That year cemented my transformation into a travel addict. Gap years are currently massively in vogue but at that time I hadn’t met anyone apart from my sister who had done this kind of thing (which I viewed as a massive if totally terrifying adventure).
I started gently, flying out to Israel to join my sister on a Kibbutz. Not so gentle was working the 4am shift in the olive/pickling factory. Stage 2 was a volunteer job in Thailand, where, in exchange for teaching English and ballroom dancing (!) at a secondary school in Chiang Mai, I got to board with the Headmistress.
From there I was on my own for the first time as a fledgling traveller. It was a short hop to Australia where I flew into Darwin for the wet season (rookie error), then worked my way up from loo cleaner to receptionist in backpackers around the nation, saving enough to enjoy the rest of my round the world ticket as an unemployed wastrel on a budget of £10/day.
great story about your blog’s background. you’ve had some amazing adventures #travellinkup
What a collection of adventures already – cheers to more one day soon!