Half Way Special

So….I’ve been gone 5 months and I still have 5 months to go. It feels like it was gone quite quickly to me.

I have been to:-

Zambia ??

South Africa ??

Swaziland (Eswatini) ??

Namibia ??

Botswana ??

Zimbabwe ??

Tanzania ??

Kenya ??

Dubai ??

Sri Lanka ??

Kuala Lumpur ??

Vietnam ??

Cambodia ??

I have taken 13 flights altogether. I have flown with Emirates, South African Airways, Kenya Airways, Sri Lanka Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, Air Asia and Cambodia Angkor Air. My carbon footprint is huge and I promise to plant some trees when I get home. ✈️???? I have also travelled by ferry, bus, train, coach, speed boat, car, taxi, little cruise boat thingy, TukTuk, minibus…..still no motorbike/scooter!!

I have lots of lovely new stamps in my passport.

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I have learnt:-

You need a lot of patience

You need to go with the flow

Things aren’t always done the same way you are used to

Timetables mean nothing

Health and safety doesn’t exist

Drivers abroad are crazy people

We have more similarities than differences

People do bad things to other people

There is also lots of goodness and kindness in the majority of people

The youngsters, I’ve talked to from different countries, all want a better future and to stop corruption

Most governments are corrupt

I’m still carrying too much luggage

Chopsticks are really difficult

Humidity sucks

Seeing wild animals in their natural habituate is the most beautiful thing in the world

All travellers look a bit grubby, even if we’re clean….I blame the laundry for mixing whites and coloureds together

Homesickness is the worse

FaceTime is the best. As is messenger and WhatsApp

On the whole I’m quite good at picking accommodation, there has only been 2 places that were questionable, but still ok

Mosquito repellent doesn’t really work

Deodorant/wet wipes are my best friends

Coronavirus has stopped me going to some places (because they are closed, not because I’m worried)

I really love the Sea/Ocean

I can’t imagine what it will be like having to spend 10 minutes Ooooing and arrrrrring while trying to get into the English channel again!!

Travelling is actually quite tiring…Keep having to move on, getting used to a new place/currency etc

I’ve had 10 different sim cards, meaning 10 different telephone numbers for my family to get used to!! This is on top of flitting back and forth with my UK number

Friends and family have been brilliant, supporting me and encouraging me

AND I’VE STILL GOT 5 MORE MONTHS TO GO