Travels of Shepp

I recently embarked on my first big solo road trip, and I'm super excited about it! I originally did want to travel with someone. Ian is big enough for two people and it's always good to have company on the road. However unfortunately I couldn't find anyone to come with me- everyone was either in the wrong place or our schedules just didn't match up properly. As I was in Brisbane seeing mates and preparing the van, the idea of going alone grew on me more and more. I liked the sound of going completely at my own pace, doing only and exactly what I wanted to do every day. I could go to the beach and write, draw, play my new drum (I recently bought a steel tongue drum, it sounds so beautiful I'm very excited about this) Plus, I'd have lots of friends to visit on the way up, and if I really did want to meet people I could just check into a hostel for a bit. So that was it, as soon as I got the van ready I decided to leave the next day. A...

My time in Byron has finally come to an end. I've learnt so much and grown so much during my three and a half months in Byron, so it feels very bitter-sweet to be leaving. I'm really proud to say that I lived in my van for two months. This is something I wasn't expecting but I'm so glad I did it. I loved it but it certainly was a challenge at times! The past month, as I've known I'll be leaving soon, has been the best and most enjoyable time in Byron. It sometimes works that way as the pressure is off and you are more mindful about the place you're in, making the most of all the opportunities. I moved into a hostel, the Arts Factory, which was so fun and probably my favourite hostel I've ever stayed in.  It's been SO much fun as well as nourishing; I've learnt a lot from amazing people and grown so much. I've met the most incredible people, had some amazing and fun experiences, and grown in ways I never cou...

I've come to realise I am in fact, very homesick. I may even go as far as to say if it weren't for covid, I'd be leaving Australia rather soon. My heart is ready to come home. Ever since Christmas, being my first one away from home and family and feeling very un-Christmassy, I've felt somewhat unsettled. It's hard to explain but it's almost as if my inner peace has been shaken. And as much as all this hurts, I'm still really enjoying life. Life in Byron is so chilled and beautiful, and I'm having lots of fun. Visiting Sydney this weekend was so much fun, and so incredible to see my amazing mates who I missed so much. Saying that, it's also shown me that this feeling of homesickness is deeper than normal. Usually the best cure for it is distracting yourself and surrounding yourself with good people, yet I still feel this way. It's a real shame to be torn between choosing people or a place. Byron is my favourite ...

My time I'm Byron is often spent around a lot of people. In fact, as a traveller in general it's rare to have a moment completely to yourself. Meeting new people, communal living spaces and hostels often mean there are so many people around you can't even get any privacy. While I of course love being social, recently I'm finding increasingly more joy in spending time alone. A few days ago I took myself out on a date. This might sound mad to some people, but please don't pity me as the single girl. It's actually really fun and I'd recommend you do it too regardless of your relationship status. I had received some sad family news that day and I wanted to do something nice by myself to cheer myself up. I drove into town and went to a little Asian restaurant. It's so nice not having anyone to compromise for and no arguments over where to go for dinner! I had veggie gyozas and a miso ramen and it was sooo good. ...

I'm now finally settling into my life I'm Byron. Since I got here a month ago, a lot of change has come into my life. I've started new jobs, moved around, and had to adapt to a whole lot of new-ness. I've struggled to write as putting all this into words felt difficult, but I know it's important to share and document my journey. Firstly, I've moved back into my van! I'm living on a campsite with lots of friends where we share the space with three vans, a tent and a roof tent. The best part is we have a gazebo in the middle which acts as our communal living room! When I was staying in hostels, I was nervous to move back into Ian. I felt like I had just spent the past month living out of the van and I was pretty exhausted, so I kind of just wanted the luxury of a bed and air conditioning for a while. But, circumstance and the prices of hostels in Byron at peak time did not make staying in hostels over the N...