SPARKLED MEMORIES

JourneyWithMary (Special Feature) https://www.instagram.com/journeywithmary_x/?hl=en Hi, My name is Mary Shobande,a British girl from London Town. I began my journey of travelling solo at the age of 21. The first visit I took alone was to Boston, Masschusetts in June 2015,where I spent three weeks.  Prior to this vacation I was a girl who lived in a shell always afraid to do more for myself and was limited to staying within her comfort zone. I always felt empty and at timesa stranger to myself unaware of my Identity. I had gone through most of my life living for everybody else in the hopes of being accepted. During my time in America,I discovered a new sense of independence,experienced a different culture, and found myself doing new things that I enjoyed. I was hooked. I came home feeling ambitious, and desperate to see more. This time, I wasn't waiting around for anyone to join me. I booked another flight, this time for three months. I met new people, trie...

Thinking that you have everything   well organised for a trip and finding out you missed a few things out can be frustrating . This can be so many of us when planning for the perfect holiday, and I know my plan wasn't on point when I traveled to New York but this time I was determined to do so for my next long-haul holiday. I realised there were so many things to remember... So I had to share (in no particular order) 12 tips, treats and tricks with you that can make your next trip away stress-free! 1.  When packing clothes, instead of folding, ROLL your clothes, you'll be surprised as to how much space you still have left compared to when folding clothes. 2. Pack for the amount of days you're staying  - You don't want your suitcase to be filled up and not have enough room for your presents and extra buys. 3. Check the weather forecast for the duration of your stay- Its good to know what type of weather you're packing for. Trust...

The joys of being a tourist... A short break seems like its always needed and I got the chance to take a uni trip to Amsterdam in November 2015 with a few of my colleagues and of course my lectures came. I've heard so many things about weekend breaks to 'Dam and finally I got the chance to go. As soon as most people hear Amsterdam the first thing is the Red Light District or weed cafes, but obviously there's more to the Dutch lifestyle - the classic bike rides and canals, traditional beers and the people you meet! I will do my very best to share this trip with you recommendations and hopefully you'll be paying a visit to AMSTERDAM too! Accommodation We stayed at the Meininger Hostel, City West. A great location which is very close to the Sloterdijk railway station (five minutes walk). This hostel is definitely ideal for students or if you're looking for an affordable and accessible place to stay. The staff are helpful especially as a lot of st...

As some of you know I had the opportunity to Go Global with my university in September and we had the time of our lives! The ultimate goal while staying in New York was to make each day count even though at one point my body couldn't take it and just wanted to crash! There's so much to see and do here and I'm sure not even one month is enough to do everything. So please take time to indulge on how to spend eight quality days in New York City from me to you! Day 1  A beautiful view of Lower Manhattan The first day we arrived in New York I'm not quite sure of the time but from JFK airport to Downtown Brooklyn it was an interesting ride seeing all the projects and school buses passing us by. It felt like I was in the movies I always watch. From the moment we checked in before we knew it we were heading out for dinner along the pier. It was a long but lovely walk from Brooklyn to Pier 6. I would definitely recommend a walk when heading down to the Pier ...