Birthday Trip to Cambridge

This blog post is highly overdue, considering my birthday was in August. However, since our trip to Cambridge, a lot has happened. I went back to work, my partner and I decided to move in together, and then I caught COVID. So a very busy/hectic few months.

I am so happy to finally get the chance to sit down and write about our trip. It was a lovely surprise to find out that we were going to Cambridge because I have always wanted to go. Dan booked a room for us at Fellows House, which is part of the Curio Collection by The Hilton. The building itself was gorgeous and the interiors were very plush with stylish marbled floors and an exquisite bar and lounge area.

Punting

The highlight of the trip for me had to be our romantic punting along the River Cam. Dan used a company called Rutherford’s Punting which he booked in advance. We chose the ‘romantic experience’ which included a little bottle of champagne. It was such a relaxing experience, floating along the calm waters, taking in all of the beautiful architecture and history. It was a great opportunity to take in the cities heritage and monumental university buildings, I felt like a young Sylvia Plath (literacy/poetry nerd reference).

Food

On the first night, we went to a restaurant called The Old Bicycle Shop. It was a quirky little place with a lovely, relaxed dinner vibe. I have included a picture of the menu below for a sneak peek of what delicious food they have to offer.

The next day, we went to The Giggling Squid, which we didn’t realise at the time was part of a chain. The food they served was Asian cuisine but what was even more impressive was the building. I felt entranced by its fabulous glass dome and botanical interior.

On the last evening, after our punting on the river we went to a fantastic restaurant on the water called The River Bar Steakhouse. We had a stunning view of the river from our table and the service and staff were fantastic.

Exploring the city

I loved exploring the beautiful city of Cambridge, it was a little bit like stepping back in time as a student, although I can only wish I went to the University of Cambridge.

It was a wonderful trip, with lots to see and do. Hopefully this blog post encourages you to visit and experience the magic of Cambridge.

Flying Solo To Bali

I have finally got around to sitting down and writing this overdue blog post. Yes, I travelled to Bali on my own! Well kind of, I went with a tour group called ‘BaliIntro’. It was a group of 18-30 year olds all keen to travel Bali and have a summer adventure. The idea of sitting on a plane for 20+ hours on my own was my worst nightmare. However, the flight wasn’t half bad, I received regular free food and had a decent line up of films to watch. Looking back the travelling seemed minor and the amazing memories make it completely worth it!

waterfall lovesmileeeetempleDSC04356balipaddy fieldsDSC04439DSC04363DSC04409prayIMG_3023IMG_3024

Bali itself is insanely beautiful. I had this preconceived notion that Bali would be exactly like Thailand. I was totally mistaken. They were both as amazing in their own rights. Bali (to me) had hippy/surfer feels. The beaches were insane and the sunsets were even more so. Luckily the group I went with were super lovely and made my trip so special.
I (kind of) learnt the basics of surfing, came face to face with thieving monkeys, visited the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen and partied the night away on a beach. I would highly recommend travelling with ‘Bali Intro’ they were so accommodating, extremely helpful and our tour guide Kerri was lovely.
Intro Travel

pyramid

 

Road Trip to Lyme Park

I am personally not the most confident of girls to drive afar. I tend to stick to familiar routes or drive locally. However for a while now I have been plumping up the courage to drive out of my comfort zone.
My Australian friend Casey is over in the UK for two years and is determined to see all the beautiful places Britain has to offer. I suppose she somewhat gave me the push to jump in my car and take a little road trip. I had heard of  Lyme Park through my parents, they sold me on its beautiful gardens and enchanting forests that are usually roamed by wild deer. I thought for my first road trip it would be ideal as it would only take an hour to get there by car.
We picked the perfect day for it! It was the hottest day of the year so far! So we hopped in my little Aygo and we was on our way.
Car
We arrived safely, a few Satnav confusions along the way but we made it!
The first thing we wanted to do was go deer spotting, but there were ‘no entry’ signs surrounding the ‘Deer Sanctuary’. We respected the boundaries and decided to walk around the Sanctuary instead of going through it, but I don’t think either of us were prepared for what we was about to find!

Forestno entryCaseyDeer 2Deer

A whole heard of them! At first we both froze with fear, but after a few deep breaths we managed to creep a little closer to take a cheeky picture or two. They were just basking in the sunshine, enjoying the weather just like ourselves.
To get to the Deer Sanctuary we had to climb a huuuuuge hill, and on top of the hill was a building called ‘The Cage’. The views from The Cage were amazing, the wind from the top on the other hand was brutal!

 

The CageView

We then headed to the Lyme Mansion which over the centuries has been a popular setting for hunting parties, plotting and royal visits.  It was so beautiful, surrounded by stunning gardens and a picturesque lake.

Lyme

Overall our trip to Lyme Park was fabulous! I would recommend anyone to take a trip there! I have always admired the National Trust and all the work they do to look after our natural environment.
Visit Lyme Park – National TrustÂ