Travelling alone is a must!

If you had of told me a few years ago I was going to be travelling around the world by myself and enjoying it fully I would have probably laughed in your face and denied it till days end, but actually travelling alone is one of the best things I have ever experienced in my life and I urge everyone to try it at least once! (It’s really not as scary as it sounds!!)

Last August I flew to America by myself, now flying by myself is nothing new. I fly around the world all the time but usually, I will be meeting someone once I arrive at my destination. Admittedly this time I was supposed to as well but as plans fell through I found myself spending my time in Los Angeles alone. I was terrified, although if anyone asked I was calm and said it will be great. And it actually was. I enjoyed it immensely and I definitely would do it again!

Travelling alone doesn’t have to mean you’re lonely. I was in Los Angeles – City of Angels, a city full of incredible people. I wasn’t alone in this massive city and I wasn’t lonely, I had the company of myself. And honestly, until you’ve gone to a restaurant and sat and had a meal by yourself you have no idea how rewarding that is to accomplish. To start off with I will admit it was weird and I was most definitely uncomfortable but it didn’t last long. I went to my favourite place (The Cheesecake Factory duh) and ordered my favourite food off the menu and sat outside on a warm sunny Los Angeles evening and people watched while I ate. It was incredible, to just be and observe. You see the world in a different light when you are by yourself compared to a group of others. After that night I knew I was capable of going out by myself and eating and not having a panic attack, I showed myself I could handle it. That was so rewarding to me.

Next, I went to Disneyland. Alone, you ask? Yes. And I loved it!! Of course I have loved every time I went to Disney with my friends but something about going by yourself and being able to go on any ride you want and however many times you want (Tower of Terror five times yeessssss!!!!) is so wonderful, and being able to meet any character you want without the worry that your friend might not want to wait in line for so long. I stood in line for one hour (literally) with a bunch of young children to meet Elsa and Anna and I have no regrets. I could also plan my day how ever I wanted to and had the freedom of basically doing anything. There were no limits. I wanted to eat at the same place twice that day? I could (and I did). I wanted to go across half the park to get Starbucks? I could, and I didn’t feel like I was being an inconvenience to anyone because it was just me there. Also hello single riders line, I had never got on a ride so fast in my life, bless it. I was never alone in Disney, how could you be it’s just so magical and everyone is so warm and friendly. (And to top it off I met an amazing new friend by standing in line by myself and just being friendly, who I then ended up inviting to go to a concert with me the next night, shoutout to Bri c: woo)

I truly believe that travelling alone is such an amazing experience and is definitely not as scary or unsafe as some people try to make it out to be. Of course, there are certain places I definitely would not want to go alone but in my whole time in America I was not hassled once, and I have no negative stories about my time there. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and I met some wonderful people along the way.

Stay True, Stay Travelling
Gemma x

New Year, New Me? Probably not.

First off I know this is a bit late, 2017 started over a week ago but hey, late is better than never right?

Okay, so I hate the saying ‘New Year, New Me’ for multiple reasons, the biggest one is probably because I can never achieve it but really, what am I trying to achieve? Every year I set goals about eating healthier, exercising more, spending less on unnecessary things, but every year I fail. Every. Single. Year. But even with that failure I think would all of the above actually turn me into a “new me”? No. I would be the same me, with a few adjustments to my lifestyle, positive adjustments? Probably. But still, only adjustments.

I think this whole ‘New Year, New Me’ is such a terrible way to put it and maybe it’s just me but for someone who has tried to change herself multiple times again and again because she was so unhappy with herself hearing that it’s a new year so time for a new me is a struggle because I’ve just started to love me for who I am. Maybe I’m just thinking about it way too deeply and it’s just a bit of fun everyone does at the start of the year, who knows.

This year, 2017, I’ve decided that again I am going to make some small goals, like trying out a blog (I’ve never done anything like this before) and I am going to Europe after all so I do need to save, but I’m going to call it ‘New Year, Same Me’ because I’m not changing, I’m staying right here. I’m going to grow and evolve as a person but essentially I’m still the same me and I’m going to love me for me. As I am. And whether or not I achieve the goals I set at least I know I’m not trying to change my foundations because that’s where things get messy.

So hey, Happy New Year, make 2017 your bitch!!

Stay True, Stay Travelling
Gemma x