It seems like more and more people are doing study exchanges, moving abroad, and travelling nowadays. This is great! I LOVE people going and seeing the world. In travelling, moving abroad people can make lifetime international friends around the globe.
I LOVE people going and seeing the world
If you’re like me and have friends or even family that live abroad. Then I’m sure you know that it can be hard to keep in contact with all of them. So, I’ve shared some tips on how to stay in touch with your international friends.
I have been doing this for more than six years now so I would say I have done pretty well. Follow these, and you will be absolutely beautiful!
Make Good use of Social Media
I have all my international friends and family on all my socials, this includes Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and whatever else there is! Use these tools to your own advantage.
They are relatively easy to use and free (as long as you have internet). It can also be used at any time of the day, month and year. I like to watch my friends and families stories. It sparks up conversation, rather than the long-winded how are you and hi conversations.
Treat WhatsApp Like Your Best Friend
Use WhatsApp to make calls and message of course! Why I like this app is because you can send voice notes, which can make someone feel like they are right next to you. The app is pretty much free as long as you have internet! The time difference might be a significant pain in the neck – so I would suggest making time for your friends or family. Book in a time when you can speak. Or message them they will get it when they wake up.
If you’re like me, you sleep with your phone in your hand (literally) so are always awake to speak to your loved one.
The other two are being pretty obvious things to do, but this is the best tool I can give you. I have been meeting one of my international friends every year since my study exchange in Singapore. That was in 2013. We have met in several countries around the world, which has been amazing to catch up. Read – 8 Things To Know Before Studying Abroad.
Pay them a visit
Me in New York I visited my friend Ivy
Why not head over and pay them a visit? I love having international friends because it means I have several countries to visit and get this – accommodation is free! I recently went to New York and was able to stay with my friend that now lives in Manhattan! I’m also lucky to have family that live in Nigeria and a Dad that lives in the states. Free accommodation!
Send Christmas Cards or Postcards
I only started this last year, and it seemed to work out really well. It can be quite expensive, but if you can send them why not? I live in the UK (London), so I sent Christmas cards that had a London Theme. It’s an excellent small token gift for your loved ones.
Do you have international friends? How do you keep in contact with them?
I hadn’t planned to do a video for my Coachella experience until a few people asked me where’s the video. So I thought let me gather some videos from my snapchat and create a little MBV video.
So does that mean MyBreakingViews is BACK ?? Yes MyBreakingViews is back for GOOD and has so so much planned for you!
Keep watching and I hope you enjoy the vlog. As always don’t forget to subscribe for my travel and lifestyle vlogs.
So much has been happening since my last post! The World Cup, Super Eagles 2018 World Cup Jersey sold out in half an hour. Coachella pre-sale tickets have already sold out! If you are going this next year make sure to read my post on.Coachella 2018 – What is it? Booking Flights, Festival Tickets & Hoteland Royal Ascots are just around the corner
Although I won’t be attending the Ascots this year, simply because I have made myself a rule, which is to try something new every year. I went to the Royal Ascots in 2017, an event that brings out the most elegant outfits and engages people from around the globe. The event was absolutely amazing, I enjoyed every single minute of it and I thought it would be good to share my top tips on the day itself!
Wear comfy shoes
This is no joke! The friend I went with hates people taking their shoes off during a day or night out. So I wore my old shoes to ensure comfortability. I suck at wearing heels and at one point had to take them off. Luckily my friend felt sorry for me and didn’t complain. My advice for this type of event would be get yourself a pair of wedges. They don’t look as nice as heels with a dress. However, they are so much comfier than a pair of heels trust me.
Don’t be afraid to gamble
I was the person that was afraid to gamble, which never made any sense as I was only going to the ROYAL ASCOTS!!!! Now I am not saying spend all your hard earn cash! Budget! Set yourself a budget and stick to it because, boy oh boy you can get carried away.
Have a big breakfast
Make sure you give yourself a good start to the day with a big breakfast! Especially if you’re planning on drinking. I caught the train with my friend from Waterloo Station. As it was Royal Ascot day. Waterloo station was heaving with people in elegant dresses and suits. So I didn’t have time to pick up some food. By the time we got there all I wanted to do is eat. Let me tell you now that the food isn’t cheap so make sure you fill your stomach up.
Buy a Race Card
Silly me! I didn’t buy a race card not realising it was a big mistake. My friend was the smart one and paid the extra £4.50, which I believe helped her on the day. The race card gives you all the information you need to know about the races, horses and jockey. And anything else that is happening on the day.
Welcome to the first entry of the MyBreakingViews Travel Diaries. I took this idea from one my fave travel bloggers Wanderlust Calls, check out her Black Girl Travel Diaries!!
So
why have I decided to choose Coachella? Well it’s simple it has been
the only place that I have been that is real time. Let me explain, it
has been the only place that I have been too that (except Nigeria) I
have written about while I am still travelling. You know most of the
time I come back home (England) reflect ask people what they would like
me to write about – no one ever applies and so I write what I want.
I
wanted to write this post in the real time because I wanted you to see
how different and open I can be when I’m abroad. You may not see it
through my writing or my video below but me telling you should be a
start.
So here goes my first real time travel diaries – I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to sharing more with you.
Please note I will be sharing old Travel Diaries but I wanted this to be the first.
I had planned to write while I was at Coachella (yeah – like that was ever going to happen). This was a very good idea at the time but then I realised I was enjoying myself way too much and just like that it turned out that I didn’t do a damn thing. Well, I did do something I ate good American food (Bubble Gum Shrimp try it), enjoyed the festival; gambled in Vegas; explored Arizona and caught a good old tan. (I do love catching a tan).
It’s been about a month since I went to Coachella and the reason why I haven’t written anything is simply that I have been debating what I should write about first. I asked my lovely followers what they wanted to hear first between Vegas and #Beychella! I knew the answer was going to be Beychella, but I always like to hear from you guys first. It’s always important for me that I deliver content that you value!! I am pretty sure I will have to write a few articles about the festival itself, so if I haven’t covered everything you want to know, be sure to put your requests in the comments section below!
Since I have been back from America, the question I get asked is “how was COACHELLA” LOL! My immediate response is and always will be that “it was AMAZING”, because it if I’m honest it really was. Coachella in one word was amazing. Now don’t get me wrong there are several other words I can use to explain how the festival was, but I wanted MyBreakingViewers to be the first to know my actual initial thoughts. Now, before I get into the glitz and glam, I thought it would be good to give a personal overview of what Coachella is because I don’t expect everyone to know.
SIDE NOTE: Even if you do know what Coachella is, it may still be useful for you to read this section because I share some general tips for the event itself!
I
like to think all my readers know what Coachella is, but if you don’t
do not worry… because MyBreakingViews is going to explain it all to
you….
Coachella
is a huge festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. The festival
itself goes on for three days (Fri – Sun). There are two weekends, of
which I attended the second week. People often have asked me was I
prepared for the second week being that I saw the first week on social
media. The answer to that my dear friends, is no. Watching the
performances on social media, online whatever the platform, is
completely different to experiencing it in person. Trust me!
YThe event has different artist perform at different stages, the Coachella stage being the main stage for headliners (on this occasion it was artists like The Weeknd, Kygo, Beyoncé, Eminem, Cardi B etc.) All other artists are spread around the polo ground. (To give you a more visual idea, for those of you that live in the UK – its like a 3-day Wireless concert but with lots of heat!)
How was Coachella?
As I said before the event was AMAZING. I was in 45 degrees heat daily (I adore the sun). I saw most of my fave artist, was able to explore LA for the first time. Catch a bus to Vegas for a few days and see the famous Grand Canyon.
Coachella provided me with so many opportunities. This of course was only because I wasn’t about to take an 11-hour flight for just the weekend. BUT and there is always a BIG but… I must be honest with my readers and tell you that the event is also extremely exhausting!!! You are constantly on your feet for 6-9 hours a day (this can be dancing, walking to another stage for the next performance). Not to mention you are on the desert, so when the sand starts to blow around your breathing this in and to make matters worst you are dehydrated because of the heat. Tip.. make sure to have something that covers your face like a bandana.
This, of course, is honestly not to put you off, I would never want to that because it really is a lifetime experience that I would recommend for anyone to go too. We have to enjoy ourselves and create long-lasting memories. The performances where just OH MY GOSH I saw The Weeknd (old time fave), Daniel Ceaser, SZA, Khalid (my new crush), Kygo, Ibeyi, Migos, Miguel, HAIM, 6LACK, Cardi B not to mention the incredible Beyonce!!!
Booking Coachella….
I purchased my ticket on 5th January 2018. I’m not sure when the next sale date will be but I will keep an eye out. I had no single idea what I was doing next LOL. People think I plan my holidays … I wish I did, I would most properly save a considerable amount of money! I honestly just do things on a whim and hope for the absolute best and usually, I get that! *Clean hearts always win*
Anyways, I must remind myself not to drift!!
The festival ticket cost me around $504 dollars (I can’t remember the exact figure sorry guys!) which roughly worked out around £373. The tickets without the shuttle bus sold out quickly (but are cheaper). Second tip guys…. if you are going to organise your own travel, my advice to you would get on the website on time and have more than one person looking! The website www.coachella.com is straight forward but the tickets sell fast. I met people that got a taxi of Uber from Palm Springs, which worked out around $40 dollars a day. If you know someone that can drive then this could also work out, but then you must think about who’s going to drive and parking etc.
Shuttle Bus
I know the shuttle bus picks people up from Los Angeles, but as I was staying in Palm Springs; it’s something you would have to research. LA is quite far from Indio, so I would suggest staying close to the festival as possible. After walking 6 hours in 35 – 40 degrees you are completely exhausted, and your feet are in so much pain. Word of advice ladies wear comfy shoes! I saw ladies in heels which is a a big NO NO! And when I say comfy, don’t go and buy Dr Martens like me 2 days prior your leavening date, thinking you can rock them all day. It does NOT work!!
I
ended up purchasing the ticket with the shuttle bus, which in my
opinion worked out well because we had a shuttle bus that picked us up
every day, dropped us back home and it was only an 8 min walk from our
hotel! I liked the shuttle bus because it was another expense that I
didn’t have to think about, whilst you’re out there you must think about
buying food and importantly staying hydrated, which is another expense.
I also met some lovely people on the bus, which was nice and with a
British accent, it’s always very easy to make friends.
Booking Flights…
You would never believe that it didn’t occur to me that I would need to buy clothes, book a hotel and yeah of course FLIGHTS. You guys know how much I love Skyscanner right? If you don’t get to know. I have used them for pretty much every holiday I have gone too. They should really start paying me!
I was able to get a fight for £480 which was good considering I didn’t book my flight until two weeks prior to the event. Hey, now before you judge me… I’m very lastminute.com when it comes to flying out. I was also contemplating if I should go because of the expense, but I realised if I booked earlier I would have said saved so much money. Another tip… if I was you, I would book my flight in Feb I saw flights for £250 pounds just didn’t purchase because I thought I could get it cheaper. Guys get that barging quick!
I
would also suggest planning where else you are going to go… depending
where you are coming from that is. If you are coming from outside
America, you are looking at a 6 -12 flight, so its worth exploring LA
or other states around the West Coast. I went to Vegas and Arizona for a
few days (route 66), but I will save the stories for another post.
Can’t give everything away, now can I?
Booking The Hotel…
My friend pre-booked the hotel and we paid when we got there. We stayed in Courtyard by Marriott Palm Springs, which was about 40 mins drive from Indio. I met people that camped, but I personally wouldn’t camp in such heat. I like to take my make up off, have a nice shower and have a bed at the end of the night. That is just me. You may want to camp, but I don’t think it’s any cheaper.
There
are also Airbnb options, which I know a few people also used. I’ve
heard horror stories of people getting kicked out or worst case the
booking gets cancelled last min. I’m sorry I need a bed, so I can’t
afford for such events!! I would say, it’s best to agree where you want
to stay with whoever you are going with, then agree how far you want to
be from the festival, then work out the costs and book from there.
Please note.
that although the event itself is quite an expense; it’s not always the
best option to go for the cheapest method. I much rather
comfortability. I didn’t realise how drained I would be from walking
around all day. So, take the advice that you will need to re-charge.
I
hope I’ve answered most of questions and if I haven’t, be sure to leave
a comment below and I will make sure another post answers your
questions!
In the meantime, SHARE YOUR TIPS!!! Is there any festivals you’ve been to that you can suggest to MyBreakingViews.
