What to pack for a big trip

So here we are day ... day whatever. It doesn't matter what day it is. It even feels good to say that, but living it, really living it is even better. We realised that it is possibly one of the most blissful things about travelling, it doesn't matter what day it is, or the time even and letting go of that was surprisingly one of the fastest things we got used to. Days and time - they don't have any meaning in our lives anymore, only adventure, good food and following our wants and needs. Morgs & I seem to be getting more in sync and understanding as the days go on. Don't get us wrong, sure we have little tiny bickers here and there - isn't that part of it all though- but the level of understanding and calm is something we've never experienced in our relationship before... and it's nice. Really nice. We still can't believe we're actually here and are absorbing all the lessons and growth that is humanly possible. I've loved seeing Morgs out of his comfort zone just as his enjoying seeing me out of mine. On our recent train ride from London to Cardiff we compiled our own list of what everyone needs to pack if they're planning a similar trip as we were saying just how different the rest of the world to Australia really is.

WHAT TO PACK WHEN YOU'RE TRAVELLING..apart from the obvious

• An open heart ... Ready to absorb every emotion and feeling that consumes you while travelling in worlds unknown.
• An open mind ... To be respectful and understanding in any and all situations a new country can throw at you.
• A calm demeanor - there is absolutely no point, ever in getting angry, it only escalates a stressful situation from bad to chaos. 
• A semi organised mindset ... This accompanies the above point rather well
• A gypsy spirit .. Free to fall in love with all the strange allys, vast country sides and huge cities you are trying to get lost in.
• An amazing playlist of music - to listen to on planes and trains and any other time that calls for it. There are honestly no words to the feelings you experience seeing a strange world whizz past you with your favourite song playing in your ear. It was the first time I got emotional on the holiday. - this will happen a lot.
• A fellow adventurer who you can spend 24 hours with, 7 days a week. Perfect if they're a ying to your yang. Solo travel has its merits I'm sure but one of the first things we realised over here, is that travel is that much more amazing & fun when all your experiences and emotions can be shared.
• A neck pillow, and a good one at that. It will save your life. Mum bought me a memory foam one before we left & it has saved me - thanks mama!

Below are some snapshots (mainly for you mum 1 & mum 2 (Jenny & Sheryl-lee) & family reading this who don't have Instagram) of little moments here and there over the past two cities - London & Cardiff. Sure we have our big fancy camera, and our great little video camera, but sometimes nothing beats an iphone snap that captures moments you want to remember. Like touching a building over 2,000 years old or cheesy grins as we lap up being tourists on a double decker bus. So enjoy the story the pictures tell of our first travel adventure through London & Cardiff, we hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed living them.

Anna & Morgs xx xx

1. Showing off our exit row seats on the plane on the way over. It pays to ask for upgrades!! I did it on both flights & both flights we got upgraded to huge exit row seats - the flight over was fantastic.
2. Our coffee's on the very first morning in London. The apartment we were sharing with a London couple had all the bells and whistles - we felt right at home.
3. A shot I snapped on a whim that surmised London to me perfectly - Big Ben, a Red bus and a Red telephone box - one of my fav shots yet.
4. The first shot we snapped of Big Ben & Parliament house. No photo will ever do them justice though. It literally took my breathe away.
5. We loved stumbling upon all the signs that had places we'd only ever dreamed of visiting. I.e. Buckingham palace.
6. Morgs papped a photo of me as I sipped on a delicious cup of coffee-the first good coffee we found in London which was a huge milestone!!
7. Just an old building we walked past that had no sign postage. I loved how old and beautiful it was thought.
8. Lunch on day 3...about the healthiest thing we've had - which is saying something!
9. THE most delicious breakfast I've ever had. Blueberry pancakes. Cooked by our gorgeous hosts in London - Meara. She was a whizz in the kitchen and cooked these up for Morgs & I on our last morning.
10. The view from the top of the London Eye ... one of the best ways to see London (tied with double decker bus tours and just walking around getting lost).
11. First transit we did - London to Cardiff. So far, we're finding we don't mind travelling between destinations. 
12. On board an iconic double decker red bus - we had so much fun cruising London this way.
13. On one of many trains we caught in London.
14. Morgs looking adorable, waiting patiently at Paddington station for our train to Cardiff - we were actually really exhausted by this stage due to the hectic'ness of London.
15. Touching 2,000 year old stone. It gives you goosebumps. This was us soaking up every inch of Cardiff castle.
16. Lunch in a local pub in Cardiff - our first taste of Yorkshire pudding in the UK. Was delish!
17. City Hall building in Cardiff - would you believe?! It looks like something out of a 1800's fairtytale, but that's the beautiful thing about travelling. Marvelling at the beauty in old buildings.
18. Part of Cardiff castle (we toured in that section, a family lived in there until mid 1900's until they gave the castle away to the People of Cardiff as the current owner at the time didn't want to pay any more death tax's - so interesting!)
19. Drinking cidar looking out a pub window in Cardiff - enjoying life.
20. Walking around the whole of Cardiff we found another big old beautiful building - this one was said to be 'Industry & Commerce building'. 
21. Doing the tour of Cardiff castle it took you through the original library with some of the books that were in there - I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Although you're not allowed to touch the books, I scoured the bookshelves to see all the titles and stories...and was lucky enough to find..."Dictionary of the Bible" .. it looked ancient. (I found it right near the original books of Charles Dickents..amazing!)
22. A plate of food that was delicious - but huge. Morgs & I ate a whole plate each. Oops!