The slowboat from Mandalay

So here we are then.....I arrived into Mandalay airport exhausted after a flight from Bangkok ( full of chavs...mental note to avoid flights coinciding with full moon parties) and a connection into Mandalay. It didn't take long for me to get the feeling of being somewhere completely foreign. The taxi ride from the airport into the city is an hour in the glorious Burmese countryside. We drove past rivers, over bridges, past a herd of cows and past lots of lots of scoters. Asia it's very, very good to be back. I'd love to tell you lots about Mandalay but the truth is I had a mini sleep until Jodie arrived. Out hotel then had free drinks for us on the rooftop bar, and it was so nice up there with views of the sun setting over the river that 4 bottles of Mandalay and a couple of whisky sours later we were good for food and bed only. 

Which is probably how getting up at 5.30am to catch the 6.20am boat to Bagan felt like a struggle. Still we managed to make it, even navigating the shaky wooden footbridge without falling in. We secured the last two seats on the upper deck, put our jumpers on and settled in for 10 hours of Ayarwaddy river time. Our boat the Malikha 2 promised ( and I quote) attentive personal service; an impressive two story lobby and beautifully appointed public areas with single seating on the Sun deck, Expectations were high. To be fair it was a great trip and they delivered. The smiley, happy team brought us cushions, blankets and lunch of stir fried rice & omlette as if it was a joy being alive. The journey passed pretty quickly and we were treated to a great view of river life. We went past boats transporting timber, oil drums and fish; past hundreds of fishing boats and under some glorious bridges. We past several impressive temples and frequently heard the cries of hello from cute little kids in the riverside villages. When we arrived into Bagan early evening I was almost sad to leave the boat.But there are 4,000 temples to be explored on land....so it was time to get stuck in. 

My love of travel

Travel has saved me lots of times - aged 23 I decided to spend the £10k I had saved for a deposit on a garden flat in Clapham North on a year long trip around the world. On that trip I got back to myself - in fact an even better version of myself. A me that had found her passion in life - I was hooked. I had spent the last 5 years of Uni and work in the role of employee and girlfriend. Both had taken over me and I found myself losing my identity. Travelling gave it me back. I found I didn't need anyone else to make me happy - just a passport, a view and enough money for a coffee, lunch and a bed for the night. 

Over the last 15 years traveling has been my constant go to place to feel happy. When faced with redundancy 3 years ago a two month break to Central America got me both a fresh perspective and a job opportunity popped up into my inbox while on the beach in the corn islands Nicaragua. 

It's the feeling you see that travelling gives me, it makes you focus on today and at most tomorrow. It doesn't let you think about bad decisions you may have made in the past, or what problems face you when you return. It makes you live in the moment. As a natural optimist that matches my personality - excited about the future not stuck in the past. 

Nothing makes me feel happier than the moment I arrive at the airport and I'm having that first airside coffee. The only thing to think about now is where I'm going and how best to enjoy whichever fabulous country I'm lucky enough the be visiting. Everything else can wait 😀