My first solo trip by plane fell short of the travel ads. I blame the false sense of security that my airport experience fabricated. I had no issues with trains (for once!), crossed the security border without being drug-tested and arrived at my seat with maximum time to spare and scheduled departure on time. So, I relaxed and allowed my thoughts to finally drift to … Continue reading Travel Trips & Troubles
Never forget where you’re coming from! The Welsh certainly don’t. Take That returned to Swansea once again in 2024, where they had one of their first Welsh concerts all those years ago. Take That’s return to Swansea wasn’t just another stop on their tour- it was a powerful nod to the places that shaped their rise to stardom. Back in the ’90s, cities like Swansea … Continue reading Looking back: Our Favourite Concerts of 2024 in Wales
With a global climate crisis and climate anxiety on the rise, many travel lovers must take a step back to review their approach to travel. With new climate obstacles emerging, a new form of tourism has also been gaining popularity: ecotourism. Traditional tourism is characterised by being beneficial to the traveller and the traveller alone, and having detrimental effects on the environment and communities exposed … Continue reading Ecotourism
Journey to Bali, Indonesia I found myself in Bali. A phrase I’ve repeated over and over, and only sometimes in jest. Since this life-changing experience my friends and boyfriend often tell me to shut up when I bring it up. It’s also a question I get asked all the time. Did you find yourself in Bali? Truth: Yes. Initially Bali hadn’t been my first-choice travel destination. I … Continue reading I Found Myself in Bali
Before coming back to uni for my final year, I was practically itching to get back. I love my family very dearly, but after living without them for most of the year, it’s easy to miss the lifestyle you’ve built away from them when you move back over the summer. However, once I moved into my new house, and my mum had left me to … Continue reading Homesickness in Third Year
‘Cupid, draw back your bow. And let your arrow go. Straight to my lover’s heart for me.’ From artwork to literature to modern media, Cupid has been a symbol of love, and known for uniting lovers throughout history. Cupid, or the original Latin Cupido, is the god of love, desire, attraction and affection. Whether you know him as the winged child, the semi-sexless babe, or … Continue reading Calling Cupid
Who doesn’t know someone with a fridge full of magnets from places they’ve visited? Many of us have a special something we like to bring home—postcards, trinkets, bracelets, or even photos. But travel traditions aren’t always material. They can also be experiences like trying local food, exploring markets, or taking the same photo pose at every destination. These rituals connect one journey to the next, … Continue reading Threads of Tradition: Connecting Journeys and Memories
Every travel destination and experience is incredibly memorable and important to me regardless of when, where or who I went with. My family holidays to Cornwall or Greece mean just as much to me as city breaks to Dublin or London and girls’ holidays to Spain, though I find the trips where I go solo end up being the most challenging and therefore, the most rewarding. After spending the summer of 2023 working at … Continue reading Teaching, Tasting and Touring Europe
This year, on the second of September, I joined my partner and her parents on their holiday to Tunisia. I’ll let you in on two of my favourite memories. One isn’t of the holiday itself, but actually from the journey in travelling there. I have a fond memory of the time spent during the delay of the flight that I often revisit with affection. It was no more than a few hours but those of you who have flown before will understand the pain and boredom of prolonged sitting on airport seats all too well.My partner and … Continue reading Memories made in Tunisia
When I get asked what my most memorable travel experience was, there is no doubt that I tell the same story every time. So, grab your popcorn and find a comfy seat as I tell you all about the time I got stranded on an island. It all started when my dad had planned a birthday trip to Lombok, Indonesia for my mom’s 40th birthday. … Continue reading Stranded in the Ashes
‘This is a story that belongs to Butetown.’ – Nadifa Mohamed, Acknowledgement to The Fortune Men. I get a rare moment of pride when I read a novel set in Cardiff. Normally, I prefer to use fiction as an escape into countries I’ve never been to and cultures I’ve never experienced; stories set in harsh Siberian winters, or the drab Midwestern suburban counties of America. But … Continue reading Under All the Pretty Lights: A Trip to Cardiff Bay to Trace the History of Nadifa Mohamed’s The Fortune Men
Music is such a big part of Welsh life. Singing at the rugby, school assemblies, anywhere we get the chance. For those of us with remarkable talent, though, there isn’t always the outlet to get further in the music industry. The Ed Sheeran Foundation aims to change this across the UK and allow young people the opportunities and industry links to turn their passion into success. … Continue reading The Ed Sheeran Foundation Visits Cardiff- The Importance of Funding the Arts in our Communities.
Dynamic pricing, outrageous costs and an increasing monopoly: Ticketmaster’s users cry out evermore for the company to relent on the underdog. The past year has seen the promotion of many hit tours: Oasis’ reunion concerts, Swift’s Eras Tour and the emergent Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet shows. Alongside the excitement and anticipation amongst fans for these gigs, frustration and disappointment has become a common theme … Continue reading The War on Ticketmaster, Prices and Venues – Are Gigs becoming more inaccessible?
Last summer, when I went to Italy with my sisters, I unintentionally started a little tradition: collecting keychains from every place I visited. It started in Verona, where I picked two keychains shaped like keys, one for me and, of course, one for my mum. Then, in Lake Garda, I found a beautiful golden one with engravings of the lake, and at our final stop in Venice, a Venetian … Continue reading One Keychain at a Time
Ever since I can remember, I have been super fortunate to travel the world. From city breaks to relaxing on a white sandy beach to exploring the USA. As a Starbucks enthusiast, a tradition of mine, in every place I travel to, is to visit a Starbucks, order an iced latte and purchase one of their location mugs as a precious keepsake. It is so important to me … Continue reading Mementos
Travelling with family can be a whirlwind of chaos and joy, revealing sides of each other we rarely see in the routine of daily life. This past Christmas was especially memorable for my family, as it marked the first time in 20 years that we celebrated the festive season with my mum’s side of the family. Living in the UK, while most of our close … Continue reading Family We Meet on Vacation
Travelling is one of the best ways to expand your horizons, but there is no denying that safety concerns are often on our minds. We’ve all heard the stories: dangers lurking in places like Rio, pickpockets in Barcelona, or civil unrest in Budapest. But are these fears truly justified, or are they just misconceptions fuelled by media and hearsay? When planning our next trip, most … Continue reading Danger of Travel: Misconception or True?
One of my best friends lives over 2000 miles away from me. We met online 4 years ago so we’ve always been long distance. As we’ve grown older, our lives have become a little busier. We don’t always have the time to send the daily flood of messages we used to during the pandemic. But we’ve grown closer over the years even with an entire … Continue reading Does Distance Make the Heart Grow Fonder?
TikTok is flooded with this image of spotless kitchens, flowery aprons and picture perfect homes – neatly folding together retro glamour and domestic bliss. For audiences tired of hustle culture and girlbossing, the trad wife lifestyle holds a certain allure. It’s a throwback to an era we’ve been told was simpler and happier. Yet, like all nostalgia, there’s a catch: this rose-coloured view overlooks the … Continue reading The Trad Wife: A Redux
As the Christmas season approaches, Cardiff transforms into a magical hub of festive cheer. Whether you’re in the mood for a cozy hot chocolate or a festive cocktail under the twinkling lights, the city offers a range of delightful spots to relax after a day of shopping. Here’s your guide to Christmas drinks in Cardiff! Of course, I’ll start with Winter Wonderland itself. Situated within … Continue reading Best Places for Christmas Drinks in Cardiff
