Welcome to the SIWYOE blog post library. Here, you’ll find most of our content arranged by categories.
You’ll find ‘life & advice’ posts, ‘itineraries’ and posts relating to our 2018 ‘South East Asian adventure’ .
And, thanks to Covid, you can now find posts relating to ‘UK Locations’ too.
Your Perfect 2 Week Bali Route
Reading Time: 5 minutesWho doesn’t want to go to Bali? You might think you don’t want to go to Bali, but you could be wrong. I say it time and time again. Popular (or touristy) places are popular for a…
SE Asia – 6 Month Itinerary
Reading Time: 7 minutesThe almost full year of travelling is drawing to a close. Don’t get me started on how I feel about it. That will be a post for another day. For now, I want to share our route…
Borneo – 10 Day Itinerary
Reading Time: 8 minutesIn August we spent around 10 days in beautiful Borneo. This trip differed from the norm for us because one of my besties, Kerry, decided to venture into the wilderness with us. Coming all the way from…
Laos – 1 Month Itinerary
Reading Time: 5 minutesLaos was one of those countries that totally blew us away. We had absolutely zero expectations and we were really only visiting because we had the time to do so. Laos has remained one of our favourite…
Kuala Lumpur – 48 Hours on a Budget
Reading Time: 6 minutesKuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. I have been through its airport a number of times. Thanks to a delayed flight, I once even made it out to the outskirts of the city for a night. Exciting…
Thailand – 1 Month Itinerary
Reading Time: 7 minutesBefore we left the UK back in January, we researched the places we wanted to see most. It was important to us not to be stuck to a plan which would inhibit us from spontaneous travelling. At…
Golden Hands Bridge Vietnam
Reading Time: 3 minutesWow. This bridge has been seriously doing the rounds on Instagram this year – and I can see why! It’s amazing to behold. The bridge, which has been nicknamed ‘the hands of God’ gives the illusion that…
6 Reasons to Visit Dubai
Reading Time: 4 minutesI first got the chance to visit Dubai last year. My absolutely gorgeous cousin Joanne moved there two years ago with her husband after they were offered a once in a lifetime opportunity. I mention that she’s…
SE Asia – 6 Month Itinerary
Reading Time: 7 minutesThe almost full year of travelling is drawing to a close. Don’t get me started on how I feel about it. That will be a post for another day. For now, I want to share our route…
Cameron Highlands – Malaysia
Reading Time: 4 minutesThat’s right. Malaysia. Not Scotland. Which, is exactly where this name would sound right at home. The two are similar in the sense that Cameron Highlands proved to be a bit nippy and a bit wet. I…
The Philippines & The Tao Experience
Reading Time: 5 minutesJust mentioning it conjures images of crystal clear water, white sandy beaches, secret lagoons and paradise. We were excited to fly here after our adventures in Vietnam but we didn’t really know what to expect. It’s such…
Motorbiking Dalat to Nha Trang
Reading Time: 3 minutesMotorbiking the coast of Vietnam has been on my bucket list for years. I have always said I wanted to do it. But, stepping out onto the streets of HCMC I swiftly changed my mind. How we…
Learning to Dive – The Philippines
Reading Time: 5 minutesI proudly write this blog post as a Certified Open Water Diver. Yay! It’s quite a surreal feeling. Today marks 133 days travelling. The entire time we’ve been on the move we’ve been saying we’re going to…
Cruising Halong Bay
Reading Time: 3 minutesBucket list item. Ticked. I have always wanted to go and see Halong Bay. It’s just one of those places. The pictures blow you away, but deep down you know that what you’re looking at doesn’t even…
Sihanoukville’s Otres – Hippy Heaven
Reading Time: 6 minutesAfter the best bus journey a traveller could ask for, we arrived late evening into Sihanoukville. We hopped straight on a TukTuk bound for our accommodation in Otres. Friends of mine who had been to Sihanoukville years…
Cambodia’s Beautiful Beaches – Koh Rong Samloem
Reading Time: 5 minutesIt seems silly to me now, but before arriving on the coast of Cambodia I hadn’t anticipated beautiful beaches. I hadn’t really anticipated beaches at all. Imagine my surprise when I landed on Koh Rong Samloem and…
Phnom Penh – a City Hidden in History
Reading Time: 5 minutesPhnom Penh It’s been a week since leaving Phnom Penh and still, my recollection of this city is so fresh in my mind. The USA style organisation of the streets, the pretty walk along the Ton Saple…
Angkor Wat & What Else?
Reading Time: 4 minutesSiem Reap After a long journey crossing the border from Laos, we eventually arrived at our guesthouse in Siem Reap. Like many travellers and tourists, we came here to see Angkor Wat. Built in the 12th century…
The 4000 Islands – Forget All Your Troubles & Maybe More…
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe 4000 Islands Have you ever landed in a new country, town or city and instantly felt overcome with clichéd positive vibes? After we made the long (and I mean loooong) journey down to The 4000 Islands…
Vientiane – Worth The Trip?
Reading Time: 5 minutesOne thing I hadn’t expected from travelling was just how frequently we would run into the same faces. The slow boat from the border of Laos to Luang Prabang gave us the opportunity to meet and spend…
Vang Vieng – Maxin’ Relaxin’
Reading Time: 3 minutesVang Vieng In a true non-nomadic way, I did a little research on Vang Vieng before we left the UK. An attempt to pick up on what the ‘vibe’ was like and whether I thought it was…
The Snowdon Horseshoe
Reading Time: 6 minutesA week after climbing England’s highest peak, I drove through to Snowdonia to tackle Wales’s highest peak – Mount Snowdon. Or at least, that’s all I thought I was getting myself into… I had booked a private…
Hiking in the Lake District & Scafell Pike (England’s Highest Peak)
Reading Time: 5 minutesHaving ruled out any possibility of getting out of the UK (it just didn’t seem worth the hassle), I set about planning 2 weeks of roaming the place I’ve called home for the past 20+ years but…
Charity Challenge Trek to Machu Picchu
Reading Time: 9 minutesWe finally made it to Machu Picchu after three long years of waiting and believe me it as a trip worth waiting for. Our trek in the Andes was organised by Charity Challenge. We were a group…
Charity Trek to Machu Picchu
Reading Time: 3 minutesFinally. 2022 is the year our charity trek to Machu Picchu will go ahead! Toby & I booked into this trek in 2020 and, well I don’t need to tell you the rest. This is our 4th…
Working for a… Cult?
Reading Time: 11 minutesIntro After returning from a year of backpacking, I arrived home to England full of lifelong memories but also lacking in direction, money and about to turn 30. To pay my way, I found myself working as…
5 Books for Women of the World
Reading Time: 6 minutesHow is it still winter? If we are likeminded, then you too are done with winter. The second that that Christmas tree comes down, it’s over. The fun, alcohol infused cosiness of December quickly disintegrates and transforms…
Audiobooks – Why You Should Try
Reading Time: 5 minutesI’ve mentioned before that I love audiobooks. But I didn’t always listen to them. Growing up, I read a lot but as it became more important to spend time with my friends, my beloved books fell on…
Palm Oil & Why You Shouldn’t Stop Using It
Reading Time: 6 minutesThe orangutan Iceland advert has been doing the rounds like crazy this week. Cool… It’s got everyone talking about palm oil and awareness is great. But, there is so much more to consider before you decide to completely…
How I Beat my Fear of Flying
Reading Time: 5 minutesJumping out of a plane was something I legit thought I would NEVER do. I used to be terrified of flying. My ground rule was that I would never let my fear stop me from going anywhere.…
Gifts for Earth Lovers
Reading Time: 4 minutesWith Christmas just around the corner, I thought it a nice idea to collate some gift ideas. So, whether you’ve got a pesky Secret Santa, you know someone going on their trip of a lifetime in 2019,…
5 Times We Were Too Lazy to Beat the Crowds
Reading Time: 3 minutesTourists. Tourists everywhere. Does it bother you? It seems nowadays that visiting a touristy place is a bad thing. I get that some people have that adventurer gene and want to feel like they’re the first person…
Dealing with Sleep Paralysis
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe first time I experienced sleep paralysis I was terrified. I woke in the night, unable to move and unable to make a sound. The sensation of pins and needles was prominent through my entire body, my…
5 Things I Love to Hate About SE Asia
Reading Time: 4 minutesHaving grown up mostly in the UK, I sometimes felt like I was on a different planet whilst visiting South East Asia. Sure, the breathtaking beauty and the scenery doesn’t compare to what you will find in…
7 Items to Improve Any Journey
Reading Time: 6 minutesPlanes, trains and automobiles. We use them all and yet, we tend not to look forward to using them. They are but a means to an end. Especially for those of us who don’t enjoy flying or…
7 Lessons I Learnt from Travelling
Reading Time: 6 minutesIt’s been a whole week since we’ve returned back to the UK. So, here comes the obvious ‘I’ve been travelling and now I’m just, like, so wise’ post. Before leaving, I never stopped to consider how the trip…
The Time a Bat Pissed in my Eye
Reading Time: 5 minutesTake deep breathes and remember that clouds always pass to reveal a blue sky. Right. Sure. Andy from Headspace has clearly never been convinced he’s about to die in what I can only imagine is one of…
6 Steps To Finding Your Perfect Accommodation
Reading Time: 5 minutesAre you thinking about travelling and wonder how you’ll decide where to stay? Or what the accommodation you’ll stay in will be like? Or maybe you’re travelling now and often find yourself disappointed with your hostel or…
Animals & Tourism – Drawing the Line
Reading Time: 4 minutesDo you have a bucket list? Side note…If you don’t, go and write one now! A bucket list should consist of your dreams and goals, regardless of what category they come under. Unsurprisingly, mine largely consist of…
5 Tips to Ease the Anxious Adventurer
Reading Time: 5 minutesBefore we left in January I was a nervous wreck. I was leaving everything I knew behind and other than my amazing boyfriend, I was leaving everyone I knew behind too. I was leaving all those who…
5 Steps for Planning the Perfect Trip
Reading Time: 6 minutesDoes a trip really need to be planned? I think so. Not every tiny aspect, no. You’re going to want some surprises. I like planning a rough route at the very least. Where’s the sense in wasting…
10 Tips For Beginners Motorbiking South East Asia
Reading Time: 7 minutesLet me start by saying sorry mum, this post will likely give you palpitations. I wanted to share my experience in case there is anyone out there who has never driven a scooter before and is considering…
Tips for a Relatively Comfortable Long Bus Journey in SE Asia
Reading Time: 4 minutesThe Bus Journey I’m sitting on a 6-hour bus from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh as I write this. There are so many people on this bus. There are people sitting in the aisle on the floor.…