Blake ’06-’07 Nelson ‘07-’08

My friend, Alice, and I started travelling in February after a gruelling 6 months at a local restaurant to save up.

 

We started in India, doing the Northern parts - Rajastan etc. then we moved on to Sri Lanka for two weeks, where we stayed with a relative of James Pope’s (in my year at RHS). I cannot thank them enough for their hospitality and generosity; Shemara and her family made us feel so welcome and introduced us to all their friends. They took time off work to show us the city, arranged our travel and ensured we saw Sri Lanka from a Sri Lankans view point - we saw the locals in every aspect of life (cricket matches, church services, family BBQ’s etc) and for that reason, we got to see and fall in love with a fabulous place and will be back!!

Then we moved on to Thailand, where we were joined by Lucie Williams and Chelsea Dingwall (two more girls from my year at RHS). We learnt to dive and thoroughly enjoyed the island hopping. The Full Moon party was a night I definitely won’t forget.

 

We then left the girls and Alice and I went through Malaysia and Singapore, stopping off at the stunning Perinthian Islands for a bit more sun, sea and sand! Then we hit Australia; we spent six weeks travelling down the East Coast, as well as Ayers Rock (Uluru Rock).

We’re now in New Zealand whilst here we have partied hard at the "Queenstown Winter Festival”, where we all learnt to snowboard (spent most of the day on my bottom) and I forced myself to do the Nevis Bungee (scariest day of my life).

The next two weeks will be spent on a farm in Raglan. We don’t get paid for this work but food and accommodation is provided for. Not entirely sure what it entails but I hear there’s a tractor for us to play on. Alice and I will then head to Fiji for a week of water sports activities. Our final stop is New York, where we intend to shop with a whole $10 to our name!

 

After that, it’s 6 weeks work and play back at home for the summer. I’m then off to Leeds to study "Philosophy, Religious Studies and Theology.” Not quite sure how I intend on studying after such a fabulous trip away but I’m sure Fresher’s Week will be fun.

Written by Lydia on her travels during the summer of 2009.