A Reflection on 2019

2019 was an insane year for me, I spent half of it doing the very thing I love - travelling the world and in September I started a new chapter of my life by starting university. 

I started of the year by travelling through South-east Asia for the second time. Starting off with Thailand to take some time to relax, but also experience the insane nightlife. Then into Cambodia, my experience wasn't as positive as I would have liked it to have been as I got food poisoning and the organisation I was supposed to be volunteering was poorly organised, however I still had a fun time visiting the Angkor temples and partying in pub street. After that it was onto Vietnam, one of my favourite countries as the adventure from south to north gave me unforgettable experiences, even though I didn't really enjoy the aspect of being on an organised tour. Then Laos and back into Thailand, Laos had me in a bus going from the towns in a bus on windy roads on and the incredible place that is Vang Vieng, which has amazing views, vibrant nightlife and a fun experience of going down the river. My time in Chiang Mai was great and a 3rd visit to Bangkok gave me the chance to see Wat Arun and take it all in at the Khao San Road.

And that was just the beginning, before going to Bali I spent a brief time in Singapore and the city did not disappoint me. It's safe, it's modern and it's welcoming. One thing it isn't though is it's not cheap! 

Bali was certainly a highlight for me, I didn't expect the volunteering to be such a great experience. It was amazing to stay in the middle of nowhere, make friends with fellow travellers and partake in such unforgettable experiences such as going to Nusa Penida, climbing a volcano and surfing on the beaches of Seminyak.

The next chapter of my travels was to Australia I paid a visit to a few of the cities such as Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Sydney, but the greatest thing I did in Australia was my journey into the outback. I was on a bus for hours on end everyday, but when I reached Uluru it was astonishing. 

The next part of my adventure took me back into Asia with a week in Hong Kong to get a visa to visit mainland China. Hong Kong is a wonderful city which has everything - relaxing beaches, awesome nightlife and most famously, the epic architecture.

Travelling to China was my most challenging time in Asia yet, the lack of English makes it a completely different experience from South-east Asia, but on the bright side I had the chance to see remarkable sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Warriors. 

After China I made it to Seoul, a place most Brits don't think about visiting and I have to say they're missing out. Seoul is honestly one of the greatest night outs I've experienced and also having Korean barbecue with a beer or soju is an experience to savour. Above all, the tourist attractions were incredible too, I had been wanting to see the DMZ for a long time, but also, the city is home to some amazing palaces and sites such as the Bukchon village.

Last but not least was going to Japan, was top of my bucket list for years. What can I say about Japan? It is mind-blowing and it is beautiful beyond belief. Some of the best things I did there was seeing the castles and temples in Osaka and Kyoto, indulging myself in the delicious food and even meeting up with a fellow jambo in Tokyo who took me to see his local club play and got to meet Juanma, who formerly played for Hearts. Japanese football atmospheres are incredible and must not be missed on a trip to Japan if you are a football fan like me. 

After coming home I simply needed a rest and in September it was time to start university. I had no idea what to expect at university, I was honestly scared beyond belief. When it came to the time I met my flatmates, I was shaking but I chilled out when we all got engaged into the freshers events and we became good friends. I have to say I love living in halls, I love my course and I feel like I have complete freedom away from tedious maths classes and obnoxious school staff trying to tell me how to live my life. 

In conclusion 2019 was a good year for me, I visited 10 new countries and made countless memories. I hope that 2020 will be better with more adventure to come...