Anna Cerydd Williams

Valley Girl on Tour

Anna Cerydd Williams

My name's Anna, I'm 35 and I love travel, food, wine and walking. All very cliched things when you embark on a big adventure, although I am hoping to discover what truly makes me tick, what's really important and what the next chapter will bring. I have lived in the South Wales valleys for most of my life except when I was in University and I lived in Oxford for 3 years. After university, family and the beautiful location called me back where I have worked in an lab environment for the last 14 and a half years. My role was no longer required and redundancy beckoned. Being surrounded by those where retirement was the answer, I have decided to take a mini retirement/late gap year of 2 years to see what the big wide world has to offer! Follow my trials and tribulations along the way. Trip starts on 8th June 2015.

From living the dream to back to reality in one fell swoop!

Europe » United Kingdom February 17th 2017

A tearful farewell by Mr at Koh Mook Pier. I'm not sure they are real tears. ?

Valley Girl on Tour

It was an early start. Mr Lannon left first on his longtail to Trang from the Koh Mook Pier close to where we'd stayed. We'd joked about who would have the worst transport. ? I waved him off, and took in the views of this side of the island. Typical, my speed boat ride (this is how this princess was rolling from now on) to Koh Lipe, the southern most Thai Island, was leaving from the other side. ? A taxi picked me up around mid morning and returned me to Charlie Beach, my well loved spot. It was so hot, it was impossible to stay cool. This not helped by the fact we appeared to be on 'Island Time' again! ? An hour late, finally, we boarded. Complete carnage as usual, luggage piled anywhere and ... read more

My speedboat ride from Koh Mook to Koh Lipe!

Travelling with a new Found Friend

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand February 5th 2017

Breakfast at May and Marks, Krabi

Valley Girl on Tour

So with India completed, where next was the big question for me? One thing for sure, I needed some rest and relaxation as the last four months had been constant tours. With so many wonderful destinations in the world, it was going to be a difficult decision. Then I discovered my plans to chill out, coincided with my friend Martin, who I'd met on the Indochina Encompassed Tour. Used to having company, it would be lovely to explore some of the Thai Islands together. I flew from Cochin overnight, via Bangkok and into Krabi, early on the 5th Feb. The weather, baking. It was a short commute from the airport and I was looking forward to catching up with my mate. Martin having been in Krabi since the 1st, we knew we didn't intend staying there ... read more

Fab Indian cuisine and cheesy cocktails, Ao Nang

Southern India - A world of difference Part 2

Asia » India January 30th 2017

Krishna's Butter Ball, Mamallapuram

Valley Girl on Tour

Mamallapuram was all about the culture and had been inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List since 1984. It was no wonder then, that we had a packed schedule before moving onto Puducherry later that day. To see exceptional things without excessive crowds, you need to get up increasingly early. A 6:30am start we were excited and ready to explore the ancient wonders of this town. We started our tour with a short walk to view 'Krishna's Butter Ball', a gigantic granite boulder measuring 6 meters by 5 metres and weighing 250 tonnes naturally resting on an incline. This phenomenal natural wonder that looks like it could roll away any minute is said to have been in this position for 1200 years. In 1908, for this very reason, the then governor of the city, Arthur Havelock, ... read more

Southern India - A world of difference Part 1

Asia » India January 22nd 2017

Healthy Breakfast before leaving Delhi!

Valley Girl on Tour

It was a 7:30am start from Delhi to catch our flight to Cochin. Before leaving, I had the healthiest of breakfasts, a plate of chips with tomato sauce. ? The diet would start tomorrow, I told myself! It was a slick process through the airport for me, John and Joan. So slick, I actually did some shopping at Marks and Spencer of all places and the pharmacy for some serious meds to get rid of this chesty cough. All sorted, we boarded our flight with 'Vistara'. A newish airline that had only been running for about two years. This flight odd in the fact that we had two legs. Our first to Mumbai, the second to Cochin. When we landed in Mumbai, some passengers got off, we stayed put, the cleaning crew whizzed through the cabin ... read more

The highs and lows of Northern India

Asia » India January 8th 2017

Wow, a GF meal on my Air India flight to Delhi!

Valley Girl on Tour

I touched down at New Delhi airport around midday. It was a huge place. My flight from Bangkok with Air India had been fantastic with me scoring a GF meal with bread. It was certainly a halleluyah moment. ? Fed and watered, I was pretty chilled that it seemed to take an age to go through immigration. As I stood waiting in the e-Visa queue, I couldn't believe my eyes when I spotted my welsh neighbour 'Dino', a Virgin Air Steward, in the opposite queue. Desperately trying to get his attention but failing miserably, this was just another of those uncanny moments of how small the world really is. Finally, allowed in, baggage collected, money changed, I walked through arrivals, it now around 2pm. It wasn't half as scary as I imagined it to be and ... read more

All Indochina had to offer! Part 2

Asia December 22nd 2016

Halong Bay

Valley Girl on Tour

With my new group, I was ready to take on Vietnam and all it had to offer. With Hanoi covered, it was time to move onto Halong Bay for an overnight boat stay in this Unesco World Heritage Site. The boat, very plush, excellent seafood and me scoring my own room, all was good with the world. It was amazing and the weather couldn't have been better. We took a trip into the 'Surprising Cave' which had lots of surprising features. ? One in particular caught my eye, supposedly called the 'pointing finger'. However, as far as my new mature group were concerned, we agreed it looked like something else! I'll let you decide. ? The second was the ceiling, which had a waved pattern providing evidence it had been eroded by seawater. Its not all ... read more

Surprising Cave, Halong Bay. Now does that look like a finger to you? ??

All Indochina had to offer! Part 1

Asia December 10th 2016

Our first meal. Bangkok.

Valley Girl on Tour

Another day, another tour. That's very much how my life was, at present. With me, so looking forward to what this one was going to bring. It would after all cover Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Six 'o' clock soon appeared. It was time to meet my comrades. We were a small group of eight. Monicka, Pia and Katrin from Germany, Noelia from Switzerland, Martin from Ireland, Ben from London and his wife Chris originally from Germany. Our CEO, Visal from Siam Reap. All were lovely, around my and had a good sense of humour. So far so good. My whole tour comprised of three trips so it was nice to know that Katrin, Noelia and Martin would be with me all the way, including Visal our guide. To break the ice and get to know ... read more

Floral Tributes for the late King, Bangkok

From Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok and all in between.

Asia December 9th 2016

My first views of Malaysia

Valley Girl on Tour

It had been a long night, having had to fly via Melbourne to get me to Kuala Lumpur for the start of my next adventure. However, that had provided an opportunity to test two new airlines. The first, China Air which was fantastic apart from the boiled rice meal. This I could just tell, would be the start of my misery. ? Everything was included, drinks, food, entertainment when you consider its only a short flight, was pretty nice. There was also loads of room and I had a window seat. Not a bad start. My connecting flight was with Air Asia and took about 8.5 hours. This one being the epitome of basic. No entertainment, no complimentary drinks and a menu with the Gluten symbol on every page. There was also a charge to borrow ... read more

What a cool group we are, rocking this catalogue pose with ease! ?

Going down South!

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island October 31st 2016

My last view of the Wellington Coastline

Valley Girl on Tour

Finally, my bags were zipped, along with last hugs with Shinayd and Rodney who got up early to say goodbye. Although, I think it was more to check I was definitely off. ? It was time for me to close the door on Flat 11/107 Cuba Street which had been my home away from home. I'd certainly miss my housemates, but not so much the noise! I also couldn't not call to Little Peckish for a true final goodbye and of course, one of T's hearty breakfasts to set me up for the day ahead. Final cwtches (hugs) with the team including Olga, I shouted Hwyl, Da Boch chi, and Cheerio as I made my way to meet Frankie. Unfortunately my bus came early but luckily she still managed to wave me off. Shit suddenly got ... read more

Is it Welly over, it is now!

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Wellington September 10th 2016

Lunch at Logan Browns

Valley Girl on Tour

Spring had definitely sprung, a leak more like, as on most days it was now reminiscent of home. It was almost comforting to see downpours, as it felt like autumn was upon me after the extremely mild Winter,(which had been even better than the British Summer) I'd just had. What better way to spend a grey Saturday afternoon than taking in a spot of lunch with Tracy and Lou at a restaurant, I'd previously indulged in their Dessert and Cocktail match, namely Logan Browns. This place renowned for good service and excellent food, did not dissapoint on this occasion either. It was a lovely open white washed room with a fantastic dome ceiling including none other than an aquarium bar. I loved it. It exuded class with a relaxed charming atmosphere. The wine, a Schuberts Red ... read more

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