2016 was tough for pretty much everyone, right? There’s a collective energy of agreement on this around the globe seemingly. It was definitely a landmark year – and not for all the right reasons. So I decided to look back at the best bits of 2016 for me and remind myself of all the adventures and good times I had. Turns out, there were quite a few!
Travel
🌟 Best New Destination 🌟
Amsterdam
I didn’t visit that many new places in 2016. I started the year in a pretty pressured job (working as a travel agent) and then was unemployed for 7 months (until I started with National Geographic Traveller last month. YAY!), which didn’t leave much in the way of travel funds. But I did make it to Amsterdam for the first time in April and it really blew me away!
I’d spent years thinking that it was some stag and hen do hell hole, littered with nasty bars and trashy weed shops. Turns out this is a tiny and easily avoidable part of the city, which is primarily gorgeous! SO romantic. SO beautiful. I was swooning the whole weekend I spent there and now can’t wait to go back.
🌟 Best New Discovery 🌟
The Kylie Pool
It was a week after the devastating shootings at a gay nightclub in Orlando when I saw Cyndi Lauper perform a pretty intimate gig (by festival standards) at Glastonbury. She finished her incredible set with a speech about how important it was to keep fighting for LGBT rights and then did this acapella version of True Colors. Everyone was crying. It was SO incredible.
🌟 Best Boogie 🌟
Rudimental at Morning Gloryville
I’d never been to a Morning Gloryville party but I decided this summer to head to their 3rd birthday party as they normally get someone pretty amazing as the DJ – except you don’t know until you arrive. So imagine my excitement when I turned up to discover it was Rudimentalwith full brass ensemble playing live! It was INCREDIBLE and I danced my ass off!!!
Culture
🌟 Best Book 🌟
The Wangs vs. the World by Jade Chang
I read loads of good books this year but this one really stood out for me! It only came out last month so you may not have heard about it yet but you should really grab a copy. It would make a great holiday read, especially as it is about a family going on a road trip. To top it off, the author got in touch after reading my review in September to thank me. How lovely is that!
🌟 Best Song 🌟
Good As Hell by Lizzo
Whenever I’ve had a bad day this year, I’ve played this song by the amazing Lizzo 😄
🌟 Best album 🌟
Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka
I really want to say Bowie‘s devastating Black Star but it was this soulful album that I listened to almost non-stop. So beautiful.
Have a fun and safe end to 2016 everyone. I’ll see you in 2017 for more adventures.
