As a photographer, I’m always looking for the ‘not so obvious’ subjects and Park Guell had lots – I just had to keep my eyes open!
Park Guell ceramic medallions on the front of the Porters Lodge .
The ceramic tiles of the wall on either side of the Dragon Stairway.
The ceiling decor of the Hypostyle Room, beautifully created with colourful ceramic tiles.
The house where Gaudi lived – now the Gaudi House Museum.
The fan-shaped fence surrounding the museum.
Park Guell is such a lovely green space with a variety of plants on either side of its walkways – like this one on the way to the Laundry Room Portico.
There are all kinds of flowers, shrubs and trees to see.
The park also attracts a few feathered visitors.
Gaudi was a fan of creating trencadis which is a mosaic made up with broken tile pieces. It’s a feature that is prominent throughout Park Guell.
Gaudi also created features that blend into the natural surroundings – like this curved seating area.
Located on a hillside is Casa Trias which was the only other house that was lived in during Guell and Gaudi’s time in the park.
Because the park is on different levels, you get good views of the park.
And the city beyond.
Until it’s time to leave by the exit on Carrer d’Olot.
For me, it’s fun to find these smaller details, but Gaudi got me intrigued with the big stuff too!
Preparing for big changes, especially if you know they’re coming takes some planning – not just physically but mentally and emotionally too. My big change was leaving Thailand for a new life in Spain, so here’s how I prepared for it.
Change is good
We all know change is good for us, but when it comes down to it, it’s sometimes easier to remain in our comfort zones. That warm place where everything is hunky dory, you’re having a ball and living your life happily. Why upset the apple cart when it’s like this? For me, change is a challenge and something that will give me new opportunities to help me develop and grow into the best version of myself.
Delapre Park, Northampton – Summer
Delapre Park, Northampton – Winter
That’s why I decided to leave my Thai life for a new life in Spain. It hasn’t quite worked out how I planned and I find myself back in my hometown but everything happens for the best, for a reason – right?
What it’s all about
Get out of your comfort zone and make some changes, particularly if you’re not happy with your current situation
If it doesn’t work, take a step sideways to reassess before you make your first move
Decide if this is what you want
I finally made the decision to leave my home in Bangkok. It’s a decision that didn’t come easy, Thailand was my home for almost 10 years and I honestly thought I’d stay there forever. I was vocal about this move a year before I left and I told my family and closest friends that I was planning on leaving, but I had to be sure that it was what I wanted.
It was a massive step for me, I never thought I would hear myself actually say that I wanted to leave, but I want to be closer to my family and friends and to be able to see them more regularly. Although everyone loves me being close and I love seeing them, I could not have moved just for this reason. I simply have to follow my own path. It’s my life and I intend to live it the way I want, so I’m happy. Life is far too short to be anything else.
Follow your own path in life
What it’s all about
Make
sure it’s what YOU want. It’s your life and you must do what makes YOU happy
Save money
For me, this was an obvious must-do when I was planning to leave Thailand. There were flights to book, things to ship home, hotels to book, and the list goes on. I frantically saved my money for almost a year before I left, so when I arrived in Spain, I could take time to explore before starting work again.
Save your cash
Living in Thailand, it’s a lot cheaper to live, so saving money each month was easier for me, but wherever you are there are ways to put aside money for your bigger plans. And that’s the key thing. If you’re planning a big move that should be bigger and more important than buying clothes, going out all the time or whatever else you spend money on. Work out how much money you realistically need to survive each month and as soon as you get paid, put the rest away and don’t be tempted to spend it. If you do, ask yourself, do you really need the thing you are about to buy? Probably not! Plus, another advantage from saving is that if anything unexpected happens, you’ll have money in your bank to deal with it.
What it’s all about
Think
of your end goal and imagine your new life
Make a pros and cons list
If you’re like me, you’ll love making lists. I have to-do lists, shopping lists, lists of blog posts I’m going to write about – I just love a good list. There weren’t any exceptions before I moved countries – I made a pros and cons list.
Pros and cons list
These kind
of lists are great if you’re unsure about something. They help you focus and to
see whether you have more things in favour of your decision or more things
against.
Some of my
pros:
New
start
New
places/country to explore
New
job
New
people
Closer
to friends and family
Good
weather (pleasant days rather than profusely sweating from the humidity)
Some of my
cons:
More
expensive
No
Chris ( a really good friend of mine who I’ll miss terribly because for the
past 4 years he has been such an influence and a big part of my life)
The
unknown (also exciting)
No
job
If your cons list is bigger than your pros list, then it may be wise to rethink your decision (or add a few more pros) 😉
What it’s all about
Think
about your decision by making a pros and cons list. It may help to make things
clearer – either way
Do your research
Unless you’re returning to your home country, it really does pay to do some research about your new destination, even if you’re just going on holiday it’s good to know about what you can see and do in a country.
But, moving
to a new country requires more research into things like the cost of living, accommodation,
visa requirements, schools, career prospects etc.
Do your research
I decided I
was moving to Spain, but I’d only been to Marbella and Ibiza before, so I
really didn’t know which region I was going to go to. I found Valencia and the
more I read about it I realised that this might be the place for me. For one, it’s still very Spanish,
unlike its more touristy neighbours of Barcelona and Alicante. There are
hundreds of museums, art exhibitions, and an impressive arts and science
centre. There’s an old river bed that runs through the centre of the city which
has been turned in a park, and there are miles of coastline with stunning
beaches. Plus, hiking and skiing in the mountains, natural swimming pools and
an efficient metro system to get around. Sounds idyllic, right?
It was! Valencia is a beautiful country and I can still see myself living there, but knowing what I know now, I probably should have gone and did my research there. Yes, I looked into accommodation before I got there, but it wasn’t until I was in the city that I found out it was much more difficult to find somewhere to live.
Valencia
I also
found out that hardly anyone speaks English which only added to my stress levels
when I was there. I learned a few words of Spanish, but not to the level that I
needed it. The fact that people don’t speak English usually presents itself as
an exciting challenge for me, but I guess this time it was just too much on top
of the emotional strain of moving to a new country.
Learn the language
What it’s all about
Do
extensive research about the ins and outs of your chosen destination
Learn
the language to ease you into the way of life
Have a plan B (and C and D)
Planning is
good, it helps us to prepare or look forward to things. However, it’s all very
well having a plan in the first place, but what if something unforeseen happens
and your plans go out of the window?
I’ve always
been a planner! Whether that’s planning a holiday, something to do at the
weekend, or moving countries – I simply love planning.
I planned to leave Thailand at the end of last year and I planned to make a new life in Spain. I left Thailand, as planned, 🙂 spent 10 days in Hikkaduwa, 10 days in the UK, and I was soon on my merry way to Valencia.
Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka
I stayed at
a hotel for a week and I hoped that I would find an apartment within that time.
I didn’t! Because I don’t have income in Spain, the landlords were asking for a
lot of money up front, so I came back to the UK to reassess things and rethink
my next move.
However, even before I arrived in Valencia, there was something else that prompted me to make a plan B – BREXIT! Who knows what will happen with that, I think even the people in charge are clueless! In any case, when the UK leaves the EU next month maybe I (and countless others) won’t be able to live in Europe as easy as we can now. I prefer to remain positive and think that not much will change, but let’s see!
Be positive
So, my plan
B was (is) to live in the UK and make my base here. Then, if I work remotely I
can still travel to other countries to visit and/or work from time to time.
What it’s all about
Always
make a plan B, C…… in case your first plan doesn’t work out the way you thought
it would
Keep
a positive mind that everything will work out just fine – it’s worked for me on
several occasions in the past
Pack well in advance
I’ve had a lot of practice with packing. I’ve done it several times – I went travelling for 10 months, I left for a life in Thailand, I left Thailand to return to the UK for 2 years, I returned to Thailand, and more recently, I left Thailand for a life in Spain. Surprisingly, I find packing for short holidays more difficult that full-on “moving to another country” packing!
But, each
time, I started packing well in advance of my departure date. It was stressful
enough making all these moves, so the earlier you start to pack the less
stressed you will feel with this part of the process.
Pack well in advance
It’s not
just about packing your suitcase (s). It’s also about getting rid of all the
stuff you accumulate and it’s astonishing how much of it you actually collect!
Of course, it’s a joy to put roots down in your chosen home, but when it comes
to leaving, you can’t take it all with you however much you want to. So, you
have to be as ruthless as you can – a skill I have honed over the years.
When I
started packing up for my departure from Thailand, I began with throwing things
away as I moved about my apartment – little things like jewellery, clothes, and
things in my drawers that hadn’t seen the light of day since I put them in
there. The bigger things took a bit more thought and planning.
I wasn’t getting rid of my books this time! I’ve done this before and I regretted it. I love my books and I’d built up a small collection since I’d arrived back in Thailand in 2014. So, my ruthlessness waned somewhat! I wondered how I was going to take them with me, especially with the restricting weight allowance that airlines give you. A friend told me about Send My Bag – a worldwide luggage shipping service. Their website is easy to use and you can find out up front how much it is going to cost to transport your stuff between countries. I shipped 2 boxes full weighing around 22 kg each filled with my prized possessions. It cost much less than if I’d sent them through the postal service and my boxes arrived home within 3 days!
My prized possessions
Then there were my clothes. It was easier to be merciless and I happily chucked away items that I hadn’t worn in a long time, those that didn’t fit anymore, or simply because many were not suitable for the European weather. I found a second hand shop in Bangkok that takes old clothing and recreates them into unique products. This provides employment opportunities for the people who live in the slums of Bangkok and financial help to the second hand shop.
Book bags
Pencil cases
Toy elephants
What it’s all about
Start
packing with plenty of time to spare
Use
Send my bag for cheaper shipping costs
Find
a local charity shop to donate old clothing items
The little
things
When you’re moving to a new country, you need to take care of the little things too.
To do checklist
All the planning and preparation to leave Thailand served me well. Now, I’m in the throes of preparing for my next move! 🙂
What measures have you taken to prepare for a big move in your life?
Since I left the UK in 2007, I have become more creative and I have travelling to thank for that. I once read that people become more creative if they travel and see the world, but just how true is it?
I can’t speak for others, but I believe it is. The first time I went travelling, I became more interested in the world around me. I saw some beautiful, and not so beautiful, things. I experienced amazing things, I visited intriguing places, and I learned to open my eyes and appreciate the small things – to see wonder in them. Trees, birds, heck, even buildings. I was never interested in these things at home, but travel awakened a sense in me that I was barely aware of before. It gave me a new lease in life and I was more inclined to try different things and be more creative.
Now I live in Thailand and my creativity hasn’t gone – it’s only been enhanced. I love to write and take photographs, and I manage my two websites where I document life through my words and photography. I draw and paint (although not as much as I’d like), I’ve made my own Christmas decoration (still dangling), I’ve made presents for my family, and a vision board.
Handmade Christmas decoration
Living abroad has its challenges, one of which is you might not have the network of people that you have at home and you might need something to occupy your time – to stop yourself going a bit crazy. That’s certainly true for me and that’s where creativity comes in. It’s not just that, I find pleasure in creating things – whether that’s writing an article, or adding my photography to my website, or making something. It’s relaxing and you can’t beat the feeling of accomplishment when you sit back and look at your completed creation.
For naturally artistic types, living abroad doesn’t mean you can’t be creative. There are plenty of art shops to buy supplies (probably at a much cheaper price) and no end of inspiration, so here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing.
Photography
These days, everyone takes photographs of just about anything, but try and think of ways to make your photography more exciting.
Walk around, open your eyes and really take in your surroundings – by doing this I have learnt to look past the obvious things and hone in on the not-so obvious elements.
Instead of photographing everything, which I tend to do, think of ways to limit the amount of photographs you take by setting yourself daily challenges – pick a colour for the day or small details of buildings.
Focus on colours
Find an art gallery or bar that holds photo exhibitions and talk to them about displaying your work – a great way to work on your creativity skills as well as other skills, like organisation and communication and, more importantly, you’ll have fun at the same time.
On the Trail of Bangkok’s European Heritage photography exhibition
Make presents for family or friends by getting your photographs printed onto canvas – it’s not that expensive and it makes for a more thoughtful gift for your loved ones.
New Zealand Canvas Print
Draw or Paint
This is a fun and alternative idea to taking photographs and it will really stretch your creative skills.
I can draw better than I can paint, but only if I create something from a picture. There are no end of images you can use from the internet or you could use your own photographs to recreate into a drawing or painting – just choose your favourite images and paint them onto canvas or on paper which you can frame.
Painting from photographs – Sri Lanka
They look really fabulous displayed on your wall.
Art wall
Take a sketch pad out with you and draw or paint your subject instead. I did this on a beach on Koh Tao in Thailand. I sat down with my sketch pad and pencils in hand and started to create what I saw. I had a couple of people approach me to see what I was doing and since I’m not the greatest artist in the world, I felt like I wanted to stop and run away! But, don’t mind about others or if you think that you can’t do it, everything you produce is your own creation and you should be proud of the finished article.
Life drawings – boat off of Koh Tao
Life drawings – Hillside accommodation
Start a Blog
Start a blog about your travels. I started my blog in 2013 after I had been travelling and was back in the UK for a couple of years. I kept a journal while I was away, so I had loads of material from my travels that I created into blog posts. Since then I haven’t stopped – I write about places I have been to and things I have done as well as thoughts that creep into my head now and again – like poems and a memorial for a friend who sadly passed away.
There is loads of inspiration all around you. Write about the things you see and do. Write about the people you meet. Write about the restaurants you visit and what you ate. Write about the places you visited and the feeling you had when you were there. Write about anything, the subjects are endless and it will serve as a digital record of your life and experiences. You could even use your photographs for story ideas or look in your books and find inspiration from their table of contents.
Start a Scrapbook
I did this when I went travelling. The day I left work, my team gave me a journal so I could record my travels. I wrote in it most days along with plane, train and bus tickets, photos, temple tickets, receipts, and museum pamphlets. It’s up to you what goes in your scrapbook, it’s your memento of where you went, what you saw, and what you did. Things are easily forgotten, so this is an ideal way to bring those memories flooding back.
Travel journal
Another idea is to buy a scrapbook, it doesn’t have to be big, and fill it with whatever inspires you – for me that was photography. I went through some old magazines and found pictures of art designs, fireworks, lanterns, beach and city scenes – things that I find interesting and ideas for my photography.
Photography inspiration book
Make a Travel Vision Board
Vision boards are a great way to keep you focused on achieving your goals. All you need to do is to think about what inspires or motivates you and pin or glue pictures or words onto a board. Once your board is complete, place it somewhere where you’ll see it every day and your wishes will be implanted into your mind and hopefully come true.
I made a travel vision board. I used coloured card to cut out the letters of the countries I want to go to, then glued them onto a separate sheet and put it in a frame. I did another one of countries I have been to and used my photographs to cut out the letters. They now sit side-by-side next to my bed, so I can see them every day.
Travel vision board
Who knows if the power of visualisation actually works – all I know is that Italy was one of the countries I wanted to go to and I went to Rome earlier this year! Regardless of whether it works, and I really hope it does, it’s a lot of fun putting a vision board together!
What creative things do you do?
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. ~Albert Einstein
The Changing Seasons post, inspired by the lovely Sarah at Secret Art Expedition and hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch. Here is my round up of things I got up to during March.
As I hadn’t been out exploring much since I got back from Sri Lanka, I took myself off to Chulachomklao Fort in Phra Samut Chedi District, around 29 km south of Bangkok. Getting there was fun, I only knew that I had to take the 145 bus to Pak Nam Market, then take a boat across the river, and, finally, a truck to the fort. It always seems a bit of an adventure when you don’t really know the way. I had to ask a couple of people to find the market and once I had located the truck, it dropped me off, right at the fort.
First up, the gun park which tells you the history of the guns, although the information was all in Thai, so I just had to wander around and imagine.
The Gun Park
This proud statue of King Rama V stands at the front of the fort.
King Rama V Statue
The disappearing guns were used only once in 1893 when the fort protected the sovereignty of Thailand from French invasion. They were designed to be hauled up by their hydro-pneumatic system for firing and lowered again afterwards.
H.T.M.S Maeklong was in service for 60 years and deployed during WWII. It was fun to scamper about on her decks!
H.T.M.S Maeklong
There’s a mangrove forest there too.
Mangrove Forest
I forgot that I had heard about the resident monkeys that live there until this one started walking towards me! I was a little nervous!
Just strolling!
But, thankfully, they didn’t pay me any attention and continued to play or groom each other, oblivious to my presence.
It was a great day out and, although the sea looked far from the usual images that you see in Thailand, it was good to get out and about.
The Gulf of Thailand
I made a video of all the beautiful birds that I saw in Sri Lanka, and, the best bit, I didn’t even have to leave the confines of my friend’s garden to see them. They greeted us with their song in the morning and it was just fabulous to hear them and see all the different species that visited throughout the day.
I was nominated for the Liebster Award by Nilla at Image Earth Travel for the work I do here on Talkingthailand. It’s always a joy to receive these nominations and it makes me feel happy and honoured that someone takes time out of their day to acknowledge me. Thank you again Nilla, it was very much appreciated.
At last, I picked up my sketch pad and drew something. Whenever I do this, I mean to do it more regularly, but I never get round to it. I should do it more because I love sitting down and creating something. This drawing is a copy of a painting I saw in an art gallery, but it has my own twist on it! It’s a combination of pencil, charcoal, and pastel crayons.
My Art
As well as showcasing my photographs on morrisophotography, I also upload my best shots to Viewbug, and I sometimes enter their free photo challenges. In March, I found out that 2 of my photos had been ranked in the top 50 and 1 in the top 80! When you consider the amount of people that enter these challenges, I was thrilled with this result!
Artistic Wildlife Photo Challenge-Ranked Top 50
Animal Families Photo Challenge-Ranked Top 50
Legs Photo Challenge-Ranked Top 80
I started watching Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, presented by Neil deGrasse Tyson. His passion and knowledge of the universe, evolution, science and much more just oozes through his silky voice. Everytime I watch it, it (he) makes me want to learn all that he knows. It really is a fantastic and mind-blowing show. I thoroughly recommend watching it, if you haven’t already!
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey Photo Credit: http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/tv/cosmos-a-spacetime-odyssey/
So, that’s my March done and dusted. I’m already having an awesome April, I hope you are too 🙂
If you would like to join me and the others in this challenge, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.
A found this idea on my friend’s blog. Check out Clare’s Cosmos
Here are just a few facts about me 🙂
What did you want to be when you were a kid? A vet and a soldier in no particular order. I couldn’t be a vet because I hate needles. God knows where the solider idea came from, but glad I didn’t pursue that career option
Which Friends character do you relate to most? Why? Phoebe; she’s creative, impulsive, curious, and open minded
Do you like your name? Why? Yes, because it’s the one I was given. But my mum told me years ago, she wished she’d called me Alex, after my granddad. I would have liked that. She was going to call me Sharon, but her family said “you can’t call her Sharon” (?), so I got Gillian
Are you messy or neat? Both, I’m messy when I work, but I generally like things to be in their place, although it doesn’t bother me if they aren’t
How tall are you? 5 foot 6 ½ inches
How tall were you when you were ten? I can’t remember
What is your guilty pleasure? Wine, but I never feel guilty when I’m drinking it
What are you saving money for now? To pay my credit card off, which is a never ending task (I must stop spending on it!) Then I will be saving to go travelling at the end of 2018
How many Pringles can you eat at once? I always stuff about 4-6 into my mouth
Tea or coffee? Black coffee, one teaspoon of sugar, once a day
Are you an introvert or extrovert? I’m both, it depends on the situation. When I was younger I loved being in the thick of things, but nowadays I like keeping myself to myself. I still have my moments though
What will be your Halloween costume this year? It won’t be anything, I hate fancy dress
Sweet or salty? Generally salty, but I have chocolate once in a blue moon, when I fancy it
Favorite social media? WordPress and Twitter
Who is the last person you kissed? That would be telling!
What is your favorite breakfast? At the moment, corn flakes and banana, but I love a good old English breakfast
When is your birthday? April 28
When did you start your blog? August 2013 and March 2015 (I have two blogs). I started my first blog because I wanted a place to document all the things I have done while travelling. The second is my photography blog, because I love taking photos and want to share them with everyone
What is your opinion on the Kardashians? I’m not interested in them
How would you describe your style? I would say I’m fairly stylish, but I don’t really follow fashion trends, if I do it’s a year or two after it’s been in fashion. I used to be a jeans and top kind of girl, but now I have extended my look to wear other clothes, like skirts and dresses. Overall, I’d say my style is simple, I know what I look good in and what I don’t
What color is your hair? Black
What color socks are you wearing? I hardly ever wear socks, it’s too hot where I live, but I love wearing furry socks when I go home to the UK in December, they’re so cosy
