posted 23rd July 2025
Travel Lessons
There hasn't been a day in my life when I didn’t have this visceral urge to explore the world. My first ever trip abroad, independently, was with a boyfriend. I was 17 years old, and we smuggled away to Cyprus without telling my parents and then took a weekend trip to Egypt via a two-week package holiday bought on Teletext. (Ok, now you know my age). It was exciting, although I got a water infection and my boyfriend got annoyed at the locals trying to buy me in Cairo for camels.
I decided to dedicate this blog to the lessons I have learnt whilst travelling, because not only do I feel like it follows on from last week’s blog “a sense of belonging”, but also, on Wednesday 23rd July, I will be flying to Bali, for the fourth time. Bali has an abundance of nature, it’s a spiritual haven (and I want to live in a place that takes this as a priority), and it’s a bonus its 50% cheaper for me to live there than where I was born. So why wouldn't I!
Every place I have ever visited or lived for a period of time has taught me so much more than any book I have ever read (and I read a lot), or any lesson I have learnt in a classroom.
So below is a list of all the places I have been to so far, including the things that remind me of each place, and a whimsical quote to summarise what I learnt.
Italy - Venice, Rome, Amalfi, Naples, Pompeii, Bolzano, Verona
Gnocchi, gelato, hot men, holiday romance, vineyards
“It doesn't have to be a good occasion to have a good time.”
Austria – Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck, Graz and everywhere in between.
Sparkling flavoured water, snow-capped mountains, pine trees, flowing rivers, freshwater lakes, outdoor spas, tinsel town
“Wearing clothes in a spa is unhealthy”
Sweden - Gothenburg
Sugar dusted pastries, deer’s appear at dusk, cool granite islands, tiny water boats, puffer jackets, wooden cabins, sauna steam
“A real winter wonderland is hygge cafes and taking your time to do everything when it snows”
Netherlands - Amsterdam
Anne Frank, bicycle culture, vintage cinema, tulips, man getting stuck up a traffic light
“A city under the influence of legalised drugs can be civilised”
Belgium – Bruges, Brussels, Ostende
Luxury rich chocolates, paper flowers for seashells, sandy dune beaches, Meile park
“Chips are better with mayonnaise and always take 2 hours for lunch”
Spain - Barcelona, Majorca, Sitges, Loret Du Mar, Menora
Young street parties, spaghetti vongole, perfect sunsets, sangria kisses, salsa in the park, laundry on the line, time stands still.
“Evening mean after 10pm, and make sure you eat 9 grapes at New Years, or you’ll get bad luck”
Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal – Lisbon, Montijo
Pasta del nata, custard napkins, Bordalo II; a donkey in the wall, hand painted tiles, fisherman and small seagulls
“We have Arabic blood, but it only really comes out when we serve food at Christmas”
Madeira - Sao Vicente, Porto Moniz, Funchal, Camara de lobos, Fonts 25, Calheta, Fanal forest
Wild moss, Jurassic era, cascading waterfalls, misty forests, almighty tropical cliffs, fishing villages, the scariest bridge to drive on
“Having four seasons in one day, in one country, is possible”
Germany- Frankfurt
Carpark rooftop bars, Aperol after 4pm, follow the rules until dark, keep up appearances.
“When going out the lines, check who's behind you, because not everyone can handle it”
Greece – Athens, Crete, Zante, Thessaloniki, Nafoli, Santorini, Argean, Paros
Astrology, archaeology, gods and goddesses, wholesome rich food, leisurely life.
“What’s the point in living life, if you don’t have any fun”
Ireland – Cork
Four leaf clovers, all shades of green, Guinness, everyone is hiding in a pub, steep hills.
“Don’t be scared to chat to people you don’t know, you might just meet your people”
Thailand – Bangkok and Koa Tao
Crawling edibles, castaway beaches, sea slugs, geckos -eh oh, bright green snake, landslide hiking, iguanas fighting cats, large coconuts.
“There is more than one type of coconut, because I don't like the ones in Thailand”
Dubai, UAE
Dubai + UAE
Dream big, nothings impossible, make sure you know the rules, options galore, men and women are different, show up as your best, give thanks to God, Karak chai.
“When there are multiple opportunities for people to thrive, people fear the rules; and that’s what makes a strong economy and the safest country in the world”
Kuwait
Stay low, radio is still a thing, we don’t need to show off, abaya.
“Why change anything, if everything is working well”
Qatar
World cup, large malls, man-made beach resorts, prayer time.
“When we don’t have an agenda, it’s a good idea to follow someone similar, who is doing well”
Oman– Muscat
Wadis, canyons, where the desert meets green, shining lanterns, barrels of herbs and spices, back in time
“When you have hidden treasures, know that there is a blessing in not showing the whole world”
Sri Lanka – Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Unawatuna, Udawalawe National Park, Marissa, Nurwara Eliya, Galbokka.
Monitor lizards, turtle hatcheries, coral restoration, hoppers, chilli, kingfish, a train trailing the shore, tea mountains, leopards, rebel elephants, gemstones, leeches, coconuts I like, monkeys stealing my underwear.
“Nature is the thread, and we are the needle, when we work together, we don’t get tangled. “
Nuwara Eliya - Sri Lanka
China – Shanghai, Beijing
Great wall, mini-London, sky rise buildings, digital centre point, trading capital, murky water, make sure you have change for the train.
“Keeping it simple, attracts everyone”
Japan – Tokyo, Osaka, Mount Fuji, Nagano, Nara, kyoto
Cherry blossom, oolong tea, matcha everything, toilet experience, neat and tidy, picture perfect, music for every occasion, spa loving monkeys, geishas, bamboo, shrines.
“A nation focused on being courteous, makes anywhere Zen”
Israel – Tel Aviv, Jerusalem
Clones, alien, no advertisements, beach volleyball, hummus, zionist, sceptical, live for today.
“Think of tomorrow, if you are being bombed today”
France– Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Saint Emillion, St Tropez, Nice, Marseille, Calais.
Ciche, how not to be boring, artistic focus, wine for lunch, country roads, sex and cigarettes, suffer and be cool, style.
“If you’re bored by life, go to France; you’ll find all the inspiration you need”
Namibia – Windhoek, Naankuse, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay.
Orange dust, wild horses, leopard print, church, Himba tribe, animal footprints, cracked barren rivers, wild sage, baboons
“If you want to sustainably stop wild animals eating your cattle, smear the dung of the animal you want away, around your land” (shame you can’t do it for humans really)
Ethiopia- Addis Ababa
Eat with your hands, don’t go out on your own, we keep the tourists close, teff pancake, 100 years behind.
“Not all countries follow the same calendar; it could be 2024 but also 2017”
Kyoto, Japan
Lebanon - Beirut
Strawberries on the road, no need to decorate, buy now - don't worry about later, look good always
"Live for today, as tomorrow may never come"
USA – LA, Vegas, San Fran, Oxnard, Florida, New York, Brooklyn
Big meals, big trucks, don’t talk to strangers on a bus, flashers, musicals, Hollywood, fame, available 24/7, convenience, beach gyms, m n m’s, Disney, Taffy, key lime pie, surf city, Baywatch, grand malls.
“Everyone has a dream, why leave it in your head”
Australia – Sydney, Cairns, Canberra
Blue Mountains, tropical rain, crocodile carpaccio, steak, kangaroos on football pitches, saltwater overflow pool, expensive, diving, great barrier reef issues, local wine.
"Everyones invited to the barbee"
Caribbean - Cozumel Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Columbia, San Blas Islands, Cayman Islands.
Crystal clear waters, coconut trees, stingrays, natures bounty, mafia
"Understand nature and you'll understand god"
Leopard in Namibia
Indonesia - Bali
Spirits, yoga, awakening, barefoot, freedom, water ceremony, clearing karma, offerings, The gateway of heaven, frangipanis.
1st time: “Nature will speak to you, if you know how to listen”
2nd time: “The only way to feel completely whole, is to give yourself all the love you are searching for outside of yourself”
3rd time: “Don’t waste your time fighting for something that isn’t yours to keep…. let it go”
(Let’s see about this time!)
India– Goa
Guardian cows, rivers into seas, thali, spicy chai, praying mantis, tiffin boxes, mantras, yara beads, all the colours.
“Even if there is chaos all around you, you can still be calm... it just takes focusing inwards rather than outwards”
Tanzania – Zanzibar
Monkeys in your hair, spicy coffee, witchcraft, Omani influence, wild animal pets, pink petrol, regular security checks, restaurant in the sea, men wear hats, cheetahs rock, stone town doors, no road.
“If you are unhappy, dance”
Kazakhstan – Almaty
Cream with everything, plums, vodka in my tea, skiing, perfect blue lakes, communism flats, Fly Dubai launch.
“To not be able to express yourself, can only cause suffering”
Turkey – Izmir, Ola Deniz
Jealousy, disfunction, sugar coated chickpeas, antique tea shops, judgemental, tourist scams.
“Some people are only nice because they want something”
Cyprus – Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca.
Silver, a whole in the wall, scooter transport, lemons, pomegranates, economic instability, parties make for tourists, wedding location.
Ibiza - Es Cana, San Antonio, Santa Eulalia.
Fake enlightenment, fuelled by sexuality, bohemian lifestyle, paella, wearing a mask.
“Hallucinogenic’s are exactly what they say they are, but they are not a pathway to enlightenment”
Malta -Valetta
Theatre, rabbit, night raves, marina yachts, hidden agenda, old trading ground, thieves.
Czech Republic- Prague
Gothic, cold, distant, sex museum, underground cafes, historic ghosts linger
"Just because the past has gone, doesn't mean its essence wont still linger"
Hungary - Budapest
Round bellies, sour cream, lots of beer, river beach bars
"A river bank can look like a beach but only if you cant see the other side"
Montenegro – Kotor, Sveti Stefan, Budva, Tivat
The city of cats, blue caves, lotus lake, cobbled streets, music squares, a hotel just for diplomates.
“Lotus flowers hold legends; they bloom by day and close by night”
Where have you travelled and what did you learn on the way?
Do share your experience.
Email me hello@tealingarden.com
I'd love to hear from you. X
