Seriously, I know we say it every year, but where the hell did the last year go? I remember new years day and a whole lot of stuff in between then and now, but it honestly feels like it could have been only a couple of months ago. I really wanted this year to be amazing – to achieve more than ever, travel more and go into 2012 feeling inspired and proud, and it was. I’m very happy to say that it has been the best year of my life, both professionally and personally, and I’m SO excited for whatever 2012 brings.
The next few days are all about taking stock, centering ourselves and getting fired up for the next 365 days ahead, so in light of this I want to share with you some of the highlights of my travels in 2011. I’ve loved reading the yearly reviews of all of your blogs over the last week, so am very happy to be able to present my own. I forget that this blog is not yet a year old but it’s been such a great platform for me to write about my travels and share my lessons and stories along the way over the last 12 months.
I very much look forward to another great year with Woman Seeks World, and interacting and meeting with as many of you guys out there as possible – I think 2012 may just be the most brilliant year yet! A very Happy New Year to all out there, wherever you are in the world! Here’s to a productive, passionate and fun year ahead. Cheers!
Where I’ve Travelled
The first half of the year was jam-packed with travel, and the latter half has been a mixture of saving and working my behind off! In 2011 I travelled to Australia (Byron Bay, Nambucca Heads, Melbourne), France (Paris, Epernay) India (Mumbai, Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Goa), The USA (Over 2 trips – Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, New York, Washington DC), Switzerland (Basel), Sweden (Lund, Helsingborg), Belgium (Brussels) and finally the UK (Brighton, Newcastle).
Favourite Place Visited
I always seem to find something to love about every place I visit, but my favourite trip of this year would have to be NYC – I just can’t seem to get enough of the hustle and bustle, culture, food and sheer number of things to do day in and day out. It wasn’t my first trip to the Big Apple, but each time I visit I learn something else about it. It also happened to be Mike’s first time there, so I was super excited to show him around – although he ended up showing me loads of cool things as well, as it happened to be my birthday when we were away! This trip was definitely a splurge amongst six months of saving and lots of hard work, and I enjoyed every second.
Favourite Travel Photo(s)
It’s hard to choose just one, so here’s two of my absolute faves – the first was taken in Las Vegas, and the second in Brussels.
Favourite Food Eaten
Without a doubt, it was my birthday lunch at Eleven Madison Park in New York. Mike took me as a surprise, and it was honestly the best meal of my life (Mike thinks it was the best moment of his whole life so far – meeting me was obviously moved aside while his stomach took over!). It was three Michelin stars worth of bliss – 12 courses, drinks, and we even got a tour of the kitchen, cocktail in hand by the Maître D’! Awesomeness.
Weirdest Travel Moment
There was quite a few, but the one that sticks to mind is feeding monkeys in Jaipur, India. It was such a surreal experience to be faced with a teeth-baring primate who wanted your peanuts, but I absolutely loved it, even if everyone told us we were crazy for getting so close to them!
Honourable mentions include a helicopter ride over NYC (I hate heights), getting drunk on cocktails and playing black jack at 9am on a Tuesday morning in Vegas and being groped by a 10-year-old boy in India.
Best Travel Lesson Learnt
Definitely the best travel lesson I learnt this year was how to be better with my money while I’m on the road – including planning ahead for better deals (or free hotel stays, thank you blog!), making travel budgets (and sticking to them!) and also learning that sometimes grabbing some local food from a market or grocer is better than eating out.
Travel Plans For 2012
I’m so excited for my planned travels in 2012 – I do happen to be visiting a few places I’ve been before, but that’s mostly due to weddings and meeting up with friends around the world – something which I haven’t done a lot of so I’m really excited to be able to share lots of moments with my mates! So far planned for 2012 I will be travelling to the UAE (Dubai), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney), The USA (Total of 3 trips – Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Cape Cod, The Hamptons).
I also hope to visit the south of Italy, Romania and also Copenhagen to eat at Noma – hopefully I can squeeze these extra ones in!
Here’s to a magical 2012 of travels ahead!
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Nicole, it’s eery how similar this post is to the project going on – “Best of Travel 2011”! You should join and make this post a part of it! Love looking back on the year that was!
http://www.budgettraveladventures.com/community/besttravel/best-of-travel-2011-the-rules/
Inspiring post! I just completed a similar post on my blog – 2011 travel recap.
I love Vegas and am going back to celebrate my graduation maybe I will see you there!? May/June I am thinking.
The tour of the restaurant in New York sounds amazing.
I have found that many restaurants do treat you a little better when they know you write a blog. Do you ever tell the restaurant that you are coming or do you tell the waiter and he lets the kitchen know?
Another question coming from a fellow blogger: I am getting frustrated with my readers. I find that many who comment don’t read the entirety of my post and just want to leave their link! Do you ever feel discouraged during those days of no comments or no quality readers?
I completely agree about the comment that you learn to be better with your money. I used to say on my trips ‘Oh well, I am only here once’ but then I realized that more often than not I want to return! So don’t go and buy those 175 euros worth of Italian undies!!
Great post! Happy New Years and can’t wait to see how you celebrate!
The Wanderfull Traveler
Thanks Jeremy – thats a coincidence indeed! Have a happy new year and all the best for 2012! : )
Thanks Murissa – and same to you! Im heading to Vegas in May too (around the middle of the month) – let me know if you end up there at the same time! I have gotten into the habit of telling restaurants and hotels that Im a blogger, but on this occasion I didnt – but the service was impeccable all the same!
Dont get discouraged with the comments – mine are always up and down – just keep on concentrating on writing about things you are passionate about and creating great content and the readers will come. Ive learnt that building an engaged audience can take years, so every time you post you are building your brand and blog – just keep going!
Have a great new years yourself – and all the best for 2012! : )
Eleven Madison Park was actually just voted best NYC restaurant by NY Magazine..jealous and I live here!!