| Real Gap Experience Blog

Posts written by: Real Gap Experience Blogger

The Real Gap Experience Blogger is an account to share great content from people who have first hand knowledge of travelling with Real Gap Experience. Writer credit will be given on the individual blogs.

Fancy writing a blog on your trip? Get in touch at [email protected]

 

Tue, 01/26/2016 - 12:24 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

We catch up with the brilliant Gemma White to discuss her experience volunteering in Cambodia. Gemma got involved in the much needed educational projects based in Phnom Penh, providing a brighter and more prosperous future to disadvantaged children. ...

Tue, 12/08/2015 - 11:33 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

This blog post comes from the brilliant Sophie Maddern, a keen traveller with an awesome Instagram profile @justanotherhappytraveller - it's definitely worth checking out!

Sophie is currently travelling with Real Gap Experience (yeah buddy!) hitting up...

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 16:18 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger
Now that our current Ultimate Year Out girls have started their epic travels, our 2012/3 blogger Sophie has started to relive some of her adventures. First it's time for the penguin lowdown from two of our favourite cities, Cape Town and Melbourne!
 
As a child, I used to have a Pingu hot water bottle- but really it was more of a cuddly toy, that accompanied me everywhere I went. It kept me warm during the depths of winter and remained pride of place...
Thu, 07/04/2013 - 16:06 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Hiya guys! Two weeks ago I left Asia and flew my way over to the stunning South Africa...

Ever know the feeling when you've been invited to a party, you don't want to go (but you feel like you have to), then you do go and you have the best time of your life?!?! This is exactly how I felt about South Africa. After 11 months on the road travelling for Real Gap I was missing my home comforts: a washing machine, a bed, a wardbrobe, my mum! But like the...

Mon, 06/17/2013 - 15:20 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

So we finally arrived on the beautiful island of Koh Phangan! We are met off the boat by people from our hotel, who prove themselves as true diamonds by taking our luggage off our weary hands! We arrived at the hotel that Real Gap have provided us with and its clear that we are in a little piece of heaven at the beautiful Mac Bay Hotel. Here, not only do we have our own private pool, but we also have a bar and restaurant overlooking our own private beach!...

Wed, 06/12/2013 - 15:08 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger
Hi guys! For the next part of my diary, I wanted to fill you in on the volunteering part of the Thailand Experience...
 
We were staying in the north of Thailand- Sangkhalburi during our volunteering stint, and there are a large number of poorer people living in the area. I wanted to be able to understand their hardships and their stories, so I chose the community option when I was booked onto the trip. ...
Mon, 06/03/2013 - 10:11 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

After the craziness of Bangkok, it was time to pack out rucksacks and get on the road to discover the 'Real Thailand'... 

We got picked up just outside our hotel (such a luxury- definitely preferable than dragging your heavy bags through the streets, begging for a Tuk Tuk that won't rip you off!) by a coach that looked like it was made by the Barbie Factory. On the outside, it had cartoon...

Wed, 05/29/2013 - 11:05 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

I've been visiting temples galore during my time on the Thailand Experience, so thought it was about time I filled you in on what I've seen so far!

In a country where (according to the last census) 94.6% of the population described themselves as Buddhist, you would be correct in thinking that Thailand is littered with stunning temples and shrines. Wherever you go, be it a small rural town, a motorway service station, or deep in the heart...

Mon, 05/20/2013 - 09:26 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

If you're booked on to go on the Thailand Experience, one thing you'll try during your time in Thailand is a Thai cookery lesson. The dishes we made were SO yummy, so I thought I'd share the recipes with you!

There are two things that I can guarantee you'll hear about travelling in Thailand- 1) "OMG, it is so cheap!" and 2) "OMG, the food is so good".  After spending a few days in Bangkok, we'd already had the chance to experience the...

Thu, 05/16/2013 - 15:14 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Now my posts on the good old Aus are coming to a close, I thought I'd recap on where, and what I think is best in Australia!

Best City: Melbourne

This really is the most liveable but most jaw dropping city I have ever had the pleasure to experience. Everything works so well here. Despite being voted the 4th most expensive city in the world (it has leapfrogged 5th place Sydney) there are always things to do to keep...

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 10:04 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Hi guys! I've spent nine months in Australia over the past year, so thought I'd spread my travel wisdom over to any of you who plan to hit the Australia!

Greyhound Pass: 

We, like many travellers, decided to take the decision to grab a Greyhound pass to go down the East Coast. This is a fantastic option, as there is multiple packages you can choose from, either doing...

Fri, 05/10/2013 - 15:41 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Hi, it's Sophie here! I've arrived in Thailand now (I'm on the epic Thailand Experience!) but before I start on all things Thai, I want to catch up with you and let you know about one of my favourite places in Aus, the Whitsundays!

So The Whitsundays are probably the numero uno thing to do whilst you're travelling along the East Coast, and for good reason too! You’ve worked your way around various jobs...

Thu, 05/02/2013 - 16:21 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Hi there Real Gappers, it's Sophie here! I'm just about to leave Australia to head to Thailand, but I thought I'd catch up with you guys on my time in the beautiful Byron Bay first!

Talk to any other traveller down the East Coast of Aus and they will tell you that one of the places you must see is Byron Bay, the land of the hippie for Australia. With such a legendary name to live up to, I was expecting peace signs and tee-pees all over...

Mon, 04/15/2013 - 16:01 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Hi everybody, it's Sophie here! We're just travelling around Northern Aus at the moment- and last week we went to the Great Barrier Reef!

Greenpeace has sternly stated ‘the next generation may never experience the majesty and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, which is under threat from warmer seas and ocean acidity’- In translation, if you want to see one of nature’s greatest triumps and the worlds largest organism (which, along...

Fri, 04/05/2013 - 10:21 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

It's Sophie here! As I've been in Aus for the last six months I'm starting to get to know some of the bigger cities pretty well now, and I remember thinking it was really hard to think what to pack just before I left. So to help you guys out- here are my top tips for what to pack in Aus!

Passport- Check. Visa, Check. Tickets, Check. Mother's credit card for emergencies... 

Listed above are all...

Thu, 04/04/2013 - 10:21 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Hi there, it's Real Gap Experience blogger Sophie here! I've absolutely loved my time in Melbourne, but since I'm now moving on to explore the East Coast, I thought I'd share the arty photos taken by my awesome mates in the city...

Melbourne is known as the 'indie' capital of Aus. Here, they are so conscious about remaining the 'Kings of Cool' that they have a geekish ruthlessness in protecting their hipster image. Coffee is made with syphons, and buskers are note...

Tue, 02/26/2013 - 16:04 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Who fancies a good old fashioned countdown? Hi there, it's Sophie again from NZ- and today I'm going to give you guys a top five of the stunning New Zealand!

5. Christchurch

After the destructive force of the Christchurch earthquake back in 2011, the whole city is re-emerging and the sense of community spirit is clear to see. As part of the re-development...

Tue, 02/19/2013 - 16:26 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

Hi, it's Sophie here! Today on the RG blog, I'm going to be talking about my diving experiences...

When travelling to Aus, you think of three things:

1. The Sydney Opera House
2. The Sydney Harbour Bridge
3. The Great Barrier Reef!

As we were due to see the Bridge and the Opera House in the upcoming weeks, we decided the only logical thing to do when we were on Magnetic was to go and visit the Reef. With some boat companies you...

Thu, 09/27/2012 - 16:40 BY Real Gap Experience Blogger

 

As I stepped out of the airport into the thick Indian air, I was immediately covered in sweat, even though it was six in the morning. I was met by my RealGap representative, Amit, who was going to be my guide for the next month. We shook hands and he was very polite, as I would soon find out, most Indians are. He took my bags, loaded them into the car and we...