Travelling on your own can sometimes be a little daunting. You miss your friends, your family and you have no one to share your experiences with and if you do meet someone, you aren’t going to stay in touch with them when you say your “goodbyes”, right? WRONG!
I have been blessed to still have travelling friends in my life whom I met donkey’s years ago. There have been many, many people I have laughed and shared amazing times with, but not all of them are still in my life. It takes a special friendship to transcend from a travel buddy to a lifelong friend and it’s wonderful to have those people around to reminisce about the good times shared in foreign countries.
So this blog is for the travel buddies I have met throughout the years whom I feel honoured to still call friends. This is my way of thanking them for the years of friendship they have given me which has enabled me to keep my travel memories alive.
I am proof that you can make lifelong friends whilst travelling.
I have been blessed to still have travelling friends in my life whom I met donkey’s years ago. There have been many, many people I have laughed and shared amazing times with, but not all of them are still in my life. It takes a special friendship to transcend from a travel buddy to a lifelong friend and it’s wonderful to have those people around to reminisce about the good times shared in foreign countries.
So this blog is for the travel buddies I have met throughout the years whom I feel honoured to still call friends. This is my way of thanking them for the years of friendship they have given me which has enabled me to keep my travel memories alive.
I am proof that you can make lifelong friends whilst travelling.
Freya – a New Zealander I met in Africa 1997
This was my first big travelling adventure – a two-month overland expedition through Egypt, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Malawi, Zimbabwe & Botswana.
This was my first big travelling adventure – a two-month overland expedition through Egypt, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Malawi, Zimbabwe & Botswana.
Group photo at Abu Simbel, Egypt - Freya is in the back row, far right
We were very different people at very different stages in our life but despite that, we parted vowing to stay in touch. Every single year, without fail, we will exchange birthday and Christmas cards plus a calendar of our respective countries.
Having a dip in Lake Malawi where the fish nibble your toes! Freya is the one standing
Freya visited England in 2007 and it was fantastic meeting up with her again... I have yet to go to New Zealand but I WILL get there ... and soon, I absolutely promise you!!!
Lake Zambezi, Zimbabwe river cruise. Freya is on the far right
Freya visited England in 2007 and it was fantastic meeting up with her again... I have yet to go to New Zealand but I WILL get there ... and soon, I absolutely promise you!!!
Annemie – a Belgian whom I met in Africa 1999
We bonded over chocolate... it’s as simple as that. She told me about “Belgian National Chocolate Day” on 6th December and every year since then, we will text or Facebook one another to say we are eating chocolate! I have since googled this day and cannot find anything official that it exists... maybe it’s a “local” thing ... maybe she was teasing me and made it up but either way, I don’t care; I will always continue to “celebrate” this day and think of Annemie!!
Annemie – a Belgian whom I met in Africa 1999
We bonded over chocolate... it’s as simple as that. She told me about “Belgian National Chocolate Day” on 6th December and every year since then, we will text or Facebook one another to say we are eating chocolate! I have since googled this day and cannot find anything official that it exists... maybe it’s a “local” thing ... maybe she was teasing me and made it up but either way, I don’t care; I will always continue to “celebrate” this day and think of Annemie!!
Bonding over chocolate cake (Annemie is at the back), Orange River, Namibia
We’ve met up a few times – I visited her twice in her home town of Antwerp, on one occasion it was Easter so she took me to the gorgeous town of Bruges, oh yes, eating Belgian chocolate with a Belgian at Easter, a chocoholic's dream!. When she was touring England, Annemie even went out of her way to come and see me
Annemie (back right) took me to Bruges when I visited her, this is the beautiful main square
When Sy and I went to Amsterdam for our Hen & Stag party, she made sure she joined us for a drink – the countries are neighbours after all. It was fantastic she was able to be part of the celebrations.
Cilla – from Sweden, we met in Thailand 2002
Cilla and I were both staying in the same backpacker beach accommodation on Lamai Beach, Koh Samui and became part of the same group of people from all different nationalities, hanging out during the day and going for drinks at night... great! After three weeks in Koh Samui, five of us continued to travel together and in total, we spent around five weeks with one another.
Cilla and I were both staying in the same backpacker beach accommodation on Lamai Beach, Koh Samui and became part of the same group of people from all different nationalities, hanging out during the day and going for drinks at night... great! After three weeks in Koh Samui, five of us continued to travel together and in total, we spent around five weeks with one another.
Partying at the Green Mango club, Chawang Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand. Cilla is on the left
When Cilla and I returned to our home countries, we kept in touch and I went to see her twice in her home town of Malmo. She was visiting a friend in London 2012 so we met up for a day but she also came to stay with us to attend our wedding reception. It was fabulous having a travelling friend with us on our special day.
 My wedding reception which Cilla attended |  Visiting Cilla in her hometown of Malmo, Sweden  A day out in Oxford when Cilla was in London |
Australia – 2002/3
I made sooooo many friends on my year’s working visa in Australia so unfortunately, I cannot give them all the write up they deserve, but these people are still an active part of my life.
Mari (from Norway) – We met in Trekker’s Backpacker Hostel on the Gold Coast and later spent a day together at the Chinese Gardens in Sydney.
I made sooooo many friends on my year’s working visa in Australia so unfortunately, I cannot give them all the write up they deserve, but these people are still an active part of my life.
Mari (from Norway) – We met in Trekker’s Backpacker Hostel on the Gold Coast and later spent a day together at the Chinese Gardens in Sydney.
Hanging out with Mari (in the middle) at the Chinese Gardens, Sydney, Australia
When Mari was on a long lay-over flight from Norway to Adelaide (via London), we popped to Windsor for a trip. Sadly, we haven’t been able to co-ordinate our diaries to meet up again but every year for Christmas, we send one another cards and we regularly chat on Facebook. She is an active member of our Facebook Group and I love her posts – they keep me updated on her life with her gorgeous family. One day I will go and visit her in Norway!
Siobhan (from England) – I lived with Siobhan for my final three weeks in Sydney and we had a blast! We weren’t just roomies but also friends, we would go out drinking together with the other two girls in our apartment. We celebrated St Patrick’s Day – now that was a riot! Fantastic memories. Upon returning home, we would visit one another and we shared each other’s special wedding days and are still in touch.
 Celebrating St Patrick's Day in Sydney, Australia with roomates Siobhan (seated) and Laura |  Siobhan came to our wedding reception and I attended her wedding |
Zoe (England) – We initially met on a temp assignment in our home country of England but discovered we were both going to be in Australia at the same time! I lived with her briefly in Sydney and she met many of my travelling friends, we were very integrated in one another’s lives – we had the funniest day trip to the Blue Mountains! Over the years, Zoe has become one of my best buddies and we have spent many birthdays and drunken evenings together. Here’s to you Zoe – you are one in a million!
Celebrating New Year in Sydney, Australia
 Blue Mountains, Australia  Every year I have a fancy dress birthday party, one year it was for Sailors! |  My wedding reception  Hollywood birthday party with the two Audrey Hepburn's (Jayne on the right I met in Egypt, 2010) |
I am lucky that there are many travelling buddies I can remain in touch with via the beauty of Facebook, some people I have had a chance to see and others I haven’t. Clair, Chris, Jen & Nikki (all from Trekkers), Laura, Glen, Di, plus my Canadian next door neighbours when I lived in Brisbane – Mark, Mark & Sean – they have all left an impact on me and I hope our paths will cross again someday.
Mark – from Manchester, we met in one of the Great Pyramids of Giza, 2010
This has to be our best story for meeting a friend!! Sy and I were in a pyramid taking a selfie and Mark asked if we wanted him to take the picture. We happened to be on the same tour – a day trip to Egypt from Cyprus so ended up hanging out together and, at the end, we exchanged details.
Mark – from Manchester, we met in one of the Great Pyramids of Giza, 2010
This has to be our best story for meeting a friend!! Sy and I were in a pyramid taking a selfie and Mark asked if we wanted him to take the picture. We happened to be on the same tour – a day trip to Egypt from Cyprus so ended up hanging out together and, at the end, we exchanged details.
Nile Cruise, Egypt (if it's not clear, Mark is the man on the right!)
Upon our return, over the years we have been there for each other for two big birthdays but also travelled to Amsterdam and Oktoberfest together. We are so lucky to consider Mark as one of our closest friends.
Celebrating New Year in Amsterdam with Mark (far right) and our group of friends
Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany with Mark (far left) and our group of friends
 My Sailor birthday party |  My Nurf Gun birthday party |
Justin – a Canadian, living in Germany - we met in Transylvania, 2010
Sy’s birthday is on Halloween and one year we did a three day Dracula Tour. Goodness me, what a blast we had, the entire group of 16 people clicked immediately and we all got along as if we had known each other forever! So many funny and special memories with these guys and despite all our best intentions of staying in touch, Justin and Australian Sam are the only two whom we are still in contact with.
Justin deserves a special shout out because he allowed me to interview him for our launch blog “Chernobyl, the ghost town 30 years on”, and my recent interview on "Auschwitz - we must never forget". It was a pleasure working with him on both occasions and nice to simply have an excuse to spend more time chatting with him.
We sincerely hope we get a chance to meet up with him again.
Justin deserves a special shout out because he allowed me to interview him for our launch blog “Chernobyl, the ghost town 30 years on”, and my recent interview on "Auschwitz - we must never forget". It was a pleasure working with him on both occasions and nice to simply have an excuse to spend more time chatting with him.
We sincerely hope we get a chance to meet up with him again.
Jen – an American we met in Iceland 2011
We were both in Iceland on the Golden Circle Tour, Boxing Day and loved the Country so much, we booked to do the South Coast Tour the following day. There were just four of us (including our guide) on the trip so it was like a few mates hanging out for the day – very special. Even though we haven’t had a chance to meet up since we returned home, we regularly comment on each other’s lives on Facebook (avid Game of Thrones fans!!).
She did, however, do something very special for us. On 27 November 2015 on what would have been Bruce Lee’s 75th birthday, Sy and I posted on Facebook that we went out to celebrate. Jen commented that his grave was just down the road from her and would she like us to do something? Hell yeah! About an hour later, she posted a photo on Facebook of a lighted candle and the words “From Angie & Sy, England”. This was such a simple thing to do but so heart-warming and caring, it touched us. But that’s Jen all over –she’s very big-hearted!
We were both in Iceland on the Golden Circle Tour, Boxing Day and loved the Country so much, we booked to do the South Coast Tour the following day. There were just four of us (including our guide) on the trip so it was like a few mates hanging out for the day – very special. Even though we haven’t had a chance to meet up since we returned home, we regularly comment on each other’s lives on Facebook (avid Game of Thrones fans!!).
She did, however, do something very special for us. On 27 November 2015 on what would have been Bruce Lee’s 75th birthday, Sy and I posted on Facebook that we went out to celebrate. Jen commented that his grave was just down the road from her and would she like us to do something? Hell yeah! About an hour later, she posted a photo on Facebook of a lighted candle and the words “From Angie & Sy, England”. This was such a simple thing to do but so heart-warming and caring, it touched us. But that’s Jen all over –she’s very big-hearted!
 South Coast Tour, Iceland, just four guys hanging out! |  Check out the note Jen placed on Bruce Lee's grave for us on his 75th birthday! |
Lina – a Swede I met in Borneo, 2015
Even though this is a new friendship, since our return home from Borneo, we have regularly been in contact with one another and we hope to meet again somewhere soon now that both she and Sy have qualified as Dive Masters! I missed our chats on the beach when we returned to Borneo for Christmas 2016! I am very much looking forward to spending more quality time again with her again when we do see one another in some sunny destination!
Even though this is a new friendship, since our return home from Borneo, we have regularly been in contact with one another and we hope to meet again somewhere soon now that both she and Sy have qualified as Dive Masters! I missed our chats on the beach when we returned to Borneo for Christmas 2016! I am very much looking forward to spending more quality time again with her again when we do see one another in some sunny destination!
Christmas Eve, Mabul, Borneo, Malaysia
At Scuba Junkie in Mabul, Borneo, we also have “our little scuba family” – Simon, Dave, Jason, Lydia, Ewan, and we are looking forward to seeing them all again this year when we start our new travelling life!
Not forgetting Harwin, Bernarda, Michael, Chris, Bert, Paulien, Axel, Anooshe, Dawni, Paul, Tom & Thomas, all of whom I keep up with on Facebook to see how they are doing. One day I hope our paths will cross again…
So, as you can see, travelling alone doesn’t mean you will stay alone and it doesn’t mean you won’t have the opportunity to share those special memories of a particular place with that person again. Real friendships last as long you both put in the effort – regardless of the distance!
And so, once again, I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of my travelling friends, those who have been mentioned here, the ones I have met along the way and those I will meet in the future. You have all given me memories to last a lifetime!
Do you have travelling friends you are still in touch with? Tell me about them, they deserve a mention for making your adventure just that little bit more special!
Not forgetting Harwin, Bernarda, Michael, Chris, Bert, Paulien, Axel, Anooshe, Dawni, Paul, Tom & Thomas, all of whom I keep up with on Facebook to see how they are doing. One day I hope our paths will cross again…
So, as you can see, travelling alone doesn’t mean you will stay alone and it doesn’t mean you won’t have the opportunity to share those special memories of a particular place with that person again. Real friendships last as long you both put in the effort – regardless of the distance!
And so, once again, I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of my travelling friends, those who have been mentioned here, the ones I have met along the way and those I will meet in the future. You have all given me memories to last a lifetime!
Do you have travelling friends you are still in touch with? Tell me about them, they deserve a mention for making your adventure just that little bit more special!
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