Blue and Sir Elton got it totally wrong when they sang about sorry being the hardest word, as any traveller knows the hardest word is goodbye.

When you travel expect to say a whole load of goodbyes and they never get any easier. Firstly, you start off with emotional goodbyes to your family and friends. You may even have a whole party to say goodbye.

You often board that first flight full of mixed emotion. Buzzing with excitement of what lies ahead merged with a heavy sadness of what you’ve left behind. What you’re going to experience fights against the uncertainty of what you’ll be missing out on back at home. Change is always difficult.

But those first few moments of hesitation and uncertainness soon disappear when you land, make it to your first destination and realise how brave you were in saying those hard goodbyes, as you will soon be rewarded with incredible hello’s.

A hey how you doin’ to new cites, new faces and new experiences. Hello’s are great. Hello’s mark a new friend, new memories and a new way of living.

Travel allows you to meet so many awesome people from all over the world. Strangers become your new BFF’s, you form such intense relationships in such a short time, bonding over shared moments.

The only downside with all of these hello’s is that they one day have to become a goodbye.

You’ve kept food in your fridge longer than you’ve known these people, surely it won’t be difficult leaving them? But it’s the connection you had that counts. Any backpacker will tell you how hard it is to leave the party early. Heartfelt hugs, swapping ALL your contact details, promising to never forget one another and often a bucket load of tears. Why do we put ourselves through this?!

Saying goodbye sucks but that’s a small price to pay to keep having these incredible hellos, these new friends and new memories. This is why we travel.

So the next time you’re leaving someone, somewhere or something, think of it as a see you soon and get ready for the next hello.