It isn’t really our 4-year blogging anniversary, but for a few moments, let’s just pretend. The event itself came and went last October without so much as a whiff of celebration, or even acknowledgement. Something to do with the fact we were enjoying ourselves in South America and had more important things to think about. Like drinking pisco sour, eyeing up sloths and trying to avoid the Pope. Plus we’d just moved house days before we went away (great timing as always) and have been super busy these past few months, nesting up here in the North Lakes. And arguing about colour schemes, wondering why two people have so much stuff, and warily contemplating the garden that is crying out for attention but isn’t likely to receive it any time soon.
Changes behind the scenes
So we’ve been at this blogging thing for 4 (and, ahem, a big bit) years, and it’s been quite a journey. Most notably this year has seen Hubbie take a more active role behind the scenes, something that has both relieved and terrified me at the same time. It’s a difficult thing, relinquishing control of your baby – because that’s what the blog is – and I wasn’t sure that working so closely with each other would be good for either of us. I have my ways, and he has his ideas, and often the two don’t collide. However I think we’ve found a system that works. He does his thing. I tweak it. Everyone is happy!
So as well as being chief photographer, Hubbie produces all our YouTube videos – if you haven’t seen them, check them out – writes gear reviews and giveaways, and is even taking over some of our social media postings. We’ve got some pinterest training scheduled for this weekend, but seeing as he’s managed to get out of it for the past few weeks I feel some bribery may be required.
Chocolate should do it.
My new job
One of the reasons Hubbie has been strong-armed into working more on the blog is because I’ve landed myself a new job, and need to fully concentrate on that for a while until I find my feet. I rarely talk about my day job as I like to keep my two ‘lives’ separate, but it’s because of the blog that I’m moving on, so it feels appropriate to mention it here!
It was a super tough decision to leave my last job. I’d been there over 11 years, it was a fabulous place to work (a country estate with its own lake in the middle of nowhere and lots of free cake!) and my colleagues were like family. Yet I felt I was stagnating. There was zero opportunity for promotion or personal development, and I was unhappy with the direction in which the business was heading. I liked the easy life, but didn’t want to still be there another decade down the road. I’ve always had ants in my pants, so when this new opportunity popped up it seemed like the stars were aligned. If you believe in that sort of rubbish.
As with my previous role this one is part-time so I can continue to work on CT, but unlike my old job, it’s in the travel industry. Focusing on Africa. Whoop! I only started a few weeks ago so it’s still new, terrifying and exciting, and I’ve yet to decide whether it was the right decision or not. I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going, and if you want a super-duper safari holiday, you know where to come!!
READ THIS: An out of this world safari in the Masai Mara
What we’ve been up to
The last year has been a departure from the norm for us travel-wise. Much as we adore Morocco and South East Asia, we felt it was time to do something a little different. Both in terms of landscape and culture. Which is how we ended up spending time with real-life warriors in Kenya, staying at colonial tea plantations in Sri Lanka, sleeping in a treehouse in the Amazon Rainforest, hiking an unknown part of the Inca Trail, being dazzled by gold in Colombia, and driving vintage cars in the Caribbean. The Amazon was a definite highlight, partly because it’s been a dream of mine since I was 13, and even the bugs and the intolerable heat didn’t deter us.
READ THIS: Sleeping in a treehouse in the Amazon Rainforest
We’ve also been exploring closer to home, because as much as we love advocating travelling to far-flung corners of the world, there’s a lot to see right here in the UK and we’re often guilty of overlooking the gems right here on our doorstep. Our favourite adventures have been living the rural farm glamping dream down in Gloucestershire, cosying up in a renovated mill in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, and lording it in our very own 500 year old peel tower up in the beautiful and uncrowded Scottish Borders. Some people never leave these shores, saying they’ll do so when they’ve explored all the UK has to offer.
I’m starting to understand their reasoning.
READ THIS: Best things to do in the beautiful Scottish Borders
The year ahead
We’re feeling like bad travel bloggers right now, since we’re not actually travelling much this summer, aside from a few UK weekend jaunts. Mainly because we have our new house to finish furnishing, and for the first time ever we’re not prioritising travel over and above everything else. I guess we had to grow up some time! But don’t worry, this is only a temporary hiatus. In October we’re heading back to Morocco, to update our Marrakech guides, explore some new areas, and revisit some old haunts.
If there’s anything you want to ask about Morocco, or would like us to find out, then just give us a shout.
The most amusing Google searches for Conversant Traveller this year
So now onto what you’ve all been waiting for (haven’t you??). In true CT tradition, here are the top 10 most amusing Google searches that have brought people to the blog over the last year:
1. Banyan Tree turn down service gift turtle – I’ve been waiting for this search to happen for years! We first stayed in the gorgeous Banyan Tree hotel in Bangkok back in 2009, and the lovely chap who came to do turn down in the evening gave us a cute little turtle for the bathroom. It was filled with charcoal (to eat up any noxious odours apparently!) and we thought it was kinda fun and a bit different. The trouble was, we didn’t know whether we were supposed to keep the turtle and bring it home, or leave it at the hotel (we’re a bit more worldly wise when it comes to posh hotels these days!). Of course we took it, but it wasn’t until we returned a few years later, and received a second turtle, that we finally understood they were ours to keep. So we have a growing collection of toilet turtles here at home. Looking forward to getting our next one!
2. Is the grass greener? – always!
3. Ladies of the night in Marrakech – a bit of a departure from the usual searches for seedy goings on in Tunisia that we seem to get, but still not a topic we’ve ever researched on our travels! We can however tell you pretty much everything else there is to know about the fabulous red city in northern Africa, including where to find luxury affordable riads and what it’s like going camel trekking in the Sahara. Whilst we’re on the subject, we also know nothing about “Honeymoon romantic shenanigans” or “Italy night lady forests”.
4. Brazil lady in a bus with Kenyans – considering we never take buses and weren’t keen on Brazil I’ve no idea what this is on about!
5. Can I sleep in the car? – sure, you go for it!
6. Insect makes a high pitched noise at night in ubud – now this story still makes me laugh at myself, whilst Hubbie rolls his eyes at my idiotic error. It’s not often you mistake a reptile for a young lady in the throes of passion. Read the story here – have you ever had this happen to you? No, thought not.
7. DPRK traffic girls change behaviour – this will have been linking to our post on what it’s really like to visit North Korea. Which we’ve just discovered has also been linked to by the BBC, which is kinda cool.
8. How old do you have to be to wash up at the North Star Cub? – nice try kiddo. But I like your style, so I’d say at least 45 years old! Incidentally, if you have to wash up, there are worse places to do it than the North Star Club, a romantic woodland retreat in the heart of Yorkshire.
9. I can’t wait till I get to the wedding chapel to my lover girl at shadow lake camp – great, good for you. Just not sure we need to know about it.
10. Simple solution to stop wearing ballet shoes at school – you’re asking the wrong person. I discovered that me and ballet weren’t a good match when I was 8. My ballet teacher agreed. I do however know where you can get some great foldable ballet shoes that are perfect for travel, and that’s right here.
A Giveaway with Reef
To celebrate our 4 years as travel bloggers, we’ve teamed up with the lovely folks at Reef to offer you the chance to win a pair of women’s Reef Voyage flipflops for your hols.
I’ve been trying out the Reef Voyage flipflops this summer here in the Lakes and they’ll definitely be heading out to Morocco when we go in October. Not only are they stylish, but the cushioned soles make them really comfy, and they’re waterproof too. Always handy for the beach! The leather is environmentally friendly and durable, as well as being soft enough to break in easily, which is great news and means you can just wear them out straight away. Definitely my new favourite pair of summer footwear!
How to enter
It couldn’t be simpler. Just use the Gleam widget below to enter, completing as many of the options as you like. If you have previously completed any of the actions (for example if you already follow us on Facebook, Twitter etc) then feel free to have an entry for them!
Please check our Conversant Traveller Privacy Policy and also the Gleam Privacy Policy for more information on how your data will be used and stored.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you use the Gleam widget below to validate your entries.
Reef Women’s Voyage Flip Flips
Terms and conditions
No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. The prize is provided by Reef and is a pair of women’s Reef Voyage flip flops.
This giveaway is open to a worldwide audience. Postage is included. No returns. The prize is not refundable or exchangeable for cash. The giveaway will run for 2 weeks starting on Monday 2nd July 2018 and end at midnight on Monday 16th July 2018. The winner will be determined on or around the 17th July 2018 by a random drawing of eligible entries received. Your chances of winning are determined by the number of eligible entries. Winners must respond within a week of receiving the notification email, otherwise another winner will be chosen. The winner’s email address will be passed to the giveaway sponsor in order to arrange delivery.
Reef have kindly provided us with a pair of Voyage Flip Flops, as well as the giveaway prize. All opinions remain our own, and we only feature products that we are happy to use ourselves.
My wife would wear them everywhere she says they look well comfy
I’d wear these on my break away to Jersey with my daughters x
I’d wear them in Florida this September xxxxx
We’re hoping for a trip to Barcelona this year 🙂 xxx
These would be coming away to Gran Canaria with me in a few weeks time – they are absolutely gorgeous x
I would wear these flip flops to the beach.
I actually do not own a pair of flippies!! i would love these for my trip to southampton next month 🙂
I’d wear them everywhere as they look so comfortable
In the garden, in my caravan near the beach they’re lovely
I would wear them to the park with my children
I would wear them on our upcoming trip to Disney World, but I would probably wear them daily also!
I’d wear them walking the dog across the fields, she’s old now so a gentle stroll in the cool of the evening
We live near the coast, so plenty of beach opportunities to wear these!
Has to be at the beach
In the garden, to the park and when I go to Scotland
On my summer holiday to crete
Nowhere exotic this year unfortunately but I’ll be doing plenty of miles around our beautiful North East
I’m going to hopton on sea this summer so they would be great for there.
i’d wear them to the beach during the summer
Going on holiday to bulgaria soon and these would be perfect
We are going to the beach in a few weeks so I would wear them while on vacation.
I’d wear these camping 🙂
At the beach or a really hot day x
Would have to be at my dad’s house this summer
On my hols in cornwall : ) where I could show them off
On holiday in Tenerife.
On holiday to Tenerife and family days out
Island hopping in Greece this year. Next year we are off travelling for six months so I would love to take them with me then!
To six flags!
Our Family Reunion !!!
I’d wear these lovely flip flops to our regular family trips to the beaches along the lovely Welsh coastline and on my holidays abroad too
I would wear them to the lake!!
I would wear these everywhere
They are perfect for right now, in the garden, and then Malta next spring.
On my holiday on the Kent coast.
I’m going on holiday this August so I would wear them then.
In our glamping pod up at Surf Snowdonia! Amazing place and great fun
I’m going to Cork at the beginning of September so i would wear them there!
I actually live in flip flops. I don’t own a single pair of shoes although I do have a pair of boots for the winter if needed otherwise it’s flip flops all year round for me so I would be wearing them everywhere x
I would be wearing them in Lanzarote
To the beach when we go to cornwall
I’d wear them to walk with my family beside the canal.
I’m going to Rhodes so I would wear them there
These look so comfy for walking around in the heat
On our holiday to Zante Greece, live in my flip flops when it comes to summer
On the beach in Wales.
I’m going on a cruise so they will be travelling far and wide around the Med and are the perfect slip on for deck life, beach life or exploring ashore.
every day use in this hot weather tho taking them on holiday too
On my trips to Amsterdam and Lanzarote, they would be especially perfect for Lanzarote, as the sand is extremly hot
Everywhere when it’s this hot!!
I would wear these in Calpe, Spain on my summer holiday.
I would wear them when i go on my hollibobs in a few weeks time!
Tenerife
I would wear my flip flops to South Padre Island.
On our family holiday to Salou in Spain
In the garden and on my holiday in Falmouth
I would take these flip flops to NJ to wear on the boardwalk and out to a yummy seafood dinner with my Dad.And it would be hard to get them off my feet ever.
I would wear the flip flops everywhere! Around the house…to the store..having dinner/drinks…etc.
On holiday in Devon later in the year.
I would wear them around my garden – it is far too hot to go anywhere else at the moment.
ill wear them to the beach
I would wear these to the beach when we go camping.
In Greece
The beach is one place I would love to wear these.
in Cornwall – that is our usual summer destination 🙂
I would wear them to go to the beach or the lido while in Switzerland
I would wear my flip flops to Ocean City, Maryland while I walk the boardwalk, doing some retail therapy and enjoying a crab cake or two. So much to see and do; just what my feet need- ditch the heels.
I would wear them on te beach and also at home in the garden!
At the beach!
I would wear these everywhere! They would be super cute at the beach and the boardwalk
I would wear these all day, every day:)
On the deck having morning tea with my hubby and doggy
for my birthday were going to princess Diana park would love this for then
I would wear them everywhere every day. But later in the Summer-early Fall I’ll be visiting Austin, TX!
My husband and I are going to Florida in September and I would wear them there.
I was wearing Reef sandals when I got married (really!!), so I’d wear them again on my anniversary
I love the colour, I would wear them almost everyday. They’d look really cute with a summer dress.
I would wear them to the beach
I would wear my flip flops on the beach in Ibiza we go there twice a year x
I would wear them at the swimming pool in our condo community.
to the lake for fish & chips
I would wear them everywhere! I live in flip flops in the summer! could really do with a new pair now as i have had the ones im wearing now for 3 years.
I love these sandals! I would wear them everyday. 🙂
I would wear the flip flops grocery shopping, fishing, to the beach….
I would actually wear the in November as I am hopefully going to the Maldives
At the beach
to the beach and shopping
I would my flip flops on my family Summer Cruise around the Med
I could wear them to the ice rink, thank you so much!
i would wear them camping and to the beach 🙂
I would wear them at home every day this summer as I am not going away on vacation.
Around the FYLDE coast – they look fab
I would wear them in Fuerteventura when we go on holiday in September
Picnics, day trips, BBQ’s basically everywhere!
Would gift these to my mom to wear on beach and at home
I’d wear them on my upcoming holiday
these be perfect for my hoilday!!
I’d love to wear these beauties to the beach in Portugal
La Pineda in Salou in October
Everywhere, love wearing sandals/flipflops all the time
I would wear them on the beach on the Isle of Wight.
i would wear them everywhere x they are lovely
the beach in Norfolk
I would wear these Reef flip flops in and around Cornwall, where i live. They look so comfortable
I’d wear them on our holiday to the Greek Islands
I once had a pair of Reef flip flops and they were so comfortable, I wore them everywhere. If I win a pair they would go off on all my adventures. Starting with the British summer beaches and picnics and then….who knows. I hope somewhere hot !
I’d love to take them to Sardinia with me later in the summer
The beaches of Devon….
I would wear these for the whole summer-they would go with anything!
In Majorca this summer on the beach
Anywhere and everywhere!
anywhere and everywhere in summer i live in flip flops
Hoping to save up enough money to go back to Barcelona this summer!
I would wear them in the the garden when I house sit at my brothers while he’s on holiday.
To our local beach
on holiday to Budapest
I would wear them to the beach and the park
when I go on holiday to India
Hoping for a breach holiday this year when i wiould definitely wear them
To our summer holidays to Cornwall
We are heading to the Washington coast in July and the Oregon coast in September so the flip flops would be great for both trips.
When I go away to Yorkshire to visit family.
Would wear them on the beach
I’d wear mine on the Devon beaches when we visit family!
I would wear them relaxing in the garden during this glorious weather
Great for my holibobs
We are going on a trip to Slovenia, so I would take them there.
In the garden – no holiday this year – but the weather’s been so beautiful it doesn’t matter x
I’d wear them anywhere, especially in this heat!!
if the weather continues, everywhere, they look very comfy! thanks for the chance
I’m really excited to be going to Vienna in August, these would be great to wear in the evenings.
i would wear these to the beach x
These are lovely….I would wear them to Cyprus when we go and all our camping trips this summer
St Ives On The Beach 🙂
I’ve just worn my pair to tescos and back! 😀
These lovely flip flops would be perfect for wearing on our Summer break to Conwy North Wales and also for our Med cruise holiday that we have planned for next year 🙂 x
I’d love to wear these on my trip to Valencia
I would wear them at my wedding!
New Zealand and Johor this summer!
If this lovely weather continues I would wear them as much as possible at home and on holiday in Wales
I am lucky enough to live near the beach, so I would mainly wear them locally.
I’d wear them to the beach 🙂
On my hols in Devon this summer
Flipflops are my life ! I have been wearing flipflops since I was about 6 years old. I have many pairs and I wear them all year long unless the occasion calls for wellies or posh shoes. I love the fact that these flipflops are cushioned , it’s important to have some underfoot protection. So, if I won this pair of flipflops, my answer is I would wear them everywhere and not just in the summer either.
I would love to wear them to somewhere slightly off the beaten track like Paraguay or Pitcairn but would enjoy wearing them on local outings during the summer.
Flip/flops/jandals/thongs are my national footwear!
Out shopping!
My boyfriend and I will be setting off on our summer holiday in September to Greece and I would love to wear these sandals there whilst taking in the beautiful scenery 🙂
Everywhere! They are divine!
I would wear these lovely flip flops when I visit my friend in North Wales..
a great looking pair of flipflops and keep up the good work!
First holiday abroad this year after persuading hubby to fly lol. These would be wonderful to wear with all my outfits.
On the hol we’ll book last minute – and when I say last minute, the day before will do!!
costa adeje in tenerife
I’d be wearing them to all the bbqs I plan on hosting this sunny summer.
Around our home on down on our local beach x
To the beach in Cornwall,
Any where
my wife would wear them in the garden
my wife would wear them in portugal
with this nice hot weather, I think that they would be on my feet most of the time, whenever I go out
I would wear them everywhere! They are lovely!
I would wear these on my holiday in Cornwall, thanks.
I might be going on a short break so I would definitely wear them there!
south africa
It will be Aberdovey beach in North Wales
Just around home, not going on holiday 🙁
On the beach
I’d wear these flip flops to the beach this summer.