Saturday, 31 January 2015

travelling alone

I had some time off work and I didn't want to spend it in my tiny town so I went to York for a couple of days because I'd never been!


-arrived and found myself getting a weird kick out of being completely disorientated. I got off the train and thought, "Ok. I don't have a map. Where am I?" but instead of that panicking me.. I really enjoyed it!


-got very lost





-watched Birdman and got talking to the guy next to me. He and his friend asked me if I'd join them for a drink and then we got hungry and ordered food and then ta da! I was having dinner with 2 strangers. (I didn't actually drink anything because YOUNG GIRL GETTING DRUNK IN UNKNOWN CITY, y'know? street smartz.) Birdman #1 was from Ghana, wrote free verse poetry and played table tennis. Birdman #2 was from Mauritius and apparently used to write a really angry film blog. 





-went into a traditional Japanese print gallery/shop and the lady took so much time explaining how the prints were made.





-in the afternoon I sat journaling in a cafe with sellotape and scissors, shredding pieces of paper but no one seemed to mind. The coffee lady gave me a tea on the house because I sat there for so long! 



-that night I watched The Theory Of Everything which was fine. It felt less acceptable to go and see that film alone, partly because I was sitting next to a couple who grossed me out with their public displays of affection.





-had breakfast with a life guard from Hong Kong who wore flip flops



-I saw a band play. This was COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone and I spent a while panicking in the toilet cubicle like WHAT AM I DOING HERE ALONE? WHY AM I HERE??? Then after cruisin' on the sidelines for a bit I actually went up to spoke to people which sounds like nothing but it was a Big Deal. I met a guy and we went for a drink in a pub that claimed to be Guy Fawkes' birthplace. He had recently gotten back from a year in Japan which was really interesting to hear about because that's kind of similar to what I'm thinking of doing after uni!




-the next morning I went for coffee with birdman #1 and then left york 4eva


4 comments:

  1. what a cool adventure! ahh this is so inspiring! I've always wanted to go to the cinema alone or to gigs alone but I always chicken out. Sounds like you had a great time, I should give it a go! btw I went to see Birdman too! what did you think of it?

    Aida
    xx

    http://sunshinesuperwoman.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. For some reason it's a lot easier to do when you're in another town/city? I'd feel uncomfortable if I was around people I vaguely knew. Perhaps that's just me? Birdman. BURDMAN. I loved the way it was shot! The drummer! It featured one of my favourite short stories too! SO much love for that movie. What about you?

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  2. I like all these snaps from your travels :) I really like exploring places alone sometimes. I think I've been doing it since I went to college, and I'm a bit more used to showing up to events alone and trying to meet people there, but it's always a bit awkward haha. But it's also really freeing! Plus you usually meet and talk with people you wouldn't normally.

    Your journal is really interesting. I used to collage so much and I don't anymore and I miss it. Hanging out in coffee shops, gluing things together or writing sounds so good to me right now.

    I hope you decide to venture out alone more often, I think you tend to see things differently when you don't have someone with you and that can be interesting.

    / okaythanksmaria

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    1. Thanks for this!

      When I go somewhere alone I always come away from the event feeling so much braver! I've found it can actually be enjoyable to put yourself out of your comfort zone every now and again.

      Thanks, I don't collage as much as I'd like to because it is SO time consuming and it's a lot easier to just scribble down thoughts instead. I find it really relaxing though so making time for it is always worth it!

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