Travel Charms

     As much as I adore travelling,  one draw back is that I miss loved ones at home.  While I am on the road I long for the people that truly make me smile, especially on days when everything is going wrong or I am lying ill in a hostel.

     I am very lucky to have some extraordinary good friends who often give me charms, letters, photos or object to take on the road to remind me of them as I travel. For me this means they are always with me.  Days I feel lonely and blue and I can hold my charms in my hand and think of them. 

Charms from Kelly Marie, Nat + Lou and Pinky

Trinkets from Madeleine

                     

Letters from Loved ones, and a charming rabbit from Hannah OZ.

HMS

x

   

     

Book Log

Harry Potter series - Covers by M.S. Corley for Penguin books 

I had never read Harry Potter, nor watched the films even though many had told me that I simply must. Endlessly my travel companions Louise, Chase and BHW told me that I needed to search for the books on my journey and join the HP revolution. 

     So one fine day under a pink Thailand sunset after a long hunt, I finally entered the world of all things wizardry. I purchased the Philosophers' Stone and in a flash I had finished it. Desperately I looked for the next in the series but Alas all I could find was the third book, and had to wait till I reached Bali to find the second. After Bali I returned home to England and devoured the fourth and fifth and finally completed the magical series in America under a new a gleaming sun. 

     I became enthralled with the world of wizards and witches so much so that they were with me throughout my trip. These enchanting books are ideal for long train journeys, waiting in airports and the days when you just want some wonderful escapism.

Thank you Louise, BHW, Chase and Kelly - Marie for entering me into one magical world.

XXX

Saving for an adventure

Big Adventure = Big costs

     Dreaming about a trip is the fun part, funding a trip is the difficult part. I am lucky I take after my Grandmother and not my mother when it comes to money (sorry mum). My Grandmother always voices her words of wisdom 'save some, spend some.' My Grandmother must know what she is talking about because she has had many great adventures.

     For some of us, counting pennies does not come easy. At first I, too,found it hard to adjust my life style to my new budget, but stick at it like I did and you will succeed. Just picture your dream or the trip ahead, put down the Vogue magazine and that coffee you buy every lunch, and start saving your pennies!  It is time to make this trip a reality, it is time to save. So, here are my top 5 tips for saving money for a long trip.

Start saving immediately 

1. Start saving immediately, even if it is a small amount (that means right now!). Let the dream become a reality. Find a jam jar, milk pot, any thing that you can start throwing loose change into to start your travel fund. Write your goal on the front of the money pot to inspire you, it also might inspire others to donate a few pennies themselves (wink,wink). You will be surprised at how quickly the coins will build up. 

Make a Budget

2.   Create a budget, taking into account everything-- and I mean everything-- you will need to pay for that revolves around  your trip: flights, daily spending, vaccinations, insurance, equipment, medicine, bug spray, rucksack, the new camera you need; even leaving drinks with friends the week before you go. Take your trip's estimated cost and work out how long it will take you to save that amount.  

     For my present trip, I realised my savings were rather dismal. I needed to raise money fast. I decided to sell my belongings and treasures at the vintage markets found across London. With great success I not only lightened my load but raised a fair few pennies--the extra copper I needed for my trip.       

    Perhaps, like me, you could sell your things, or even take on a second job in the evening. Along with the markets, I also opted to spin decks with my DJ partner Madeleine as often as possible to get closer to my cash goal. 

Sticking to your target

3. Once you have your monthly target for saving, stick to it! Allocate a realistic weekly budget for yourself and try not to exceed that amount. Whenever I got tempted to over spend, I imagined what that money could buy me on a trip...say one Gin and Tonic (London price) could buy you a night's stay in India, or dinner for two at a street vendor in Cambodia.

Daily Spending

4. Calculating your average daily spending is essential when budgeting for a long adventure, plus it keeps you on track when you are on the road.  No one wants to come home early due to exhausted funds. I always slightly over exaggerate costs as some days you may pay out for long train rides, or treat yourself to some souvenirs and other days you may just spend your time with your head in a book. Once you have this daily average spend times it by how many days you plan to stay away, hey presto you have your overall total spending money sorted for your trip. 

Being Money Savvy 

5. I thought it would be hard keeping myself occupied without spending money, I mean before I had ever planned trips I was always out somewhere: shopping, seeing friends, venturing to exhibitions, and going to endless music gigs. What would I do to keep myself busy? It was easy I set myself projects, crafts, reading, researching, I hunted out free things to do in my area. Opted to visit friends at home or invited them to my place instead of the usual dining out, cocktails, or shopping trips. The more I saved the more I got better at tightening my belt, I became money savvy! I bought items in bulk to save money in the future, scoped out special offers on products that I new I would need, even travelled on the uncomfortable coach instead of the fast and luxurious train home to Devon from London.

                 

                               B.H.Wolf     India Money Jar

I am not sure many could take the king of saving crown from BHW, it is a true blessing to have a travel companion that is as dedicated to saving when an adventure is the goal. 

That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. - Henry David Thoreau

x HMS x

About HMS Voyager

I finally found the time to write my 'About Me' page on my blog, something I have had on my to-do list for some time. Creating the page was a great way to put into words what I wanted to achieve from my blog, and why I created it. I had found it rather hard to dream up my blog's subject matter when I was uncertain what direction I wanted to take. When I started to draft my 'about me' page it was apparent that my travel experiences were to fuel the content and direction I desired for my blog. 

     I am extremely fortunate that I have had the opportunity to travel since I was a child. I owe my adventurous nature to my Grand parents, who took me on many trips throughout my cherished childhood and opened my eyes to the world.

      When I left University, my longing to explore the world was fufilled when I became head buyer for Beyond Retro. As head buyer, my duty was to travel the world sourcing vintage clothing for the renowned company. For six years this career satisfied my needs because I was able to travel, as well as enjoy East London's thriving nightlife. But something inside of me changed. I no longer enjoyed the scene that I had so heavily immersed myself into. I craved something new. I wanted to see the world.

     So, I did just that, and embarked on a five-month trip across India and South East Asia. The trip made me feel more alive than I ever had, giving me the ultimate travel bug.

      At present I am in New York planning my next trip, and  I will use this time to work on my new travel blog. Over the next few weeks I am going to compile information and tips on travelling, which I am certain will get readers inspired to travel. And when I finally hit the road again come August I will document my journey.

     Thus, H.M.S. Voyager will take the form as an inspirational travel blog, which will get people longing to save their pennies and venture to lands that they daydream about while sitting at their office desks, or walking under a rainy English sky. 

Hampi, India 2011

“Make voyages! Attempt them… there’s nothing else.” – Tennessee Williams

Check out ' About me'

X HMS X

     

HMS Voyager Shop

Vintage ditzy Floral Skirt     Vintage Pocket Watch Print Blouse

This week I have been as busy as a bee putting up items on my new Etsy Site: HMS Voyager Shop. 

I have been filling my days hunting down treasure at garage sales and rummaging in thrift stores. To be honest a dreamy day for me is the adventure of finding vintage treasures, the hard part is parting with them. I even ended up modelling my finds for the Etsy shop, so shoppers can see how the clothing can be styled, which meant a few items naturally became part of my own wardrobe. In the days to come, I will be finding more vintage wonders, and adding them to my store (hopefully they won't end up in my already over packed suitcase).  So, keep an eye out!

X HMS X

In Progress

Wall Hanging By HMS

Nothing Left to do but

Smile

Smile

Smile

(Words left on a note, Laos, May 2012 )