Wanderlust: The Top 10 Places That I Want To Visit

1. Australia

I realise that I have mentioned wanting to visit Aus more times than most have had hot dinners but I'm just so so desperate to visit and I WILL NEXT YEAR. Just thinking of the gorgeous beaches, the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef and of course the gorgeous Whitsundays and Fraser Islands. 

2. L.A

To be completely honest, this duo should be first. But seeing as I have already visited both of them briefly when I went to America before, I felt like Australia, as an unknown land, should take pole position. However, if there is one place in the world that I can see myself when I'm older besides England, it is in LA. Whilst I am writing this, I am envisaging myself as a golden goddess (I'd like to reinforce the 'envisaging' part of that sentence, as we all know that pigs will fly before I am able to get myself a natural golden tan..) Walking, cycling or even penny boarding (always wanted to learn how to do that), along the beach. (I think I've been watching too much Made In Chelsea, LA and have been crushing on Jess too much, that now I am mind- morphing myself into her..) But anyway, after watching two of my favourite Youtubers, LilyPebbles and ViviannaDoesMakeup's recent LA vlogs, I am DESPERATE to visit the Grove, and all the delicious little restaurants, especially The Commissary in the Line Hotel, and the abundance of healthy food/juice places! (Maybe I'll inherit the LA healthy way of eating, maybe...)

 3. Paris

Pretty cliché this one, but as a bit of a hopeless romantic, I would be lying if I said I hadn't watched countless rom-com's, the episode of Gossip Girl where Blair and Serena go to Paris, Miley Cyrus and Douglas Booth in LOL and the episode of KUWTK when Kim gets married, (all with the common theme of, funnily enough Paris..) And dreamt of visiting the Eiffel Tower by day, but especially by night when it is lit up in all its glory. I would love to spend a day getting lost in the little Parisian streets, devouring the whole front window of a little French bakery, and most importantly whipping out my horrific purple, felt beret that I bought on a school trip to France in Year 7. So so tragic..  

4. Venice

I recently saw pictures pop up on my Facebook feed, of my friends relaxing in a gondola, as they glided along the Venetian canal. Although some may say, "Kez you live in Cambridge, this is practically just a glorified version of punting?!" But that is where they are wrong, there are no gorgeous Venetian views, sunny days or male gondoliers (getting my priorities straight of course...) Obviously I know there is more to Venice than their canal's, with a huge influence from art and architecture, although not a huge love of mine, some sights that I would love to see and snap!

5. Bora Bora

Now like Paris, this place was first brought to my attention whilst I was watching KUWTK and their "family vacay" to this beautiful island. I realise that this is stereotypically more of a honeymoon spot, but I would love to visit this place regardless of my marital status! So if any of y'all are planning on jetting off to this beautiful island, save me a space in your hand luggage?

Who am I kidding, I'll pay the excess baggage fees that come with taking another suitcase.. What's the weight limit again?!??

6. St. Lucia

Very much on the same wavelength as Bora Bora, this is one of those islands that is so beautiful in the travel brochures, with their crystal clear waters, bright white sands and beach huts that look like they come straight off of Pinterest, that you feel obliged to visit them, just to check you're not being catfished and it's actually like the hotel out of the Inbetweeners movie.. 

7. County Kerry, Ireland

I feel like this one is pretty self-explanatory.. I would love to tell you that I was named after this beautiful place, but unfortunately that is not the case.. However, I feel that as we share a common name, it is virtually compulsory that I pay a visit. Now ever since I first watched P.S. I Love You, where the GORGEOUS Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank have their first meeting in Ireland, I have always wanted to visit. I've been told that there are parts of Ireland that are partially similar to the Lake District/Cumbria, with their vast landscapes and mountains of greenery. Now as a gal that loves walking this sounds FAB, so I'm gonna grab my delicious hiking boots and get going! (Shed load of sarcasm there, hiking boots never are and never will be remotely "delicious." FACT.) 

Look how happy the cows are!!

 8. Dubai

Who doesn't want to visit Dubai?! Hotels wise, I would wanna go hard or go home! Everyone knows of this infamous hotel, Atlantis The Palm:

So ya know, if I become a millionaire or win the lottery, I might just take a trip here. 

Second on the agenda would be the GORGEOUS, Burj Al Arab:

Again, just another low key, probably 2 star, trip advisor rated hotel, no biggie. 

As a gal who dabbles, (who am i kidding CONSTANTLY) shops, I am well aware that the Dubai Mall is the biggest mall in the world. So I mean, it would be rude not to take a day, (week) trip right?! 

9. Santorini

Similarly to Bora Bora, my desire to go to the beautiful Greek island of Santorini was sparked after watching another Kardashian/Jenner 'family vacay'. Now I have in fact had the delight of visiting Greece in July when Loz and I went to Crete for a 'gals getaway.' Whilst we were there we did look into going on an excursion to Santorini but they were unfortunately just a bit too expensive for our liking! However, that has in no way dashed my desires to visit. With its narrow lanes, cobbled streets and steep inclines, this place is a bit of a trek but I've heard that the sunset views and the restaurants at the top, are well worth the hike. 

10. Brighton

In all honesty, I had written a vague top 10 list and left this post in the draft stage, a few months ago just so I wouldn't forget the idea, which is why this destination is still on here! But if you are an avid reader, then you will know from my recent post, that I have infact visited Brighton! As I mentioned in the post, it was love at first sight, and I am desperate to venture back for a long weekend!

Kez xxx

KEZ GOES TO BRIGHTON!

I have wanted to go to Brighton for so so so so long. Ever since I watched Georgia Nicholson and Robbie's love blossom in Eastbourne (or "god's waiting room" as she puts it), I have always yearned to visit Brighton and it's gorgeous beaches, shops, pier and seafront.

So Charlotte and I, (or shallot as I like to call her) that nickname hasn't caught on at all, set off at half 8 in the morning, tunes blasting, and under ripe, crunchy green bananas in hand.

Obviously some service stops were necessary on the way, desperately craving a sweet fix and being the typical white gals that we are, we got ourselves some Starbucks frappachino's. Now as a creature of habit I went for my usual Chocolate Cream one, however Charlotte ventured out of her comfort zone and got her mitts on the Cookie Dough one! Being the kind soul that she is, she let me have a sip (even with my cold!) (#friendshipgoals) It was very nice but I could only handle it in moderation, it was very sweet!!

When we eventually got there 3 hours later, I knew it was love at first sight.

Even as we drove (crawled) along the seafront, I was for once, thankful for our 10mph speed as it meant that I could stare in awe at the beautiful sea front, all the towering hotels and all of the little side streets and nooks and crannies. Charlotte and I had already identified 2 hotels on the sea front that we wanted to stay in.. The Hilton Hotel, and the Grand Hotel (hint hint) We parked in the Churchill Sqaure shopping centre car park (wouldn't recommend, you could almost definitely find a cheaper place to park! We ended up paying £10 for 5 hours!)

We then skipped down to the seafront, took some typical tourist, panoramic photos and then went on the hunt for some grub!

Tormented by our grumbling stomachs, we settled on the Brighton Music Hall which is literally opposite the Churchill Square Car Park road, on the sea front! We nipped inside to use the ladies room (which Charlotte was not a fan of because anyone from the outside could look up and see you on the loo!?) However there was a gorgeous window overlooking the sea!

We nabbed an outdoor seat, and ordered, of course, fish and chips (insert cat with love heart eyes emoji.)

Being the fat pig that I am, I demolished mine... Shallot on the other hand struggled slightly..

Feeling like Brighton's very own beached whales, we trundled down the remainder of the seafront towards the pier to walk it off.

Eventually we made it onto the pier *dances*.

Now as this is a world renowned photographic opportunity, obviously I had to take more photos than was at all necessary.. Then stand slap bang in the middle of the walkway, blocking all the other tourists trying to get past me as I stood posing like an absolute melon whilst Shallot took numerous photos of moi.

Just in case any of you were wondering! These trousers are from Zara! SO SO comfy!! My friend Becky from work bought them and as soon as I saw them on her, I knew I HAD to have them!

Being in a seaside town it is an ABSOLUTE NECESSITY to go on the slot machines in the arcade. WITHOUT FAIL.

Shallot and I had quite an experience...

This was the object in question, completely tacky and unnecessary, but the fact that it was this close to the edge, meant that we absolutely had to get it and wouldn't stop until we did so...

 It got so competitive at one point that the double coin technique was introduced... attacking the tacky keyring from all angles...

 SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR.

WE DID IT!!! 

(There was a much funnier photo of Shallot, that I managed to capture, a millisecond after it fell that captured the pure joy that she was experiencing. However I have promised to keep this photo in the confines of my phone so you'll just have to use your imaginations for that one!)

After this, we exited onto the pier, to make our way back towards the shopping centre for a tiny bit of browsing!

LOOK WHAT I SAW

SO    MUCH   NUTELLA.

(Is this what heaven looks like???)

After Shallot shook me from my Nutella daze we headed towards the shops and the infamous "Lanes".

 Look how gorgeous that bike is (<3 <3)

Then I made Charlotte traipse around the nooks and crannies and stupidly narrow alleys of the Lanes in search of this place..

 Now I am an AVID watcher of Choccywoccydoodah on Good Food and I can 100% vouch that all of the towering chocolate creations look just as amazing in person, as they do on screen! However we only stepped foot inside the war zone  for 5 minutes before we both got too hot and slightly claustrophobic and had to leave imminently. Nevertheless I would definitely recommend visiting even if it is just to gape at the gorgeous window display!

Then we walked back to the shopping centre and had a look around Topshop/River Island and URBAN OUTFITTERS!! Oh how I wish we had an Urban Outfitters in Cambridge! (My bank balance on the other hand does not..) It was such a nice store as well, not at all like the store in Covent Garden where everything is all crammed in! It was so spacious and beautifully set out! 

Overall I had an absolutely amazing day, and as I mentioned in my previous post, Shallot and I are already desperate to return for a long weekend, to do tons more exploring and more importantly nightlife experiencing!

(If you're coming here for uni you are in for a real treat!)

Kez xxx