PRODUCT: The 3 Items You Never Pack on Holiday, But Should!

1.  Come Under My Umbrella

The word ‘holiday’ shouldn’t really follow with ‘rain’ or ‘brolly’ – so when I arrived in Sydney wearing boots and a thermal coat, I wondered who the hell advertised Australia as one of the most desired climates on earth. Was this really it?

It soon became apparent that parts of the world other than Britain receive rain. Shocking, I know.  As any Brit will tell you, we’re prepared for any kind of weather. And complaining about it is something we’re rather good at, too. But… when I leave the UK I refuse to acknowledge that rain will fall. Save yourself the ordeal of looking like a soaking tourist: pack a light weight brolly.

2. Take A Look

A mirror: small and compact. If you find yourself camping this small essential could be your greatest wing-(wo)man.

3. Be On Time For That Trip

 Don’t always rely on your phone or it having power, pack a pocket size alarm clock. Truly one of the most essential travel products you could pack.

Take Me There: 5 Steps to Meeting New People in the City

“Someone once told to me the loneliest of people

are those that live in the city.”

How could this be so? Surrounded by bars, cafe’s and every other social sphere you could dream of.

When I moved to Sydney I truly believed networking and meeting new people would be a breeze. 2 months in and I was getting worried. Moving to a new city without a knowledge of geography or contacts?  Not so easy.

Luckily travelling has made me aware of the simplicity in approaching new people, but that doesn’t make it easy when you live and work in a new city. Routine kicks in and dynamics change.

Here are 5 steps to ensure you get out, meet new people and get your dose of social gratification!

1. Meet Up

Meet Up is a  site accessible to any city you’ve just moved to. You’ll soon realise that the people attending these events are in the same situation as you.

Pluck up the courage to meet some like minded people, whatever your hobby or interest you’ll find a group here. Highly recommended and it helped me out a lot.

2. Organised Trips & Events

Remember that long list of places and events you wanted to see when you moved to the city? Start ticking them off – book yourself a weekend trip or even a group tour. All you have to do is turn up and get talking!

3. Learn a Language / Join a Class

I soon signed up to an evening Spanish class as a way to meet people that shared an interest in the Spanish culture. There’s always an interesting reason to why people are studying a new language: holidays coming up, boyfriend speaks a different language, moving to Spain, one day I’d like to retire to Argentina…

It was also at this evening class that I met some very dear people to me. There’s more to class than making notes. Plus, a new language can take you down many new avenues.

4. Join a Sport / Join the Gym

I’ll admit, this wasn’t my first channel of meeting people. Who wants to make conversation to a sweaty stranger? (Unless they’re an athletic male, of course). But you’d be surprised, 20 women getting together for a Pilates class every week soon transforms into a gossip fest about those squidgy bits and a beautiful friendship is formed.

You can also tick off that new years resolution.

5. Work

OK so you’ve just spent the entire week working together and the last thing you want to do is spend your weekend socialising, too. Get past this awkward moment and you might just find that Office Clerk has something interesting to say. Maybe not, but it’s worth investigating. People have lives that you don’t talk about in the office.  A bottle of wine always helps.

A Friday night drink could be the ticket.

6. Housing

Viewing an open house sounds like an odd way to meet new people,  but at an open day  is a great way to meet others in the same situation. You could even become housemates in the near future. Funny how things work out if you just make a bit of effort to stay in touch.

Do you have any tricks to meeting new people in a new city?

TAKE ME THERE: RVN TRAVEL SHOWCASES NEW LOOK

RVN Travel announces their new look here! Showcasing a collection of vibrant photography,  toe curling documentaries and know-how tips for our treasured travelling world.

RVN Travel invites you to share your footage and memories with others around the globe.

 We couldn’t be more excited for this new team!

Get talking and sharing with RVN Travel

Also Take a Peek At… 

Photos win top travel award for ‘unique vision’ (nzherald.co.nz)

Travel Photography Portfolio (roselinde.wordpress.com)

MASCOT: You do know there’s a bear in your bag?

A good friend of mine stopped, quiet concerned,  to ask:

“you do know there’s a bear in your bag?”

Oh the silly Germans.

Paddington Bear gave her a little fright. Why would a grown woman be carrying a bear to the beach and then take photo’s of him?

Erm…

This serious question only became more confusing when Germany saw other people at the beach, with their bears, taking photos. Somewhere in the UK someone decided it was hilarious, and acceptable, to do this. I’ve never  questioned having Paddy with me on the road. In fact I think he rather enjoys it.

Here he is at Cronulla about to pop in the sea!

Related Articles You Can Read On… 

Where Paddington came from (papaminx.wordpress.com)

Maybe he thought it was Paddington: Brown bear caught on camera as it tries to break into Russian railway station (thisismoney.co.uk)

Marmalade and Rain (vexulious.wordpress.com)

 

LIVE: “When are you going to settle down?” said the mighty smiter

Don’t worry Queeny, I’ll be back. One day.

After returning from travelling back in early January 2012 it became evident that I still had no idea where I wanted to stop in the UK and my increasingly restless pace led to a rather swift (and slightly impulsive) purchase of the Australian Working Holiday Visa. Within 24 hours I was in possession of a 12 month pass to enter a country I’d never set foot in and to further attempt my search of a more vibrant lifestyle with some direction towards a career path.

 

“Nat, we’re becoming those people who go off and have stories to tell!”

This mindset is 100% to blame on my brother, call him a nugget of inspiration or a cruel entity aiming to drain my bank account (and common sense), but his experience last year has only confirmed by agitated belief that I’m not quiet ready to give in to homeland (the UK) just yet.

Convince me it’s true!

About a year ago my brother took a leap into New Zealand with the Working Holiday Visa and has since found a new girl, a new job and a new –relaxed – attitude. I mean, since when did the Talbutt’s jump out of a plane and hurl off bungee bridges? Somewhat unheard of until 2012! He’s acquired a log book of experiences and stories to tell. In fact this is one of the main reasons he left, I remember him saying: “Nat, we’re becoming those people who go off and have stories to tell!”

He’s demonstrated that it’s perfectly possible to take yourself out of your comfort zone, with a bit of money in your pocket; you can become acquainted with another lifestyle, people and culture. It’s all accessible, as well as nerve wracking.  

“You know, one day you’re going to run out of money”

As my big bro. edge’s ever closer to the capped age of 30, which means he won’t be able to apply for another WHV, I’m here with no ties, a last token of money and a taster for exploring the new. I also have 6 more years until I reach this capped age and it seems almost silly not to take the opportunity to have one final adventure before my bank balance says NO! One of my favourite remarks from a nervous (idiot) friend was: “you know, one day you’re going to run out of money” So, apparently moving to another country costs money, who knew?

I’m a planner, you see, caused by having parents that take no less than 6 months to make any single decision, be it a new roll of wallpaper or a quick bite for lunch. This isn’t a bad quality to have, running head first into a decision is a sure disaster, you need background, time, imagination – but at the same time you don’t need to take a decade to figure it out. This hasty visa purchase was a sure sign that I wanted something else, even though my head didn’t really know the logistics of it at the time.

Let’s try not get to get too panicked about the big plan and enjoy the ride to follow –   she says with tense restless shoulders.

EAT: This Week We’re Talking About…Thai-Riffic, Newtown Australia

If you’ve decided to venture out into Newtown for a bite to eat and find yourself overwhelmed by the King Street marathon of cafe’s, bars and restaurants may I recommend Thai-Riffic – standing by its name.

Menu

  DELICIOUS! @ $15 – 20, try the Green Thai Curry.

Beverages

$5 beer – VERY NICE! Try the Buddha Beer. Wine from $20 a bottle.

Service

I think he was new…

Personality?

Comfortable, funky, modern, relaxed

Also Read…

• Buddha (peacelovehealing.wordpress.com)

Product: STA Travel, do you trust?

In the last year STA’s reputation has taken a variety of turns and not many of them good. For my first big travelling venture I booked my trip through them and on the most part they were helpful, until they messed up.

They have a huge inability to pick up where they’ve gone wrong and their small print gives you no compensation or reprimand to their mistakes, just persevere and they will eventually give you the compensation you deserve, even if small print says no.

For a first time traveller having some guidance booking accommodation and flights is a peace of mind thing, but a second and third time? No way.

To start with you learn that like your insurance you can book these things on your own, but initially it is a big deal and a bit scary, if only we had the confidence at the start.

Now I’ve got more confidence in how to organise everything and what to look for, I would still go into STA Travel for the brochures to get inspiration, there itineraries can be pretty good to get you thinking, but that’s all you really need from them: advice. You don’t need them to book the trip and you probably don’t want them to either, on the chance that they might totally cock-up, which is getting more and more likely these days.

 What’s your opinion?

Related articles

• Read the small print (bluedeckshoe.com)
• Why you should start traveling alone (matadornetwork.com)

GAME: #1 LEARNING CHESS

It was Friday night that I found myself sitting in a pub opposite an 8-year-old smart arse and a chess board.

I don’t recall being this confident, this well-mannered, or this wily at any point in my dear 24 years. I wish it was just the remote setting that has allowed this little genius to think further than the computer box set, but it’s more than that, how did he learn chess? His Mum, as it happens. I asked if someone could teach me chess and here he is: the pieces, the rules and now the game. It’s a game that makes you think strategically and right now I’m embarrassingly slow, but someone’s in the room that can teach me a signature trick: 4 moves and a win (his Mum). Given that I have 3 months in the remote ranking of Australia and time is clocked with increasing heat – this is how and where I’ll be practising this tricky game. I actually tried playing against myself the other day and the black team won both times, how odd is that?

GAME: THE LIST

To put yourself in the most remote of situations can lead you to a different kind of people. Surroundings certainly shape your character and outback Australia is the type of place where having a car to drive to the nearest town is vital for your mental stability as well as your superstore convenience. As a result I’ve weaned myself from the online world and this has offered a fresh insight into learning new things that have been long forgotten or  hobbies that help pass the quiet time. This is how the list was formed.

This is the list of things I shall be learning over the next 3 months, my personal challenges are…

1. Learn how to play chess
2. Plant a tree
3. Learn how to milk a cow
4. Learn how to bake
5. Ride a tractor
6. Get over your fear of animals – stop being so jumpy around them!
7. Get good at making cocktails
8. Get creative with cooking
9. Read more
10. Get a photo of a real, live kangaroo

*please note this list may well change or grow in 3 months time!

Inspire Me: A Route to Facing Your Fears

I recently read the article: “A Route to Facing Your Fears” by backpacksandbunkbeds.co.uk. This piece caught my attention. The 5 fear factors set out have either been on my list previously (Needles, Fear #1 – check!) or remain, yet to be challenged on this coming trip.  

As my flight deadline to Sydney beckons I am reminded by friends and family, almost on a daily basis, that there are really big spiders out there: fear factor #4 Spiders/Bugs.  Though there are more than just spiders out there; they say I’m trading goldfish and moles for alligators and sharks. Perhaps it’s just coincidence that the section “Creatures in Oz” hasn’t yet been read and has in fact been avoided completely as though it doesn’t really exist.

In the first few months of being in Oz I’m hoping to endure some fruit picking work, a ticket to face #4, as my dear friend encourages:

Im afraid there will be bugs but feel empowered and in harmony, and always remember….you are much bigger than they are!

 TOP FIVE FEARS TO FACE THIS TIME ROUND

 #1 Creepy crawlies

#2 To do something daring – water sports based preferably

#3 Not having an exact plan, but a sketch

#4 Work and live in a place (or rather a country) I’ve never set foot in

 #5 Face the birds