For my 30th birthday, I wasn't sure what to do. A couple of weeks earlier, I had travelled to Sri Lanka to celebrate my dad's birthday with my family. Going back again wasn't really practical, and I didn't feel like organising a big party. Most of my friends don't celebrate birthdays anyway, so I decided to do something for myself.

A few days before my birthday, I booked a spontaneous trip to Zakynthos in Greece.

The funny thing is that Zakynthos had been in my life for much longer than I realised. Growing up, one of the wallpapers on our old Windows computer showed the famous Shipwreck Beach viewpoint. We used to call it the "crocodile mountain" because of its shape. I didn't even know it was in Greece until years later when I saw the same picture during a family trip there.

When I arrived, the island was quiet because it was October. The next day, I joined a tour and finally stood at that exact viewpoint. Flying my drone above the crystal blue water and the shipwreck felt surreal. It felt like I had stepped into a childhood memory.

The trip ended with a thunderstorm, a great meal, unexpected conversations with fellow travellers, and one of the best nights of sleep I can remember. Looking back, it was the perfect way to turn 30.