{"id":596,"date":"2016-07-10T05:07:06","date_gmt":"2016-07-10T05:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/?p=596"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:42:54","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T15:42:54","slug":"travelling-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/travelling-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Travelling Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

After reluctantly pulling myself out of bed, showering and having a minimal breakfast, all of us traipsed downstairs to anxiously weigh our luggage. I had over packed my hand luggage, so there was no way my luggage was over new limit (25kg instead of 15kg). Kate however was around 1kg over, so I offered to put some of her stuff in my bag. Simple enough, surely? No, not really. Tired me, somehow between the hotel room and the lobby, had managed to lose the keys to the lock on my luggage. So I now have no lock on my luggage and now know that hotel staff have a high variety of skills and can probably do anything if they wanted to. After that mishap we just waited for our mentor to say it was time to go. Truthfully, the half an hour or so wait we had that I knew I could have spent in bed was painful.<\/p>\n

By 11 we were through check-in (the bags went through without an issue!) and on the plane. The hour before take-off I took a nap. It was wonderful. Well it was wonderful, before Kate,\u00a0Eilidh\u00a0 were woken up by the roar of the plane taking off. When we landed in Ubon Ratchathani we went and met the principle and his daughter – they were also surprised by the size of our luggage. I\u2019m pretty certain that all four of us fell asleep in the principle\u2019s car on the ride from the airport to the restaurant.<\/p>\n

\"13439118_10208644268000780_6134888647101858691_n\"<\/figure>\n
This was my first experience of north-eastern Thai food. Currently I have approached most things in a \u2018why not\u2019 fashion, but honestly, I decided to change my tactics after that meal. When they say a spicy, they really do mean spicy!<\/figure>\n

It didn\u2019t take us long to look around what were our lodgings for the next two months. I am now sharing with Hannah. It is a twin room with a toilet and shower, decent wi-fi signal, air conditioning and even two fans. Beside it lacking enough electric sockets and a single sink, the room is now quite cosy since we\u2019ve unpacked.<\/p>\n

\"NMS_2455\"<\/figure>\n
\"NMS_2460\"<\/figure>\n

We went to dinner at the principle\u2019s house that night, and had\u00a0our first experience of monsoon weather. Basically it rains a lot, is very heavy and makes the ground really squishy and muddy. So I think I\u2019ll be cleaning my shoes a lot if I want them to stay one colour! Later that night Hannah and I were both on our laptops and were enjoying a bit of Netflix. When I went to plug my charger in however, we found out that the extension lead could not cope with more than two items plugged in. So that was enlightening. Not having laptops did mean we got an early night though!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After reluctantly pulling myself out of bed, showering and having a minimal breakfast, all of us traipsed downstairs to anxiously weigh our luggage. I had over packed my hand luggage, […]","protected":false},"author":1058,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[270],"tags":[99,26,101,100,98,91],"class_list":["post-596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-summer-programmes","tag-food","tag-livingawayfromhome","tag-stilljetlagged","tag-travelling","tag-tryingnewthings","tag-volunteering"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4QQbz-9C","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3664,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/finding-the-right-travel-arrangements-for-studying-abroad\/","url_meta":{"origin":596,"position":0},"title":"Finding the right travel arrangements for studying abroad","author":"Tammy-Louise Wilkins","date":"August 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Throughout completing the tasks for the\u00a0financial\u00a0and the\u00a0medical\u00a0sections of the preparation checklist, the travel arrangements I needed to make for the journey to Norway was on my mind. Unlike students travelling across the pond, I did not need to consider VISA documentation but I did need to consider when I would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "European Placements"","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/08\/6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/08\/6.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/08\/6.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/08\/6.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3823,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/5-tips-for-a-stress-free-airport-experience\/","url_meta":{"origin":596,"position":1},"title":"5 Tips for a stress-free airport experience","author":"Niamh O'Reilly","date":"September 3, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"I am known to be very anxious at airports and after talking to others sharing my flight, I realised I am not alone. Here are my top tips on a stress-free airport experience! 1. Arrive early There is nothing worse than being in a rush especially in a stressful environment.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Placements"","block_context":{"text":"International Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/international-exchange\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/09\/IMG_4137-e1567519056430.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/09\/IMG_4137-e1567519056430.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/09\/IMG_4137-e1567519056430.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/09\/IMG_4137-e1567519056430.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/09\/IMG_4137-e1567519056430.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/09\/IMG_4137-e1567519056430.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":798,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/chiang-mai\/","url_meta":{"origin":596,"position":2},"title":"Chiang Mai","author":"Samantha Edgson","date":"July 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Because we were so crazy and excited to go to Chiang Mai, we booked a 8.20am flight there. This meant waking up at 4.45am to leave at 6am (at the latest). Thankfully I had done most of my packing the night before so I didn\u2019t have much to do, apart\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "International Summer Programmes"","block_context":{"text":"International Summer Programmes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/summer-programmes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2016\/08\/DSC_2886-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2016\/08\/DSC_2886-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2016\/08\/DSC_2886-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2016\/08\/DSC_2886-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2016\/08\/DSC_2886-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2016\/08\/DSC_2886-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4875,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/planning-your-year-abroad-during-a-global-pandemic\/","url_meta":{"origin":596,"position":3},"title":"Planning your year abroad during a global pandemic!","author":"Millie Roberts","date":"October 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Keep calm and wear your mask! My experiences and advice for planning your year abroad. Having spent the last two years bragging to your friends and family that you will spend one year of your degree spent in sunny Spain, it suddenly feels surreal to be finally preparing yourself for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "European Placements"","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/CFEA5C29-BFE1-47BE-85D6-00A78CF919E4.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/CFEA5C29-BFE1-47BE-85D6-00A78CF919E4.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/CFEA5C29-BFE1-47BE-85D6-00A78CF919E4.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2020\/10\/CFEA5C29-BFE1-47BE-85D6-00A78CF919E4.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3659,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/how-i-prepared-to-study-abroad-with-long-term-health-conditions\/","url_meta":{"origin":596,"position":4},"title":"How I prepared to study abroad with long-term health conditions","author":"Tammy-Louise Wilkins","date":"August 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Health precautions can be as simple as a general check-up with the general practitioner, optician and dentist, vaccine evaluation and a supply of contraception. For others, like myself, who have\u00a0long-term medical conditions, there can be more things to consider. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia nine years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "European Placements"","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/08\/5.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/08\/5.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/08\/5.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2019\/08\/5.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":307,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/erasmus-the-first-few-days\/","url_meta":{"origin":596,"position":5},"title":"Erasmus: The first few days","author":"Chlo\u00eb Hathway","date":"January 3, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The first week of the year abroad is possibly one of the most challenging and daunting of your life so far, but don\u2019t let that put you off! Although it was difficult and stressful, it was also a huge learning curve, and is well worth working through as you reap\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "European Placements"","block_context":{"text":"European Placements","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/category\/europe\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/281\/2015\/01\/IMG_2296.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"meta_box":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1058"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=596"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2441,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596\/revisions\/2441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/globetrotters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}