backpackwithmegmac

[backpackwithmegmac]

I saw a man pursuing the horizon...

I saw a man pursuing the horizon, floating above the mass of travelling groups below, a lone bulky backpack shadow trudging slowly, softly on what seemed the clouds themselves, lacing and comforting his every move like a head hitting the finest, fluffiest feather pillow. I saw him heading to the peak of the mountain, far away from the village lying below. Heading away from the locals, the little craft market and coffee shop where bagpipes sang and tuned the wind, perhaps he could hear them up there too. Quiet, magic hums that he thought just thistles in the wind really a melody from the bagpipe boy below - sending a song of good spirits for the strangers adventure. I saw a man pursuing the horizon, descending with the mountains above the thick white mist, their edges rough, rugged and rocked. Dainty little streams and waterfalls like silver thread warping through the cracks and combining to create the ocean wrapping around the boulders, forming the breathtaking tapestry of Harris. I wander what he is thinking up there so high, are his thoughts jumpy fragmented bursts of adventure and excitement or is his mind swimming in clouds of meditating calmness? Maybe he is thinking the same of me, way down on the side of the mainland, the girl sitting in the golden haze of the sun looking longingly to where the sky kisses the face of the mountains. Two wanderlust strangers, both exploring the outer Hebrides, escaping from the masses and finding quiet in a world of loud. Searching wether we know it or not for those raw, rare moments that make us feel alive, where life escapes from our breath and we vibrate with the earth, becoming again part of where we came from, Mother Earth. He's with her now, gone, vanished. Morphed into the wild himself, somewhere dancing in the misty clouds from above. I saw a man pursuing the horizon.

[backpackwithmegmac]

Neverland. The place time abandoned. 74 deserted mystical islands cocooned within shades and haze of oceanic blue, shielded with the beams of the sun. All the rainbows of the world were created here, in this colourful oblivion. Black shadows nesting amongst the waves contrast the pastel palette; stingrays, sharks and all kinds of tropical fish at home on the seabed, playing in the ripples. Peter Pan and his lost boys overlooking their land and water, plotting their next adventure in their palm tree treehouse somewhere hidden in the jungle, overlooking paradise, beyond the red sunset. To the second star on the right and straight onto 'the morning, Neverland... Or Whitsundays, Australia?

[backpackwithmegmac]

Hello blog! I have missed you, I know I haven't wrote to you in some time but this is only because I am spending everyday really living every second, making unforgettable memories with new beautiful souls I am meeting along the path of life. Although I do believe we should make time for what we love doing and I do love to write - so I promise to harness more of my energy and time into blog posts, capturing in words what I am learning, those raw experiences that I can share and look back on in later days. Returning from the land of Oz I promised myself to explore more of the country I live in, even just in my town, in London and more of the U.K. I really couldn't wait to get back into London - it really is a one of the kind kinda city, diversity on every corner and humans from every alley of the world living the Londoner life together. I took my backpack for a weekend getaway on my own and after not being there for over a year I really noticed a difference in my self this time. I went alone and I didn't see anyone I knew even though home was 45 minutes away. Travelling has opened my personality massively, I made friends with strangers, travellers, couch surfers exploring parts I loved and places I'd never been before. The weekend was spent laughing, drinking, eating street food, exploring and truly being happy - I have never seen London this special way before but actually I think the change came from within; everything in life is better when your soul is content. 'How do you afford all your travels?' This is a question I get asked A LOT, but really the simple answer is I don't... I save enough to get from one place to the next and I adapt and work there. Working in a place allows to see the community, meet locals and have fun all whilst saving for a next adventure. Coming home in summer I knew there must be seasonal jobs around the country that allow you to live there for cheap too, so for my next adventure I typed in to indeed.com 'live in seasonal jobs' and that is how I have ended up in the Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It took me two days to reach the hotel: with one train, 2 very long coaches, one extremely cold and challenging night slept in a bus stop and one ferry, but all very worth it for the magic that awaited me. That is the one word to describe the island, magical. I had no idea what to expect but I did not expect to fall this much in love with Scotland and some of the people in it. The work is hard but rewarding in the Hotel Hebrides, my wages remain untouched in my bank account (mainly because there's nothing to spend it on here...) and the tips are enough for to live off weekly by far! We have staff accommodation one minute away from work that is only a small £35 a week for a beautiful room with boats, water and islands out of one window and mountains out the back one. But the people you meet along the way really dictate what a place becomes and the memories you take from it. I don't think it was coincidence how Rachel, Shona, Caro and myself all ended up here together - these girls inspire me everyday and as Shona put it 'We are all giving each other what the other needs'. We better and uplift each other, I can feel that I've become a better person inside by learning from them! Everyone I work with, the travellers, strangers here are amazing - everyone is full of adventure. What a blessing to finish a hard shift of waitressing and go camping on the beach with the girls and the chefs enjoying the moment, the atmosphere, each other till the early hours even though work greets you again in the morning! There is such a vibe here; waking with sunshine and rain, the sound of bagpipes drifting in the wind, through the window stirring you from sleep. Running with hazy eyes to open at work, ready for the 11am club of locals needing their double Whyte Mackay whiskeys and half pints of Guiness, tuning the morning with laughter. Finishing work finally and taking the first sip of your local Harris gin and tonic, cheering everyone in Gaelic, the rare language still spoken by the people of the island. Learning new traditional Scottish dances at Scalpy's towns cèilidh, dancing, laughing meeting new kind faces... Life here is simple and stunning, everyday is lived as full as possible no matter how cold and rainy or sunny it is out the window. We will all move on from here soon but what we've experienced I'm sure will stay with us for a long time, forever. I'm saving enough to travel somewhere new soon with David and continue to wander and create. Whatever it is you want to be doing right now, don't overthink and become negative - find a way to do it and your life will be brightened I promise, we need to listen to our hearts and how we want to fulfil them! Life really does begin at the end of your comfort zone, so please start living. Megs!

[backpackwithmegmac]

Stars on the sand

[backpackwithmegmac]

Stars on the sand...

The radiating beams of blue flutter their way in ripples to the sand, dancing upon the feet that are playing in their waves. There is something so beautiful about how the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times its pushed away. Wisps of white Candy floss drift above the palette of turquoise that has painted the the coast of Noosa. Warmth beats down on bony backs from the brightest star in the sky, breaking its golden shine through the sweet floating feathers. Time has faded into the distance, the gentle tick of the world going round has mused into the beat of the waves. As the world turns silently the sky lapses into warmer shades: pastel pinks and blazed oranges swirling together hugging the blue canvas. Once white clouds are now reflecting the amber luminosity of breaking sunlight, falling into twilight. A special time of day where sun seekers wander back to the fairy light lit town and those still hidden in the sand become one with nature, transfixed on the day gently spiralling into night. The glistening diamonds that danced upon the waves have crept up through the clouds and positioned themselves in the dark night sky, burning and beaming - playing in the dark until the sun wakes from its rest - shooting back down to the water to bathe once again in the warmth. Sunrise surfers paddle their way out to feel at home in the magical waters of Noosa. Bodies and boards soaked in the sweet salty syrup of the ocean - leaving them sun kissed, crispy haired, salted skin and a deep lust to return to paradise as soon as they can.

[backpackwithmegmac]

[backpackwithmegmac]

Currently...

I wake with the sun dancing around the room, the glow radiating through the cracks of the curtains. Brushing my teeth I can hear the buzz of travellers packing and leaving for their next stop up the east coast - the rustling sounds of zips, bags and footsteps now my morning muse. The room is calm, peaceful;  at 8.30am I’m always the last worker awake, enjoying my dream filled sleep too much to wake up before I need too. 

To be able to stay in Dolphins Beach House  for free, my little slice of Australian paradise, my pink home on the beach - I happily every morning have to clean the hostel for an hour and a half. My mornings always consist of exchanges of travel stories, hearing about Noosa adventures and how they wish they booked more time here, not wanting to leave. Sometimes the sunny mornings hold sad goodbyes, the only downside to travelling but always grateful for each person, the experience. 

The day usually follows with a yoga mat under my arm or a surfboard balancing under my feet, clear blue sky’s ombre into a fiery canvas of burnt oranges above my head. The hot sand on my toes seep into cold sand between my sheets when I return back to my dreams.

 A pit stop for detox, rid of toxic thoughts, cleansing my body after living the wild traveller lifestyle for too long. A place of reflection, on the people I’ve met and the places I’ve seen and the like-minded explorers I’m lucky to meet day in, day out. Noosa Heads, my home for the next month or two. 

[backpackwithmegmac]

Twenty-two beautiful, colourful and ambitious women gathering around my little, plastic chair; I could feel every pair of eyes fixed on me as they repeatedly shouted Bengali compliments – ‘shundor’, ‘princess’, their hands touching my hair, skin, clothes and applying layers of makeup for hours. I am their doll, practicing everything they’ve learnt from henna hairstyles and today, becoming a hindu bride. The room was alive with intense heat and fast paced work, the feeling of pins and needles crept through my whole body creating an uncomfortable numbness. Although I maintained the statue position without complaint for those young girls, my new friends – their faces full with smiles and bright eyed content being productive with new found work training. With almost four hours over, a heavy jeweled sari draping to the ground held by at least twenty pins, my hair tight in a traditional Bengali style I looked into the mirror and I couldn’t recognize myself. I looked like one of those brides I had heard stories or seen pictures of. I had only had a ‘makeover’, a way for these girls to practice but I couldn’t help thinking if this sari I had been leant had been worn by one of these girls when they were younger, worn as they headed down the road of child marriage... Today must be the day. For weeks I have been prepared; massages, oils, my hair cut and now my arms today are inked with the mehedi that was applied yesterday – reaching from the tips of my fingers to my elbows and patterning down to my palms. Now makeup, a lot. I am feeling very pretty looking in the mirror, like the idols I worshipped and pictures of girls in magazines but I feel uncomfortable and I feel scared. Some of my friends from class 9 have had this day already and now they are not in my class anymore and I will not go back either, I will have a husband now. I will miss learning and my school routine but I know this is what my family thinks is best so I will not argue. My bindi will now have a shedur to match; red painting, my hair parting and Ammu has got me some white bangles I will have to wear forever until my husband dies. There are many people waiting outside, I can’t recognize anyone but I want the day to be over now so I must go. My name is Mira Hossain, I am 14 years of age and today I will be married.

[backpackwithmegmac]

Making the best of a blue Christmas

Travelling has definitely taught me the lesson of making the best of a bad situation, or really just the best of every situation. I envisioned Christmas this year to be filled with go pro vids, sticky heat, mopeds, massages, monkeys, islands and Palm trees but sadly Bali is not where I was destined to be this year! Who knew you had to have 6 months left on your passport ay?! Well for sure I know now! So I left David and Erin in Brissy hoping to see them in a couple days as the hostess assured me if I flew into Sydney and went to the embassy it would all be fixed and I'd be ready to fly in no time, so Sydney it was. Of course after arriving at the embassy I was told the lady was wrong and coming to Sydney wouldn't do anything... So Christmas alone in Sydney! Although at first I panicked - you gotta always see the bigger picture; some beings out there are alone not just for Christmas, others sleeping on the streets somewhere, without anybody to even talk too. So on the 23rd I hit up the hostels and since have met some amazing travellers with crazy stories, all alone by choice - there are definitely worse places to be. I spent Christmas dancing in my swimmers on Coggee beach, been to a rooftop pool party in the city centre, explored Sydney's beaches and botanic gardens, seen the city on the water partying in a boat, met some beautiful family on the outskirts of the city; I've become a collecter of experiences, you can't take someone back into the past and show them all the amazing times you've had, it's in the past, but it's all those moments that make you who you are, that formulate your opinions, make you question what you think you know, the moments that turn you into a storyteller. Although I feel a bit lost without David with me and not knowing anyone personally you just gotta get over it, it's all life and it'll make the new year more exciting when they get back! If anything this experience has made me more excited for the future. I'm currently sweating it out in a weird hostel, the fans broken, there's a lot of annoying noises but hey I'm in Sydney and its New Years Eve tomorrow! I've booked a one way to the whitsundays next to sail the seas and meet more people in this beautiful world we're in! I've had an amazing and different Christmas feeling pretty blessed to be here and I'll definitely continue my travels with the mindset of making the most of ANY situation.

[backpackwithmegmac]

My Australian family...

In the past 3 weeks I've gained some big love for these 5 people, it's crazy how spending everyday together has made us all bond in such a special way, wether they were my ‘best friend’ before or not, they all are for sure now! 

Sometimes things do happen out of coincidence, but other times it's hard to believe what has happened really is; like us 6 people all in different paths of life happening to be free, with no commitments/work for 3 weeks all eager for adventures. We all knew each other but we didn't really KNOW each other - our goals, beliefs, morals, dreams, talents and to open yourself up and listen to each story has been so inspiring and all of us have grown in someway or another. But anyways... What have we been up to? 

I'm pretty sure we've stayed in a tent, spooned up together more than in our beds but no complaints there. We've pitched our tent up all over the place, this weekend (being our last one all together for a while) we set up on the beautiful rainforest set of Lammington National park, ditching the beach scene of the sunny coast for a couple of days. We spent our days hiking through the green hues of the rainforest walks, discovering the most beautiful deserted waterfall ever, just us and pure nature. If our nights weren't spent round a fire singing away, we were still exploring - finding more waterfalls, tree swings and swimming through underwater caves, our group feeling like The Goonies! 

Other nights we were close to the waves, under the stars in Rainbow Beach. We spent a night running through the everlasting sand dunes, I've never seen so much sand... We ran and rolled over until sand was coming out of our ears, lying in sand angels in awe of the stars above us, counting the shooting stars and making wishes into the brightest night sky we had ever seen. After swimming in hidden water creeks in the cold before drifting to sleep in thoughts of our deep conversations. 

My whole experience of Australia so far has been so much better with these rays of sunshine in it, we’ve explored so much as a squad and everyone has brought something to the group, I could go on to write about everyone individually but I feel I'd be writing forever. I'm happy to be around people who make you forget about your phone, that you can sing as loud as you can on road trips with, friends that challenge your perspectives and make you think more, a group that bonded in just 3 weeks but will last forever. Feeling blessed! 

[backpackwithmegmac]

sunny sunny Sunshine Coast what is awaiting me today... neighbouring Brisbane yet so different, a locals Sunday go to; each town holding their own unique feel. 

Towns that take you back to an older decade - Gympie with a real country, cowboy vibe, the villagers walking with pride in their old brown boots and big faded hats, street guitar players plucking the strings as they walk the streets. 

Nambour a present farming atmosphere, huge fields and farms making up the town and the street art even being farmers and cows, telling the history through a spray can. 

 Maleny, a little town you can imagine seeing a cute painting of in your grandmas house or being the set of Gilmore girls - Laureli walking past you with her organic coffee. Little market stools selling anything from home-made fudge to opal pendants and dream catchers with a local creating the beat of street on the digeridoo. Towns unchanged to the increasing number of tourists soaking the sun on the beach 20 minutes away living in the peaceful community culture... 

 And other towns built to attract and provide for the travellers and residents with also their own vibe but completely different to the places tucked behind the coast. Noosa, the big tourist go to in the area and I can see why. Little secret beaches all perfectly puzzled together creating beautiful coastal walks all the way up to 'Hells Gates' a breathtaking but fierce full cliff edge. The nature alive with wildlife, koalas perching on the tops of the trees looking down curiously upon the walkers. Hidden rock pools filled with the overlapping waves of the ocean, better known as the 'fairy Pools' maybe because when the sun fades away the fairies flutter down from the cliffs and flicker the streets with glowing lights, kissing the candles at the tables creating a picturesque scene of any first date.

 The local Mooloolaba, a surfers hangout and a trendy location all round. The typical 'Instagram girls' can be found chilling in the sun drinking a boost juice with their friends, older ladies chatting over lunch by the beach, packs of guys on longboards or ready to hit the waves. Restaurants and tourist-luring quirky shops face the beach drawing in the hungry swimmers and backpackers.  

And then there's Kawana beach, 10 minutes from the house, almost always found empty and completely stunning. Where a beautiful bike ride is always awaiting and the white sand looks lonely without a tie dyed picnic blanket. A little safe haven away from the business of the day - my own salty, sandy heaven; a secret getaway.

[backpackwithmegmac]

Jungle room 202

I’m happy to be able to say I’ve handed my resignation in for work and leave in 3 weeks, woo! I can’t wait to just travel and live life on the road for a while, I’ll be in Indonesia for 3 weeks and then Sydney with a one way ticket, who knows what’s in store… I’m grateful for the job opportunity I had and I’ve definitely learnt a lot about sales but most of the travellers I’ve met here don’t have much money, just enough to live off of or spend on experiences and they are just so genuinely happy - meeting new people everyday, not having a plan, exploring everyday and partying at night, one weekend with a group of random people has actually inspired me to just get up, cut the crap and go. 

Being in a 9-5 weekday job has restricted me travel wise so far but I always make the most of the weekends, like last weekend - David and I spontaneously booked 2 nights in ‘Bunk Brisbane’ a central city hostel only 1 hour from the sunny coast (where I’m staying) with no real plans but being our first hostel in Australia we were excited for the weekend. We headed out to prohibition our favourite club we’ve found so far and danced, talked to other travellers, lost each other and some other events but I eventually found him at 12am the day after! We explored Southbank with Olivia (another Brit in oz woo!) which has a Camden town kinda feel which I loved. Surprisingly David got our roomies numbers and we met them at the museum! I didn’t know what to expect from them but wow we all got along so well and our group was just half English and half German, crazy. I experienced a bit of the Bangla monsoon weather that day too, rain flooding down but it was so fun running in it and we even got on the free city ferry when it calmed down! After eating amazing Thai in ChinaTown we all put in for 8 litres of ‘goon’ a very cheap Aussie wine working out about $3 each! We sneakily had our pre drinks in our hostel room even without any Windows or a fan… But the company was worth the sweaty heat! We all danced to ‘murder she wrote’ about 20 times and I feel that’s now the song for the jungle room 202. Slowly we all returned to the room in bits and pieces the last one being Ash at 6/7am, trying to sleep on the wall whilst saying he wanted some ‘nice rocket’ ‘'I want a salad’… 

Sunday’s are for swimming, so 8 hungover tourists managed to get a free ride into Southbank and spent the day recovering in the artificial fake beaches of Brisbane! After getting a lil bit pink we all put in for all the needed food for a classic English brekkie, for dinner! Such a cheap, easy and good idea to cook as a group in the hostel! After saying ‘'no more drinking I have work in the morning’ we inevitably ended up at the hostel bar, I mean the jugs were on offer so couldn’t really pass it up right? At 11.30 I regretfully said my goodbyes whilst David stayed another night but to my surprise they all came to the sunny coast the next day! I met them after work and ate at Guamen Y Gomez my favourite place to eat here, beats Taco Bell 100% we then all headed to my local beach, running through spider webs to get there to find it empty and utterly beautiful! It was the night of the super moon and really I’ve never seen it quite so big and luminous, the beach was so bright you could still see the waves hitting the sand , the stars were like light bulbs and I actually saw 7 shooting stars in one night! In the far distance the clouds were lighting pink with silent lightening, orchestrating the sky, we were sitting on a beach on the very edge of Australia, the edge of the world map and it was truely mesmerising, a picture of a moment.

We were all heavy with happiness and the good vibes kept us all warm. I’m grateful to have met and spent time with all of these stray humans and my first hostel experience is going to be so hard to beat! Brisbane holds good memories and this is only one small place in this huge country, I’m so ready for the future of travelling ahead of me, travelling doesn't ‘change you’ or help you ‘find yourself’ but it is always pushing and teaching you every day - instead of hearing stories you become the one telling them. I don’t quite know how to end this slightly longer than usual post but I guess I’ll just say, come at me oz I’m ready!

[backpackwithmegmac]

Loose yourself in the rare moments you are controlling your mind and not the other way around. Surrender to the freedom of a phone less hand, ungoverned by the time ticking away the day. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh, who take you into conversations that challenge your perspective, who better you. Know your blessings, materialistic blessings are not real. Live like you won't see the sunshine tomorrow and you'll never again have a un productive day ☀️

[backpackwithmegmac]

[backpackwithmegmac]

'Nirvana'

what if heaven is just a state of mind? A higher level we believe we can’t reach until after death, the euphoric image painted in our heads, our dreams of what lies after. We hear people saying their lives are hell on a daily basis, but to hear someone say their life is heaven is quite rare. I’ve come to believe in the idea heaven is reachable in this life, it’s just a mission to get on a higher mind state, disconnected with the modernism of the world around us. What if the purpose of life is simply that? At least after if there really is nothing your life was your own version of heaven, and why can’t it be?

For sometime now I have thought this way and I can’t remember the last time I had a bad day, I’m genuinely the happiest I’ve ever been in life, with myself as a person and where I am. Negativity is the cracks of hell trying to change the positivity in the mind, block it out. Find what makes you happy in yourself and let it consume you, get lost in good vibes. Life is too short, really it is. Emit the positive frequency to those around you, be kind and courageous and challenge yourself everyday to be better than yesterday. This idea is just food for thought and a concept outside of the comfort zone but maybe heaven really is a hidden place on earth, a place in ourselves.

[backpackwithmegmac]

what a crazy couple of weeks! I was home for about a week and a half after Bangladesh and I am now living in Australia (Sunshine Coast, Brisbane being more specific) for the next year! I still can't get my mind around the fact I'm actually here. I've always had an Australian dream in the back of my mind and anyone who knows me can testify that... I've always heard stories of the times my dad spent here growing up, the beautiful places to go - the blue bottle jellyfish and scary shark stories from my nana Mac, and I'm here, I feel like I'm home! So how am I here? I'm trying to figure out how all this luck came my way still but wow I definitely feel blessed. When I returned home I had about half a days rest before I was applying for jobs in my town. Within a couple of days I had about 3 job offers and yet the strangest feeling inside telling myself to wait a while before confirming. The next day I had a phone call from a lady called Lynette Spong (aka fairy godmother) she's my best friend Erin's mother but I didn't know her to well, and basically she offered me a nanny's job out in Oz and after we were chatting for a while offered me a better job working in her sales company. Just getting back from Bangladesh I didn't have all that much money saved but she booked my flights on my behalf without hesitation, I still can't believe it! So after quick goodbyes and a 28 hour flight stopping in Hong Kong I'm here in Australia, writing my blog post from a beautiful room in Lynette and Jim's house feeling overly happy. I've spent the past week training up in the job and in all my spare time exploring with newfound friends. I'm just in awe of this place it's a dream; waterfalls, mountains, beaches - this morning I woke at 9.30 had a juice and went on a 3 hour kayak session in the canal on my doorstep! This is my kinda life. I currently have about $10 in my purse and I'm not worried, I feel richer than I have ever. You know when you get a really good feeling and your heart beat races a little faster and you feel kinda heavy inside? The feeling has not left since I arrived; breaking out of my comfort zone was the best thing I have ever done. Embrace the future, be eager for tomorrow and fuel your sleep with dreams because your happiness depends on it!

[backpackwithmegmac]

In our last days of Bangladesh with VSO, our team kept replaying out some of our favourite moments from our three months here and I’d like to share a few of mine and our teams with you...

A memory that stands out for me was the night we were evacuated from Satkhira and sent to a hotel in Khulna. As a team we were clueless and unsure of our future but their was an indescribable feeling that night, that whatever would be thrown at us we could take it as a team and looking back now, we did! We started the first cycle of VSO work in Khulna and although hardships carried on and so did our achievements! 

The feeling of stepping out into real Dhaka for the first time. When we arrived in Bangladesh we were in a hotel in a calm, diplomatic area - this city is not the calmest of ones. I remember sneaking out with my new Bengali friend and feeling lost and excitement in the dangerous, packed roads and seeing the raw beauty and magic of the city. 

I have the unforgettable memory of a long bangla van ride journey to the small village of Horinkula. It was a few days before we left Satkhira, a moment of calm. The sun was setting, the colours of the horizon reflecting in the endless waters between the roads, a journey hard to beat. 

The girls van getting stuck in mud and all the boys in their fresh punjabis pushing us out, Max in all white being covered in mud! 

ROOFS! Our hangout go to - the perfect place to watch to sunrise and sunset, doing yoga and zumba, and a place of calmness and reflection when I needed it. 

Our Community Action Day! After endless no’s and maybes we finally had just 5 days to prepare our CAD and it was something else. We expected maybe 350 people tops but were surprised to see 700+ people flooding in! We raised awareness on Gender Equality, and saying no to child marriage and eve teasing. I even gave a speech. 

I will miss our team’s parties, dancing and dancing - especially on my birthday. I loved how we could all sing together with the guitar - taking turns in Bengali, English and Turkish, singing till 3am somedays. 

I will never forget our last night in community, we’d spent the day at the boys families house having a picnic, dancing, singing, taking photos and talking too much. As the day grew later, everyone came to our host families house for dinner, biriyani, crab, massala, mishti etc, Our last Bengali meal together. We all went to the roof after, and the sky was the most beautiful its been - like it was saying goodbye to us. For weeks I had been waiting for the stars to come out properly , and the sky was the most packed I had ever seen it, Filled with big, little, shining and shooting stars, even the milky way was clearly on show! A beautiful night for everyone.