30 seconds to mars, Sydney

Hello everyone, I am so behind on posting everything about my travels, I have posted nothing...!

I sincerely apologise.

So here it all is while in Australia I went to see 30 Seconds to Mars.

I was literally screaming when I booked the tickets the girls that I was sharing the dorm with thought I was mental! 

I went on my own just like I do everything else on my own. and I am very proud of that.

30 Seconds to Mars

My Favourite Song.

 

 

Are your friends really, you're friends?

Thoughts and feelings.

Travelling around I have come to realise that the people I thought where my friends really are not.

You see the whole reason I came to Australia is to spend some time with my friends and ever since getting here I am just a big inconvenience in their lives. 

None of them wanted to spend time with me, none of them wanted to put me up after saying they would and in the end, I ended up at one of the parents' houses in the spare room no one came to visit me, no one got in touch unless I messaged first. 

Not quite the start I was expecting.

Last year they all encouraged me to get a working holiday visa and said I could stay with them then when I got here it was a different tune, they were singing. 

I am very upset about it all and a little pissed off to be honest.

Getting here was expensive and bloody hard work if I knew they would be like this I would have stayed in Thailand and visited another part of it but no I trusted them. 

Now I'm sat in the middle of a park somewhere in the Gold Coast waiting to check into my hostel (which was an added cost along with the train to get here) I didn't account for that 400 AUD because I was supposed to be staying with them.

If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have gotten my visa and just used the money for continuous travelling.

My feelings are valid

I am allowed to be angry I am assuming it will pass eventually but right now I am angry.

Updated: it did pass but it took a few months.

I have now officially left Australia my working holiday visa is up and I am now living in Cambodia.

Leaving party and new friends

Realities of living in Australia

1. YOU CAN'T JUST DROP EVERYTHING AND GO BACK.

Many assume that once you're abroad, it's a life of luxury and ease, but the reality is far more complex. It’s not just about the cost of a ticket home. Commitments pile up—work, finances, and the life you’re building away. The heart longs for home, but responsibilities keep you grounded. You can’t just leave; your life is now split between two worlds.

2. RESILIENCE ISN'T OPTIONAL—IT'S A NECESSITY.

Every day is a challenge, and sometimes exhaustion is overwhelming. But you learn to show up, to smile, to be the strong one for others. Vulnerability is often hidden behind the mask of perseverance because you don’t want loved ones to worry. "Keep going" isn’t advice—it's the only choice. You have to become your own motivator, even when motivation is nowhere to be found.

3. FIND YOUR PEOPLE BUT BE SELECTIVE.

Not everyone you meet is meant to stay in your life. It’s not about shutting people out but about knowing who truly understands your journey. Genuine connections are rare gems—when you find them, they become your family. Trust slowly and protect your peace. Sometimes, it’s the ones you least expect who stand by you when times get tough.

4. LONELINESS IS A COMPANION YOU LEARN TO EMBRACE.

There are nights when homesickness hits hard, and doubts keep you awake. You question your choices, wonder if you’re doing enough, and worry about those you left behind. It’s okay to feel that way; it’s part of the journey. You get stronger, not because it’s easy, but because you must. The quiet, lonely moments teach you who you really are.

5. SILENT PRAYERS ARE YOUR CONSTANT REFUGE.

Whether you consider yourself religious or not, there’s always that quiet moment of hope—praying that things will be okay, that sacrifices will be worth it, and that your loved ones are safe. It’s a whisper to the universe, a small comfort that keeps you going, day after day. Those silent moments of faith are what keep you steady when everything else feels uncertain.

6. YOU LEARN TO BE YOUR OWN BIGGEST SUPPORTER.

Sometimes, you're the only one who truly understands what you're going through. In a new country, far from everything familiar, you become your own cheerleader. You celebrate your small wins, push yourself to keep going when it feels impossible, and pick yourself up when you fall. You have to be your own encouragement because there won't always be someone there to remind you of your worth.

7. YOU DISCOVER STRENGTHS, YOU NEVER KNEW YOU HAD.

Living abroad is a crash course in resilience, adaptability, and self-discovery. You’ll be tested in ways you never imagined, facing moments that force you to grow. You’ll surprise yourself—finding strength in setbacks, creativity in challenges, and courage in the face of uncertainty. The experience shapes you, and when you look back, you realize you’ve become someone you never thought you could be: stronger, wiser, and braver than you ever imagined.

Australia 2023

 Grafton: 

Clarance River Historical Society

See Park 

Cinema

Coffs Harbour: 

The Big Banana

Butterfly House

Dolphin Marine Conservation

Port Macquarie:

koala Hospital

Port Macquarie

Airport

Town beach

Australia Breakdown

Financial Breakdown from my trip to Australia.

 

- Flight: 1605.06 (I went with Travel Junction as I only wanted one stop flight, and I would NOT recommend them to anyone, it turned out to be a 2-stop flight) 

TRAVEL JUNCTION

EVAAIR 

- Visa: Free (Online E-Visa)

VISA INFORMATION

- Spending money: £501.56 GBP. (Half on Travel card and half in cash. Take more on card next time)

HAYS TRAVEL CARD

HAYS TRAVEL MONEY

- Cattery: £126 (The only problem I have with them is they need to update their payment system as I am not a fan of bank transfers.)

ANIMAL CARE

- Travel Insurance: £25.61 (Travel insurance for the trip would have been less but I have asthma) 

INSURANCE 

- Hostel + Fees: £44.74 (What they didn't tell me was switching days because of a flight time change added an extra £20 on + fees of course!!)

HOSTEL WORLD

HYDE PARK

(I have come to the realization i am too old for Hostels and bunk beds from now i think it will be Hotels or Airbnb)

- National Express 1: £13.72 single Carlisle to London (was £45.24 but I paid with Amazon Pay with student discount, so I got 75% discount)

- National Express 2: £30.73 single return London to Carlisle (Paid with Amazon Pay only got £5 student discount)

- National Express 3: £9.35 single from London to Heathrow 

NATIONAL EXPRESS (These are my saviour after my Train got cancelled due to strikes)

Heathrow Express: £25 (from Heathrow to Paddington)

1: Accommodation in Grafton: £87.63 (cancelled due to the hotel closing, Refunded and Expedia did give me £100 voucher)

2: AirBnb £166.82 6th January till 9th January

AIRBNB

- Flight 2 Port McQuarrie to Brisbane: $248.31 Australian Dollars my friend recommended WebJet (£139.20 GBP, I didn't realise there was no Trains/ Buses/ coaches from Port McQuarrie to Brisbane, the journey would have taken 12 hours!)

- $99 Flight date change (I got that wrong date)

WEBJET

QANTAS AIRLINE

- Train to Grafton: $60.17 AUD (£35 English money)

 

Personal Expense:

- Clothes alternations: £50

- Travel toiletries: £10

- Summer clothes £25.50

- Food in London £30.00

- Airport Food/ Snacks £150

- Exchange Fees/ Card Fees £25

 

What would I have done better:

- Learn to drive beforehand so there's no need for public transport then find a great long term car rental.

- I totally underestimated the prices in London from public transport to restaurants, they all add a 'Service fee' on which I did not know, I think its modern-day thievery!

- Stay in Australia for longer, next time it will be my whole visa.

- leave the airports if you have a long stay over like I had in Taiwan 12 hours. Get out and see things.