365 days of Summer

My year in a nutshell:

So, this year as you know, I am chasing summer. I started the year in Thailand, which was the colder season in the country but being a South East Asian country, it is warm all year round. I lived and worked in Bangkok with a very close friend (like a sister) for 6 months with a two week holiday in April. We went in a group to Koh Tao, Nang Yuan Koh Phi Phi and finally Krabi.

I left on 22 June for Greece. Which proved to be rather eventful to say the least. I hadnt realized how much one collects and buys over 6 months but lets just say I had a lot of luggage. I had 3 bags for hand luggage alone, one of them being my toiletries bag as they refused to stow it on the plane as my main suitcase was already a lot overweight. 

Because of this, I had most of my newly purchased toiletries and cosmetics confiscated (I had treated myself days before I left for Greece, eager to see my family after 6 months). I then got pulled aside and managed to get myself out of an over stayed visa I hadn't realized had expired. After this, someone ran up to me and kindly informed me I was about to miss my flight. Running through Bangkok airport with 3 bags, ankle boots, a floppy hat and leather jacket (yes, I wanted to look like a "chic" traveller haha), I managed to make it 2 minutes before take off! Not without the whole airplane giving me dirty looks as I tried very hard not to bash everyone over the head with all my bags as I walked through the undersized passage to my seat.

Finally, hours later I arrived in Germany, as I had a connecting flight. I was yet again, pulled over and asked to remove my shoes, hat, jacket etc and taken aside for full body searching. They made me stretch my arms and legs, and then sit down after and lift my legs while they scanned the bottoms of my feet. Needless to say, I don't think they had seen such an overdressed traveller before (thank goodness I was wearing tights!)

The first week went as such: 5 nights in athens, 2 nights in Theologo and 1 night in Nafpaktos. Following this, the next week was spent on a yacht, we chartered, part of a flotilla. We hit up a few islands in the Ionian area such as Meganisi and Kefalonia. This was so much fun, a lot of good food, sun, swimming and catching up with the family.

The next week was the highlight for me (other than of course seeing my family). My sister and I, and 2 of our best friends went to the one and only Mykonos. I will not say too much as I will be doing an entire post of each of the places I have visited, but it was phenomenal. Wow, think beautiful beaches, white and blue houses, insane parties and beautiful people everywhere. The next leg with all the girls and my family was a week in Rethymno, Crete. A stunning way to recover and unwind after Mykonos!

As of the 24 July, my family and friends have left me. Which didn't turn out too bad :p I have been sailing on a motor yacht around the Ionian islands and roadtripping between Patra and Lefkada. Good food, great company, lots of sun, GREECE - what's more to want? 

But now, I must be turning the page of The International Travel Diary. Tomorrow I go back to Athens to unwind for 2 nights and then Monday I start work. A girls gotta earn some money! So.. Onward to Mykonos!! Yes that's where I will be working. But, I will give you more details in the next post.

Filakia.

Stay tuned,

Adventure seeker 

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 (Bangkok - me with blonde hair and my roommate/BFF/big sis)

(Koh Tao - most beautiful sunset)

(Nang Yuan - on the way to breakfast)

(Maya Bay, Phi Phi island - on my birthday we hired a long boat for the day)

(Phi Phi island - beach bats on the beach)

(Railay beach, Krabi - beach for the day)

(Bangkok - back with the girls for shenanigans)

  

(Sakhorn Nakorn - small town north of Bangkok for a 'Red Riding Hood' themed shoot)

(Athens - some sightseeing at the Acropolis museum)

(A small beach somewhere near to Meganisi - a week of sailing nearby)

(Athens again - reunited with the girls!)

(Mykonos! - super paradise beach)

(Mykonos - Paradise club. Partying it up with Bob Sinclaire :p)

(Rethymno, Crete - my mermaid dress)

(Ithaki - back on the seas! Jumping off the front of the motor yacht)

(Patra - walking along the marina)

Brazilian

I have never been to Brazil, in fact I have never visited any of the Americas. However, I am very familiar with the Brazilian cut bikini bottom. I had only discovered these gems about two months ago, and since then, some could say it has changed my life (considering I am chasing summer this year so am in my bikini 80% of the time).

Everyone knows that the Brazilian cut is more revealing than the standard cut bikini bottom (true) and therefore must be more unflattering (false) on someone that doesn't have a perfectly toned body (I can attest to this). However, it is because of the cut that curves along the sides of your bum that makes your bottom appear more rounded. (Tip: Giving your bum that "I do my squats" look). 

It's a similar concept to when I was a young teen and my breasts started appearing, I wanted them to appear larger than they were. Thinking it would assist this, I bought a bra, a size smaller so that my boobs would bulge out. Yes, I did indeed have a rather nice fake cleavage. However, the actual cup appeared a size smaller than they were with half my breast pouring out of the bra causing the opposite effect. I'm sure we can all agree that this wasn't the best asset to my newly formed chest.

Below is a picture of all the ladies in Mykonos. Me on the far left in my Brazilian cut. (Of course the one I'm wearing is a very cut away Brazilian but you don't have to wear such a small one. I'm a little obsessive about funny tan lines).

Filakia,

The Adventure Seeker

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Below: Me bronzing in my first purchased Brazilian cut bikini bottom from Med in Athens, Greece.

Below: Me bronzing yet again in my latest purchase from Calzedonia in Patra, Greece.

Φισκάρδο | Fiscardo

So I have been out of my country since the 26 December 2013 and now I find myself sailing around the medd, specifically speaking Greece. I visit Greece almost every year as my fathers side of the family is Greek. This year so far I have been to Athens, Theologo, Nafpaktos, Lefkada, Meganisi, Kefalonia, Mykonos, Patra, Ithaki, Paxous and Crete. Quite a mouthful! Haha. And now I am back on Kefalonia in an area called Fiscardo. 

Fiscardo is a small village on Kefalonia island (where they filmed Captain Corelli's Mandolin - one of my faves with Penelope Cruz). I am on a motor yacht (CRANCHI ZAFIRO 34) docked in Fiscardo right by all the restaurants and happenings. I am actually typing this while tanning on the front of the yacht drinking a gin and tonic :p (and soaking my finger in ice water as I dropped the main yacht window on my finger last night and now it's black and blue :(

Best place for coffee here is Cavo Verde - refer to my first post for the picture of the incredible view. Really good meat or seafood is at Apagio (We went to last night and had salad, tzatziki and home made bread for starters; stuffed burger and Dijon chicken for mains; and delicious range of white wines). Tonight we are trying out Tassia restaurant as apparently it has really good seafood pasta. Mmmm.

If you're looking for a party - this is not the island for you. But, if you want a few days to chill out, eat really good food and have one too many at the range of summer bars present here with friends, a lover or even family. I'd recommend Fiscardo as it is really beautiful, relaxing and fun. Tip: best visited on a yacht or motor yacht/boat that can be docked and slept on.

(Docked in front of Apagia restaurant)

(Cavo Verde - has my hometown Cape Town written on the bar! Made my heart warm)

(View from Cavo Verde)

Chasing summer..

Welcome to The International Travel Diary! I have created this blog as an outlet to share my creative journey as I travel from place to place on my gapyear. Why I have created an entire blog dedicated to travel and the world? My passion is travel and everything that goes with it. New places, different people, culture, food, experiences and everything you need to know about these different things. And my story? In a nut shell, I always wanted to travel after school but everyone recommended I study first - which I did. Last year I started at the University of Cape Town, an unexpected and tragic thing happened to me in May 2013 (I had a severe car accident) and I could not continue with my studies. Some would say this was a negative incident that set me back a lot. However, I call it destiny. I had so much free time when I was recovering, I thought about my life and what I would do next. I decided I would peruse my passion of traveling and set my studies back another year. So, I took a year off and here we are. 2014 - The year of travel. 

Filakia, from a small island in Greece,

The adventure seeker 

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