I’m back, y’all

Lately, I’ve been feeling more of an urge than ever before to get back to my blog and start posting a bit more consistently. I miss writing, photography, and creating in general but I’ve realised that unless I deliberately start making the time for it, I won’t ever get back to it.

I originally created this blog in 2013 before moving to the UK for a year long study abroad programme. At the time of its creation, I was inspired by all of the travel blogs that I read, and since I wanted to travel the world myself, I thought I’d start blogging too. I was 20 years old and had a plan to travel to all 7 continents over the next 6 years (believe me, I had it mapped out every step of the way).

Little did I know that in my very first week in the UK, I’d meet a charming British man with an American accent who would make me fall head over heels in love. Here I am four years later in our beautiful home in Surrey, England sitting with our adorable cat while my now husband sits across from me. Clearly, a LOT has happened.
Here’s the thing – I enjoy writing and I miss having an incentive to continue my passion for photography. While I still travel as much as possible (I’m going to Belgium next week, and my husband and I are visiting Hong Kong, Vietnam, & Singapore for our honeymoon next month!), I’m not living a life on the road as I imagined when I first started this blog. My life completely changed, but it’s just as exciting as ever and I’ve learned so much along the way.

I’ve decided to go back to blogging for the sake of my own self-enjoyment, to make my ‘Tutu’ (grandmother in Hawaiian) happy as she always asks me to post again, and hopefully to entertain whoever stumbles upon my ramblings along the way. However, I’ve decided to broaden my horizons a bit as I figure out what exactly it is that I want to write about. You can expect to see musings about my life, what it’s like living in the UK as an American and the challenges that come along with it, pictures of my cat ‘Bowie’, and of course, stories and photos of the places I travel. Just as I have grown since I’ve started this blog, I expect it to morph along the way so we’ll see where it ends up!

I hope you find reading it enjoyable. 🙂

 

Picnic in the Park

I’ve finally begun my long awaited blog! Everyone always says that the hardest part of doing anything is starting it. I’m currently in Atlanta, Georgia for the summer while working to save up some money for the following year’s travels. I normally would have multiple excursions planned for the next few months, but considering the circumstances of my journey, I find it in my best interest to work until I can’t take it anymore and then leave and disappear.

My journey will begin September 6th when I fly to Iceland. I’ll leave on the 10th for London and on the 12th for Newcastle. It is in Newcastle where I’ll keep my homebase for the following nine months. During my stay, I plan on visiting much of Europe, including but not limited to: France, Spain, Portugal, (maybe Morocco, even though that’s Africa), Belgium, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Austria, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, and possibly Greece. 

After my nine months in Europe, my best friend and I are planning a backpacking trip around parts of Asia (Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, and possibly Tibet), Australia, and New Zealand. We plan on bringing ENO hammocks and solely sleeping in those throughout our adventure.

In the meantime, while I’m still here in the sweet south of the USA, I’ll be exploring around here and catching you up to speed with my past travels as well as teaching you how to prepare for long term travel. For example, how to get a student visa for the UK, how to pack, how to save money, etc…

Right now, I’ve just finished a lovely evening at Piedmont Park enjoying a picnic with friends and appreciating some amazing music put on by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. If you ever visit Atlanta during the summer, I definitely recommend looking into some of the free concerts and events that the park puts on. It’s a great way to enjoy the city on a budget.

You can check out the park’s upcoming events on this website: http://www.piedmontpark.org/do/calendar.html

My lovely friend, Emily, and myself at Piedmont Park tonight.

What our picnic basket consisted of…

Forever wandering and wondering,

Brianna Leilani

Looking for Consummation

“Travel is like adultery: one is always tempted to be unfaithful to one’s own country. To have imagination is inevitably to be dissatisfied with where you live… In our wanderlust, we are lovers looking for consummation.”

I found this quote while reading Wanderlust, an incredible and inspiring book by Elisabeth Eaves, written for those who have an innate and uncontrollable desire to travel, a.k.a–wanderlust. It’s about a woman who spent thirteen years exploring five continents and found herself along the way by isolating herself from all that was familiar and comfortable. The book so accurately portrayed the way I feel about my life that I felt like I wrote it and it inspired me to start writing again.

It seems that right now, the blog train is booming and blogging is the most accessible way for me to clue in my friends and family along my journeys. The ultimate goal is not only to keep those I love up to date, but also, to impact and inspire those who happen to stumble upon my blog because they’re just as curious about the world as I am… hey, maybe that’s you!! So keep on reading as I post, and I promise not only to entertain you with stories from my adventures of the good, the bad, and even the ugly, but also to teach you how to live a fulfilling life of adventures as well. 

Forever wandering and wondering,

Brianna Leilani