Tracy’s Travel Adventure: Since July 6th, 2023 (Summary, Future Plans and PART 1)

Read time: 8 minutes

TLDR:

• There’s a summary below of where I’ve gone
• I’ll continue to update this post with my future travel plans as I go
• Part 1 of the detailed travel is below and includes London, UK
• I plan to release the next part on Thursdays wherever I am in the world

Preamble:

Hello Readers!

I’ve come across people on my travels who’ve asked “where have I gone?” and I find it a little difficult to say because it’s been 14 countries so far. There’s no quick one line thus…this post :). I’ll be doing a quick summary here and also going into more rambling details and pictures of where I’ve gone. Part 1 is below on London, UK. If you want to come back for pictures and my learnings then please check back here or subscribe.

The TLDR/Tracy Talks Too Much/Quick Travel Summary:

• July 6th-Aug 14th, 2023: UK (London, Bath, Edinburgh)
  • Learned how to hostel, travel with friends, enjoy the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
• Aug 14th-Aug 16th, 2023: Italy (Milano Maritima)
  • Camping on the beach, outdoor concert on the beach at 6am…what? Yes.
• Aug 16th-Aug 24th, 2023: Slovenia (Lubliana)
  • Enjoyed Slovenian slower pace of life
• Aug 24th-Sept 2nd, 2023: Croatia (Zagreb, Stari Grad, Hvar)
  • Learned about my neurodiversity, meeting random travellers along the way
• Sept 2nd-Sept 11th, 2023: Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo, Mostar)
  • Travel needs a slower pace at times…relaxing in a quieter town, watched cliff diving
• Sept 11th-Sept 13th, 2023: Croatia (Dubrovnik)
  • The transition period to take a cheap flight to Portugal, but so beautiful
• Sept 13th-Sept 18th, 2023: Portugal (Lisbon, Porto)
  • Travelling with Mom
• Sept 18th-Oct 3nd, 2023: Spain (Madrid, Consuegra, Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Valencia, Terragona, Barcelona)
  • Organized bus tour, restarted painting
• Oct 3rd-Oct 17th, 2023: Greece (Athens, Naxos, Santorini, Hydra)
  • Slower pace, started a blog, enjoyed beautiful views, chopped my hair off
• Oct 17th-Jan 21st, 2024: Albania (Tirana, Saranda)
  • Volunteered at a hostel, first Christmas/New Years away from home, lived a more local life, slowed down +++
• Jan 21st-Feb 26th, 2024: Spain (Barcelona)
  • Workaway teaching English to children, first bday away from home
  • Vipassana Meditation 10 Day Retreat – realized all happiness/unhappiness is inside, not outside (i.e. people, places…)
• Feb 26th-Mar 6th, 2024: Hungary (Budapest)
  • Workaway cleaning/Airbnb, visited friends, made friends, had friends visit
• Mar 6th-Mar 13th, 2024: Taiwan (Taipei)
  • Workaway at ULA, Taiwanese night markets, spent time with friend from Vancouver
• Mar 13th-Mar 18th, 2024: China (Shanghai)
  • Saw extended family, visited with brother and Mom
• Mar 18th-June4th, 2024: Hong Kong
  • Vipassana Meditation, visiting where my family was born (though I’ve never been)
  • Exploring Hong Kong markets, hiking, staying with locals, visiting Chaozhou
• June 4th-current (July17th), 2024: Taiwan
  • ULA Buddhist academy, Dongshi farm, celebrated the Dragon Boat festival, worked on the ULA cookbook
  • Taichung: for cultural exchange
• Future Plans:
  • ~July: Japan – vipassana meditation retreat
  • ???? South Korea, India, Thailand, Australia?
    • eat delicious Asian food, Vipassana retreats in different countries
  • ~December-early 2025: Asia, Europe
    • make my way back through to say hello again to those I met along the way
  • early-mid 2025: Eastern Canada, Vancouver
    • visit Eastern Canada, see extended family, head home ^^

Preamble After the Preamble:

As a bit of background for those who don’t know, I left my home on July 7th, 2023 because I wanted to try travelling independently. I was wondering why it felt so monotonous – just working, sleeping and seeing people. I remembered a friend had left travelling alone for 6 months when we were 20 or so and she came back a different person. More calm, independent and understood herself so much better (here’s to you Jenny!). That and a lot of people seemed to understand themselves and the world on a different level after travelling solo. I’d only lived in Vancouver my entire life with the occasional vacations, but I felt like life was about more. Add on the fact that inside, I was a bit of an unhappy person and felt like it was surroundings that were the problem. Thus, I left on my adventure.

The I-Want-The-Details/Tracy-Rambles-a-Lot-Version (July 6th, 2023) – PART 1

Leaving home was definitely scary. I’d never done anything like this before and I was not the most travel savvy individual. Previously when I’d gone on vacations, I was very fortunate that others planned the trips for me. My former partner was amazing at planning trips – what to do, where to stay, transportation, how to spend our time etc. My aunt was the same…all I had to do was go along for the ride and enjoy. Now I was on my own, anxiety raging, I took my 40L carry-on backpack and left Vancouver.

London (July 6th-July 14th, 2023):

I was super fortunate. My first stop was chosen because I had high school friends living in London, England. They offered to host me at different times so I didn’t need to worry about accommodations. Just explore as I wanted to explore and meet others.

If you don’t know, you’ll know soon. I’m a complete foodie. One of my favourite things when travelling is seeing what the local grocery store has to offer. So where did I find myself first, but grabbing fruit and sushi on the way to Antonia’s place.

Staying with Antonia

Now Antonia and I have been friend’s since high school. We met in grade 8 and her family is from England. If you meet her one day, she is so English and so hilarious. Most people think she’s super serious. (Here’s to destroying your image Antonia!). Also, her food is amazing. At this point, we hadn’t seen each other in a year since she left Vancouver so it was a wonderful reunion.

Over the next few days, she took me around London. Perfect tour guide. We went to the local market to grab ingredients for dinner. My foodie stomach was very happy.

Over the next few days, we spent time roaming around London. There’s a surprising amount of greenery in London as long as you’re willing to go a bit out of the city centre. Antonia took me to Hamstead Heath where the greenery went on for miles.

(Btw as a side note…the program I’m using for this website doesn’t allow me to put the pictures perfectly with the captions…ADHD aside, hope you can bare with it haha)

We also made it to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe Theatre. If you can manage to stand for a long period of time, the tickets are only 10GBP and WOW! I loved seeing the actor/actresses expressions right in front of my face. I was at the front of the stage and the acting took my breath away. I don’t understand Shakespearean language by a long shot, but the facial expressions and acting made me die laughing.

Hostelling

My first hostel experience in London! I wanted be a bit independent and try hostelling so I ended up at the Wombat. It is located right next to Tower Bridge and heck…the reviews on Hostelworld were great so I jumped on it. At the time, I didn’t know there were different types of hostels and turns out this one is considered a “party hostel” as it has a bar conveniently located inside. Regardless, not a bad time at all because the bar is in the basement and the rooms are way higher up.

(As a bit of nerdy background, I did research on how to hostel beforehand so I knew what to expect. Now I always travel with some string and clothing pins. You can make a curtain for privacy or hang your laundry wherever you go…hotel or hostel. #beindependent)

New Friends and Tower Bridge:

One thing about hostelling is that you meet so many cool people from around the world. I met John (ironically also from Canada) at the yoga class at the hostel. He’s a wonderful singer and guitar player. Can harmonize anything…oh gosh how I missed music! We decided to explore together so we ended up at Tower Bridge. Many people including myself, think this is the London Bridge, but alas it is not. London Bridge is much plainer. Google it if you’re curious.

Many cool galleries or art in London, but I don’t think I need to tell you that. What I can tell you though is that at the British Museum, they don’t allow instruments inside, nor do they have storage lockers, so John and his guitar decided to stay outside.

The End for Now!

This feels like a nice place to stop without it getting too wordy so I’ll stop here. My first step into London was such a wonderful first country especially since I had a friend teaching me to get around like a local. Next part will be Bath, UK which is located only 3 hours from London by bus. For those who know Bridgerton, the TV show was filmed there.

Stay well 🙂

~Tracy