After what seems like a long hiatus, I’ll soon be on the road again.
Things have been a bit quiet around here, and with good reason. A self-imposed break from travel had me grounded in London for the last few months of 2012; apart from a couple of trips to Germany and a trip home to Canada and the U.S. over the Christmas holidays, I was by and large a true blue Londoner.
I wrote about being burnt out from my extensive travel last year, but my teaching job at a school here in London has also kept me busy. For the last 5.5 months I have been teaching five sections of English literature to middle and high schoolers. I’ve worked the hardest I’ve ever worked in my life at this school, spending many evenings grading essays, preparing lesson plans, and re-reading the texts that I teach (which include Nineteen Eighty-Four, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Othello, in case you were wondering). My job is fulfilling but it is hard work and I’ve clocked a lot of overtime in the last few months as a result. Because I decided to focus my attention on my professional development, travel fell to the wayside.
But after recharging my batteries over the last quarter I am itching to fly the coop. Despite being an expat in London, life here has become almost mundane; I crave newness and foreign culture, linguistic missteps and different landscapes.
Don’t get me wrong, London is vibrant and lively, and Liebling and I have been keeping busy sampling new restaurants and surrendering ourselves to new experiences (some of which I’ll be writing about here soon).
But it’s time to continue my explorations abroad.
Even more exciting is that I have a cornucopia of travel on the horizon all the way up to June: in addition to the destinations I outlined in this post, Liebling and I have recently booked tickets to Copenhagen, Amsterdam, and Paris!
Do you have any travel planned in 2013? Anybody been to India and have any recommendations?
66 Comments
I am so ridiculously excited for you to get to India that I can’t contain myself! Like, seriously, I’m SO excited to read what you think and to see some of my old stomping grounds through your eyes. Remember, Agra aint much to see, the city, but do visit the Red Fort as well while you’re there….and try and stay awake for some of the drive there – it’s so interesting to just look out the window and take it all in. Are you guys gonna head to Dilli Haat? Probably. Do me a favour and eat at the Kashmiri food stall….have a big ol’ gushtaba for me. Oh gosh, now my brain is in jumbles trying to think up what to recommend…I know G has it taken care of. If you need ANY suggestions email me or FB me and I’ll respond asap! Enjoy it and give G a big ol’ hug for me 🙂
I second Kisha that I am so excited for you to visit India! I know you’re going to have an amazing time. I’m sure she has you covered for any and all tips, but if you need a second opinion I’d be happy to answer any questions for you.
As for my travel plans, I’m heading to America in a month. I’ll then be in London in mid-April, so you better be around for coffee dates/museum dates/dinner dates!! I’ll also visit Israel and possibly Rome, then TBEX in Toronto, and then I’m moving permanently to London in August or September. Gotta love these busy travel years!
I love the visa photo. Who has a mug shot that looks that good?
Sounds super exciting, so excited for you! Just out of interest, are you going to renew your contract with that school after your break? Regarding travel plans, I want to explore more of Indonesia in the next month (been in Jakarta for 2 weeks now) to get some culture and R & R which will be much needed.
I am not surprised you feel the urge to get moving again. London can be tough. I worked there for 7 years. Having said that I will be going back for a quick visit to catch up with family and friends. In fact our itineries are really quite similar, just in a different order. I am going to India and Nepal in March and then London and Germany in April. I have to ask: where in London have you taken the pick with Paddington Bear? So cute!
Hong Kong looks forward to your return. You won’t even recognize Staunton street anymore!!! The only thing that remains is Al Dente!
Wow, your travel plans sound so awesome.
This Friday I’m headed to London, so I’m chuckling that you’re itching to leave. But I get it! I’ve been stuck in France for a few months and I need to get out! And from my travel plans, you can tell that I don’t want to feel stuck in one place…London, Rome, Berlin, and Amsterdam! Let the traveling begin 😀
I want to visit India again, unfortunately I never made it to Agra…in Delhi there are a lot to see from the Redfort to the Jama Masjid and the Chandi Chowk market…enjoy India.
So jealous and jealous. Get me out of this lab!
On other note, I think your ancestry is Nigerian. Your first name being my first clue. And now your middle name, Ikeja, is the name of a commercial district in Lagos, Nigeria. :). It probably mean something else to you but I’ll stick to my Nigerian argument.
I’m so exicted that you’re going to see the Taj! Definitely check out the Red Fort while you’re there. I didn’t explore Dehli all that much, I spent much more time in Calcutta and Pune.
Hello Oneika–long time follower, first time (maybe second) responder. You’ve been an inspiration to me to get off my butt and actually travel, instead of just talking about it. I’ve used your tips to find some cheap fares.
This coming Thursday, I’m headed to Stockholm & Copenhagen (5 days total), followed by two separate 36 hr jaunts to Dublin & Istanbul in March. There’s also a trip to NYC in April (I live on the West Coast of United States). Later this year, I will be taking a “sabbatical” from my job for ~10 weeks. I don’t know where I’ll travel to during that time, as my list is much bigger than my wallet!
I have no plans to go to India (I travel alone and hear that solo Western female travel in India is not fun), but really look forward to reading about your journey there.
Cheers!
So incredibly exciting to hear about your future travels. If I know you well (and I don’t really know you, but I excitedly read your travel blogs) I’m sure you’re going to have a fantastic time.
No international travel for me this year. However, in July I’ll be going to New Orleans, Lousiana for a visit and music festival. I do hope to get back to Jamaica in November with my sister and her granddaughter or back to Paris, or maybe finally London. Either way it’s two trips a year for me or I feel like I’m trapped in a cage.
Good luck and take lots of photos!
Really psyched for you to tour the Taj, sport a few saris, stuff your cheeks with spicy goodness until they darn near pop…and then bring back the evidence!
Happy trails! Yay
I would have loved to have met you guys in Copenhagen, but just recently moved to Berlin! Depending on where you’re staying, rent bikes!
My big trip isn’t until later in the year when I’ll be going to Tanzania! Looking forward to reading about your upcoming travels! Be safe!
Hope you have a great time in India.
We’re here in Delhi, so if you need anything just let us know! 🙂
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