TravelBlog » Long Distance Laura

Long Distance Laura - Laura Smith

Hello!

In August 2008, I left my job and flew to Seattle to embark on a 6-week cycle ride down the West Coast of the USA, with a group of 15 people, finishing in San Diego.

I made my way to La Paz, Mexico, for a week of sea kayaking, and then continued my travels in South Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, before flying home for Christmas.

In January, I set off again for Tanzania to take on a 3-month volunteer project, teaching in a rural village in the West Usambara Mountains, before travelling around the country for a further month. I flew home on 1st May 2009.

I hope you enjoy reading about my adventures!

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Joined on: July 28th 2008
Last Login: September 23rd 2009

Blog Entries: 17
Photos: 182

TB Code: [blogger=83949]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Long Distance Laura, order by Date newest first.

By Long Distance Laura
September 19th 2009

In pictures: my last few weeks in Africa Africa » Tanzania » Zanzibar

The sisters reunited and enjoying our first breakfast in Stone Town, Zanzibar

Hello again! I bet you thought you'd heard the last of Long Distance Laura. Well, I never got round to posting photos of the last phases of my trip: an unforgettable week on Zanzibar with my sister Rachel; a couple of crazy weeks travelling around Lake Victoria with my friend Yvonne; and going on safari in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. As most of you know, after a summer of freelancing, I am about to start a new full-time job at IMG Artists in West London, so it's time to knuckle down once more - until the next adventure. Some of [View Full Entry]

Hitting the narrow streets of Stone Town

By Long Distance Laura
May 2nd 2009

In pictures: my life in Milingano Africa » Tanzania » East » Tanga

Teacher Laula
in the Milingano Primary School staffroom

Hello everyone, I'm home! I arrived back in the UK on Friday and am thoroughly enjoying Spring-time in Hereford so far. Really looking forward to catching up with you all soon. Take a look at where I spent the first 3 months of this year - there are 3 pages of photos here which I hope you enjoy! Laura xxx [View Full Entry]

By Long Distance Laura
April 18th 2009

Lakeside Laura in Bustling Bukoba Africa » Tanzania » North » Bukoba

Hello! I am having a few days' relaxation in Bukoba, on Lake Victoria in North Tanzania, and thought I would share some of my recent adventures with you. Two weeks ago, the day finally arrived when I had to leave Milingano and all the friends I have made there, and of course the children. It was an emotional moment, especially after several days of goodbye parties, singing, dancing and festivities. Even the four of us prepared a little goodbye song that we sang to the entire school and teaching staff, and I also conducted my school choir in a performance of [View Full Entry]

By Long Distance Laura
March 20th 2009

My new existence in Tanzania Africa » Tanzania » East » Tanga

Hello! I have decided to write an update about my life here in Tanzania. Having had a bit of difficulty finding a computer that will upload my photos without my having to sit at it for several days, I have decided to post a quick entry without the photos, and then rectify the situation when I get home, as I just can't wait to show you all what it is like here in pictures as well as descriptions. Life here is about as different as it could be from living in Chalk Farm! It is intense, a bit mad, and forever [View Full Entry]

By Long Distance Laura
January 3rd 2009

Happy New Year! Europe » United Kingdom » England » Herefordshire » Hereford

My welcome home banner
created by my sister Rachel at her house in Brightlingsea, Essex

Hello! Just a little message, this time from the UK, where I have been spending a hugely enjoyable two weeks, firstly catching up with my friends in London and then celebrating Christmas in Hereford with my family. We have had snow here and I have had to dig out all my winter clothes, hats and boots again. Our New Year festivities were great fun and I now have exactly a week left before I fly to Tanzania for Phase 2 of my adventures. I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and I wish you all a very happy and peaceful 2009. [View Full Entry]

By Long Distance Laura
December 15th 2008

The last day of my travels (phase 1) Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Antigua » Antigua

The sun rises over Lake Atitlan

Hello! Firstly, the photo glitches in my last blog entry have now been fixed. I can´t believe that my travels in America have finally come to an end, and this time tomorrow I will be on a flight home. The last week has been really interesting so I wanted to do a final blog update to tell you a bit about it. For a couple of nights we stayed in Rio Dulce, Guatemala, in a hotel by the side of the river which is very scenic. The highlight of this period was our trip to some natural hot springs, where we [View Full Entry]

By Long Distance Laura
December 7th 2008

My first steps in Guatemala Central America Caribbean » Guatemala » Flores Tikal

The Misol-Ha waterfall near Palenque, Mexico

Hi everyone! I am writing from Flores, Guatemala, where it is raining! Luckily this has been a VERY unusual occurrence while I have been travelling through North and Central America. Since I last wrote, I have seen many stunning parts of Mexico with my Intrepid group, travelled through Belize, including two days on Caye Caulker island where there are no cars and you can pad down the sandy streets in your bare feet, and have now arrived in Guatemala which on first impressions is a beautiful and friendly country. The group I am travelling with is loads of fun and we [View Full Entry]

Canoeing at Barton´s Creek, one of Belize´s biggest caves..

By Long Distance Laura
November 21st 2008

A whirlwind of activity in Mexico North America » Mexico » Oaxaca » Oaxaca

Back on the bike!
But this time, mountain biking in the Baja California Sur countryside

Hola! A quick update on my adventures in Latin America! As hinted at in my previous entry, I managed to get out of La Paz for a day´s mountain biking last week, which was headed up by the very likeable Miguel of 'Baja Challenge'. Five of us cycled through some beautiful scenery in La Sierra de Laguna just south of La Paz, seeing Santiago on the way and finishing up at a beautiful natural pool with a waterfall. We swam and lunched and the braver ones jumped into the pool from the top of the waterfall - I was not one [View Full Entry]

By Long Distance Laura
November 10th 2008

My week of kayaking heaven North America » Mexico » Baja California Sur » La Paz

Our first beach on Isla Espiritu Santo

Hello!‏ Here I am reporting from hot, sunny Mexico. On arrival in La Paz just over a week ago, I actually wasn't very well, and had to spend a day in bed sweating off my mysterious illness - nothing life-threatening, luckily!‏ That evening, I met my kayaking group for our briefing and the next day we set off on the speed boat for Isla Espiritu Santo, which is a totally undeveloped, volcanic island 18 miles away from the seaside town of La Paz, on the Baja California peninsula. The plan was to cicumnavigate it in our kayaks, camping on a different [View Full Entry]

By Long Distance Laura
October 31st 2008

My last day in the U.S. of A. North America » United States » California » San Diego

At San Diego zoo...
..these were some of the chaps I saw

Hello Friends! I thought it was time to update you all on how I have been filling my time in the last couple of weeks, with none of my new cycling buddies to entertain me! I have got to know San Diego pretty well now, having spent lots of time here, enjoying the lovely hostels (I have tried out two of them now), relaxing and reading, making new friends, cooking some tasty meals, scooting around on my bike to visit the beaches, the zoo, the shops, the park, the Natural History Museum, walking some trails on the coast and even squeezing [View Full Entry]

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