Turning 30

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• Trains, a cathedral, make-up counters, beer and barbecue ribs with M in Manchester on my birthday-eve 
• Heading to my Mum's and unwrapping five early birthday presents
• Present number 5/30 from my Mum: "Laura loves to... travel", a DVD of our family holiday to California in 1998
• A midnight toast, with happy tears after seeing my Dad's smiling face and hearing his voice for the first time in years
• Serenaded awake at Mum's and opening cards with Stevie Wonder buffering its way out of M's phone
• Taking in the view at Liverpool's Panoramic with a champagne afternoon tea, a birthday treat from M
• Laughter and Thai food at Chaophraya 
• Delivering my first lecture as a 30 year old with a belly full of Tavern breakfast
• Making pin hole cameras to watch the solar eclipse in the alleyway
• Hiking to the top of Moel Famau in the rain, then warming up over a pub lunch 
• Relaxing at Ribby Hall and Spa with three of my favourite people in the world
• Opening present number 30/30 from my Mum before dinner at The Orangery: Tickets to see Fleetwood Mac (YAY!) in Manchester in June
• Heading to Blackpool for fish and chips and penny slots
• Spritzing myself with my new Diptique parfum and slipping on my new heels for a birthday night out 
• Watching a private screening of Pretty Woman at Cafe Tabac's cinema room, mojito in hand, surrounded by amazing friends
• Getting teary-eyed opening a 'Remember When' gift from my girlies
• Tucking into the delicious Hollywood themed birthday cake made by a friend at work
• Couching out with a big jug of water and The Killing the next day
• Seeing Toro y Moi in Manchester
• Catching the Eurostar with three friends for five nights of fun in Paris

I had an absolute blast celebrating my 30th birthday and the celebrations continue with trips away of the next few months and I'm looking forward to all of the lovely experiences I was treated to as gifts!

The Big Birthday Road Trip

So, it's booked. The big birthday USA road trip will definitely be happening this Summer. I am EXCITED. We'll fly over to the USA for three weeks, starting in Las Vegas and working our way across through Death Valley National Park, Yosemite National Park, Sonoma wine country, San Francisco, down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) over a few days to San Diego, before heading back up the coast for our final stop in Los Angeles.

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(I'm a bit in love with all of the cute place illustrations on suitcase-heart.com)

We've researched each place and booked each of our overnight stops independently, which has afforded us lots of flexibility in price and location. We toyed with the idea of booking as we travel but given the popularity of the PCH route, especially in the Summer months, we decided against it. The scenery, our itinerary and our bed will change drastically with each place we visit. We'll sleep in a room in one of the themed casino hotels in Vegas, sweat it out in a tent in the middle of the desert, hide food from bears in a forest tent cabin in Yosemite, guzzle wine by a fire pit at a tranquil bed and breakfast in Sonoma, head down to the beach from our private room at an airbnb.com apartment in Santa Monica, and swim in The Chamberlain's rooftop pool in 'WeHo'. I'm especially excited to spend two nights in this safari tent at El Capitan Canyon, just north of Santa Barbara. We're big fans of the film Sideways and plan to head to Bulleton and visit the Hitching Post!

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Daily question at the moment: 'What are you most excited about RIGHT NOW about our holiday?"

At this very moment, here are my top five: 

• hiking in Yosemite
• food trucks
• sunset over the Grand Canyon and remembering when I shared the view with my Dad in 2001
• wine tasting
• 4th July fireworks in San Diego 

If you want evidence of quite how distracting planning this trip has become, you can find my ever-growing Pinterest board here! 

Thirty Minus Four Weeks

It's four weeks until my thirtieth birthday. I've not posted about my 30 for Thirty progress for a while, but I have been crossing a few off here and there, and making plans to complete others over the coming months. One I've been working on since January is #13. Run a 10K. 

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I remember deciding to join a school friend when she signed up for the cross-country lunchtime club in Year 7. I quickly swapped it for choir and orchestra, preferring these to running around the local park in gym knickers. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy exercising and recognise all of its physical and psychological health-related rewards. I have just never been a runner and usually avoid the treadmill when I'm at the gym. For the past five years, I've gone almost weekly to an aqua run class which is brilliant and a great cardio workout, but the most I could run out of the swimming pool, before passing out, was probably around five minutes, and that would've been on a very good day! 

I fear 'run' a 10K might have been too optimistic as a 30 for Thirty goal, but I do really want to see what I can train my body to do. People say that it's a case of building it up slowly, not giving up after the first few painful, beetroot-faced runs. So, in the cold, windy days of January, I decided to start my slow build up. My sister-in-law suggested one of the many different 'couch to 10K' run programs and within the week I was on a treadmill at the gym faced with 9 repetitions of 1 minute run, 2 minute walk. For a runner, simple. For me, it was a daunting prospect. The poor man next to me had to put up with heavy breathing, sweating and muttered cursing. I was so pleased with myself afterwards!

Yesterday was the first session of week 5 and I'm impressed by the difference from day 1 to now. I never thought I'd see over 5K on my distance reader. Yesterday it read just under 6K, from a 46 minute effort (5 minute warm up walk, 5 minute cool down walk, and 9 reps of 3 run, 1 walk). I'm curious to know just how much I can push my lazy little body. I'm enjoying the buzz (afterwards, more than during!). As the nights get lighter I'll start running around the nearby park as I've been assured that it's easier to keep going for longer when you're outside. There's a Spring 10K in Liverpool in May and I'm really tempted to sign up and see what I can manage. 

30 for Thirty: No#17 Eat Something I've Never Tried Before

I do enjoy tasty food and, after last year's flavour adventure in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, I wanted to set myself the challenge of eating at least one new dish. I definitely did this in Indonesia this Summer. I ate new savouries and sweets. Here's a few photographs as evidence that I can tick this 30 for Thirty item off the list:

1. Seafood: Barramundi and mahi-mahi 

I was really excited to try "barra" and mahi-mahi on Gili Trawangan after dribbling in front of the TV for so many episodes of Australian MasterChef. 

2. An Indonesian pot-luck plate

This was a tasty dish I ordered at a little warung on Lembongan. I've no idea what exactly was in it, but it tasted good and I'm pretty positive there was at least one thing in it I'd not tried before.

3. Indonesian nasi campur

I cannot remember whether I tried nasi campur in Sri Lanka, but I'd not had Indonesian nasi campur so I'm counting it as another new dish! This was my nasi campur breakfast our hotel in Ubud. I did wimp out and avoid the spicy sambal at 8am, though.

I am sure my adventures in food with continue but I'm not sure that I'll be on such beautiful islands eating any time soon!

30 for Thirty: No#6 Learn to Ski

I've grown up feeling quite afraid of skiing. Watching school friends come back from trips to the dry ski slope with bruised skin, broken arms and other injuries put me off. My brother and I share this fear. Before my trip to Bali, we faced our fears together and signed up for a beginners ski session at Chill Factore, a real snow indoor ski slope in Manchester. Truthfully, I bought him a voucher as a gift to encourage him along with me. "We'll be fine!", I assured him, trying desperately to assure myself at the same time.

The Chill Factore was pretty quiet when we arrived as it was their off-season period. We hired trousers and jackets, took our own gloves, and were provided with boots and skis as part of our lesson. We were measured for our boots, given our winter weather gear and directed to the waiting benches. Our instructor arrived, told us what to expect and then we entered the -2 degrees indoor ski area as part of a class of around 8. The whole operation is well organised and leaves you with plenty of time to work on your nerves.

How was it? Oh my word - skiing is difficult! We were only on the beginners slope, which probably had the same incline as some people's driveways. Sidestepping up after every awkward downhill tumble took some effort. Gliding definitely did not come naturally to me. Falling and slipping seemed to feature a lot and at the end of the lesson after one and a half hours of effort-full sidesteps and a soggy bum, I felt quite defeated. Pretty sure that my brother and I were the worst in our class (and I'm not so good with not being good at something!). One woman decided to call it a day after one sidestep up the slop, so I felt that at least I'd given it a good go.

I'm really glad that I signed up for this lesson and faced my fear, and it was a great experience to have shared with my brother. I'm not sure I'd hurry back for beginners level 2 but if M did bring up a skiing holiday again I might not be quite so resistant to the idea. Another tick off the list.

30 for Thirty: No#19 Swim Alongside a Turtle

On honeymoon, we learnt to scuba dive in the Maldives and we were desperate to see a turtle. No luck. Last Summer, we went diving in Thailand on Koh Tao, also known as Turtle Island. No turtles. This year, we widened our search to Bali and the Gilis.

Hoorah! 2014 is our year for seeing turtles. So many wonderful hawksbill and green sea turtles in their natural environment. We snorkelled with them and dived alongside them. What graceful, magical things they are. While diving Shark Point, off Gili Trawangan, we saw two enormous guys which our dive master guessed were around 80 years young.

Here are some of my new friends caught on camera*!

 

*Photos taken using GoPro Black Hero 3+, no filter (definitely investing in a red filter for our next trip)

I am so pleased to be able to cross this one of my list! 

30 for Thirty: No#2 Advanced Diving Qualification

No#2 on my 30 for thirty list was to pass my next level of scuba diving certification. Scuba diving has become a bit of a holiday passion for me. I love that I can use equipment to breathe underwater and explore a completely different environment. I'm a tropical water wimp, though. I've not tried dry suit diving in the UK, though a colleague did try to tempt me to dive the Mersey. Not tempted, yet!

Unintentional, "Is this thing on?" photo

Most dive schools offer courses designed by one, or both, of two main dive organisation: PADI and SSI. Our open water was a PADI qualification. Once you're open water qualified, you can start to complete your advanced open water (PADI) or advanced adventurer (SSI) certification. My advanced is SSI. From my perspective, there's little difference, though one thing I liked with SSI is that you receive your diving qualification card there and then. For both certification programs, this involves trying out five dive specialities, including a deep dive to 30m and a navigation dive, and three more from a range of different specialities. You receive information briefings for each but, unlike the open water, there are no chapters to memorise or tests to pass. After the advanced adventurer, the next step in the scuba diving journey would be to take a full course in any of the specialities and gain the speciality diver certification.

At Shark point with Mango Dive

We started our SSI advanced adventurer with Manta Dive, a large and professional dive school in Gili Trawangan. I chose to complete a night dive, which was actually pretty horrible experience for me, a nitrox dive and one which aims to perfect your underwater buoyancy. After the five dives, I was awarded my advanced adventurer certification and felt much more confident about my diving. M had a little trouble equalising so decided to rest his ears for a few days and, thankfully, was able to complete his certification once we reached Nusa Lembongan. We booked diving and accommodation with World Diving (amazing diving experience - can't recommend them enough). I tagged along on Matiss' final advanced adventurer dives. He took advantage of Lembongan's crazy currents and completed a drift dive and an underwater naturalist speciality where we learnt more about the marine life and how to identity the beautiful fish. I also did a fun dive with Mango Dive and Bungalows, where we'd stayed on Gili Trawangan, after completing my advanced adventurer. I'd definitely recommend Mango Dive, another smaller dive shop, if you're diving on Gili T.

Nemo, poking out of his anemone. Gili Trawangan

Over the dives we saw stunning marine life. The corals in Nusa Lembongan, in particular, were breathtaking- so unspoilt and vibrant. We treated ourselves to a GoPro but the photos are actually a bit rubbish. I think we'll buy a red filter to keep some of the colour at depth, next time. Photographic reminders, or not, my dive log is full of sightings of tropical fishes, like angel fish, bat fish, butterfly fish,  parrot fish, lots of Moorish idols, and anemone fish (Nemos!) and then puffer fish, porcupine fish, boxfish, scorpion fish, octopus, cuttlefish, lion fish, sea snakes, mantis shrimps, giant travallies, sea stars, colourful nudibranch, sea cucumbers, sea stars, juvenile white tip reef sharks and a massive black tip shark (amazing!) and SO MANY SEA TURTLES! Sadly, the currents in Nusa Lembongan meant we couldn't visit the dive sites where we'd have almost certainly seen manta rays and we were also a little early to see the mola molas. Boo. Next time, Lembongan, next time.

30 for Thirty: No#23 Watch an Opera

I love a good trip to the theatre; I'm a massive fan of musicals and love a well scripted play. I'd never experienced opera, though. It had been a 'I'd love to do that, one day' and so I decided to add it to the list of things I wanted to do before turning thirty.  Discounted tickets to see Puccini's La Bohème at Manchester's Lowry theatre? Hey-hey, a great opportunity to cross this experience off my bucket list- tickets for me and M in the shopping basket.

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We started the night with a bit of dinner and fizz at Pizza Express, which gave us a chance to talk about what we expected from the performance. It turned out we were both feeling pretty nervous about watching an opera. We both deliberately avoiding reading about the story. Would we enjoy it? Would we understand what was happening on stage? Would voices be too shrill? Would we want to leave at the intermission?

Thankfully, it was yes, yes, no, and no! The production of La Bohème from Opera North was excellent (-of course, I've got no comparison but I loved it!). Its story was romantic, energetic and and full of 'carry on' style humour. At the same time, it was raw and heartbreaking. The music was beautiful. I used the cheat sheet text screens which sided the stage to better understand the specifics of what was being said but I think that what went on on stage would've given me all I really needed. I'd heard that La Bohème was a good 'introductory' opera and, having now seen it, I'd agree. I would definitely like to try another opera, perhaps Madame Butterfly. Here's some 'evidence' from my #30forThirty opera trip.

Are you a lover of opera? I'd love to hear your recommendations about what I should book for my next opera trip!

30 for Thirty. My Bucket List

It's very nearly my 29th birthday (yay!). I love reading 'life' and wanderlust lists on other blogs. I'm a list making sort of person day to day, so it seemed fitting to create my own list of things I'd love to try and places I'd love to visit before my 30th birthday. 

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Here's my "30 for Thirty" list:

• Explore my own city
• Pass my advanced open water diving qualification
• Finally visit Portmerion Village 
• Make homemade pecan pie
• Join a book club
• Learn to ski
• Knit something 
• Get a first author research paper accepted for publication
• Learn how to meditate
• Visit Anglesey
• Volunteer my time to a cause that matters to me
• Learn how to take better photographs
• Run a 10K
• Attend a walk through or open air theatre performance
• Visit Marrakesh
• See a performance at the Shakespeare Globe in London
• Eat something I've never tried before
• Sing in front of a crowd
• Swim alongside a turtle
• Re-learn how to play the flute 
• (Successfully) Make macarons from scratch
• Stay in the Scottish Highlands
• Watch an opera
• Sleep in a cottage by the sea 
• Host a five course dinner party
• Take a flower arranging course
• Dance until sunrise
• Make a new friend
• Own a pair of killer court shoes
• Watch a movie at a drive in theatre

So there it is. 30 things I'd like to try to experience before I turn 30. I'll have a year and a little bit to work my way through as many as I can. I'm not putting pressure on myself. I just wanted to encourage myself to make a little more time for the things I want to experience. It'll make for a fun year and a half, I can tell! 

I'm off to get started...