Jessica Meurice
In a nutshell; I am Jess, 27 years old, and left a wonderful teaching job in search of unemployment and volunteer opportunities across the other side of the world. Some say it's foolish, I was inclined to agree but these experiences altered me in ways I never imagined possible. I accomplished dreams, re-found lost passions, set up a charity in Sapa, taught in Cambodia, established a teaching course in Vietnam and published articles and photos for magazines and books. jessicameurice
Cambodia: Done
Vietnam: Done
Borneo: Done
Singapore: Done
Malaysia: Done
Thailand: Done
Myanmar: Done
Back in the UK now....planning my next adventure
For my photography and completed projects please go to; www.jessicameurice.co.uk
Thank You travelblog.org for allowing me to share these wonderful experiences.
Travel Blog Posts
With the clarity of memory I relive my childhood in Polperro
Published: April 11th 2012Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cornwall » Polperro
April 9th 2012
Polperro is a tiny fishing village located along the south Cornwall coast, arguably the best of all the coasts in the UK. Little detached houses, each unique in size and shape dot the rising hilly landscape encapsulating the harbor below, which feeds in to the Atlantic Ocean. It is far too pretty to be believable, too cute and perfect with its quaint narrow streets too small for cars to squeeze through complete with a multitude of tearooms to fill up on traditional scones with homemade jam and Cornish clotted cream. For myself and my family Polperro has a deeper meaning that just ‘pretty little Cornish town’. It is a place we holidayed in our childhoods. Our days were spent on a tiny sandy beach building sandcastles before smashing them. When we tired of destroying other little ... read more
We always forget what we have on our side of the fence...
Published: April 8th 2012Europe » United Kingdom » England » Devon
April 8th 2012
Stepping off the plane on UK soil swamped me with a multitude of emotions; excitement at the prospect of seeing my family waiting the other side of the airport (complete with huge banner), surprising my boyfriend that evening (it was his birthday and he had no idea I was back), wracked with nerves at the prospect of a job interview the next day, yet all the while I did not have a moment to breathe in the realisation I was now thousands of miles away from a continent I called ‘home’ for the last seven months. So, it was with short sightedness that I 'completed' my travel blog at the end of February upon my return to the UK. I closed my mind to the possibility of continuing my adventures closer to home based upon the ... read more
February 16th 2012
The bus ride from Inle lake to Bago was a lengthy fifteen hour stint. Our plan was to escape the tourist trail and venture down south of Burma in hope we might find even more untouched areas of this formidable country. The bus journey itself filled me with dread when I learnt we would be retracing our steps back over the same route we took in to Inle lake, the one where I witnessed a deeply upsetting incident in the mountains. With no other option but to take this route, we clambered on board a spacious bus with reclining seats, water bottles and flannels. So far so good; I was starting to get used to the inside of tin boxes with plastic seats in the aisles and over loaded above clearly defying gravity. We settled in ... read more
February 14th 2012
As I peddled furiously along narrow winding paths trodden only by the footsteps of those before me who live along the banks of Inle Lake I could only gaze at the extraordinary beauty of this natural bowl of water encapsulated by towering mountains. The sun soaked us with its heat, the roads coated us in their dust and the locals waved at us cheerily as we passed them. The paths narrowed further until they came to an abrupt stop; just in front of the steps of a traditional stilted teak house on the far edge of a tiny village made up of ten or so other similar houses. I pondered the distance debating if it was worth going further considering the pathway had now completely vanished under my wheels. Children we passed playing football only moments ... read more
February 9th 2012
This incident is one of the reasons why I left Burma earlier than initially intended. It has left its mark on me and I still have nightmares. I have debated furiously with myself as to whether I should write about it but feel it might serve as a way of relieving from heavy shoulders by putting it in to words. I recognise I have many more readers on this blog than ever intended; originally the blog was my lazy way of letting family and friends know what I was up to without having to write the same email to everyone, and this ‘blog’ has become more of a diary for me, one I hope to reflect upon in old age in order to help me relive wonderful experiences. So I write about this incident not because ... read more
February 3rd 2012
Once you have seen one temple, you’ve seen ‘em all right? WRONG. Bagan is famous for the ridiculous number of temples which dot the landscape in the most haphazard of ways. It’s almost as if a bloke with a bit of money came along, found a bit of land and built a pagoda, a huge temple or a stupa. A bit like Pokemon fads or even pogs (remember them? I was King of the pogs at school obliterating entire piles of them with my home made keeney) they come with a rush, one day one person has them and then before you know it, everyone is exchanging pokemon cards or fighting for them. Bagan reminds me of one of those fads, once one pagoda or stupa was built others decided to jump on the band ... read more
February 1st 2012
As I sit in the confines of a tiny monastery, my feet playing in the sun whilst the rest of me resides safely from the harmful rays in the shade of a wooden veranda I make loosely connected conversation with an amiable nun dressed in dashing baby pink. Both armed with different editions of the LP phrase book we delve in to each other’s lives. I learn that she is 45 but looks early thirties, she has been a nun since the age of four and has five brothers and sisters; the abbot of her monastery is her older brother and Maunghtay (Monty) the man who has been our guide and saviour is a younger brother. Within these shady walls there are four novice monks (under 20), three adult monks and one Abbot (head monk), whilst ... read more
Through the kindness of others we experience true beauty
Published: February 16th 2012Asia » Burma » Mandalay Region » Irrawaddy River
January 28th 2012
I have been moved on my travels, I have been forced to contemplate the reality of life with a slap and understood how naive I am. I look at life for what it is with a hint of philosophical consideration but rarely do I chew over my behaviours unless they are emotionally motivated through action or consequence. Sometimes I shy away from this kind of dangerous thought because I seldom find answers and this can be hard to deal with or hurtful. I have come to recognise that some people are just unkind and malicious both intentionally and unintentionally; my boyfriend told me once in Cambodia that people are not always intentionally nasty but they are not there to think about every action and consequence and sometimes the outcomes can be hurtful without deliberation. I ... read more
An overwhelming glimpse of a past life
Published: February 12th 2012Asia » Burma » Mandalay Region » Mandalay
January 25th 2012
The sinister streets are dark lit only with torches and the beams emanating from car and motorcycle lamps lazily gliding by.Some streets are darker than I ever imagined blackness to be, the shadows a creation of what little moon light filters down into the deepest recesses. The little truck speeds along dusty roads in search for a place to stay, the only noise made on otherwise soundless streets. It is four in the morning, the Dawn has not yet graced us with its magnificent presence and we are freezing, we are exhausted. Escaping Yangon on a freezer with wheels, a ten hour night bus journey where no sleep was had due to the chattering bones and chills which swept through me shaking my entire body inside out. To leave over-priced Yangon felt like a good idea ... read more
Seeking shade in the shadow of a lamppost
Published: January 30th 2012Asia » Thailand » Central Thailand » Bangkok
January 24th 2012
I squat down in the afternoon heat behind a lamp post casting a great shadow across my body resolutely flowing on to the tarmac. I wipe the beads of sweat from my upper lip and remember how my boyfriend teases me over it. It’s rare but it happens and when it does I know it’s hot. I look to my right and see the next lamp post shadow is taken by an elderly man who smiles and nods his head at me. A fleeting moment of connection. I’ve been wandering around Bangkok in the mid-day sun and it is not a good idea. I watch as Thai men and woman clad in jeans and long sleeves walk briskly past me laughing animatedly seemingly oblivious to the heat.I realise this is because they are not as daft ... read more
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