COUCH-SURFING

Whilst I was away in Australia earlier in the beginning of this year, I got told through word of mouth about a site called "couch surfing", - at first, just hearing the name, it sounded odd to me, "couch.. surfing?" huh, what? - but turns out it's one of the best sites a non-luxury traveller/backpacker could know about. 

Couch Surfing is an online space to meet and interact with other travellers, and ultimately, have a place to crash when travelling. 
Here's a brief, you are either hosting/ looking for a host, and you put down what country you are doing so in. Then, if you are hosting, someone from another country who is travelling comes and stays at your place or on your "couch" for however many days you have discussed for free, and vice versa. Now this may sound a little odd. Having a place to stay for free? At a strangers? Wouldn't that be a little.. risky/dodgy? Well, the whole point of Couch Surfing is to exchange language, knowledge, culture, travelling tips, and etc. It's by no means an accommodation or hostel provider, it's strictly for adventurous people who love travelling. 

After Australia, I knew I was going to be travelling alot, so I thought I would join. Since then, I've met some really nice people who also travel. I haven't hosted/stayed with a host, but I have met travellers for drinks/hang outs (it gives you the non-hosting/non-travelling, "I can hang out" option on your profile) - and actually it has been really useful to me, as it has given me the chance to finally meet a few Japanese people I can actually converse with, who have by the way taught me more about Japan and living there than any other biased site (and as you know I've needed reliable non-biased information for my move) - I've had a great experience and made new friends/connections, making my life as someone who is travelling solo often easier. 

What I really like about the site is that it's completely 100% travelling related, you can see all the countries someone has visited on their profile, and so can other people, you can put down countries you want to visit, and countries you will be visiting in the future, along with a date and description. There are also language/cultural meet ups. 

I would certainly recommend couch surfing to anyone who is interested in meeting other cultural people/if you are travelling. It's an interesting experience and can be useful to anyone. 

PS- I think I'm the only 17 year old on that site, I'm sorry I should really be 27. 

Happy travels. 

SO LIKE, WHERE YOU BEEN?

So yo girl has been away for a while, (and when I say away, I mean home, not travelling - cos if I was.. you'd know the deal) - since Australia, my life has been a mess, from health problems to remodelling our whole house to anxiety from studies and having no $$$. 

But here's the main deal, I'm not travelling till April (surprise, surprise) so expect tons of more posts about music, reviews, skateboarding and err'thing in between until then! Expect lots about the clothes I have been purchasing, being a part of/the internet music scene, lots more advice and all kinds of other cool, rad shit.




♡ LOVE, YUNG GURL.♡

THE CULTURE SHOCK OF BEING BACK HOME

Disclaimer - This is a sad (but cool) post. 

So I'm back home after a month and a half of being literally on the side of the world, and although I haven't been anywhere completely out of my comfort zone language or culture wise, I still feel like an outsider coming back into London. The first few days was just meeting up with friends and family, telling stories about Australia and everything in between during my travels. That is always the first part of coming home. And then, it's unpacking and getting settled down with your work once again. I attend college only three days a week, so I had the whole week without college, but as we are remodelling the house soon, there was no point un-packing anything, all of our stuff is in boxes anyway. So I don't really feel that "settled" now anyway. I feel like I have left home and come back to perhaps my secondary home. I miss Sydney so much. I miss the good weather, good vibes, good people. I feel like leaving there also meant leaving a hundred opportunities behind. There was so much going on for me there. But why? Was it really just because Sydney is better for me, or because I was more, bothered, ambitious and inspired there to have fun and meet new people. There's always that doubt, if you are actually just happier in the country for itself or simply because you are travelling and everything is new. One thing was coming back to the horrible, dark weather. I didn't really notice it as I'm mostly used to this kind of weather, but it does drive you a little insane. The first two weeks only consisted of the hype of coming back to London and keeping in touch with my people back in Sydney. And as weeks went on I really couldn't help but try and not think about Sydney because it would genuinely make me think "what the hell am I doing here?" 

And whilst it is nice to come back to my family, bestfriend and dog. It is also nice to come back to where I am in my comfort zone in regards to fashion, might sound shallow, but all my clothes are here and cold weather is what I know how to work best. The first week I sat around coffee shops alone just reading, although I am sad to be back home, everyone always has to have a home and mine happens to be in London. It doesn't mean it has to be this way forever, and even though sometimes I wish I never went to Australia because when I think about it I start over-thinking my whole life and London, I am glad because not only have I experienced the time of my life but also it has shown me a new light and perspective in travelling and how everything is temporary, I am not one bit attached to where I live or my surroundings, and I would leave for anywhere, in a heartbeat. As I said in my 'love for travelling' post, the traveller isn't fixed to any society, but just a part of the world. And although I have been involved in various groups, the musicians, the skaters, the whatevers, I am not really a part of any of those as much as I am just an individual girl who travels. 

Sydney helped me appreciate our London culture a little bit, our slang and our electronic music, and even though I would change it no doubt, I am proud to be from London, always. Sydney helped me understand the balance between city and nature. Sydney helped me realise how much I love people and  the world. It pushed me to keep travelling, work, anything can happen. All my doubts about Japan left as soon I came back, and I continue to pursue it. And although it's hard to deal with culture shock/holiday blues, whatever you want to call it - it's worth the experience you had in those one or ten countries whilst you were travelling. Bring back everything you learnt and apply it to your surroundings. 

FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT 2014 SO FAR

Happy New Year to you all, I hope you guys have had a good first two months of 2014 and I hope you had a good 2013 too. Even though I don't have this whole "New Year, New Me" perspective, I think that this year will be a good year as more things are happening. Such as more travelling, etc. And if anything, I just hope to make it a productive and eventful year, especially because this is the last year before I officially become an "adult" (although I will forever be repping cartoon mobb) ♡

DANCE MARATHON AT THE FALLS -

So literally the first day of 2014 and my birthday were amazing. A 6 hour dance marathon at the falls festival with a fellow dancer, Sophie. I can't describe how amazing Hermitude in the rain and Flight Facilities were. 

SMOKING MONKS - 

Strangest smoking monks at the airport, I couldn't figure where they were from as they were so multi cultural however they seemed a little rude. (There's a story behind why I think that) I was hoping I could talk to them and gain some knowledge on their religion but never mind. They seemed quite polite and quiet at first, until one of them came in and started staring at me, then they all laughed  A guy stood up for me and said "why are you staring at her? what's so funny" (my hero lolz) - I don't know why I found this so interesting, I basically got bullied by a bunch of monks :( 


2014 HOPES: MORE TRAVELLING - 

After meeting with my dad in Abu Dhabi, we discussed me travelling to Dubai more often to visit him as he is doing business there frequently, and more trips to Dubai, means more trips to Australia! Direct flights to Australia are cheaper from Dubai. I am also hoping to backpack through Europe this summer and perhaps a trip to Mexico! So I'm determined to keep writing and earn some more money! 


<--- met up with dad in abu dhabi and all there was 2 do was drink lol






[photos by yung gurl & crew]

CATCHING UP WITH LOCALS: (EVENT) "BOXING DAY ROAST" // MY FIRST TRAVEL MISTAKE

Location: The Argyle
Date: 26th Dec, Boxing Day


DISCLAIMER: So alot has happened since I originally wrote this post, and alot has gone wrong in regards to this post. So let me just go back to the beginning...I had spent all night drinking and dancing with my Aussie's, and met some awesome people, exchanging business cards/e-mails all night. I had left all my business cards with the contact info of the artists that I had briefly interviewed in my purse and these were essential to my post, however I left purse back at our place in Sydney and I only realised 50 minutes before my flight whilst trying to buy some last minute gifts at the airport. So basically, long story short, apart from flying without any money/credit card until arriving in Abu Dhabi where I met up with my dad who was also travelling, I also came back home with no contact info for this post. But I thought, it's okay, I'll just postpone it further, I'll get Maddi who is back in Sydney to send me the content of my purse! So I did so, and a few days later, an envelope arrived, with some cash, a credit card, my ID...and no info cards. I messaged Maddi about it and well, she had thrown them away. Accidentally ofcourse. So, moral of my dragged on story, don't leave your purse at home when you leave for the airport! My first travel mistake, ever. 

NOW: I'm just going to try and sum up the whole night with the very little information that I have, and huge apologies to those of you who I spoke to that night, I know I said this post would be up a month ago, and that I would have all this detailed information. But since I have no one's e-mail, I can't provide that information for anyone. However I will continue to do this post! 
______________________________________________

I hope you all had an awesome Christmas and Boxing day. I spent mine with some welcoming rain, cheap booze and Aussies.  I'm always grateful that I get to meet artistic and culture oriented individuals all around the world, and I recently had the chance of meeting some dudes and dudettes from Sydney. Although I got quite a Brick-Lane (blukku, blukku) feel from all of it, I'm a little convinced that Sydney may have the arts and culture thing down way better than we do back home.

FASHION & STYLE

An urban fashion enthusiast, he works for Primo Magazine  and damn do these dudes have style. Although the crowd was very mixed at this event, the majority of guys were under the urban/skater look influence. (You know, reverse 90's cap, loose, graphic tee) I guess you could say that's the look in (slightly underground) fashion right now for males amongst most Western countries today (I'm certain it's popular in France, US, UK, and Australia rn). But ofcourse, depending on the crowd. If you go to a skate park in London, you will always find guys dressed like this, but defiantly not in the mainstream fashion of London. So even though most of the Sydney dudes rock the bleach blonde mid shoulder length, beach look, they also got the fresh as, major city look going on too, and they pull it off. 

ART 

I think most of us can agree that street art culture is very much alive in Sydney, and I was very inspired and impressed when I encountered this lovely lady's art at the Argyle. (Who's name I didn't even get!)  Had the honour to meet her and exchange info, however, you can guess what went wrong. Unfortunately I can't provide contact details but her art is 100% worth sharing! What I really liked was that she had only half way started this piece when we had arrived, and this photograph was taken when completed, so we watched her work in progress, cool as. 

MUSIC 

Sydney's music scene is beautifully broad and varied. But what I love is how much they love our music! These guys have a huge love and respect for UK garage, grime, d&b, and dubstep. Being in Sydney made me appreciate music that originated from us more than actually living in the UK. The night was occupied by a couple of D&B Dj's, who I didn't encounter. And apparently the guys from Garage Pressure  a Sydney based radio that hosts garage music and more UK based music. (Check them out!)
 I ended up chilling and talking to the dudes from Corner Store Superheroes, check them out on soundcloud here. At first when I heard one of them rapping, I genuinely thought they were from the UK. However, when I spoke to them, I learned that that was not the case at all, and that sometimes a "UK accent just comes out". Check them out! 

I apologies again for any disappointment, if you have some info, contact me me via twitter. 

[photos by yung gurl]