Latest Posts

CitzenM Hotel, Bankside London

Published by Sheree Milli

If you want a truly unique hotel experience then I think I’ve found just the hotel for you. There have been a recent crop of trendy hotels in the capital of late that are all amazing but have the same (and I hate this word) ‘hipster’ credentials. The CitizenM is all about great design, good service and a big dose of cutting-edge technology thrown in for good measure. I took my sister and my iPhone down to London’s chic Bankside to check it out.

What’s the vibe?

Cool, modern, European. The hotel lobby is one of the most serene and relaxed I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting – not in a way that’s boring at all, it was a delightfully relaxing experience. I checked in using the touch-screen stations, which on the day did actually have a technical glitch, so it took a while. I’m sure when they’re fully functional they’re a breeze to use and there was staff on hand to help me complete check in. There are things to look at everywhere in the CitzenM, bold and bright artworks on every spare inch of wall including a Mario Testino.

There are also lots of amazing coffee table books everywhere for guests to read, which was a treat, and there was the biggest collection of Penguin classics I’ve ever seen, which I think is a lovely touch. There’s a high-tech ‘cyber corner’ where guest can make use of top-of-the-range Mac computers. It’s hard to describe how stunning the lobby is, really, it’s wrapped around a glass, tree-filled central courtyard which is just so cool. I was suitably impressed.

What are the rooms like?

The rooms are white. Very white. The whitest rooms I’ve seen before or since. While the rest of the hotel is full of character the rooms are devoid of it… that is until you locate your room’s tablet controller. This gizmo is seriously impressive, you can; at the touch of a button (or two) completely change the mood of the room. Everything from the colour, to the lighting and temperature. There is a button for everything – the blinds, the TV, on-demand movies (free) and all the lights.

I spent the majority of my stay playing with this.There are pre-set ‘moods’ which are such a clever idea I like ‘relax’ and ‘romance’ even though, as I was staying with my sister, there was definitely no romance on the cards. A special mention to the shower which was EPIC, a two-foot, above-the head affair that I’d happily marry. Oh and the bed was super comfy and huge. The only criticism is that there was a lack of tea-making facilities, which for me is essential… but then I’m from Yorkshire.

What’s the food like?

I sat in the downstairs lobby twice, once for evening drinks with a friend, when I also had some cake and once for breakfast. I didn’t fully work out the system, but there’s a kind of buffet thing going on… In the evening I spotted pots of a delicious-smelling curry and naans and rice. Breakfast was full English with lots of pastries and fresh bread thrown in. It was a first-rate brekkie, I can tell you.

The hotel also had a healthy supply of Sunday papers, which made for a very civilised morning. I have to say having drinks with a friend in the evening was so nice, the music, lighting and sumptuous sofas made it feel like I was just at home. I even had slippers on I was that relaxed.

What is there to do in the area?

What isn’t there to do is the better question. It’s a stone’s throw from the world-famous Borough market which has every kind of food and drink under the sun and where I spent a pleasurable morning walking round, eating, and people watching. There are countless amazing cafes, restaurants and bars in the surrounding area, oh and the Cutty Sark is about ten minutes away.

I met a friend at Somerset House for an exhibition and it was only a 20 minute walk over Waterloo Bridge – by London standards that is verrrry good. It’s a nice walk too, especially in the evenings and you can see pretty much all of London’s landmarks from there – Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, MI5, The Eye.

CitizenM is also a 5 minute walk from the Tate Modern – it’s free, so go. Their permanent collections are unparalleled. There is a an excellent view of The Shard from the hotel too; I know it’s tall but you can’t see it from anywhere usually.

What’s the verdict?

I loved my stay here – I wish I could have extended it! CitizenM has all the cool-factor of many of London’s trendy boutique hotels but none of the pomp. The relaxed atmosphere and central location make ideal for culture vultures who want to enjoy the city by day and relax by night.

5/5
CitzenM Hotel 20 Lavington Street, London, United Kingdom SE1
With thanks to the CitizenM Bankside

Beauty Bits To Take in Your Backpack

Published by Sheree Milli

There are the obvious things and then the not so obvious things…. A caveat to this article is that you may require different bits to me. You will certainly need more than the items on this list, but the lesson to take away from this, is to think outside the box. Just because someone has told you to take certain bits, you need to truly tailor your packing to you. If you have annoying baby hair and use a certain gel to tame them every day, than by Jove, take it with you (and a spare). If you have skin that burns particularly easily then take your favourite SPF, they might not have a high enough factor for you in Sri Lanka or wherever. So the following are examples but also represent a savvy way of thinking when it comes to beauty.

Hairdressing Scissors

Am I a hairdresser? No. Could I be? …Nooooo. Is my hair a bit mental? Yes! On a level, though, you’re not going to shell out for a haircut on your travels, split ends happen, especially when frazzled by the sun, and you can easily give yourself a neat little trim every so often. Prevention is better than the cure and it’s better to snip off an inch rather than risk your hair turning into a giant dreadlock. You could also charge people for trims… side eye.

Eyelash Curlers

Wearing makeup while travelling in hot countries, lying on beaches and flying is just mental – props to you if you can or want to, but really, let’s not even go there. Obviously we all want to look our best so there are little tips and tricks. Eyelash curlers are miracle workers; they open your eyes, lengthen your eyelashes, and if you get good ones (try Shu Uemera) you’ll never have to replace them. Mascara is hard when travelling – hard to get off. And if you can’t remove it properly, your eyelashes will die.

Sample Products

These are a blessing because they’re free! And you can get waaaaay better shiz than your budget would normally allow. Plus, as a traveller, you only want small items anyway. This is an all-round winner. Hit up your favourite beauty counters (if you choose a large department store you can make a killing) and simply ask nicely for some testers. They are usually packaged really securely too so they’re perfect for your backpack. A small vial of Chanel Mademoiselle can come in handy after a 12-hour sleeper train.

Scrunchies!

I wouldn’t usually, but they are really handy. And I mention these as a separate item to bobbles, you’ll need those too. Sometimes a bobble really hurts, or your hair is wet, or feels fragile and delicate and they can do more harm than good. A soft scrunchie is like a hug for your tresses, they’re comfortable to sleep in and won’t they won’t damage your locks. You can always lie and say that your day-glo pink scrunchie is bang on-trend in the UK. No one will believe you but…

An Excellent Moisturiser

I can’t vouch for every country, because, I haven’t been so… Haha. In a lot of places, though, especially Asian countries you will find many moisturisers contain whitening agents. Plus you won’t be able to read the label and you won’t know what’s in them. Some of the creams used in Asia are banned in the UK, Australia and the United States so steer clear. Your face is not worth risking and since your favourite brands will be hard to come by, take your fave moisturiser. You’ll need it more than ever in different climates. I love Hylamide, it’s an great all-rounder.

You Need To Read This Guide Before Planning Your Trip To India

Published by Sheree Milli

For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to go to India, firstly I grew up near Bradford in the UK which has a large Indian community and my West Indian family in Jamaica purport to have some South Asian blood in there somewhere. This meant a lifelong love of Bollywood, saris, henna and curry – it’s hands down my favourite food.

I even used to live on Manchester’s ‘curry mile‘ a stretch of road that’s home to curry houses, sari shops and sheeshah bars in abundance, the vibrancy felt like my little slice of Delhi in the UK and I loved it. I know that I’ll probably be in for a shock when I get to actual Delhi but I’m so looking forward to it. Out of the few places I’ve been, I know that I get the most joy from crazy, buzzing, noisy cities – Istanbul, Marrakesh.. even Camden Town in London. I get such a high off the sheer volume of life, thousands of people all going about their daily business, smells (some good some bad) coming from all around, cars honking, heat coming off the tarmac… I think you get more of a sense of people’s day-to-day lives in urban areas than picturesque rural areas.

Hence why on my trip to India I will be flying into Delhi and having a few days to explore – I want to check out Haus Khas which is supposedly the ‘hipster’ zone there. Then I will be joining a G Adventures tour, suggested by Russ my excellent STA Travel agent. I chose to start off with an organised tour because, truly, I felt a bit overwhelmed, there’s so much to do and see and I was getting in a tiz. Also, I’m backpacking for a f*cking year. Alone. I want to ease into it first and not get put off in month one.

The tour will enable me to (hopefully) meet a few people and it hits a lot of the things I want to see including Bīkāner and Rāisar, Jaisalmer the ‘Golden City’, The ‘blue city’ of Jodhpur, the second largest city in Rajasthan and Jaipur the ‘pink city’. Plus I’ll be seeing (of course) the Taj Mahal… this will be good because I’ve been to at least three restaurants that go by this name and I’m beginning to feel like a fraud. Also I’ll be camel trekking, sleeping on an overnight train and watching the sun set on the river Ganges (there’s more too but I’ll tell you about it when I do it). Now imagine me, on top of a round the world trip, trying to plan all of that individually – I’d have a meltdown, and probably get ripped off in the process.

Ph. credit Adam Jones

I’m beyond excited to touch down in India but there’s a bit of preparation to do before I do:

Get these vaccinations

You’ll need to make sure you have all your childhood vaccinations (eg. Tetanus, MMR, TB, Polio) check that they’re up-to-date with your GP, most people should be fine. Then you’ll need Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Typhoid, and Yellow Fever – you need a Yellow Fever Immunisation to obtain a tourist visa so plan ahead.

You might want to get Hepatitis B and Rabies vaccinations but please just CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR. Some injections are free on the NHS but you will have to pay for others, if you’re from the states you’ll have to check with your insurer. Lauren of Never Ending Footsteps has a great guide which covers these jabs in more detail including prices.

Get a Visa

India is a country you need a Visa to enter from most countries including the UK. After looking online and finding quite a few dodgy-looking websites I finally found this guide to getting one on the blog Taylor Hearts Travel which is really easy-to-understand and comprehensive. You can get one in person in London or via post. I travel to London quite a lot so I might book an appointment in person. A visa costs £89.44 (as of 2015) so factor that into your budget.

UPDATE: If you’re visiting for less than 30 days from the UK (and some other countries. Check here) then you’re eligible for a tourist eVisa which is all done online.

There are quite a lot of bits to fill in and you’ll need handy; your passport, a PDF scan of your passport (I use Tinyscanner app on my phone as I have no scanner) and a JPEG full frontal pic of you on a white background.

The visa costs $62 or £40 plus card fees. Mine was accepted in 24 hours and you then get the paper bit put in your passport at your point of entry in India.

Official eVisa website >>>

Respect the culture

India is a deeply religious and traditional country, while 80% of Indians are Hindus there are also other religions such as Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Hindus typically greet each other by saying ‘Namaste’ or ‘Namaskar’ with their palms together (you’ll be familiar with this if you’ve practised yoga), footwear isn’t worn inside temples, homes, or other holy places, and Hidus are largely vegetarian (meat is especially not eaten on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays… no idea why).

This isn’t even scratching the surface of the Hindu religion but learning a little before you go will help you avoid making massive faux pas. Also the cultural dress in India is way more conservative than in the West, make sure you pack clothes that cover you up, a scarf or Pashmina is so useful and you can probably pick up a really cheap one there.

If you’re a woman you’ll definitely want to observe the mode of dress in India and maybe act slightly more demurely – whether or not you agree with the way women in India are treated/represented. I personally don’t get down with cultures that don’t see men and women as equal… but I am choosing to visit India and while there I will respect the country’s traditions. If you’re not willing to, then perhaps you shouldn’t go. Hashtag #justsayin.

Research, research, research

To get the most out of your trip to India, indeed any trip, then do some research beforehand. What’s the exchange rate? How much should a taxi cost? Where’s the best/cheapest street food found? Are there any dangerous areas? How much does a bottle of water cost? By finding out things you’ll need to know before you get there you’ll feel less lost at sea, you’ll be less likely to be ripped off, and you’ll have more time to just relax and soak it all in while you’re there.

So now I’m going to follow my own advice and research India, of course the bulk of my planning is done for me by G Adventures – who have not sponsored this post in any way, I have paid for the trip and I’m writing totally impartially (I just think it’s a great service).

Some useful resources

Hinduism Facts

Hinduism for Dummies

Indian Visa UK website

Lonely Planet India (Travel Guide)

Shantaram novel

Photographs of Coober Pedy, Australia by Abigail Varney

Published by Sheree Milli

I’ll be visiting Australia for the first time in a few months and alongside about 1000 other places, I really want to see the small town of Coober Pedy. A tiny town 800 miles north of Adelaide, it is home to fewer than 2000 inhabitants – some of them the indigenous Australians descended from the Nomadic peoples that lived there for centuries.

Famous for being the main source of Opal gemstones in the world Coober Pedy is a place full of eccentricity and authenticity – due to the isolated location and small population. Melbourne-based photographer Abigail Varney has captured the town in a series of photos entitled ‘Rough & Cut’. They show the sun-bleached, almost desolate Coober Pedy in an eerie light, there are no inhabitants in the photographs to add to the sense of a forgotten land. It’s certainly a place like no other – definitely one for the bucket list!

Rough & Cut by Abigail Varney

Movies to Get You In The Mood For Travel

Published by Sheree Milli

I’m currently in that wonderful (sense the sarcasm) no-man’s land of waiting to jet off on my one woman trip to the world. Of course waiting means saving, and saving means no shopping, no Pret and no beers down the pub lest I drink away my air fare. So, what’s a girl to do with all this spare time? Netflix and Chill TO THE MAX of course.

Here are my top 5 flicks to whet your appetite for travel…

The Beach

Firstly… WHEN IS LEO GOING TO WIN AN OSCAR?! Seriously, give the guy an award already. Anyway, this early Leonardo Dicaprio movie, directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) shows off the Thai backpacking experience wonderfully; the squalor, the noise, the new friends, new crushes, music, blue skies, blue seas, white sand… murder. Sorry for the spoiler. If you can watch the first three quarters of The Beach without wanting to book a one way ticket to Bangkok then you’re a stronger person than me.

The Darjeeling Limited

You’d have to be a cold-hearted, unromantic dullard to not love a Wes Anderson movie, I think sometimes the plot is superfluous to the stunning visuals, but what a feast for the eyes. This colourful imagining of India is evocative and very aesthetically pleasing. My favourite bits of the film are the ones that take place on the sleeper train and while it may be slightly more glamorous than any train you’ll ever get in India it will make you want to take an epic railway journey of your own!

Castaway

Wilson! WILSON!!! There aren’t many films where a ball steals the show, in fact, this is the only one to my knowledge. Tom Hanks is one of the few actors to be able to carry a whole film almost entirely solo, Castaway is just him, the aforementioned ball and a deserted tropical island. This film appeals to the adventurous Swiss Family Robison side of me, imagine being totally self sufficient, like a real caveman/woman. Also, on a personal note, I love the transformation from pale, chubby businessman to tanned, ripped, lean uber man. WE can all pray this happens to us on our travels (the hot bod part, not the being stranded part).

South Pacific

One thing I want from my travels is a great musical number, Rogers & Hammerstein’s 1958 classic South Pacific has plenty. It’s a joyful, wonderful, musical spectacular! Every frame is resplendent technicolour – if only islands really looked like this! The film has romance, a strong female lead, cute mixed race children and glorious colours and is one of the best possible ways to spend a grey Sunday afternoon (wishing you were somewhere with blue skies).

Wild

Prepare for a weepy one, Reese Witherspoon gives a stellar performance as Cheryl Strayed, a bereaved young woman who has made some bad decisions in her life and decides to walk the Pacific Crest Trail alone, which is over 1000 miles, in an effort to find herself again. It sounds corny, but great acting saves the film from being sappy. If you’re going travelling alone it shows you how restorative it can be to have space, some alone time and to only rely on yourself for a while.

Any I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments.

The 7 Best Money Saving Tips for Backpacking

Published by Sheree Milli

Chances are, you’re not that well off… don’t get offended, I say this as a fellow pauper. Also, in Sherlock Holmes fashion, I have deduced that if you were ‘in the money’ then you wouldn’t choose backpacking as your method of seeing the world. If I had the dough it would be Kardashian-type excursions to the Maldives, sippin’ on yak, and wearing Roberto Cavalli kaftans. As it stands, I’m a mere mortal; travel – even on a shoestring – requires cold, hard cash and quite a lot of it. So you’re going to have to save those pennies, something I have realised is hard, so here are some tried and tested tips to help you fund that trip.

Please bear in mind that I’m from the UK and lived in London, one of the most expensive cities in the entire world, so my tips come from that perspective. If you’re an Ozzie or from the US or Western Europe you’ll still probably find they apply to you.

1. SET A GOAL

Before you depart you need to have a rough idea of how much you’ll need, if you’re travelling for a year £3000 isn’t going to be enough. 6 months and you might be okay. A good rule of thumb is to save £1000 per month of travel – this seems a lot but it’s a good goal to aim for.

Read my travel itinerary here

2. TAILOR IT TO YOUR LOCATION

If you’re going to be visiting the United States then probably double this budget, if you’re following Leonardo Dicaprio to one of South East Asia’s many beaches then you can get away with spending much less – if you’re savvy. Going to Africa? Well then, that’s cheap, cheap, cheap. Also, and this is hideous, some places will make you PAY to visit – so check your visa requirements and make sure you’re legit so as to avoid fines. See also vaccinations – if you’re living in the UK most of these are free on the NHS, but you’ll have to pay for Hepatitis B, Typhoid and Yellow Fever – but this depends on your borough. In the USA vaccinations can be costly. Don’t skip any to save cash though, your health is priceless!

3. EVEN CHEAPER PLACES HAVE EXCEPTIONS

Although places like Thailand, Cambodia, parts of Africa and Eastern Europe are super cheap, you have to factor in the tourist attractions that you are going to want to see. In India and missing the Taj Mahal – MENTAL! Ditto extreme sports and random but fun activities, just make sure you take these into account.

Try saving small change in a piggybank, or a pineapple bank…

4. ASK YOUR MUM/DAD/PARTNER TO ACT AS YOUR FINANCIAL AID

I don’t mean beg money off them (although it never hurts to try), rather ask them to look after your money or bank accounts from back home. It has to be someone you trust, obvy. I ask my mum to pay me a ‘wage’ out of my savings each month, this means that even if the temptation is there, I can’t go crazy and blow all my cash and I’ll always have money for the next country I visit. This is also good if your cards are stolen – the thieves can’t totally clean you out.

5. SELL ALL YOUR WORLDLY GOODS

Maybe not all of them but y’know… I sold about 70% of my wardrobe (which still left an awful lot of clothes) to raise money for travelling. It was emotional, but for every item I sold I kept thinking ‘this is a day in India’, ‘this will pay for my ticket to Machu Pihccu’ and letting go of that Topshop dress became way easier. eBay is an obvious choice but they do charge 10% seller’s fees, Depop is free to use but is more difficult to sell things on. I made over £2000 just by selling clothes and I really don’t miss them.

Read my ultimate guide to eBaying here

6. SACRIFICE… SAD FACE

The f*cking tragic fact is that for most of us saving is just an impossibility. Fo me living in North London with rent, bills and travel topping the £1000 a month mark and entertaining myself in the big smoke being outrageously expensive, I ended most months waaay in the red. When I decided to go travelling for a year I had to move in with my mum, away from my friends, away for London (love ya babes) and work boring temp admin jobs. This sacrifice meant I saved at least a £1000 a month in expenses even though I earned less.

Other things to give up: Pret, Nandos, Starbucks, manicures, pedicures, cinema, Spotify, gym membership, ASOS. It sounds bad but when you think about it, NONE of that stuff is essential. It’s all crap you buy to make your dull, stressful life more palatable. I mean, a few indulgences won’t make a difference but just keep that trip in your mind before you mindlessly splash out on needless luxuries.

Read my guide on just what giving up your daily coffee can get you on your travels

7. DON’T WORRY

At the end of the day, sh*t happens, you’re probably not going to save as much as you wanted – it’s really hard and there’s always something on the horizon to drain your cash. Don’t let that stop you from travelling. There are some things you can do last minute to give your fund a cash injection; get a credit card – you’ll be in debt but who isn’t, YOLO, ask friends and family for money, which is especially useful if you have a birthday coming up or Christmas, instead of presents ask for a donation to your travel savings account, do a medical trial – I have a friend who made £3000 doing this, sadly as an asthmatic female I’m ineligible for most trials but they’re worth checking out. While you’re travelling you can work to earn money, house sit, or just be as frugal as possible. Where there’s a will there’s a way!

Need more reasons to travel? Try these articles:

The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Gap Year in Your Twenties

My Packing List

Why You Need to Go to Istanbul, Like Now!

The Stylish Guide to London

Published by Sheree Milli

London is an amazing city with something to do and see on every corner but it can be slightly overwhelming with that much choice. So here are eleven of my personal favourite places in LDN, enjoy.

WHERE TO EAT

SKETCH

Sketch was once the most expensive restaurant in the UK and a Brit-pop celeb haunt; those days are thankfully over but the amazing aesthetic that made Sketch famous remains. Glasgow-based artist and illustrator David Shrigley is the latest artist to lend his talents to The Gallery dining room there, turning into a pink paradise. It really is very pink and is home to the largest collection ever of Shrigley’s drawings – afternoon tea here will leave you with a huge smile on your face.

Sketch, 9 Conduit St, London W1S 2XG

JAGO

The trend for delicious Middle-Eastern and Ashkenazi cuisine is going nowhere and the latest opening serving this food is Jago in London’s Shoreditch. Headed up by the ex-head chef of Ottolenghi, Jago serves food all day from breakfast and brunch to a late dinner. I suggest going earlier in the day to take advantage of the stunning winter garden for alfresco dining even in cold weather (the bright orange colour enables you to make believe you’re dining in the sun). The signature salt beef beigels with chrain and cold-pressed juices make the perfect brunch.

Jago, 68-80 Hanbury Street, London E1 5JL

THE CHICKEN SHOP

Brought to you by the Soho House Group (Shoreditch House, Pizza East) The Chicken Shop has been a Kentish Town secret for years, of course now there are branches all over London but I’d recommend going to the original one nestled beneath Pizza East (where I regularly see Rick Edwards BTW). The menu is perfect in its simplicity; delicious free-range rotisserie chicken, buy a whole one or a half, and add crinkle chips, salad or corn. Then finish your meal with their apple pie – you can have as big a slice as you want and it’s heavenly!

The Chicken Shop, 79 Highgate Road, NW5 1TL

WHERE TO SHOP

OPENING CEREMONY

New York’s Opening Ceremony is arguably one of the coolest brands aroud – well, that’s not hard with Kenzo designers Carol Lim and Humberto Leon at the helm. The newly renovated Covent Garden branch is a beautiful concept store with items to suit every pocket, they even do super-cool pencils and erasers, plus well-known designers like Jeremy Scott and Proenza Schouler. The staff are so laid back they don’t mind if you’ve just popped in for a browse and a chat.

Opening Ceremony, 31-32 King Street, London WC2E 8JD

LIBERTY

Quite simply The Liberty department store is one of the most beautiful buildings you’ll ever see and this imposing Tudor building should definitely be on your must-see list in London. There is the usual designer shopping but I like Liberty for their amazing beauty hall and stationary department.

Liberty, Regent Street, London W1B 5AH

WHAT TO DO

THE STABLES MARKET

Having lived in Camden for two years I’m well aware of its many shortcomings – hoards of tourists descend every weekend, the Last of The Rockers are permanent residents and far too many shops on the high street selling knock-off Beats headphones. However, I love it! I love the atmosphere and the holiday vibe, the Lock and The Hawley arms. The Stables Market has Cyberdog – a shop that plays happy hardcore music and things that glow in the dark, there’s a great Mexican, a statue of Amy Winehouse and lots of vintage shops. It’s so old that a lot of it is like a warren – but it’s a lovely place to get lost. Oh and ‘Bang Bang’ chicken is delicious, sold everywhere and only £3 for a box.

The Stables, Camden Market, London NW1 8AH

COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET

Colombia Road Flower Market on a Sunday is an east London tradition and what a sight to see. Alongside millions of choice blooms there is about 755 of Dalston’s hipster population who can be found being fed and watered at one of Columbia Roads many coffee shops Hydrangeas in hand.

Colombia Road Flower Market, Columbia Road, London E2 7RG

THE V&A

The Victoria & Albert Museum in beautiful Kensington is home to lots of great fashion exhibitions but you probably knew that. I like it for the gorgeous courtyard with its manicured lawns, excellent teas and large pond. There’s no better way to while away a sunny afternoon and if you go at night be sure to sip on a glass of prosecco – take cash though, the pop up prosecco bar doesn’t take cards last time I checked.

The V&A, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL

WHERE TO STAY

THE LONDON EDITION

I’m a big fan of The Edition, it’s a one stop shop for eating. Drinking and playing just off Oxford Street, and its home to Jason Atherton’s Berner’s Tavern restaurant which does probably the best Sea Bass in the entire world. It’s stuffed with butter fennel – yum. The Basement club is host to club night Nobody’s Business which is free in, host to some amazing old school R&B and hip hop DJs and a rum punch slush puppy machine. Heaven.

The London Edition, 10 Berners Street, London W1T 3NP

ACE HOTEL

Shoreditch has a lot to offer in the way of hotels with Shoreditch House and The Hoxton Hotel being within a stone’s throw of each other but I’m partial to the Ace Hotel. It’s laid back to the point of lunacy with most of the patrons wearing beanie hats. You can roll up at any time of day for a coffee, juice from lovage or craft beer. Dine in restaurant Hoi Polloi or do a workout class by Frame in the penthouse. Personally I’m usually found in high summer sipping wine on the entrance steps – but that’s just me.

Ace Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JQ

Amazing Photos of Los Angeles and Coney Island

Published by Sheree Milli

Singapore-born US-based photographer Nguan describes his photographs as ‘ordinary fantasies’ which I think may be the most heartbreakingly perfect couplet of words I’ve ever heard. His projects ‘Coney Island’ and ‘City of dreams’ beautifully capture big city yearning in dreamy candyfloss hues. I love.

Coney Island and City of Dreams by Nguan

CONEY ISLAND

CITY OF DREAMS

Why Going Travelling Nearly Made Me Have a Nervous Breakdown*

Published by Sheree Milli

* Not literally, obvs, but planning a RTW is hard! I had second and third thoughts before I even stepped foot on a plane (let alone another country). I pulled it back though and that’s the important thing, but nevertheless, I found that I had a bit of a wobble a few months before my trip…

So, okayyyy, in the big scheme of things, a year or two spent travelling is a drop in the ocean, but when you’re in your twenties, a year is a long time. A whole lot can happen in a year (and often does) and that scared me, I thought ‘sh*t am I wasting my prime years?’. The answer to that is ‘no’, because like Jennifer Lopez, I will not reach my prime until my early 40s which leaves plenty of time for globetrotting.

Financially travelling scared me too, this is because prior to actually committing to a year of travel I was a bit ignorant of the costs. I knew about flights and making sure that I had enough cash for somewhere to lay me head each night, but the unexpected costs kept creeping up and adding to my already huge budget.

I’ll level with you, I’m the worst saver in the world, money just flows through my hands like water – that’s the way it is, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that dosh doesn’t stick around long with me. So changing the bad habits of a lifetime and saving was a very difficult adjustment… I don’t think I quite ‘got it’ until 4 months into my saving period and I’d saved the grand total of nothing.

READ THE FASHIONABLE BACKPACKER MONEY ARTICLES>>>

The concept, as it turns out, is simple, don’t spend £200 on a new dress and go to Nandos 4 times a week if you’re saving up. It just took me longer than most to figure out that trick. Once I did figure it out, I became super-organised and created a document detailing all the visas, injections and kit I would need for my expedition around the globe. That quickly added an extra £1000 on to my target savings goal. Queue freak out.

I managed to fix that problem by being very dedicated to making extra cash, so I got on eBay and Depop, sold a lot of clothes (that I didn’t need). I also took on freelance blogging and writing gigs and chased up any money I was owed. This soon added up and I felt like I was back on track.

READ THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EBAY >>>

Also, I visited my Asthma nurse to talk to her about my trip because I was becoming increasingly concerned I would die in a jungle somewhere – this won’t happen, of course – but I’m unlucky and I have an illness that can attack at any time. We worked out a plan that involved getting a huge supply of inhalers and some emergency antibiotics and steroids. All good.

READ TRAVELLING WITH ASTHMA>>>

While at the clinic I enquired about my vaccinations and immunisations, turns out, I needed more than I thought because I’d somehow missed a lot of boosters like Measles (typical), BUT I had budgeted £250 for my immunisations and as it turns out, I could get most of them for free! This saved me over £150 so it’s definitely worth asking your doctor, I know it varies nationwide but do check.

CHECK OUT THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLANNING A GAP YEAR IN YOUR TWENTIES>>>

I think the most difficult adjustment was that when I decided to travel I had to leave London, because I just couldn’t afford to save with rent, bills and travel costing £1000 a month. All in the space of a month I quit my job, handed the keys in to my house, left the city I had loved for 4 years and all the wonderful friends I had there.

It was a lot of stuff in a short space of time and though it took a few months for it to sink in, when it did, it hit me hard. My whole life was completely different. And yes, way more sh*t. I was back at home, living with my Mum(who, to be fair, is a lot of fun), in a small town where I knew no one. I felt like I’d gone from an enviable and fun lifestyle to, well, no lifestyle.

However, this was my decision, I chose to sacrifice a few (or a lot) of things to pursue my dream of travelling. That doesn’t mean to say it was easy, it was f*king hard. Working at a boring job, saving like a demon and not having much in the way of a social life was just next-level boring.

I combatted the mundane routine of my life by becoming a travel blog obsessive, I would read 100s each week, and reading other people’s tips and seeing all the amazing experiences they were having around the world spurred me on. I also started loosely planning things I wanted to do, and top 10s for each country. Packing lists, playlists – anything that kept my goals in sight.

THESE ARE SIX FEMALE TRAVEL BLOGS YOU NEED TO READ>>>

I’m not quite there yet, there are few weeks before I leave, but these past few months of saving, planning and preparing for my round the world adventure have tested me in ways I never thought possible. Knowing that I overcame the struggle, saved every single penny by myself through sheer hard work and made it through the other end is going to make this trip so much sweeter.

For the rest of 2016 I’m not going to have to go to work, I’ll see more beaches than I have in my entire life, I’ll get to experience different cultures and go to places I’ve dreamed of going my whole life. YASSSSSSSSSS QUEEEEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will miss my comfy double bed though…

If you liked this post, you might like these ones as well:

How to Start a Travel Blog in 4 Easy Steps

The Worst Things About Planning a Round The World Trip

A Few Things That Scare Me About My Year Long Trip

So Why Do I Travel?

Published by Sheree Milli

As good a question as any, why do I travel? Perhaps a more insightful question might be ‘what are you running away from?’. Because I am. Running away that is. It was getting to a stage where I was long out of university and I’d been living independently in London for a few years and there was always the pressure of what to do next.

I didn’t have, or want (still don’t) a boyfriend, I certainly wasn’t ready to settle down. Although I had a good job and a nice sideline as a fashion blogger, complete with awards, I was pretty skint. It wasn’t that I didn’t earn enough money, it was that I lived in London which is cray expensive, so the vast majority of my wage was immediately swallowed up by my huge rent.

Mostly though, I found myself thinking, ‘these are the last days of my youth’. Dramatic, sure, but on a real – they totally are. So it was either plod into adulthood feeling totally unprepared and like I had unfinished business, or run into the sun.

I chose to do the latter. It was weird because I’d never expressed any interest in seeing the world, never had any wanderlust, I certainly hadn’t done much travel prior to buying a round the world ticket. My decision to do long term travel literally happened in the space of two hours. I was deciding whether or not to take a new job after I’d already handed in my notice at the old one and I thought, why have I self-sabotaged myself? Obviously, deep down, I wanted out. As soon as I told the first person (my Mum, obvy) I wanted to go travelling, it felt so right. Although it was one of the most off the cuff choices I’ve ever made, I have never once regretted it.

So really, there’s no deep and meaningful reason as to why I travel. I just want to – life is too short and I’m not ready to do what’s expected of me. I know I’ll have a family of my own one day and a career of sorts but there’s no need to do it in a conventional way, or rush into it. For now it’s just me, my backpack and thefashionablebackpacker.com

FOLLOW ME AROUND THE WORLD ON TWITTER & INSTAGRAM

Latest Posts

What’s the vibe?

What are the rooms like?

What’s the food like?

What is there to do in the area?

What’s the verdict?

Hairdressing Scissors

Eyelash Curlers

Sample Products

Scrunchies!

An Excellent Moisturiser

I’m beyond excited to touch down in India but there’s a bit of preparation to do before I do:

Get these vaccinations

Get a Visa

Respect the culture

Research, research, research

Some useful resources

The Beach

The Darjeeling Limited

Castaway

South Pacific

Wild

1. SET A GOAL

2. TAILOR IT TO YOUR LOCATION

3. EVEN CHEAPER PLACES HAVE EXCEPTIONS

4. ASK YOUR MUM/DAD/PARTNER TO ACT AS YOUR FINANCIAL AID

5. SELL ALL YOUR WORLDLY GOODS

6. SACRIFICE… *SAD FACE*

7. DON’T WORRY

WHERE TO EAT

SKETCH

JAGO

THE CHICKEN SHOP

WHERE TO SHOP

OPENING CEREMONY

LIBERTY

WHAT TO DO

THE STABLES MARKET

COLUMBIA ROAD FLOWER MARKET

THE V&A

WHERE TO STAY

THE LONDON EDITION

ACE HOTEL

CONEY ISLAND

CITY OF DREAMS

* Not literally, obvs, but planning a RTW is hard! I had second and third thoughts before I even stepped foot on a plane (let alone another country). I pulled it back though and that’s the important thing, but nevertheless, I found that I had a bit of a wobble a few months before my trip…

For the rest of 2016 I’m not going to have to go to work, I’ll see more beaches than I have in my entire life, I’ll get to experience different cultures and go to places I’ve dreamed of going my whole life. YASSSSSSSSSS QUEEEEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6. SACRIFICE… SAD FACE