·HALF & HALF·

1. H&M jacket  2. Topshop crop tee
3. Urban Outfitters skirt  4. Office shoes
5. Market sunglasses 

Summer finally arrived in England, although it's looking like it's on it's way out already! Sigh.
If I wasn't leaving next year, I would probably be crying and the crappiest summer EVER.

Anyways, I'll stop being so English- talking about the weather all the time!
I have been so good at resisting the need to buy clothes (or shoes, or bags). So when I saw this monochrome blazer for £10... I could not pass. What a steal!

Every time I see something I want I have to ask myself if I really need it before travelling or will I bring it with me. I've been putting a lot of stuff back all in the name of backpacking!
I have bought a couple more things in the last few days (I'll post about them soon), been looking at mostly tee's as I know they will be the best things to take backpacking. While you're being a sweaty Betty- all you want is a t-shirt!

As I'm also going back home for Chinese New Year, I'll probably bring a few pieces of clothing that are a little more dressy for dinners (trust me, theres going to be SO many dinner parties), house visits and general CNY things! I'm thinking I'll leave them at my sisters house whilst I travel and maybe get her to post them to me in Oz, as I'll probably want my better clothes there! Especially going out in the cities!

·TAKE THE PLUNGE·

I have always been lucky enough to have had the chance to go to/grow up in different countries, and yes that adorable little thing with arm bands is moi (Selingan Island AKA Turtle Island, Malaysia). 

Until now, I haven't been able to pack up my things and go for a long length of time without having to rush back for college, University or work.

Life just seems to take over sometimes.

There is always a reason not to go but if this is what you want to do then you need to find the time to do it. After finishing education, I know this is the perfect time for me to go, get inspired, and have the best time of my life.

Create a life you want instead of what people think you should be doing.

Some photos from my last trip to Thailand & Cambodia, I went in 2010 during the rainy season. It was such an amazing trip but once again, I had to rush back in time for my final year of University. Being rainy season the temples weren't as busy, which was great for some nice shots.
I cannot wait to go to Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom again. It is one place you need to go to at least once but I feel like the time we spent there was just not long enough. I think I may spend all my time there next time!
I'm getting so excited even tough I've got ages till I leave... Sad, I know!

·SAVING SAVING SAVING·

Just keep telling yourself it (If you're saving that is...)!

How have I been saving?

Cutting out most of the unnecessary spending - You don't realize how much those meal deals add up by the end of the month.

In order to save, you have to look at everything differently, cutting down on a lot can be hard when you're so used to what you have. But sacrificing now means I can do more when I'm in South-east Asia and Australia.

I've cut down on eating out- Having more friends over for dinner or going over friends for dinner is a nice way of seeing each other without it being as expensive as a meal in Pizza Express or that nice Indonesian restaurant I love so much.
Changing my phone contract from £20 to £16.50, which isn't loads but will help.
Cutting down on nights out- I love partying, but I've never been a 'live for the weekend' kind'a girl. I don't know if it's my Asian culture coming through because I know it's a big English thing. I'm more of a 'live for everyday' kind'a girl. But cutting down on when I go out or choosing one night to go out will definitely keep my bank account happy.
Having to cut down on clothes shopping has been the worst. I've tried to direct my attention on researching where I want to go but almost always find myself on a shopping website. I havent bought anything for a while now... so maybe I can next pay day?

Something else that I've been doing is selling stuff on eBay. At one point I got a little addicted to it, then after it all I realized I had sold almost my whole wardrobe, which was not the best thing to do!

Sadly, I am selling my iMac and also very sadly... selling my Bestival ticket. Will be sad to miss out on Bestival this year, with a lot of my friends going, but the cost of the ticket plus getting there and money whilst you're there will be too much.

Never have really saved this much before, so if I can do it, you definitely can.

·Wish List·

1. Topshop Allegra boots  2. Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser SPF 20 Oil free 

3. Alpha H Liquid Gold  4. Bumble and Bumble surf spray 

5. Liz Earle Mineral sun cream SPF 20.

I have been really controlling my wish list lately, only eyeing up things that I might take with me on my travels.

Even though these boots will probably not be the best idea in Asia. I'm looking at them for Australia, as my more dressy shoes. Still not sure weather I should take some boots like this... What do you think?

I've really been preferring tinted moisturisers lately (so much more natural), so I've been wanting to give this Laura Mercier oil free one a try (as I have normal/oily skin). I won't be wearing much make up whilst I'm in Asia but will take some with me for when I want to dress up.

I've been eyeing up liquid gold for a while now! And again, not sure I would take this with me. I definitely want to try it before I go though, but as its a little more pricey, I've been holding back.

Bumble and Bumble surf spray may be something I'll bring. I have naturally straight Asian hair that I never really do much to style it. I'm pretty lazy about my hair! So maybe whilst I'm away, I can style it with this to give it texture that my hair doesn't have.

Liz Earle is one of my favourite skin care brands and she has a sun cream that I am wanting to bring with me. I hate the usual sun cream that is greasy, I don't mind them on my body, but my face needs something a little less shiny!

Would you recommend any of these products?

·Route Idea #2·

Having spoken to my travel buddies, this is a new rough idea of our route. We have now added Australia at the end of my trip and one of my friends will continue on to New Zealand while I come back to the UK and go to Florida.
So this is the list of places we are thinking of going. It will definitely change again and then again when we are out there I'm sure!

1. Tawau, Malaysia. (I'll be flying out first to see my sister & family).
2. Sandakan, Malaysia, (Chinese New Year with my family).
3. Then off to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. (My friends will meet me either here or in Sandakan)
4. Kuching, Malaysia
5. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
6. Langkawi, Malaysia
7. Phuket, Thailand. (Island hopping).
8.Wildlife Friends Foundation, Thailand.
9. Bangkok, Thailand.
10. Chang Mai, Thailand.
11. Siem Reap, Cambodia.
12. Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
13. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
14. Hoi An, Vietnam
15. Hanoi, Vietnam.
16. Vientiane, Laos. (Need to look more in to where to go in Laos).
17. Bali, Indonesia.
*Look into Philippines*
18. Darwin, Australia. (Road trip somewhere in Oz).
19. Perth, Australia.
20. Adelaide, Australia.
21. Melbourne, Australia.
22. Sydney, Australia.
23. Brisbane, Australia.

Wow, that's a lot of places!