The Purple Gypsy

As most of you know, I will be calling Hanoi, Vietnam home for the next year. Hence, I have made a huge list of all the things I want to do and places I want to see whilst here. Once I have done each thing I will write up a little post about it and let you know my thoughts and feelings. So here goes: Explore the Old Quarter - 36 streets of pure shopping heaven in Hanoi. Spend a night at a traditional Homestay - Experiencing a night the way a traditional local would. Cycle through the rice paddies in Mai Chau - Beautiful views and experiences. Walk down Hanoi's famous Train Street - And capture a few Instagram's of course. Take part in a Vietnamese food tour and cooking class in Hanoi - Hanoi is a city with an amazing food culture. Spend the night on a junk boat in Ha Long Bay - No, a junk boat is not a boat filled with rubbish. It's an ancient Chinese boat. Visit Ho Chi Minh Museum. - Probably the most popular museum in Hanoi. Explore Cat Ba National Park - H...

So the Old Quarter very quickly became my favourite place in Hanoi so far. I know I haven't been to many places as yet but wow the day I spent here was so much fun! My day was filled with a lot of shopping, of which I could have done a lot more haha, as well as a little treat to myself! Let's start with the shopping part. The Old Quarter is made up of 36 streets that are lined with many different shops. They are more or less sorted according to which goods or items they sell. So there is a street that has mostly jewelry, one mostly linen and so on. However, every now and then you will find a shop that is different to what the street is 'meant to be for'.   I had the best time in the Old Quarter. I bought a lantern, some lights on a string, amazing peppermint tea, a beautiful backpack, an embroidered money pouch and some linen. I could have gone a lot more crazy however I decided I'm going to wait for my first pay check and then I can go a little cr...

  So in the few days I have been here in Hanoi, I have seen many beautiful and wonderful places but one that stood out to me in particular was this beautiful pagoda. Tran Quac Pagoda is situated on the East side of West Lake. It has a history of more than 1500 years and is regarded as the most ancient pagoda in Hanoi. It is situated on the tranquil West Lake which makes for a picturesque atmosphere around the pagoda. The architecture of this place of worship is so intricate and beautiful. The pagodas have to abide by the rules of the Buddhist architecture. These rules include having many layers of buildings and three main houses. The Pagoda can been seen from far by what is known as the stupa. It is the red and yellow tower like building. It has 11 floors in total, each with a window. In each window there is a statue of Amitabha, made of gemstone. On the top is a 9 story lotus also made form gemstone. Buddhist people still go to the pagoda today...

So today I will be embarking on an adventure of a lifetime. I have decided to move to Vietnam and become an English Teacher to young learners. I have decided that I need a change in my life and to try an build on my passion for traveling.  Today I sit with so much excitement as well as a few nerves but I am ready for the next stage of my life and I can't wait to see what's coming. I will be taking you with me on my adventures every step of the way!  To the future!  Lots of love xxx 

My favourite place to go on holidays is a beach destination. I mean who doesn't love leaving a holiday feeling sun-kissed and fresh. So I have put together a list of my opinion of the best dream island destinations in the world. I haven't unfortunately visited many of them but this is purely from what I have seen in pictures or read in books. Santorini, Greece Ko Samui, Thailand Maldives Seychelles Bahamas Bali, Indonesia Mauritius  This is the one place I have been lucky enough to visit and enjoy. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world and a definite must see for every traveler. Barbados, Caribbean Jamaica, Caribbean Let me know which of these islands is your dream destination and let me know which I should add on. (Pictures Sourced from Pinterest.) Lots of Love xxx

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Cape Town. My family and I intended to go down for the Cape Argus Cycle Challenge, however it was unfortunately cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. Even though the race was cancelled, we still had a lovely time. Cape Town is a beautiful city- one of the most beautiful in the world I believe. The mixture of the gorgeous mountain views and sea-side atmosphere makes for wonderful scenic views all around. Our accomodation was a bit of a let down. We stayed at Villa al Romantica, which wasn't the highlight of our stay. On arrival to the Villa we were unable to contact the owners or find anyone on the property. A phone call didn't even help as there was no answer. We then had to make our selves busy for a bit and then tried again but still no answer. Eventually someone came and we were introduced to our room. The room was wonderfully decorated and the view a great one, however our bathroom was out in the hallway and so...

Just over 6 months ago I posted my Travel Bucket List, however I have since ticked some items off my list and obviously the list has expanded. I was fortunate enough to go on Contiki last year and that is where some of my list was experienced. Below is my Updated Travel Bucket List: See the Northern Lights. A canopy tour in Costa Rica. Visit the Grand Canyon. Go to the Rio Carnival in Brazil. Go to an Ice Hotel. View Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe. Take a look inside the Colloseum This was such an incredible experience, one I will remember forever. I immediately fell in love with this building as soon as I stepped inside. Travel on the overseas highway, the Florida Keys. Join in the fun at the Tomato Festival in Spain. Kiss someone under the Eiffel Tower. See a Broadway musical in New York City. Ride along the canals of Venice in a Gondola. Definitely a memory for the books. It amazing to see a city by travelling around through its ...