Photo: Laura Mitchell
“The best moments in your life will be the ones that almost didn’t happen, with someone you never expected, and in some place, you never knew existed.” – R.M DRAKE.
In October of 2017, a 22-year-old Australian girl flew over to Thailand to start her third Contiki Trip, a 16 day Asian Adventurer. Wide eyed and a little anxious, I weaved my way with my suitcase through the streets of Bangkok dodging mopeds and tuktuks while trying to read signs in a language I didn’t understand.
On shaky legs that evening, I went down to a kick-start meeting where I met my Trip Manager Carla and the other 30+ travellers in our group. I was alone and more than a little nervous as I was surrounded by other solo travellers, friends and couples travelling together.
I was anxious but excited, I had travelled twice with Contiki before and knew I was going to have an amazing trip, but it is always nerve-racking meeting new people in a strange place on your own.
After our kick-start meeting a few members of the group went out for dinner before heading to get drinks at a local bucket bar. There’s nothing a few cocktail buckets won’t help you overcome including a little solo travelling anxiety. It was here under some purple neon lights that I started talking with a beautiful English girl called Grace. Little did I know at the time, I had just met my best friend in the world.
We bonded over our love of travel, our common interests, and our experiences on trip together. From visiting elephants at a sanctuary, seeing the Chang Mai Lantern Festival, chasing waterfalls and dancing on tables in Laos and channelling our inner Lara Croft style alter egos in the ruins of Angkor Watt in Cambodia. We tried every strange and new food including crickets together, set off flames in a Thai cooking class, explored temples together and just spent our tour laughing together.
Image source:Laura Mitchell
Image source:Laura Mitchell
Image source:Laura Mitchell
My time on tour was ending after Cambodia while Grace was continuing the Big Indo China Trip with her partner. To say I was heartbroken to be saying goodbye to her would be an understatement, but Contiki friendships are special. I truly believe that when you are travelling you are the most authentic and uninhibited version of yourself. There’s none of the pressures or external influences from your home life and you are just free to be you, purely and unapologetically. This is why I think Contiki friendships are so special and so strong.
Grace and I kept in contact over WhatsApp voice messages that have slowly turned into podcast episodes of each of our respective lives. My friendship with her saw her visit me in Australia over New Years Eve 2017, I visited the UK and Europe in 2018 and saw Grace who showed off the English countryside to me, and I fell even more in love with Contiki. So much so that after completing a 45 day Ultimate European, I applied to be a Trip Manager and completed my Contiki training in 2019.
Since becoming a Contiki Trip Manager, I have had the pleasure of guiding young travellers around the European Continent on coach trips and on Contiki Croatia Sail trips. I have watched people foster friendships just like mine with Grace and to me it is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
If you recognise me as your Trip Manager you know that I sign off every trip with my favourite quote, which I started this article with because it is the perfect summation of what a Contiki trip is and what it can give you. Some of the best moments in my life I have shared with the English girl I met while travelling solo.
Image source:Laura Mitchell
I have travelled the world every year except for Covid to see Grace and work for Contiki, and, in May 2024, I flew over to stand by Grace’s side as a bridesmaid in her wedding to the love of her life. My Contiki Asian Adventurer trip has given me not just a best friend but a sister. An 11-hour time difference, a 30+ hour flight distance and literal oceans haven’t been able to keep us apart.
My hope for everyone that travels on a Contiki trip is that they are lucky enough to create a friendship or friendships like the one I have with Grace. Travelling is a gift and being brave enough to go solo might just introduce you to someone who will become one of the most important people in your life. I will forever be grateful for my experiences with Contiki as both a traveller and as a Trip Manager.
Take the leap, book the trip, you won’t regret it.
With love, Contiki Lawz.
