Travel – Page 2 – Natalie K. Martin

Falling in love while travelling – Do or Don’t?

February 16, 2015October 17, 2015by Natalie9 Comments

It’s a fact that travelling brings people together. You’re on your own, in a foreign country, experiencing new, unforgettable things on an almost daily basis and the best part is that most people you meet will have similar interests as you. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who hasn’t had some kind of relationship story while travelling, whether it’s been a fling or the real, true deal. The question is, is it worth it?

I read a comment on an online forum some time ago that said falling in love while travelling is brutal, but worth it. I love love. I’m a romance writer, so of course I do. I’m a hopeless romantic and I’m always filled with a warm glow when I hear about a love story that started thousands of miles away in some exotic place, and lasts. I was lucky enough to attend the wedding celebration of a French woman who met her now Australian husband travelling in Costa Rica. Proof enough that the possible heartache that comes with falling in love while being inherently transient is a possibility.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I’m happy enough to say that right now, as I’m writing this post, I’m in love. For the last two months, every day has been better than the last, with picture perfect moments that Hollywood would wet itself over. Having someone to share new experiences with is one of the best feelings ever, whether they’ve been good or bad. It’s been like living in a dream world with an infinite amount of time ahead of you.

But it isn’t infinite. Sooner or later, things have to change. People have to move on, whether you continue travelling together or not, or one of you returns to your home country. How do you know whether or not to continue on the path you originally had in mind when you first set out, or to see where this new romance takes you? When things are so uncertain in life, how do you know whether it’s worth adapting your plans to accommodate someone else? And, more importantly, how do you know that the love you’ve shared wasn’t just some by-product of being somewhere exotic and tropical – somewhere far away from your every day life? Realistically speaking, the experiences you share with a new partner in your regular setting back home (wherever that home may be) over the period of a few months, can be shared with someone while travelling in a matter of weeks. Especially if you’re spending every single day together.

When I left home, I had a firm plan of doing my shiatsu course, staying away from parties and generally being more focussed. Suffice it to say, life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. Instead, I’ve partied like a crazy person, found myself in one of these dream-like travel relationships and the shiatsu just wasn’t for me. Now, it’s getting ready to change again. In around two weeks time, the guy I’m with leaves for Nepal and a couple of weeks after that, I’ll be in Thailand – at least, that’s the plan. The question of whether our time together has been worth the inevitable heartache that’ll come when we eventually take different directions has popped into my head more than once. For me, I can honestly say that, yes, it has been. Whatever happens in the future, I know for a fact that at the very least, I’ve made a friend I’ll keep for life.

Have any of you experienced the dizzy feeling of falling in love on your travels? And what was the outcome? Do you think it was worth it, or do you think it’s better to stick by yourself and achieve whatever it was you hoped to achieve when you jumped on an plane to a far flung corner of the world?

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❤

Travel

Beauty

January 23, 2015January 22, 2015by Natalie2 Comments

After last season where I hardly took any photos, I’ve been trying to remember to take more this time. There’s definitely something to be said for being in the moment when you’re travelling instead of seeing everything through a camera lens, but I did regret not having more pictures when I got back. So, I thought I’d share a few, particularly our balcony – the black hole of doom. It’s a great space, unless you’ve got plans to actually do something with your day. It’s one of those places where you sit and then forget the world around you.

But I’m not complaining.

Blog, Travel

Deja vu, but new

January 9, 2015October 17, 2015by NatalieLeave a Comment

Ok, so I’ve been very, very lax with my updates, but it’s hard to keep in touch when you’re busy chilling out all the time. Actually, that’s a lie. I’ve not been chilling too much. I’ve had deadlines, patchy internet and moved house. I think I’ve been to the beach three or four times since I’ve been here. Ho hum. In any case, I’m back in Arambol and having a major case of deja vu.

I guess it’s a pretty special place, in that there’s a core community of people who come here year after year, in some cases, the last two decades! So I’ve not been surprised to see so many of the people I met last year. In fact, I was banking on it. But, like most things, life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.

The people I hung out with last season are not the same people I’ve been hanging with this time around. I’ve seen them, spent a little time with them, but that’s about it. I suppose it’s a important lesson not to have any expectations of anyone, or plan around people too much. In the upside, I’ve made a bunch of new friends who have kept me thoroughly entertained.

And the deja vu? Well, I’m back in the Purple House, the same one I stayed in last time. But this time, I’m sharing with two awesome guys, German yoga teacher, Simon and Aussie surfer, James. And as of yesterday, German contact dance teacher, Anir. That is where the deja vu ends though. Even though I’m technically sleeping in the exact same room I did last year, most nights we’ve all slept on the balcony (pictures to come soon). Unlike last year, we’ve decorated it with mattresses, cushions and wall hangings and most of the time, we hang out there. Even though the surroundings are the same, the feelings are much, much more different.

I guess it all boils down to the saying that’s so prevalent throughout Asia. Same, same. But different.

🙂

Backpacking, Travel

Arambolling

December 5, 2014December 4, 2014by NatalieLeave a Comment

I have touched down in Goa. Hooray!

In one day, I’ve rented a scooter, found a cute little house and now all that’s left for me to do is get a sim card. Yesterday, I had my orientation meeting for my shiatsu course and man, oh man, it is INTENSE! 4/5 days a week, eight hours a day.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to write and find time to update this site!

Until next time, adios peoples!

Travel

Wherever you lay your hat – A guide to room hunting

November 7, 2014November 6, 2014by NatalieLeave a Comment

For the past week or so, I’ve been doing something really, really dumb. Instead of going to sleep at night, I’ve been laying in bed wondering where I’m going to live for this season in Goa. I’ve been mentally going through all the places I looked at last time (and there were a LOT) and putting them into piles of ‘definitely maybe’, ‘maybe’ and ‘heck no’. The reason why it’s pointless? There’s no point in me worrying about it until I get there. Absolutely none. Even if I looked online, the reality probably wouldn’t match up and anyway, room hunting is all part of the fun. So, not that I’m an expert or anything, but here are my tips:

1. Don’t plan ahead
If you’re used to going on a standard holiday and pre-booking your hotel, your instinct will be to try and find somewhere to stay for when you arrive. One of the things my friends and family said when I told them I didn’t have a clue where I’d be staying was ‘OMG, I could never do that’. Everything in you will want to pre-book a room but my advice is: don’t. The reasons are:

– As I mentioned already, things look a lot better on photos. Even with the likes of Trip Advisor, you still just don’t know and how many people end up booking into a place they have to stay in for ages that ends up being crap? I bet it’s more than a few. It’s always better to see the place and its location first.

– You might miss out on something great. Getting tips from fellow travellers is always a good hit. They’ll tell you where to avoid and where to go.

The only time I’d say this doesn’t apply is if you’re getting into a location in the dead of night.

2. Adjust your expectations
This definitely applied to me. Having only ever stayed in hotel rooms and one empty dorm beforehand, I was a bit miffed at the ‘state’ of the rooms I first looked at in India. But after a while, I just came to realise that I had to change my expectations, and so will you. You’re not staying at the Ritz, you’re backpacking. If you can find a room with your own bathroom, hell if you can find a place with hot water, you’re ahead of the game. As long as it’s clean, has a bed and is secure, then your bases are covered. That being said, it does depend where in the world your going. You might have to make do with a sleeping bag on the floor but, hey, whateves, it’s all part of the experience!

Chok Dee Guesthouse in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Ave Maria Guesthouse in Arambol, Goa

3. Location, location, location
There’s a reason this phrase is so well known. That’s because it’s true!! Your own personal preferences will come into play here, but for me personally, I can’t do dorms and I don’t like to be right in the middle of things. I like to be close enough to walk into the hustle and bustle but far away enough to be able to chill without constant noise. I moved A LOT in Goa, and I went from being right on the main road and being kept up at night by rumbling motorbikes outside my door to a room in a house backing out onto a field with cows roaming around. I way preferred the latter. On the subject of location, it goes without saying that you want to be safe. Finding somewhere that isn’t isolated and well lit is always a good bet, however hard that may be. This is the house I ended up living in – The Purple House.

It was accessible via an alleyway (for want of a better word). What made this okay was that on the corner of the alleyway was The German Bakery, a place that’s open til all hours and where people usually stop off for a pizza or cake on the way home from a night out. Plus, there were plenty of other houses around and about where the people staying there would hang out on the balconies playing music so I always felt safe on the way home.

4. Take your time
If, like me, you’re going to be staying in one place for a while instead of hopping around, it makes sense to find somewhere you can stay long term. It usually works out cheaper and it’s nice to have somewhere that can feel a bit homely away from home. But that doesn’t mean you should take the first place you see. Shop around and haggle, and take something that feels right. On the flipside, don’t take too long. Finding a great place for a great price is like looking for gold-dust and if you dither too long, someone else will come and take it in your place.

5. Haggle
This is something I still struggle to get to grips with but accommodation can add up quickly. You might not want to barter down the price of a pair of trousers but you absolutely should when it comes to a place to stay. If you’re looking at somewhere to stay upwards of a month then you absolutely need to. Chances are you can negotiate a better rate for staying in longer – owners would rather have you there than have it empty.

6. Basic checks
Of course you’re going to want to check that the room is clean, but it’s a bonus if it’s clean to yours or your mum’s standards. I had to clean a place from top to bottom before I felt comfortable enough to stay in it (and then moved out two days later. Ho hum). So, check under the bed, the bed itself, toilet etc etc but don’t be afraid to put a bit of elbow grease in if needed. The simple fact is, some owners just don’t care about it being five star clean, as long as it will do. Other checks you should do are to look at security. How does the door lock? Is it with a key or do you need a padlock? Are windows lockable? Are there easy entry points for would-be burglars? If you’re sharing a house, how many keys will you get and is there a safe hiding place for the main door key?

7. Make it a home
Okay, so you’re backpacking. You’re away from home and experiencing crazy shit. But chances are you will still get a pang of homesickness at some point. So, do something to make it feel homely. I bought a couple of wall sheets and used them for bedsheets. Not only did it make me feel more comfortable than sleeping on the dubious sheets they’d provided, they brightened the place up. Ditto with some candles and other little nick nacks. They don’t cost much and while you might not want to take them home or would ever buy them usually, they can make you feel better on a down day.

Good luck (for me too!).