Shannon and I have spent 77 days and nights together. We have shared a room all of these nights bar 1. We’ve shared experiences, dramas, thoughts, emotions (me more than her as I’m an emotional creature) and future plans. We’ve gotten through the shits, vomiting bugs, dengue (me not her), anxiety, homesickness and complete exhaustion. We conquered India and Thailand and we still love one another and are planning to travel together again in the future.

Little did I know that in Cali, Colombia in March 2018 I was going to meet my travel soul mate. I checked into El Viajero Hostel and met my roomies, one of which was Shannon. I found out on this trip that she actually was hating on me when I checked in because I got the top bunk (she had been waiting to move when I slipped in). We clicked instantly and ended up meeting our other friend who completes out tripod, Amanda. We all ended up staying in the hostel for a week. We had a final farewell dinner and we were sure we’d meet again. The best part of travelling is meeting other female travellers in my opinion. When you meet women travelling and you click, that’s a friendship for life.

I managed to meet Shannon only 2 weeks later in Peru where we continued our love affair. I just thought she was the most magical person I’d met and loved her instantly. We parted ways and who knew when we’d meet again but we all stayed in contact for the following year, at least every week. We all had our own shit going on and we supported one another from afar. When my anxiety crippled me in June they were both at the other end of the phone for me no matter what time of day. I’m so thankful for them every single day!

Shannon and I figured we were going to be in India at the same time but at that time of planning, my partner didn’t like the idea of me being gone for so long so I told Shannon I would only have 2 weeks with her in India before needing to move on to meet my ex. I had been planning my yoga teacher training for 1 month, meet Shannon and then meet my ex to continue travelling. He didn’t like the idea of me travelling for so long without him because he was worried we wouldn’t manage it (all the signs were there, I just ignored them). 

After we broke up my whole plan developed into yoga teacher training, meeting Shannon, travelling India together and then going to Thailand for Christmas and New years together (the idea for Thailand was basically to be in a bikini non stop since we’d be covered up in India for so long). Since we’re both solo travellers we made sure to discuss time alone, budgets, places we wanted to see, giving each other space and separating if necessary. We were both so excited to see one another after 18 months apart. I was sure we’d be perfectly fine travelling but what if we didn’t click? What if we’d changed since we last met one another? What if it just wasn’t meant to be? We had both met up with travel friends and sometimes it just isn’t the same as when you first met them.

As soon as we saw one another in Delhi, it was like we’d met the previous day. We clicked instantly and she was the biggest support for me being sick with dengue. She walked me up and down to the hospital every other day for blood tests, she monitored my food like a strict mother and gave me hugs when I needed them. 

What transpired since then has been the biggest adventure of my life. I thought Central and South America was a challenge, wooah was I wrong. There is no adventure like India and I couldn’t have been with a better partner for it. We have laughed every single day together to the point where we are crying, we’ve supported one another through difficult times, we’ve navigated trains, buses and planes that have nearly broken our hearts and destroyed our souls. We know each other’s parents by name and can jump in on each others video chats for shits and giggles. We know each other’s home lives, hopes and dreams, we share stories from home and check in on each others’ bowel movements every day. When we’re not together in person we’re sending each other a message or a picture of our food. We can sit in silence for hours with one another, we can journal beside one another, read or chat shit for hours on end.

Everything happens for a reason. I believe in this, I live by it and there was a reason I had that break down. There’s a reason we are travelling together. She has been a best friend and partner in crime for the last 77 days and I can’t wait for our future adventures together. I am so grateful for the time we’ve had together. Having female friends is the best thing in the world. My mother has always said that. I am very lucky to be surrounded by incredible women at home and abroad who love and support me every day. I’m lucky to have had my wonderful friend Shannon by my side for almost 2 years now. We won’t be together for our friend anniversary but I’m sure we’ll manage a beer together over WhatsApp video! Cheers to my travel soul mate, Shannon Payne (in my arse)!