A quick introduction to Natalie's quarter life crisis

Okay, a quick introduction!

I always wanted to go travelling but never really had incentive enough to go. I was in a 5 year relationship and so very deeply in love. Travelling didn't really ever appeal to my significant other and honestly, as sad as it may sound, i couldn't imagine being away from him for too long.

So when our relationship ended towards the end of November 2011, a very lost and depressed me decided that I needed something more. My partner had been the love of my life as well as my best friend for 12 years. You could say that I became very comfortable in the relationship so when it came to a permanent break, I was utterly devastated and completely lost. I was working in a job that was "comfortable" and although it paid the bills, it didn't satisfy me mentally. I stuck with it for so long because of the people.

However, the break up mixed with lack of job satisfaction saw me hand in my notice at work and extend a previously booked 2-week holiday to Malaysia to a 3-month backpacking trip. This would then be followed by a 2-month Spanish course in Costa Rica combined with maybe 1 or 2 months travelling Central America.

Was it planned?! No! So where did the money come from?! A bank loan!!! "Stupid" I hear you say.....I know!!! Hahaha!

Anyway, so yeh, I took out a loan and booked flights to a couple of other destinations. I was already going to Borneo and Perhentian Islands, now I would also be going to Langkawi and Penang- all Malaysia, followed by Sri Lanka.

The original two weeks of the holiday would be spent with a friend (we booked the holiday together after I found cheap flights and was contemplating going alone after my significant other didn't want to go). The rest of the time would be me all by myself. To most people this would be nothing but I had never travelled abroad on my own before. Ok maybe once I jumped on a plane to Spain on my own but that was to meet my dad and brother who were at the airport!! Not quite the same!

My family and friends were extremely supportive but of course anxious about my safety and so my lovely friend Natalie suggested I set up a blog to keep everyone up to scratch with what I am up to - which means I won't have to copy and paste messages (Lee!!!! Lol!!!)

I hope you all have fun reading it, I will try to make it as fun as possible - which will give me reason to have even more fun so that I can give you something interesting to read!

Thanks to everyone for the support, kind words and thoughtful gifts :-)