Sex(y hiking boots), Drugs (legal leaf chewing), and Rock n’ Roll Llamas

Peru- a country that is bursting with culture, friendly faces, and picturesque landscapes that will take your breath away (no seriously- there are high altitudes). I spent 85% of my tour snapping my camera hoping not to miss a shot of something incredible. Subsequently, this left me with over 600 snaps, nevertheless, I am able to look back at my 40 photos of different angled jungle trees with fond memories. Here are my top five reasons why you need to visit Peru.

Numero Uno- The Uros Islands (or also known as the floating islands).

The construction alone startles me as essentially they are islands made of dried reeds; strong enough to support families and homes. The day our tour group visited the floating islands we were greeted by a choir of Uros Women. We were given a brief chat about their culture and history by the 'mayor' of that specific island, who appeared to have a great sense of humour- fooling us into believing that she had 5 husbands and 10 children. They welcomed us into their homes, and provided us with their vibrant clothing to try on. We even had a chance to ride on one of their reed boats.
Tip- Make sure you chew on plenty of coca leaves (recommended by your tour guides), or even sample some coca tea while in the Puno/ Lake Titicaca region as it is around 12,350 ft above sea level. The coca leaves help to prevent altitude sickness.

Dos- Huayna Picchu

The climb will make you curse yourself for all those times you didn't go to the gym, but the views from the top of this pyramid shaped mountain are spectacular. Unfortunately some of us in the tour group did not get a spot on the Inca Trail walk so instead we were booked on to the Huayna Picchu climb. Before Peru I knew nothing about the other Picchu, but if you are going to Machu Picchu it is definitely worth getting a ticket for Huayna Picchu.

Tres- The Amazon Jungle & staying in Posada Amazonas

Have you ever wanted to be a celebrity just for the opportunity to be on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here...No-just me? My one night stay amongst the animals and insects was definitely an experience I won't forget quickly. Here is a link to the lodge, check out the piccys : http://www.perunature.com/posada-amazonas.html

Cuatro- Llamas

They are everywhere and I soon developed a little obsession with them; purchasing jumpers, magnets, bags, key rings-  you name it I bought it with llamas on. They are cute looking things with their big Betty Boop eyes and funky hair, and no doubt you will have a whole album's worth dedicated to them.

Cinco- La Lucha Sandwich Bar in Miraflores (Lima)

You may be thinking- A sandwich bar made it on to your list along with a natural wonder? Yes, you would be correct. If sandwiches were a religion I'd certainly practice it and La Lucha would be my God. Their sandwiches are A*. I recommend El Preferido sandwich. (I have never seen the word sandwich so many times- I'm beginning to salivate).

A photo journey through Peru

Whilst I was away in Peru I set myself the task to capture at least one photo a day that would sum up some of my most memorable moments and then upload them to Instagram. My thinking behind this was to keep my family and friends up to date with my travels. After stumbling across 'The Travel Hack' blog by Monica at the weekend I was inspired to create a post that would use my Instagram pictures to  reflect my journey through Peru.

Hostel for the first night in Lima

 Huacachina desert 

Churros in Lima

Arequipa mountain range

Guinea Pig

Lake Titicaca

Lunch with the locals

Cusco

Machu Picchu

White Water Rafting

Amazon Jungle

Feasting in Lima (again)

Back in the UK!

University Year Abroad Pre-Nerves?

Back in September 2011 I was getting ready to fly over to Spain and begin my year in Zaragoza. The Summer leading up to my departure day  was full of anticipation and nerves. I can ever remember on my university's 'open day', the brief chat about the year abroad was already giving me butterflies in my stomach, so times those butterflies by 2 more years and I think I had enough of them in my belly to take off. However, I knew I was not alone with my worries, and there are probably plenty of you out there now with your year abroad approaching this September who have the exact same nerves as I did. What I have to say to you is PLEASE DON'T FEAR & HAVE NO REGRETS. 

#NOFEAR
You are bound to feel nervous and slightly fearful, this is only natural. What I mean by 'don't fear' is once you have arrived try to relax and take it all in, and soon you will realise it is not as half as scary as you had pictured in your mind. I must admit, I was fortunate enough to go to Zaragoza with one of my best friends from university, however with social media these days it is so simple to get into communication with other students heading to the same city abroad as you. I joined a couple Zaragoza Erasmus society groups on Facebook, and I would really recommend this. Through Facebook groups like these you are able to share nerves and questions with others who are in the same position as yourself. Something else these groups are handy for are, if you are going to a country without any other students from your country's university then it is a good way to find people to share accommodation with (so many students will be in this position, and therefore will be up for this- so don't be afraid to ask!) 
Another suggestion; if you can afford it and fancy it, organise a weekend away to the place you are living in before you begin your year. Two of the girls I was going to Zaragoza with and myself did this (mainly to sort out accommodation for our year ahead) and it gave us a good feel for the city. Although we did find somewhere to rent, I wouldn't worry too much about this before arriving. If you are able to sort out flatmates (even if not) there are plenty of ways to find properties once there. In Zaragoza they had posters EVERYWHERE advertising for rooms and flats, alternatively members of the Facebook groups published available rooms. 
If you are someone like me who has a few fears beforehand, then maybe try some of these suggestions to 'get head' and this will calm some of your nerves. Once you settle in though, I can guarantee you will be having a blast  :D.

#NOREGRETS
As corny as this sounds- take the bull by the horns and do everything you can! Any socials organised by the Erasmus societies- go to them! If any of your Erasmus friends ask you to do something- say yes! You only get to do this year once, so you might as well make the most of it. If you choose to do the studying at the university option like I did, this will give you plenty of extra time to explore the city and also travel around the rest of the country you are staying in. 

A group of us got the travelling bug whilst on our year abroad, and at any chance we got, we planned trips away. I'm not sure about other countries, but in Spain we found travelling around reasonably cheap. I can recommend this coach company: http://www.alsa.es/en/. Also, hostels will become your new best friends on these trips, and not as half as scary as they make them out to be in the horror movies. Hostels= cheap & clean, they even throw in breakfast sometimes!  

Lastly, enjoy the country's way of life! I know... this does sound a bit hippie, but can be fun. When in Spain we gained about 10 stone each from tapas feasts, rum, bread (literally served with every meal-even when you order a sandwich), and more carbs. Spain's national anthem should include the lyrics "Spainnnn, I never knew I loved your carbs before, but now I cannot fit through the doorrrr" (work in progress). We also tried to learn salsa (emphasis on 'tried'), it was something different though, especially learning how to do it in Spanish. 

So yes...please feel nervous now (nerves are good for you) but also know that you have got one of the best years ahead of you as well! In fact, I am very jealous...can I come?  

"Happiness only real, when shared."

I was introduced to In To The Wild the other night by my sister (which I would recommend to all to watch), and these words spoken by Emile Hirsch (starring as the Christopher McCandless) at the end of the film left me thinking. Now, firstly I apologise, 4 posts in and I am getting deep, but, not only did I like this quote, I thought it spoke some truth. 

Christopher ventures into the wilderness to fulfil his desire of the ultimate adventure. Leaving money and his materialistic possessions behind, he discovers that life can be enjoyed through the simplicities. What he realises in the end, is that these experiences are best when shared. 

I try to fill my days with experiences, let it be something as small as baking a cake with my mum, to going away for a weekend with friends. However, sharing your happiness with someone is different for everyone.It could be from smiling at a stranger, doing a good deed, trying something new, or travelling to a new country. Though you can accomplish enjoyment from an experience alone, when shared I think it creates a whole new kind of happiness. 

I went to Peru last September with a friend and we chose to see the country with the tour company Contiki. Travelling around in a group enabled us to share joy over reaching the top of Huayna Picchu or surviving a night in the jungle. 

Perhaps some experiences, like eating a chocolate cake, can't be shared, and I do believe happiness can derive from self-satisfaction, for example when reaching a personal goal. Though, when sharing this achievement with family and friends and receiving their praise it can exceed this happiness. 

All in all, go out there and share some of your happiness-it will brighten your day even more and could brighten up someone else's :).

Anyway, I will stop rambling now! 

In To The Wild Trailer -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-tAVhAQQJ0 

Sausage Rolls- YOU NEED THESE IN YOUR LIFE, PROMISE.

It is no secret to my friends and family that I love food. With a little help from my friend Delia Smith, one of my favourite recipes I enjoy making (and goes down a treat) is for sausage rolls. It is very simple and only consists of two main steps; the pastry and the sausage meat filling. LET'S BEGIN :)

(Btw, this recipe makes around 24 sausage rolls) 

Quick Flaky Pastry
                                                                                          
8oz plain flour
6oz butter
A pinch of salt
Cold Water

1. Make sure that the butter is a block not from a tub, then weigh out 6 oz and wrap the butter up in foil and pop it into the freezer for half an hour. 
2. While waiting, sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. 
3. Once the 30 minutes is up, take the butter out of the freezer and roll down the foil a little bit. Dip the exposed butter in to the flour in the bowl, and grate the butter into the bowl, rolling the foil down as you go and dipping the butter into the flour (this will make it easier to grate). 
4. When all the butter has been grated take a butter knife and start to cut into the flour so that the butter and flour mix together. Then with your finger tips crumble the mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs. 
5. Add enough water to form a dough (with your hands) that leaves the bowl clean. 
6. Put the dough into a big enough sandwich bag and chill it for half an hour in the fridge. 

Sausage Rolls

Flaky pastry

450g pork sausage meat

1 onion

1 teaspoon sage

1 beaten egg with 1 tablespoon of milk

OK! Now the pastry is cooling, let's start on the meat filling! 

1. Pre- heat oven to 220 degrees Celsius.
2.  Dice up the onion, fry it up until it is nice a soft. 
3. Now take the sausage meat, fried onion, and sage, and combine together with your hands in a mixing bowl. 
4. On a floured surface, roll out the pastry to form an oblong (knock each of the sides as you go to form this shape). 
5. Cut the oblong in to half to form two thinner oblongs. 
6. With the sausage meat; split into two balls and roll out on to a floured surface until you create two long sausage shapes (try and make them the same length as the pastry oblongs). 
7. Place each long sausage onto each oblong. Brush beaten egg along one edge of the pastry, then roll it over to seal the sausage meat into the pastry. 
8. Cute into individual rolls (5 cms long). 
9. Snip three V shapes in to the top of each with scissors, and brush with beaten egg & milk. 
10. Place the rolls on to baking paper on a tray and bake for 25 minutes. 

You can freeze these! So if you have a party that you want to get ahead for, follow this recipe then pop them in the freezer once they have cooled and whip out a few hours before the party starts and cook them  as normal ! 

Hey presto!!

Sunday Stroll

Yesterday my family and I spontaneously decided to take a trip out to our local National Trust , Sheffield Park. It made a nice change to be out in the glorious sun instead of cooped up indoors with a scene from Twister taking place outside the window. Also, currently being unemployed I spend a lot of time at home, so it was good to see some real nature, as the closest I'd been to nature last week was playing Flappy Bird. 

Here are a few of the snaps I took whilst on our walk! 

So, if you're like me and have been spending way to much time indoors, feasting on junk, and beginning to enjoy day time TV, then get out! Does wonders :)