emily@besottied.com

New Zealand Diaries - part one

- April 18th 2012

When I went on holiday to New Zealand last year I decided to keep a handwritten journal each day. As proven by my very sporadic blogging, I’m not really a diary-writing kind of person, but this felt a bit different. I felt as though I was making such a huge journey all on my little lonesome, and wanted a way to record what I did and what I was feeling.

I’m sure some of you are quite sick of seeing the words ‘New’ and ‘Zealand’ in my blog posts and tweets, but after reading some of the journal one lunchtime earlier this week, I decided it might be quite fun to share parts of it on beSottied.

When I went away, it was quite spur-of-the-moment. I’d had an emotional few months and felt the need to have an adventure on my own. I took advantage of all the bank holidays we had last April (thanks, Will and Kate!) and booked my trip at quite short notice. My mum and friends were a bit worried about me - I think they thought I was going a bit loopy! - which is why I mention emails and texts from them quite a lot in my journal. I’ll miss out any majorly boring details, though!

I know that there are people who’ve travelled a lot more than I have, and who’ve spent a lot longer in NZ. I’m not pretending to be a travel expert and I didn’t get to do half the things I really wanted to when I was away, but hopefully you’ll enjoy my (shortened!) scribbles and snapshots of NZ. I’ve added links to websites you may find helpful, and used square brackets [] to explain things that might not make that much sense on their own!

Monday 11 April 2011, UK

Sat on Emirates Newcastle - Dubai. Just taken off. Felt relatively calm at the airport - just a little cry when Mutti [my mum] left. She cunningly distracted me with a dog that had been left outside the terminal while its owner waited inside. Lots of messages from people saying how brave I am to be going alone! I don’t feel brave: at first I didn’t think this was such a big deal but I’m starting to get it now. I don’t feel scared, just a bit… funny. Not really a diary-writing kind of girl but wanted to try to write at least a bit every few days [during my trip]. It’s the little things - like fussing over scruffy dogs outside terminal buildings - that you can forget too easily!

…

Perhaps an hour or so into the flight and feeling much happier. Only had one vodka, so it can’t be [down to alcohol]. Suppose I’ve realised that I’m on a big Adventure and I’m very lucky to have been able to save up and flee the country for so long on a whim.

Tuesday 12 April 2011, Dubai, UAE

So it’s 12.40am here at gate 222, Dubai. Shame my layover is too short and too late at night to visit [our friends who live in Dubai]. First leg of my journey passed really quickly but I didn’t sleep. On a sunlounger-type thing at the gate, which is nice. Would be even better if there could be more padding - and a duvet! I’m the only young European girl here at the moment and I’m feeling it! Not in an intimidating way but I do feel as though I’m of interest to a few people here! I’m very aware of how I’m sat and what’s showing [I've been to the UAE a few times and know the importance of keeping covered up and 'decent'].

I’ve a while to go [until I board for my next flight to Melbourne, via Kuala Lumpur] so have just switched on my phone. A raft of texts have come through from people who are tracking my flights online. It feels like such a long time since I left the UK! Going to enjoy the Cadbury’s Dairy Milk I bought in Newcastle, pop in some earplugs and try to catch some sleep before my next flight.

I’ll post the next part of my NZ Diary on Friday 20 April. Comments are currently disabled. If you’d like to leave a message or ask a question, please contact me through Twitter. I’m @besottied.