Hey all, if you haven’t been following me on Instagram (you should be @Accessoryfreaks), you probably missed that for the past 6 months I’ve been travelling all across the World! Sounds great right? It was great but there are so many buses, flights, trains and boats you have to catch, it can get tiring. A lot of the time there’s no Internet, or if there is, it’s terrible. So I’m unable to amuse myself on Instagram and you just need some time alone away from the noise of the World. I also suffer with a little travel sickness, which is usually triggered when I’m looking down at my phone or reading a book/magazine for too long. So this is where Audible came in and saved me from going insane.
Travelling through countries like Vietnam, Colombia and Peru for example, I was on buses and train’s a hell of a lot. The countries are huge, so getting around isn’t as quick as it is at home in England. In Vietnam an 8-hour bus journey is considered short haha and they are noisy and not very comfortable. I remember one of the night buses in Vietnam where I spent most of the journey fearing my life haha. I’m laughing about it now but I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and that wasn’t always because I was in fear of my life, it was because it was swaying me off my seat! The bus was going so fast around the bends it would be swinging all over the place. I was so thankful for my Audible app on this journey because listening to a book distracted me a little and stopped me from grabbing my bags and running off the bus.
I’m thinking back now at all the times I’ve needed to travel 2 hours in the UK and it’s felt like far too much effort. Now I’m not even fazed by a 12-hour night bus, I’m a changed person in so many ways.
Despite the odd terrible bus journeys in Vietnam, travelling by bus and train has been one of my favorite ways to get around a country. When you fly you miss so much of the landscape and all the small villages where the locals live. As much as I love being above the clouds, I really like to see a country rather than diving from one city to another and when you have the time, why not?
Prior to my 6 month trip I had a good few books pre download on my Audible app and then at least I had a bit of choice on my journey and I could pick something based on my mood. Also it meant I had more space in my luggage for more clothes so it was a win win.
I have to say when I first got it all downloaded and without giving it a go, I didn’t think it would be for me. I think it was because I’m not a big reader but I have realised that I enjoy listening to books more than reading myself.
On audible there is literally something for everyone. One of my favourite books at the moment (I’m only half way through) is Becoming by Michelle Obama and I love it even more that Michelle Obama narrates it herself, its one to add to your list of books to listen to. I started listening to this one on the trains and buses in Peru. I would put in my headphones and zone out and enjoy the amazing landscape at the same time and trust me there were views you did not want to miss but also didn’t want to stop listening to Michelle (yep, we’re on a first-name basis).
I snapped this picture on a bus journey from Cuzco to Ollantaytambo in Peru.
The only thing I will say you might come across a book you’re not keen on due to the narrator’s voice, this has happened to me. The narrator’s voice just sounded so dull and monotone that I would end up switching off and having to either rewind and recap or turn it off completely. You can however preview a section of the book before you buy it, which I now know and highly recommend before purchasing. I don’t want to mention the name of the book because it is personal preference and I know a couple of people who have listened to it and loved it.
Since being back in the UK I have continued to use the app. I’ll be using the app even more when I return to work because I’ll need something to distract me from the feeling that I’m home again and make the commute to work and back a little interesting. You must know that feeling after you get back from a trip the holiday blues set in. I’ve actually been playing Becoming whilst getting ready in the morning and even whilst I’m in the shower. I hook it up to my Beats pill and I’m good to go. There are so many places you will be able to listen to your favourite books; few other ideas are out on a walk, in the gym or even on the toilet haha.
If you want to give Audible a go here is a little more information for you. The Audible app is free to download and you get a one-month free trial with a free book so you have nothing to lose. Even if you cancel your membership the audio book will be yours to keep.
If you have a trip coming up or you’re sick of your commute to work I highly recommend you giving it a go.
Get set up now using my affiliate link http://tidd.ly/4edc6e00
After the 30-day trial you have a few different plans to choose from, which give you credits and they can be used to purchase audible books. 1 credit is required per book. It is super easy to set up and use.
£7.99 a month and 1 credit per month
£14.99 a month and 2 credits per month
£69.99 a year and 12 credits per year
£109.99 a year and 24 credits per year
Hope you enjoy Audible as much as I do. Just give it a go, you might love it as much as I do. I really couldn’t live without it now; it’s a part of my daily routine. There are 24 hours in the day, a lot of time for us to expand our minds. Now we have even more time because we can listen to books on the go…multi tasking at its finest.
If you come across any good books, message me on Instagram @accessoryfreaks.
