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Can Philosophy Change The Way You Think?

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When I began studying philosophy i was often told “it’ll change the way you think”. Stubborn and naive me thought “we’ll see about that!”. However now, on reflection, I can see that my pre-philo days were spent being an information eating machine. Enter Fact A and Produce Regurgitated Essay B. I was next to incapable of exploring my own mind, despite having so many thoughts and so much to say.

Now, I see how in every day activities and tasks I am facing a more balanced attitude. Continue reading “Can Philosophy Change The Way You Think?”

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Introducing: New Stories

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Having written almost exclusively about travel since this little blog’s humble beginnings, I’ve pondered broadening out into topics that are equally close to my heart. I’ve been intrigued by deep thought issues ranging from general introspection and mindfulness all the way to academic psychology and philosophy for quite some time, and since completing a BA in Philosophy my interests have only broadened.  Continue reading “Introducing: New Stories”

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Top Things To Do In Canterbury New Zealand

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On any trip finding the best activities to suit you can be a daunting task. Whether you enjoy the outdoors, art and culture, or indulgent treats, the region of Canterbury and its city of Christchurch have it all. Here are just a few of my favourite things to do in Christchurch and Canterbury! Continue reading “Top Things To Do In Canterbury New Zealand”

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An Alternative Way To Reach Kuang Si Falls

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Visiting Kuang Si Falls is a must-do activity when in the ancient capital of Laos, Luang Prabang. Around 30km from the city, it’s a short drive away and easily accessible by tuk tuk, organised tour group, or scooter. Here’s a slightly different route to take you off the beaten track to visit this stunning location!  Continue reading “An Alternative Way To Reach Kuang Si Falls”

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Me at 23 – Reflections On The Year

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I turn 24 this week, and I thought I’d mark the occasion by remembering all the things that made my 23rd year on this beautiful Earth memorable. Continue reading “Me at 23 – Reflections On The Year”

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What To Do This Week In London – Perfume at Somerset House

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A couple of months ago I visited Somerset House for their most recent visiting exhibition –  Perfume: A Sensory Journey Through Contemporary Scent. Always up for trying new things, and especially when art is involved I was eager to visit (and sniff!) this exhibition as soon as I came across it.  Continue reading “What To Do This Week In London – Perfume at Somerset House”

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A Weekend In Prague – 2 Day Itinerary

A couple of months ago I spontaneously booked a weekend away in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and at long last my late summer mini-break came around at the beginning of September. Here you’ll find what I managed to cram into my weekend and what can be achieved on a budget friendly, two-day visit. Continue reading “A Weekend In Prague – 2 Day Itinerary”

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Catch Flights Not Feelings – Why Not Both?

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I’ve seen articles, posters, and all types of merchandise using “Catch Flights Not Feelings” as a motto to comment on the idea of motivating young people to explore the world and visit new places, instead of looking to develop an emotional connection to someone and committing to staying put in the pursuit of emotional stability from a relationship.

Sounds cool right? Rebellious almost, to defy conventional standards of searching for a partner and instead searching for an adventure. Continue reading “Catch Flights Not Feelings – Why Not Both?”

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All The Travellers You Meet On A Gap Year

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As a traveller, and especially while backpacking, you’re blessed to meet many wise, wonderful, and wacky people. Here are a few of the stereotypical personalities that I stumbled across in my experience. What personality types stand out for you on your travels? Continue reading “All The Travellers You Meet On A Gap Year”

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How To Keep Your Belongings Safe When Travelling

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Any trip away is met with a panic about taking your most treasured items away from their home, and I’m sure I’m not the only one to get paranoid about whether you’ll be the unlucky story of that person who’s luggage went missing, or whose belongings were stolen, lost, or left behind. While there is a certain amount of chance involved in these situations, I found a few preventative measures helped to put my mind at ease, and at least when I did eventually end up in crisis situations I felt a little better equipped to handle it!

Continue reading “How To Keep Your Belongings Safe When Travelling”

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Where Would You Return To From Your Travels?

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We all get holiday blues on return from travelling, and as a part time traveller I’ve seen plenty of friends and colleagues visit the beautiful places I experienced while I’m doing the daily grind. Besides the obvious envy over the wonderful time they’ve had I’ve been wondering what I would have done differently and what I wish I could see again in more detail. Continue reading “Where Would You Return To From Your Travels?”

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Suzy’s Suitcase: What I Wish I’d Packed

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We’ve seen the best things to pack in my (not literal) suitcase, and the packing items I regret lugging about, so what did I find a burning need for? What was I kicking myself over NOT packing? Crossing over with the previous parts, here are a few of the unexpected items I wish I’d had to hand!

Continue reading “Suzy’s Suitcase: What I Wish I’d Packed”

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Wanderlist

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As my wanderlust itch is never satisfied, I’ve decided to follow an idea I’ve seen before and curate a collection of ideas to inspire my future travel plans and bucket list goals for around the world. I’ve included those which I’m lucky enough to have already crossed off, and the list is by no means complete as I imagine I’ll continue to add more and more when inspirations hits, and when I’m reminded of something amazing I’ve already done! Suggestions are most certainly welcome – sharing is caring! Continue reading “Wanderlist”

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Winter Garden At The Landmark London

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To celebrate a few recent family events we decided to splash out and enjoy dinner at The Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, where the Winter Garden restaurant invites class, fine dining, and a haven of peace within busy central London. The perfect way to feel fancy (for once!), we relished the chance to enjoy such a treat.

Continue reading “Winter Garden At The Landmark London”

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Arthur’s Pass Weekend Road Trip to West Coast New Zealand

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After enjoying exploring Canterbury and Christchurch, for my final weekend road trip around the South Island I finally got the chance to visit somewhere very high up on my NZ bucket list. Arthur’s Pass is a tiny village nestled in the depths of the Southern Alps and is one of very few townships to stop at during the long drive between the east and west coast.

Continue reading “Arthur’s Pass Weekend Road Trip to West Coast New Zealand”

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Christchurch In A Day – New Zealand Photo Diary

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Although I was working remotely while in NZ, I was fortunate enough to take a couple of days off to make the most of the time there, and spend as much time with Kazimir as possible. Following a very relaxed night away in Hanmer Springs, we spent the rest of our long weekend closer to home, and enjoying more of what the city of Christchurch has to offer. Having spent a little time in the city last year, I knew of a few spots that I liked already, but the benefit of having my very own local tour guide meant I was lucky to get the inside knowledge on all the top recommendations.

Continue reading “Christchurch In A Day – New Zealand Photo Diary”

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One Night Visit To Hanmer Springs – New Zealand

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Following on from a weekend away at Banks Peninsula, for our second mini-break we headed north and inland to the picturesque alpine town of Hanmer Springs. About a two hour drive from Christchurch, along the coastline and after stopping off to admire the mountainous views several times we reached our cabin room at a cosy holiday park. This efficient accommodation was perfect for our one night stay, with shared facilities but a lovely comfortable room with all you could need, but we weren’t in there for long as Hanmer Springs is truly a place to embrace the outdoors.

Continue reading “One Night Visit To Hanmer Springs – New Zealand”

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Top Picks: Best Christchurch Food & Drinks

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While working from home in New Zealand free time throughout the week was mostly spent chilling out, enjoying the sunshine, and staying close to home in order to get enough rest for an early work start. However, we still had the pleasure of enjoying some delicious meals out and about Christchurch, and discover some unique bars to have a drink at. While there are loads of places to eat and drink out and about, here are some of my favourite spots around the city!

Continue reading “Top Picks: Best Christchurch Food & Drinks”

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Weekend Trip From Christchurch to Akaroa – New Zealand

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The beautiful district of Canterbury is crammed full of stunning places to visit. Just a short drive from the city of Christchurch is a whole host of short walks, viewpoints, and peaceful views across the coast and landscape. Here we go from Christchurch to Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula to soak up that Kiwi countryside over a weekend break!

Continue reading “Weekend Trip From Christchurch to Akaroa – New Zealand”

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Suzy’s Suitcase: What Not To Take Travelling

We’ve heard about the wonders of the spoon and more in the list of my favourite items to take travelling, and now here’s the next part in Suzy’s Suitcase! This time we take a look at the things that in hindsight I really shouldn’t have bothered with, and what was better off left behind when packing for a long trip away!

Continue reading “Suzy’s Suitcase: What Not To Take Travelling”

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What I Learned From Travelling

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It’s a cliche to say that travelling changes you but in reality, it happens to most of us. The lessons we learn from travel are so important to shaping who we are, there are so many positives to be gained from experiences through personal growth, no matter how chaotic or disastrous the series of events might be at the time! And it doesn’t stop there. I’ve continued to reflect and learn since returning from a long trip, and making sense of the major highs and lows along the journey. Let’s review the most important lessons I’ve discovered from exploring the world!

Continue reading “What I Learned From Travelling”

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Suzy’s Suitcase: What To Take Travelling

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When packing for a long trip, many of us agonise over what to fill our bags with. I had the added pressure when packing because I was about to become a backpacker, AKA trying to fit my life into a small vertical tube. Here are some of the things I should never have bothered with, and some of the things I couldn’t have done without. In part 1 of Suzy’s Suitcase, here’s just a few of the essential packing items I would recommend taking on a long trip. Continue reading “Suzy’s Suitcase: What To Take Travelling”

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Great Podcasts To Listen To While Travelling

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When I was travelling I got really into to podcasts for a few reasons. Despite already being a fan on my commute thanks to their optimum duration to make a journey pass faster, I found them an invaluable source of entertainment on long journeys. Continue reading “Great Podcasts To Listen To While Travelling”

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London And York Short Trips In England

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What do you do when a Kiwi comes to visit the UK? Take him to all the best sights, of course! From London to York, see what weekend trips around the UK can show you while I make the most of beautiful history, architecture, and countryside when exploring my home country!

Continue reading “London And York Short Trips In England”

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Top Tips for Solo Female Travellers

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Worried about travelling solo? You shouldn’t be! But I can understand the hesitation, it’s a big world out there and going alone can add additional worries. Whether you’re a female or male solo traveller, the thought of meeting new people is intimidating for lots of us. I’ve put together a few ideas that I found helped me find my feet and make new friends! Continue reading “Top Tips for Solo Female Travellers”

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10 Things That Happen When You Get Back From Travelling

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Everyone goes through different experiences and transformations throughout their lives, but travelling has the ability to fast track some of those changes, and that means that when you come home there can be a hell of a lot of adjusting to be done. There’s a million posts and lists about what coming home is like, so here’s my addition to the blogosphere on the matter. There’s certainly more than just these, but a Top Ten run down seems like a nice start! Maybe there’s scope for a sequel to bump up to 20 at a later date… Anyhow, these are the ones that really stood out for me as I came through arrivals and back into ordinary life after a 6 month round the word trip.

Continue reading “10 Things That Happen When You Get Back From Travelling”

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Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi – Thailand Island Hopping

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When visiting the islands surrounding the southern coast of Thailand, one can easily get wrapped up in the serenity and beauty of these incredible island destinations around Thailand. If visiting Koh Phi Phi it’s and it’s imperative to visit Maya Bay – famous for it’s perfect enclosed beach and dotted islets used as a filming location. Take a look at the best Thai islands to visit following the busy city life of Bangkok, featuring the best quotes from The Beach movie!  Continue reading “Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi – Thailand Island Hopping”

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Most Beautiful Places in Vietnam

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On the second part of our Vietnamese journey, take a look at the wonderful nature and landscape of northern Vietnam, as well as historical famous cities such as Hoi An up to Hanoi full of colour, life, and beautiful scenes that take your breath away.  Continue reading “Most Beautiful Places in Vietnam”

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Vietnam Culture and History: Ho Chi Minh City to Bai Xep

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Continuing our journey through South East Asia, we’ve made it to the east coast country of Vietnam. Rich in culture and history, join me as we go from the craziness of Ho Chi Minh City to the remote fishing village of Bai Xep with Stray Asia.

Continue reading “Vietnam Culture and History: Ho Chi Minh City to Bai Xep”

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Visit Phnom Penh – Cambodian Killing Fields & S-21

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On our way to the capital of Cambodia Phnom Penh we made some very important stops. Understanding the history of a country such as Cambodia is hugely important, and so visiting the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek and S-21 were significant moments of our Stray Asia trip. It’s hard to say how we felt going there, I very much wanted to learn more and fully understand for myself what occurred at these places and why, but to say we were looking forward to this experience is the wrong phrase, however for a long time this destination had been high up my list of important places to visit. To begin the account of our visit, I feel I should introduce what I already knew about the Cambodian Genocide.

Continue reading “Visit Phnom Penh – Cambodian Killing Fields & S-21”