the ferry at Calais we visited Brugges. It was one of the best parts. We were unleashed in to small winding roads containing lots and lots of Belgian chocolate... We only got 10 minutes to grab the chocolate and go. Any longer and i would of done so much damage. Oh yeah, can i just mention how some places make to pay to use the toilet, why should you pay money to have a piss! Sorry for a bit of a rant. 

I really enjoyed by trip to Belgium and i would revisit. I met such lovely people as well and made such good memories. I can't wait to go traveling some where else, i need to get planning!

Here's some pictures to accompany my descriptions :)

Have you ever been to Belgium?
I'd love to read your comments too.

Ria x