BREAKING DOWN THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

SNAPPED IN PU MING LU, SHANGHAI.

Not the great almighty wall you’re thinking of. I'd like to shed some light on China's other GREAT WALL. The wall that surrounds most of the country blocking & preventing access to sites such as Facebook, Google, Wikipedia and many more.
With work taking me to Shanghai for the past few weeks came a forced and probably well needed social media detox. No more buzzing of notifications, no more up-too-close-and-personal snapchats of my sisters face or countless photos of her dog, no quick googling to solve my everyday problems. NO. It became evident very quickly just how heavily I rely on these apptastic services. How ever did one get by before the internet? A time when people actually had to open a book to learn something, make human contact in order to see someone, or show up to lectures to get an education.  I guess that’s just an easy statement and the kinds of questions that roll with ease off thge Gen-Y tongue. More than 2600 sites are currently blocked by this great firewall due to China's tough internet censorship policies. Some of the big names on this list include Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Blogger, Wordpress, Pirate Bay, Dropbox, Soundcloud, IMBD, and anything Google related –docs, drive, plus, picasa & the like. Oddly enough though you can periodically access google search & I had no troubles reading emails.

So a few weeks net-free is NBD. Though one must ask themselves, does no one in China have Facebook? What about the countless expats living and working within this wall? Thinking of myself as somewhat computer savvy I just assumed I’d punch in a proxy address & trick the servers into letting me through.
Oh, bless that thought.
This is China we are talking about; the hub from which the techo-elite are rising. & there ain't no cheating China.
After chit-chatting about this issue with some expat friends living in Shanghai I learned of ONE and only ONE work around. That is to purchase a VPN (Virtual Private Network) from the US and install it on each and every one of your devices you plan to use.

These sites are some of your one-stop-shops to purchasing a VPN                                                                     
WITOPIA : $39.99 half yearly EXPRESS VPN : $8.30 p/m  VYPR VPN: $8.30 p/m IP VANISH: $10 p/m BOLEH VPN : $10.50 p/m

I believe there are free VPN sites you’re able to use or test out for a short period of time, though keep in mind you’ll be jumping into an open fishbowl & in full view of anyone else doing the same. There are also apps for your phone, ipad or tablet such as VPN EXPRESS starting at 99c/30days.

So, if you can’t bear the thought of shutting down or you're worried stepping off your virtual social scene will be the death of you.. Hereth lay your options when heading to Mainland China.

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SHANGHAI

THE FACTS 

SNAPPED FROM THE 100TH FLOOR OF THE SWFC   

People: 14.35m
Language: Mandarin, Chinese
Currency: Chinese RMB ¥
Climate: Winters are chilly and summers are hot and humid. The best time to go is Sep/Oct. China has a huge problem with pollution and on certain days the smog gets pretty heavy. If you suffer with allergies be sure to bring along your meds.      
Events: Spring Festival/Chinese New Year begins on the 1^st day of the lunar year and celebrations typically run for about four weeks. The 15^th day of the new year is when the lantern festival celebrations begin.
Safety: Shanghai is a pretty safe city. I found myself navigating the streets, markets and subway alone with no troubles. Just keep an eye out for pickpockets.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
So you’ve just stepped off the plane at Pudong Airport & are headed into town. You’ve got two options GET A CAB which will cost you roughly ¥150 and take about an hour. Or start experiencing what Shanghai has to offer right off the bat and ZOOM IN ON THE MAGLEV TRAIN. This high-speed train will take you directly from the airport into town at a whopping 430kms p/h clocking in at a mere 8min trip. A single ticket will cost you ¥50 or you may purchase a round trip for ¥80. Getting around can be quick, cheap and easy on the metro if squashing up like sardines on the train doesn’t freak you out. Otherwise cabs line the city and have really low fares. Make sure to have your destinations written out in Chinese though, as English is not widely spoken & be prepared to wait for up to 20mins if you find yourself seeking a cab during peak hour.

Day 1. ☑ The tourist checklist

Jade Buddhist Temple

1. Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple ¥20. Buddhism really fascinates me, and I can’t go the day without my meditation! Walk through this beautiful temple and be engulfed in the aromas of burning incense. Toss a coin into the sculptures for luck, kneel beneath the towering golden statues inside the great hall and see the incredible 3tonne Jade Buddha statue. Joining in on a prayer or meditation session with the monks of the temple is an incredibly moving experience and a great way to start your day.
2. Shanghai World Financial Centre ¥150 will get you a ticket to the top where you can see the city from the 100^th floor. If you’re afraid of heights don’t look down! Below your feet you’ll be standing on open glass panels and see the city buzzing beneath. Be prepared to wait in line at each sub section as you make your way up the tower.
3. Yuyuan Garden ¥40 I’d suggest spending a half the day wandering these gardens. Experience china for what it originally was and explore the chambers, corridors, pavilions, streams, gardens, trees and halls of this scenic area. The garden is also home to one of Chinas oldest tea gardens.
4,5,6. Oriental Pearl Tower, The Bund / Hungpu River & French Concession Area

Day 2. GO SHOPPING
With so much of your purchases at home saying ‘made in China’ you'd be crazy not to seek out the source. Shopping in China is an experience and attraction in its own right.
The main commercial streets of Shanghai are divided into four sections, at the heart of this is Nanjing Road one of the busiest shopping streets in the world.
For the big spender: Huaihai Road is lined with all the top desiger stores to lighten your wallet
For the window shopper: Nanjing rd or the Superbrand Mall are great places to stroll
For antiques: Dongtai Road Antique Market
For tailoring: Shanghai Shiliupu Cloth Market is home to all of your tailoring needs. You can get just about anything made here; from suits, coats, costumes or your own designs. I actually brought along a pair of my favourite shorts and had them copy & tailor three more pairs in fabrics I chose from downstairs. You can even get creative & design your own stuff! I sketched out and had made a few custom dresses and coats here too. 
For the art enthusiast: Fuzhou Road is home to all things art, book, music or culture  related. I buy a lot of my art supplies & love the staff from Maries Painting Materials (850 Xikang Rd) Great prices and great variety.

DROP DOWN & GET YOUR BARTER ON !
Once you've had a look at the main streets I suggest hitting the underground markets. Two places for easy shopping are the markets hidden below the SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM and below the Peoples square off Nanjing Rd- HONK KONG MARKETS. Here you’ll find all the ‘same-same’ copies of the top brands in shoes, bags, jewellery, watches and much more. Don’t get a shock when you’re hand is taken and you suddenly find yourself being dragged into a backdoor room full of things you’re told you should buy. It’s all part of the fun! -HK Markets are typically cheaper, though as both see regular traffic from western tourists they aim high with their prices. Don't be afraid to offer a third of what is originally quoted.

QUIPU LU - HEAVEN OR HELL ☠☠☠

For the hard core shopper and those brave enough to attempt navigating through the crammed and crowded windings of this super-max maze. I suggest hitting up Quipu Lu. WARNING this place isn’t for the faint hearted. Covering just about anything your heart could desire at prices you won’t believe are real. This wholesale supermax complex is heaven for anyone who likes to shop, and living hell for the boyfriends or non-shoppers tagging along behind. The things you bought at Science & Tech Museum or Hong Kong Markets? They came from here. Locals flock here to purchase wholesale goods to then resell at their stores elsewhere. This colossal complex is divided up into four buildings, each one rising to over six floors. One of these is dedicated solely to copy goods and the other three are lined with wholesale super stores. Be prepared to be taunted, yelled at, hassled, grabbed and in a state of complete sensory overload. 

EVENING
After a hard day on your feet I suggest wandering into one of the many massage parlours that line the streets. What better way to end your day than with a ¥30 ($5AUD) foot massage or heading to a hair salon for a wash, massage & blowdry starting at ¥50 ($9AUD) *Note if you’re planning on getting your hair done keep in mind they don’t work with many blondes. Back in my blonde days (shudder) I wound up with a wonderful greenish do while in Shenzhen thanks to their inexperience with bleach. Right, now that you’re feeling fresh and ready head on down to Shiliupu Ferry Terminal and jump on a river cruise (¥100) Cruise down the Huangpu River and watch the city come to life as the sun sets. Once you’re done head over behind the Raddison Blue hotel to grab some dinner– here you’ll find a bunch of various establishments to tickle your taste buds.

All in all though
MY FAVOURITE WAY TO KILL TIME IN CHINA is to wander the streets and get lost. Stumble upon little shops, see the grannies doing tai chi in the park, see the inovative ways in which literally anything and everything can be transformed into a place to hang your washing, watch as food is stirred and splattered on street corners, stare in awe at the complete lack of road rules and try not to get killed while enjoying the rustle and bustle of the streets. Also, go grab a Taro Pie from McDonalds because quite frankly.. those things rock.

TIPS *
Watch out for pick pocketing.
Show little interest when shopping.The moment they see you take notice in something- it starts. Scan the store first and when you’re keen on a purchase don’t show it. Be the cool cucumber who needs for nothing and is happy to walk off empty handed. Even when you must have it. They do this day in day out & are ready and rearing to get the most out of you so play it cool.
FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA BUTTERFLIES your snapchats and facebook will have to wait. China has banned access to these sites along with many others. If absence from your online scene will be the death of you a VPN from the US can be purchased with some determination and running around. Check out my post & get the deets here.
Print out all destinations in Chinese, chances are your cabbie won't speak English and will simply smile, nod and mutter in Chinese to you while you're trying to explain where you want to go. When I don’t have access to a printer I google the name & snap a picture on my phone so I can show that & end up going where I want to be.

Here’s some of the destinations I’ve talked about for you to copy, paste and print
ADDRESS BOOK
Pudong International Airport: 6000 迎宾大道, Pudong
SWFC TOWER: 上海环球金融中心 100 Century Ave, Pudong
Jade Buddha Temple: 玉佛禅寺 999 Jiangning Rd, Putuo
Science & Technology Museum: 上海科技馆 2000 Century Ave, Pudong
Quipu Lu Shopping:七浦路168号, 近河南北路 168 Qipu Lu, near Henan Bei Lu

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5 STEPS TO PACKING

Sigh. Anything to do with putting clothes in or taking them out of a bag while travelling sucks. Or at least it used to. Here is the steps I follow when packing for a trip.

STEP 1:
THE NECESSITIES
Remember, your passport is your gold. If you don’t have your passport and wallet it really doesn’t matter what else you pack because without these you won’t be going very far. Next up on my most important list is my camera and my phone/tablet/laptop depending on where I’m going. Ask yourself though- Is it really necessary to bring along your ipad, ipad mini, laptop, ipod, phone, tablet and kindle? Be practical- You can live on just one or two devices for the duration of your trip. You should be spending more time out exploring than blogging or instagramming about it anyway. (That part can come later!) It’s a nice idea to pack something to keep you occupied when sitting in transit. Bring along a book you’re reading, an ipad or tablet or small game console- Whatever tickles your fancy.

STEP 2: SELECT A BAG
Are you backpacking around Asia? Are you taking a two week holiday in the South of France? Or are you going on a ski trip in the states? This information is vital when picking a bag. Be sure to check your airline baggage allowance if you’re flying- excess baggage brings heavy fees. For obvious reasons a backpack is more practical especially on trips where you’re lugging around your things for extended periods of time.


STEP 3: DAYS TO OUTFITS RATIO
How long are you going for? Believe it or not the longer the trip the less you’ll need. See if you’re on a trip of decent length you’ll be needing to wash and likely be moving around a lot – therefor wearing the same outfit a bunch of times will not matter (well.. not that much) For shorter trips, if I’m limited with space I try to pack a third worth of outfits from the number of days I’m away for. Say you’re going on a ten day trip.. get out three full outfits. Mixing and matching

each item will create a number of different outfits and be far more practical pushing into a backpack than ten full looks. Unfortunately backpacking and looking fashionable every day is a hard feat to muster. Be practical when choosing items, pick things that are plain and easily mixed and matched. On a side note, you can never have too many nickers or socks. When you’re doing a lot of walking around it’s nice to have fresh socks.

Step 4: TOILETRIES & EXTRAS
This one’s a given and pretty obvious. Try to be practical though. Do you REALLY need an eye shadow in every colour or five lipstick options? Pack the basics first and add in later whatever extras you have room for. If you’re staying in hostels- pack soap. (And if you’re a clean freak like me a pair of flip-flops for the shower) Keep in mind not all hostels offer towels. (You can purchase great quick dry travel towels that fold down next to nothing in your bag)The first things to throw in are toothbrush, toothpaste, deo, comb, travel-pack hair care, moisturizer, basic makeup, razor & nail clippers. (You'd be surprised just how often a set of clippers comes in handy!) Think about where you’re going, will you need a hat, sunglasses, beanie, scarf or beachwear? Pack in the seasonal items you’ll use.

Step 5: CULL
If you’re anything like me, once you feel like you’ve successfully culled down and packed just enough of what you’ll need, take out half. Far too many times I end up re-wearing or buying new items instead of wearing the clothes I couldn’t bear to leave behind. You’re travelling, exploring new places- you don’t need to relocate your entire wardrobe.

For a more in depth look at packing for extended travel, Look out for my upcoming post; Packing for the long haul

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STUCK IN SINGAPORE

Leaving Malaysia- Cherating Beach, Kuantan

So I’ve had a pretty crazy past few weeks. In late September I packed up my things, and made the move with work from what came to be my home in Malaysia.  After flying off to Male (Maldives) having a quick squiz around and setting my things in the corner, I was off again. Shanghai bound for a 2.5 week work trip. Between Malaysia, The Maldives and China I bounced back and forth from Singapore. (Don’t ask me why, it’s just how things worked out) 
On the morning I was due to board my flight from Singapore to Shanghai I was flicking through my passport when suddenly my heart sank. There was no Chinese Visa stamped in my passport. This meant there was absolutely no way I was getting on that plane. There I stood, like a complete fool with my suitcase at the door, a lift outside and unable to board the plane I was due to be on in less than two hours. Panicking I started the ring around in a desperate attempt to get hold of someone at the embassy & find out if it was possible to apply for the entry visa once already in China, or what on earth my options were.
Now normally I’m really on the ball when it comes to my travel planning, however as this was a work trip I was under the assumption my visa would have been sorted when my ticket was booked and purchased and my passport was taken for two weeks. I’m not pointing fingers here, and regardless of what happened or why it wasn’t organized along with everything else, at the end of the day I was the one getting on that plane and I really should have checked it. LESSON LEARNED.

I spent the next few days frantically running around Singapore trying to obtain first a phone or data sim (which proved to be far more difficult than I had anticipated- for future reference Starhub offers a wonderful $18 5-day unlimited data sim for your phone & can be purchased at phone stores, the airport or supposedly 7-11s although I came to the conclusion after the 6th store that this was untrue).
Off to the Chinese embassy I went, and after running about getting passport photos printed, copies of a bunch of documents I finally managed to get in a RUSH visa application which if approved, was able to be picked up the following day. THANK GOD. Now to change my flight. Changing a flight, even in your own name is actually not easy to do if you’re not the one who booked it. As the travel agent of my company booked the flight they had to be the ones to make contact with SIA and change the date. Easy, I’ll get in touch with them and have them do it. In keeping with the recent theme, luck was NOT on my side. Of course, of all the days- this particular day was a public holiday in Malaysia and therefor the travel agent was closed and unable to be reached. After a number of calls and pushing and sobbing to the Singapore Airlines hotline they eventually gave in letting me change the flight and I was ready to head off the morning after obtaining my visa. SUCCESS! (Just on a side note: I really love flying with Singapore Airlines, I find their flights and service to be a real breeze) Time had run out with all the running about so I decided to head to the airport early and spend my last day wandering around my favourite airport; Singapore Changi Airport. It’s by far one of the best airports I’ve ever been, and an attraction in its own right. From catching butterflies in the butterfly garden to shopping until you drop at one of the 300 stores if one was going to be stranded at an airport – Changi was the place to be. Look out for my upcoming blog post about the airport that’s for more than just flying.

The moral of this story is ALWAYS CHECK YOUR DETAILS. Even when your parents, friend, colleague or company is organizing your itinerary and all you have to do is rock up- check it anyway. There’s no use showing up, ready and rearing to go, only to find you’re knocked back due to minor missed details that could have been prevented. As I said- at the end of the day, you’re the one getting on the plane, you’re the one that will have to deal with the consequences of any complications – you are responsible. CHECK, RECHECK AND TRIPLE CHECK YOUR TICKETS AND DOCUMENTS.

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EKE OUT YOUR EURO - My top five money saving tips for Europe.

After living in Europe on a mere €400 a month wage I had to learn to make my money last. With big plans and a small budget I picked up some tips and tricks as I navigated my way around the continent. Here’s my top five budget-savvy pieces of advice.

1. MAP IT OUT
First and foremost whether you’re planning a country to country, city to city or just sight to sight trip the first thing I always do is map out on a piece of paper each destination or point of interest I plan to visit. I then draw lines connecting each stop, and add in the means, options and cost in which you can travel between each point. Doing this will leave you with a handy little dot to dot picture in which you can use as a map to work out your most practical and sensible order of travel. You don’t want to be wasting money or time coming back to see a site or city when you were right around the corner the week before. Before you head to a new city or country you should have done some research of the infrastructure and studied or at least glanced at a map of your destination. If you’re on a budget, the wonderful ease and convenience of being dropped door to door by a taxi or paying full fare flights just isn’t a luxury we all want to splurge on. For a more in depth look at getting around Europe look out for my upcoming blog post - Navigating Europe.

2. THINK LIKE A LOCAL

After discovering there was such thing as a
disposable BBQ, we set up camp & spent the day
cooking food and soaking up
the sun down at Scheveningen; Den Haag.

One of the most important tips I can share is to think like a local. Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry and countries thrive on milking us for all they can. We’ve all done it, but DON’T fall victim to the tourist trap. DON’T buy your souvenirs from the shops you were introduced to at the airport or ended up in after a tour. I guarantee in most cases you’ll be paying at least double for an item you can find elsewhere. Another little gem of a tourist trap is the all-inclusive ‘tourist card’ These cards are generally marketed and sold to give you ‘unlimited’ use of transport, and free or discounted entry to various attractions. Most of the time you’ll find the card does not actually give you all inclusive access to transport. Sometimes they throw in some coupons or discounts to shops or restaurants you’ll probably never walk into. Thanks but no thanks to your 5% discount on the diamond rings I can’t afford to look at much less buy, or the buy one get one half price coupon for Italy's most expensive bowl of pasta.

3. EAT, DON’T DINE

Sneaking some bag snacks with my sister in Paris. 

Food, glorious food. Dining is a huge part of the European culture and each city is filled with places to tickle and tantalize your taste buds. Travel is as much about food as it is about the destination so I’m not saying skip out on the fine dining Europe has on offer! Know when to save & when to splurge! However, if you’re trying to stretch out your savings here are some of my suggestions.
Steal it. Yep, you heard right. Get cheeky and fill your pockets in the morning with anything you can grab from the breakfast bar. If you’re in a hotel –go nuts at the buffet & prepare yourself mini gourmet-to-go lunch or dinner options. OR, presuming (since we’re on a budget here) you’re staying at hostels fill your pockets with whatever simply boring delights the hostel has on offer. A Jam roll in a napkin will save you having to purchase lunch later, and a few pieces of fruit should help you hold out on buying snacks throughout the day. Carry a water bottle & keep on sipping. Not only do you need to keep hydrated while you’re buzzing about seeing things but drinking enough water will prevent false food cravings and stop you buying soft drinks at every few stops.
If stuffing your bags on the sly isn’t for you, stock up on some groceries and simple on-the-go meals from the local supermarket. Your money will go a lot further making and packing your own little meals than if you purchase something every time you’re hungry. Go nuts. Or buy them at least. I find nuts, seeds or trail mix really handy to keep in my bag. It provides energy throughout the day, is easy to transport around, won’t spoil or leak in your bag and great to munch on when you’re feeling peckish.

4. NIGHT LIFE

Pre-pub crawl in Amsterdam, Holland.

One of my biggest pet peeves about Europe is paying to use the bathroom. Seriously, I paid cover to get into this place, I paid you for drinks, and now you’re going to charge me to use your bathroom too. Try to use the bathroom before you leave (or while it’s free!) and keep some change aside for when you’re out and about. I’ve been caught a few times when the bathroom attendant refused to accept my large notes. 

One of the really great ways to experience a cities nightlife off the bat is to join a pub crawl. Most major cities run one or (or five) and they’re generally great prices. Your wristband will get you a shot at the door of each club, free entry into a number of night spots and generally they’ll throw in some coupons for drinks or a free Tshirt marking your survival of the night. It’s also a really great way to meet, mix and mingle with other people if you’re travelling solo! On average, wine and beer is really cheap throughout Europe (especially compared to the prices in Oz) Oh how I miss heading to Albert Heijn to purchase my incredibly fancy & damn good €2 bottle of red.

5. UTILIZE ALL THE FREE THINGS!

Buda Castle; Snapped on a free walking tour I did in Budapest
Aside from Berlin, this was one of the best walking tours I've been on!
I was lucky to get a really great guide who was enthusiastic about
showing off a really great city. It's nice to come across locals
 so passionate and in love with the city they come from.

Most, if not all major European cities have really great free walking tours on offer. They’re a great thing to do on your first day in a new city. You’ll get a brief (or incredibly in depth, if you have a killer tour guide) history of the country and you’ll get acquainted with your surroundings as you’re guided around the city. At the end it’s polite (&the norm) to offer a small donation to thank the guide for the tour. (On average a few to ten euros) You decide on the amount- keep in mind though the guides work only for tips if you get a really wonderful guide show them your appreciation!  Use your feet. If you can walk there- walk. Don’t be lazy! 
Check out all the free attractions the city has to offer and spend some time getting lost. Some of my best discoveries have come from getting lost in a city and unexpectedly stumbling on something awesome. If you find yourself in need of wifi, keep in mind most pubs will have free wifi if you ask for the password. Otherwise Mcdonalds or Starbucks have access 99% of the time. There’s also great ways to get free accommodation, utilizing sites such as couchsurfing, or trading work for rent. Look out for more free travel tips in my upcoming posts.

So there it is. My 5 step mini-guide to stretching your euro.
Cutting costs is something we're all trying to do whenever possible! Though sometimes it's just not worth it. Read here about the worst way I ever saved money. EEEK, accommodation was probably not the best thing to bump from the spend-worthy list.
It's about finding a happy medium, know when to save and know when to splurge.
Check out this post here for some advice on the matter. Sometime's the splurge is worth it!

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Me in a nutshell

Me in a nutshell.
My names Ashlea & I'm more or less as a part time Australian - full time explorer snap-happy kid exploring the world. I prefer to go further than just the quick visit- opting instead to live abroad full time, immerse myself within a culture and really reap the benefits of long term travel & life abroad.

I have my wonderful parents to thank for passing on the travel bug and enabling me to see so much of the world prior to being old enough to go it alone. It wasn’t until two years ago that I really got itchy feet and the courage to set sail. Once I had decided I was going to go and work overseas I started looking online at my options. It was only a mere two weeks later I found myself stepping off a plane alone in Europe. There I was, wide eyed and wishful, with $200 in my wallet. Trying to navigating an airport I’d never been to, listening to a language I’d never heard, looking for someone I’d never met heading to live in a country I knew nothing about.

Packing that bag proved to be both the hardest and best decision I’ve ever made.
It’s now almost 24 months later and I’m still on the go. I’m currently living on an island in paradise. Aka. The Maldives. I’ve managed to bounce around the globe with no real savings, and I hope to inform and inspire others on how to do the same! I’ve travelled to over 27 countries, 130 cities, and have lived and worked on three different continents.

Countries I’ve checked off my list:

Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Norway, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, Iceland, USA, Canada, Malaysia, China, Singapore, Maldives, Thailand, The Caribbean; Virgin Islands, Saint Maarten, Bahamas

Countries I’ve lived & worked in:
The motherland (Australia) The Netherlands, Malaysia & now The Maldives - I'm sensing a pattern with the 'THE..' countries here?


The bucket list:
Other than everywhere, I have a burning desire to head to Mexico and make my way from there over to and down through South America. If I can get around the visa challenges I’d like to call Colorado or New York home at some point and Tokyo is topping the must-see-cities list right about now.

Favourite Destinations?

Ah, the stock standard question you either love or loathe to answer.
How anyone can narrow down their top places I have no idea. So here's my usual response: As a country on a whole I am utterly in love with Switzerland. If I was to be pinned down in one city my pick would be Berlin. Some of the most incredible sights I've seen and experiences I've had were in Iceland. being that my first move abroad was to the Netherlands, it will always hold a piece of my heart. I love exploring the back alleys of Asia, and could easily spend the rest of my life gallivanting around France. If I had to pick a luxury trip- cruising the inside passage of Alaska or around the Caribbean on the floating cities they call cruise ships came with some pretty amazing territory. 

Some random facts about me
1. I’m really passionate about art and am generally scribbling in my sketch book when I’m not exploring. You can check out some of my art on instagram @artbyashlea
2. I LOATHE PACKING. I actually had a breakdown the night before I was due to leave for Europe. I sat there, hung over my suitcase crying. Wondering how on earth I was going to be able to squash my life into this 25kg suitcase for a whole year. As easy as packing is now, it’s still something I avoid doing until I absolutely have to.
3. It took only one tandem skydive to sell me on heading up solo & getting licensed.
4. I'd consider it an achievement if I can go the rest of my life without having to hold a cotton ball ever again. When being handled they happen to make (for me) the cringe-worthy sound & feels I can only compare to that of what nails-on-a-chalk-board does for others. I am told regularly that cotton balls don't make sounds.. and with evidence of my squirming and inability to willingly pick one up -I strongly beg to differ.
5. I've written & illustrated about 12 (&counting) childrens books, though due to my lack of confidence to actually send one off - they'll probably never see the light of day.
6. For now.. I've dropped out of my psych degree to follow my heart around the world. Some say I’m running away. In response & to quote Jimi Hendrix, I respond "If I'm free, it's because I'm always running".

& last but not least - a truth fact: I know absolutely nada about blogging. So please bare with me while I attempt to figure it all out! 

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