The Purple Gypsy

The most beautiful place I have ever seen..... We first arrived in Hoi An early in the morning, so we spent a great deal of the afternoon shopping around the Old Town. When I first laid eyes on the town, in day light, I thought wow this city was made for me. The streets were surrounded by old beautiful buildings with the cutest flowers and bicycles everywhere. Then the other things that caught my eye were the lanterns. About 90% of the streets have lanterns hanging above them. It was so beautiful. Then walking along the river added another dimension. The banks are laden with gorgeous boats and breath taking views. Then it was time to head back to the hotel to freshen up and eat some grub.  We headed back to the Old Town latter that night and boy were we surprised. The lanterns that hang across the streets all lit up. Leaving the town looking like a very well thought out movie set. As you walk through the streets, the views get more a...

I just uploaded a Haul video to my channel. It is from Miniso. A Japanese store I have come to love here in Vietnam. Let me know if you love it too. Lots of love xx

I have been lucky enough to venture to many countries around the world, and a great deal of this travel has been on my own. Every time I come back from traveling alone, I have learnt something new about myself and grown in a way that is very different to any other experience. My first experience was on a School Exchange when I was 16 years old. I went to Finland on my own for 6 weeks and stayed with a lovely host family. I was very young and it was the first time I had ever done something like this. I remember the beginning being a bit difficult but as soon a I got to know the family and got involved in the country it got a lot better. I grew up a lot in 6 weeks and I believe my maturity level increased. I learnt that I can handle things on my own and that it's so important to put yourself out there and have a good time with whatever you do. Then a couple of years later I adventured to Europe on a Contiki tour. I spent the first 2 nights on my own in Paris and that was...

I have decided to write this post because ,since living in Vietnam and traveling a bit, I have noticed that there are certain beauty products that I just can't live without. I am by no means a beauty freak ,but I still like to look after my skin and my body.  The weather and altitude is different in different countries and so this has a great effect on your skin and body. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated and healthy. So I have put together a few products I think that every traveler needs. A moisturizing body cream  Your skin reacts to change in weather a great deal. Having a good body cream is so important to ensure you keep your skin in good condition. If you live in South Africa I would recommend this Pure & Simple Beauty Factory Body Souffle. It not only has the most amazing scent, but also leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. Micellar water Micellar water is such a wonderful product. Ever since I discovered it, I can't ...

Here is a little video I put together to help you find your way around the gorgeous Old Quarter Streets. This is definitely my favourite place in Hanoi so far. Which street is your favourite? Lots of Love xxx

So I have been in this busy city for 3 months and I am slowly starting to feel at home. Among the crazy traffic and beaming city, I have truly found the inner beauty of it all. Now obviously, when you move to any country in the world, there are always going to be negatives. I guess the extent of the negatives will impact how long you continue to live there for. So, yes there are negatives but I definitely think that the positives out way them, in my case. So on that note, what don't I like about Hanoi so far??..... well pollution is a big thing. I know pollution is all over the world but it just is so much worse here. It is also very visible to everyone making it that much worse. However, there are precautions you can take to limit your intake of it. The second thing is the traffic. I still have not had the confidence to rent a bike because I am so incredibly scared of the roads. I do drive a car back in South Africa, so I am familiar with roads but these are on another le...

I visited the Van Phuc Silk Village in Hanoi, this week. Check out my vlog. Lots of Love xx

So after being in Hanoi, Vietnam for about 2 months, I have decided that I am qualified enough to write a Travelers packing guide for a Vietnamese summer trip. I will do a more in depth packing guide for people coming to teach/live in Vietnam soon. I am by no means an expert in this particular field, however I though I would share the knowledge I have gained with you. This packing guide may also be centered around girls, but guys just pack your shorts and t-shirts and you will be good to go. 1. Clothes that flow What I mean by this is clothes that are not extremely tight. It is so hot here in the summer, so having tight clothes makes it even worse. Allowing your clothes to have that extra allowance of wind intake helps a lot. I recommend dresses, 'flowy' skirts and tops. 2. Some sort of shall or 'wrap around'. Vietnam is a Buddhist country, so a lot of the site-seeing includes the beautiful Pagodas and Temples. To be respectful, one needs to cover up a ...

Check out my new video all about Teaching English in a Foreign Language. If you have any questions about TEFL please don't hesitate to contact me! I am very willing to help. Lots of Love xxx

I paid a visit to the beautiful Ba Trang Ceramics Village in Hanoi. Check out what I got up to there! Lots of Love xxx

This is an extract from the book I am currently reading called 'At Home in the World'. I found this message to be so inspiring, I had to share it with you all. "Banana Leaves When I was a young monk in Vietnam, I realised something while meditating on a young banana plant, which had three leaves. The first leaf had completely unfurled and was exposed to the sun and rain and was enjoying her new life as a leaf. The second leaf was still unfurling, not yet fully open. The third leaf, the younger sister, was not yet open. I noticed that as the first leaf unfolded, she was also helping her younger sisters to grow. She unfolded and enjoyed the sunshine and the rain. She sang every time the wind blew. The first and second leaves saw themselves in the third leaf. When the time came for the first leaf to wither and dry up, she did not cry. She knew that she would live on in the second and third leaves. Eventually, she went back to the soil and served as nourishment ...