2017: The Year I Stopped Travelling Selfishly

Another year is coming to an end and 2017 has been one of the busiest for me in terms of travel. Last year I travelled solidly for a number of months, thanks to quitting my job. But this year I've been in full-time employment and squeezed the life out of my annual leave in order to continue seeing as much of the world as I can. This year I've done 14 trips, comprising of 11 countries (including seven brand new ones!), across five continents, but for once, a lot of these trips haven't all been about me.

How to Spend 24 Hours in Reykjavik, Iceland

Something to be aware of immediately when planning a quick long weekend in Iceland, is the amount of sunlight you'll be getting. If you're travelling in winter to increase your chance of seeing the Northern Lights, you need to keep in mind that the sun doesn't come up until around 10am and it starts setting again at around 3.30pm. This meant pretty meticulously planning out our time, but with Reykjavik being so small, it's super easy to get around on foot and tick a lot off your list.

Nine Amazing Street Foods You Should Eat in Japan

Japan, to my surprise, isn't really a street food country. World-famous for its cuisine, I was surprised that there wasn't stall after stall of vendors selling their wares in every city we visited, especially since nearby South Korea is FULL of them. It could be down to the fact that it is considered incredibly rude to walk along the road whilst eating; most places will either have a bin next to them so you can eat and dispose immediately after purchase, or they'll insist that you sit in a physical premises. Although they might not be as plentiful as other Asian countries, there are street food stalls to be found, and these ten items where my ultimate favourites:

Everything You Need to Know About Finding the Northern Lights in Iceland

It's difficult when the highest thing on your sightseeing list in a particular country isn't something you can just waltz up to and take a photo of. The whole reason I wanted to visit Iceland was to get a glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights, and I was overwhelmed by the advice online about how to see them. So we doubled up on our efforts, deciding to DIY it and also book a tour for another night too. I came away with a clear preference of how to hunt for the Northern Lights, and this is what to keep in mind when planning your trip:

How I Show My Love of Travel in My Home Decor

First row: Cork globe / Hand painted globe / Wooden globe
Second row: Upcycled vintage plate / Embroidery loop / Enamel mug
Third row: Reykjavik skyline print / Mickey Mouse Christmas decoration / Oui Madame print
Fourth row: Pressed silver fern / Jamaica bamboo tray / Kakapo print

Do you swear, every year, that THIS year will be the year that you have a calm December? I absolutely do and then always end up laughing at how positively stupid I must be, because the last 31 days of every.single.year are always mental. In 2015, I had jury service, quit my job and went to Berlin. In 2016, I was a bridesmaid at a wedding and randomly decided to go to South Africa. And 2017? 16 days before Christmas, I'm moving house.