A place called Dubai

So on Saturday night August 17th after spending most of the day going through my bags seeing if i packed everything & last minute runs to the shops for things i had forgotten.. I said goodbye to my little brother and Dad & Josh, tahnee and Tisha drove me all the way to Brisbane airport to say goodbye and wish me goodluck on my travels. 

When we finally arrived at the airport i gave a great big hug to my 2 beautiful sisters and kissed them goodbye, and then they drove back home. Josh went and parked the car and i went through to Emirates check in gates to find Jude waiting for me. We waited a while before Britney arrived and then we eventually made our way to departure gates. It was really hard saying goodbye to Josh, i knew i would miss him heaps because we spend pretty much every day together. I was so excited to go that in the moment i forget to really take the time to say just how much i would miss him and how much i really do love him. But we did manage to have a kiss goodbye, i am looking forward to when i get back because as the saying goes.. Absence makes the heart grow fonder! So we said goodbyes and got on the plane to Dubai. 

The plane trip to Dubai was not too bad, Britney and i had amazing seats! We were seating at the emergency exits just by the toilets. Jude was seated a few rows in front of us.So there was heaps of leg room! Britney got the window seat and i was in the middle and i sat next to a young Kiwi guy who was moving to Dubai to teach. Although i had heaps of leg room thats all i had.. I soon found out i was between 2 ppl who snore when they sleep!! So i didnt get to sleep much as i had the 2 leaning on me sleeping and snoring! During the trip i had so much time to think.. I thought about work, my family and friends, the experiences i was about to have in Africa and of josh. 

It took 14 hours to get to Dubai and we travelled a total of 12138 miles. When the plane landed i looked out and it was still dark. When we first walked in to the airport my first thought was wow such a nice airport & so busy. As we kept walking we realised we had to catch a train to our Platform and get an elevator to get to the right level. So we went through customs and i had a bit of run in with one of the guys, i beeped when i went through so he walked over & said take ur bangles off. I said i couldnt take off they dont go over my wrist.. His reply was "Take them off!!" So in the moment all i could think was oh no im under pressure now and my hands are going to swell up & i wont be able to get them off. Everything eventually worked out & i got them off and caught up with Britney & Jude. As we got out my impression of the Dubai airport changed dramatically, It was huge! So many platforms and so many levels !!! It was massive, it reminded me a little of Robina Town Centre, people everywhere and all shiny. It was so extravagant! They had a hologram of an Arab man welcoming everyone to the airport! We found a really cool cafe called Giraffe.. It had a massive giraffe at the front, was so cool! We sat down and had a smoothie! I got the Hippy Hippy Shake smoothie and it was sooo yum! We sat across from a famous Australian swimmer( the one that everyone thought was gonna get gold for sure but he didnt even come close! Cant think of his name)
After we had a walk around and looked at all the souvenirs and strange food we went back to sit near our gate. We got a oreo McFlurry from mcdonalds and chilled out before another 8 hour flight to Lusaka, Zambia.... So after 4 hours we boarded our plane and this time the 3 of us sat together! & i finally got a window seat!!!! 

More to come! 
<3 Ashleigh xox 
 

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

A bit about me : 

My name is Ashleigh and i have just turned 21 this march. I finished high school without caring about my HSC and had not much interest in going to University. I never really thought about traveling either... Until i met my amazing (south african) boyfriend Josh. Long story short i had a massive crush on him and sometimes would be a little stalkerish.. I never got a chance to tell him how i felt and he left to travel the world and enjoy new found freedom of independence. He  was away for a few years before i saw him. When fate brought us together again he told me all about his travels and experiences and made it seem so interesting. I have always admired his passion for traveling and his love for Africa. So here i am traveling to Africa, to make my own memories and to experience the wonderful culture i have heard so much about. 

So i will just explain where i am going and who with. 

It all started back when my good friend from work, Cindy told me about how she might be going to Africa with a friend. She had told me in the past of her Trip to Watoto orphanage in Uganda and how she loved the experience and how it changed her. And how she had always said she left a piece of her heart there. Instantly i knew i wanted to go with! So i pretty much hounded Cindy into telling me the details and telling her i really wanted to go! At first i don't think she believed me and at first i wasn't sure that i could go. But as time went by i met with her friend that was going, her name is Jude and she is 37. So after meeting a few times it was time to book flights! Cindy couldn't come in the end because she had more important memories to make with her family so it was just Jude and i going. 

After i paid for my flights i posted on Facebook to tell the world that my dreams of going to Africa was finally coming true. And something crazy happened, my mums cousin in-boxed me for my number, so i gave it to her and she called me. She basically said that her daughter Britney who is 19 was always so interested in going to Africa. She asked for all the details and the next day Britney called to say i want to come with if i can. So i texted Jude to ask and she said yes. So from then on it was the 3 ofus traveling   to Africa on a mission trip with TTN Ministries. We will be going to Zambia, Malawi, Swaziland and then Johannesburg. We are going to help TTN unpack shipping containers full of donated goods to deliver to Hospitals and Local villages. I am so excited to be apart of something so amazing and to meet all the generous people who have given themselves to the Lord. 

Stay posted for my Adventures! 

<3 Ashleigh xo