Home at Last

So, we've been back home now for 2 and a half weeks and most people have asked, how does it feel to be home? It's honestly not that bad, it's good to be back in our own bed, with lots more clothes to choose from, it's nice to see everyone again and it's just comfortable being back in normality. We both did say though that it would be great to stay home for just a few days and then go away for another 6 months! We definitely aren't tired or bored of travelling, how could we be when we were so busy and when there is so much more out there to see?!

Yesterday I visited Portsmouth to see yet more friends and family (and in the process clocking up 1000 miles since we've been back!!) and I was asked by my cousin Janet, "What was the worst thing that you saw?". Her theory being that I must be bored telling people what was best so she'd give me a challenge and a challenge it was! I struggled and struggled but I really couldn't come up with an answer for her. I'm sure we must have done or seen something we really didn't like but all the good memories completely blocked everything else out. This made me think last night of the experience as a whole and how much I've enjoyed it, how much we've seen and big a part of our lives the last 6 months will be. Even from the very early stages of planning where we wanted to go, working out routes and places we really wanted to see. Through to going into the travel agents and seeing our initial plans change but coming up with new ones on the spot. The excellent STA Travel agent, Matt, in Kingston who was so helpful giving us advice, recommendations, ideas and not rushing us even though there were others waiting. He didn't just want our money like some other places probably would but he actually wanted us happy and going away with the trip we wanted, not the one he wanted to sell! All the planning that we put in really paid off as the whole trip went off without a hitch really. There is only one thing I would have changed about planning and going on the trip.....getting a NEW Lonely Planet guide. I didn't realise until we were away that the one I had was about 4 years old, no problem when going around sightseeing but it was a problem in terms of budgeting!! Due to some levels of inflation we had underestimated the costs of hostels so ended up spending quite a bit more per night than we had expected. My advice to anyone else budgeting for a trip: Make sure your info is up to date!!

The best thing on the trip was either standing on top of Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunset or watching the dramatic colour changing light show of Uluru at sunrise (better than sunset!). The worst thing about the trip: I still can't think of one!!
The best thing about being home is seeing all our friends and family, if it wasn't for them we would have wanted to stay away forever! The worst thing about being home is the fact that it feels like we've only been away for 2 weeks! (But then I realise I've written over 35,000 words in my journal, I'd never have done THAT in 2 weeks!)

Being back, there are lots of exciting developments, we're soon moving to Bath into a gorgeous flat, we're both starting new jobs and we're going to be proper adults. It doesn't mean we can't continue our world travels though! The next place on the agenda is Europe (most of the Australians we spoke to have seen more of it than us), especially Paris as Megan has never been. We also hope to go skiing and one day we'll be looking into Arctic/Antarctic cruises!!

I seriously recommend a gigantic holiday to everyone, it's the best thing we've ever done. As long as it's well planned there won't be a day that you will regret.