Tuesday 20 January 2015

The beginning of my travels

Oh wow, remembering this day makes me feel emotional! 
Very happy, as I was finally setting off to begin my adventure overseas.
Anxious, as I had never been on a flight for more than an hour.
And sad, as I was leaving all my loved ones.

My flight was at midday. I was up at 7 making sure I had everything ready to go, and that I had a good breakfast! We left my house at about 8:30 (I think) to be at the airport around 9am.
Jess drove me to the airport and my brother came along as well. 
They sat with me in the airport until my flight details came up.
We took silly photos with my iPad and had a few last-laughs...



And then I was going. On my way through security.

I left Brisbane on Monday 26th May at 12:15pm.
I arrived to Heathrow, London on Monday 26 May at 7:30am
Bit confusing. Gotta love the time difference.
I was also very lucky to have no jet lag! (After 30 hours on planes and through airports I have no idea how I got away with that!)

In what actually felt like no time at all, I was at Heathrow airport and finding my way on the underground tube line - and oh my gosh, that was confusing! It took me at least a week to learn what the lines are and how to read the map.
I reached my hostel at around 10am and couldn't check in till 2pm, so I left my bags there and went for a 15 minute walk to Oxford St..and of course, I had arrived on a public holiday and not much was open at all, so I explored the street, then went back and went for a walk through Hyde park. The entire time being completely paranoid of getting lost, so I was sure not to go too far from the street that took me back. 
I was back at the hostel around 1pm, relaxing for a while on their wifi. When I finally got into my room I met 2 other lovely ladies, who I friended and spent a small amount of time with for the 3 days I was at the hostel, as well exploring some sights (mostly Westminister and some pubs... Pubs are sights, right?)

Westminister - Elizabeth tower and the Houses of Parliament 



After my time at the hostel I moved on to a room I had rented from airbnb, which was surprisingly not bad at all, it was a small room in an apartment and shared with 2 other girls there, one who I also friended. My first day there I joined her for a quick trip to China town. I had not been there before so it was nice to have someone show me the way.
I was staying there for just under 3 weeks, and from there was a quick walk to the train station, 2 stops from the tube and then not far from the city at all. I spent most my days out and found a favourite spot to go to on my days I had nothing planned..

St. James's Park
Gorgeous gardens!