Postcard Journeys: North Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

I have been living in Bangor, North Wales for the past one year! Whilst studying for my Master's, I have had the privilege of visiting a few spots, including Garth Pier, and the beautiful beach at Colwyn Bay numerous times. Often, when I have literally spent so much energy and time redrafting my assignments, revisiting recorded lectures/seminars, or even preparing for end of semester exams, I find comfort in spending some time in nature. For those of you who have lived/travelled across North Wales, you will know for sure how scenic and immaculate the views are. Although I am an avid solo-traveller, I also enjoy travelling with my sister! So, a couple of weeks ago, we decided to dedicate a couple of days for exploring North Wales, and it definitely was a well-earned break from my dissertation write-up!.

The castle that you see above, is Conwy Castle. It really is SPECTACULAR. We started of our journey by visiting Conwy and Llandudno. Honestly, it felt like we were a world away! Travelling really does help you to bring some magic, power, and love into you life. I believe that it is a way of nurturing your soul with happiness, peace, and hope. Travelling gives you something to look forward to, a path for you to celebrate and make memories. We soaked in the sun, as we made our way around the cobbled streets of Conwy. The high street was packed with cute lil shops, bursting with all things welsh. Asides from the Castle, we had a walk around the Quay, popped into the 'White Bakery' and went to see the smallest house in Great Britain! Towards the end, we treated ourselves to afternoon tea at 'Upstairs at Anna's'.

The memories that we made on that day were insane. Throughout the journey, I reflected on how grateful I am for the life that I was living, and that's exactly why I love travelling so much. It helps me to practice gratitude and be present. In our day-to-day lives, it can be extremely difficult to be fully present, and this is why, travelling is a great way of shifting focus from the struggles and worries of life to the magic of living in the present. And, when you're with people who give you tons of positivity and fun, the journey becomes sweeter! Even if it's just for a day, visiting a new place and seeing new things can help nourish our soul. On our way back from Conwy, I fondly remembered the pretty 'White Bakery' that we had popped into a few hours earlier. I could still smell the coffee and taste the warm, sweet pastry in my mouth. The simplicity of that place had captured my heart. Pots of tea, colourful slices of cake, pastries, and coffee. Bliss.

In the following days, we visited Caernarfon and the beautiful village of Portmeirion - a true Italian oasis in the heart of North Wales. It was magical. It was there that I met with the statue of Buddha. I have always been passionate about ancient eastern philosophy and meditation. I was reminded of one of my most favourite quotes upon seeing the statue of Buddha:

"In the end,

only three things matter:

how much you loved,

how gently you lived,

and how gracefully

you let go of things

not meant for you.

~ Buddha

I reflected how difficult it can be to let go of things that are precious to us, and it does require an immense amount of strength and courage. However, in the long run, letting go of things not meant for you, will give you a sense of peace and calm. The days that my sister and I spent together were one of the best days of our lives. From Conwy to Portmeirion, the fun, laughter, and memories that we made will last a lifetime. Although I only have two months left in Bangor, I will surely be returning sometime in the future to reminisce the memories and treat myself to a cup of delicious coffee from my favourite cafe in N' Wales.