2017 the year I finished school, the year I was ready to escape, the year I was ready to learn but most of all the year to finding myself. 

Upon the end of my final weeks of HSC I decided it was time to book a holiday. The decision to go somewhere happened around 7pm one night, booked and paid by 11pm the same night. To this day one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I started my adventure by meeting my Contiki travel group in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, oh what a city. Crazy roads, oh what crazy roads. The realisation had hit that I was in South East Asia as soon as I stepped foot into my taxi. My driver didn’t speak English well at all, not to worry google translate helped get me to where I needed to be. There were so many highlights of my short time in Bangkok. Although, there are some that stood out more than others. The food, how could you not love the delicious, fresh street food? Wat Arun Temple, such a pleasure to be able to visit and see the pure beauty at this glorious temple, take a look below to see what I mean. 

Next on the agenda was Kanchanaburi. If you ever go to Thailand and are in Bangkok I urge you to make your way to this special destination. The Jungle Raft Hotel on the River Kwai was our final destination for the evening. I couldn’t have asked for a more peaceful and natural area to spend my night. The hotel floats on the river and has no power, so it was a great way to get the phones away and get to know everyone in the group. The morning was spent by jumping in the river at the far end of the hotel and pulling yourself back up the ladder at the other end, a struggle but so fulfilling. 

Next we made our way to northern Thailand, Chang Mai calls for a spicy cooking class and a visit to the Elephant Nature Park. 
Elephant Nature Park is a rescue and sanctuary for elephants in the Chang Mai Province. We were able to have the privilege of feeding and bathing these elephants. After wards we were educated on inhumane treatment towards elephants within South East Asia, something I urge everyone to educate themselves on. 

My 6 night journey through Thailand has come to an end. I’m off to my next country in South East Asia. 
I look forward to sharing that story next. 

Bek xx

I’m Bek. I live with my Mum, Step Dad, Sister and Step Brother in New South Wales, Australia. I’m the quieter more reserved Bek, possibly why Becca and myself get on so well. We balance each other out to a good level 😉 

I have grown up travelling to different domestic and international destinations with my family. So, my travel dreams and ambitions started at a very young age. They instilled the passion for travel in me and I must say I’m very grateful for that. 

2017 I was going through a rough time, typical “on and off” relationship which was toxic. So one night I decided I wanted to get away from the situation I was in, I wanted some independence just after finishing my last year of high school. 7pm I started looking at Contiki trips online by 11pm it was booked and paid. I was going. Soon to meet Becca, just the start to our travel journeys together. 

I’m Becca, with two c’s. The youngest in a family of home body’s, the odd one out. I’ve got two loving parents, Ma & Pa, and four sometimes loving siblings, Tom, Andy, Katie & Sam. They all love New Zealand, that’s home. Look, so do I, but for now, boy do I love travelling.

I can’t pin point exactly when my desire to travel first took flight (excuse the pun), but I’m guessing I was young. Maybe it started when my independent 8 year old self would beg my Mum to chuck me on a plane by myself and send me away for the school holidays to family across the country. Not sure what I looked forward to more, the plane ride, or the holiday.

Fast forward a few more years and the itch to travel stretched far beyond the boundaries of New Zealand, this girl had dreams. America had my attention for the longest time, the magnitude of the place; the cultures, the food, the people. All in one country? I wanted in. I was convinced American men were the sexiest in the world and I was bloody determined to marry one (still am? Question mark?) but America would not take my international travel virginity.

I went to Australia in my final year of high school with my Mum and Brother, Andy. It was the first time I saved for a trip and I had never known saving to be so easy. I wanted that trip, I wanted that flight; but most importantly, I wanted that experience – and boy, do I want more!

July 2017, and I end my first relationship. So I do what we should all do in tough times – I book a solo trip to South East Asia. Now this, this is where my story really begins.