Trying to think of new creative words that don´t repeat myself but basically still cover amazing, awesome etc etc. Todays word then is superific! What a superfantasticico hiking day I have had again. Almost can´t handle the consistent pace of happiness and hiking fatigue buzz. No I think I can. I have two new hard core hiking buddies, Calvin from NZ and Andrew from Brisvegas. We ditched the group today as we are all really keen to walk whenever possible. Thought it might be our first and last chance to really break away so we consulted the travel bible at breakfast [View Full Entry]

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Hi gorgeous ones, this is going to be the most gushing mad email because I am out of control high today. So my disclaimer is, sickening over exaggerated happines guff is about to follow, so please be warned! Had the best day of my holiday today even though there were no animals. I wasn't part of the group at all and instead found two very cool Aussies who are living in Adelaide. Eric and Janet are both 32, own a vineyard, are left wing, into biodynamics and are so into nature we were all spinning each other out by echoing our [View Full Entry]

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Where to start on what I have just seen.....just came back late last night from Galapagos Islands and it really was more incredible than I imagined. Rude shock though, going from living alone in Brissy to a dodgy boat of 14 Aussie women and two old men! I thought there was only going to be 7 of us. Quite a big adjustment for me, and considering how mellow and isolated Galapagos is I needed to get away from the group, somewhere, anywhere, any small sun spot on the boat by myself just to soak all the nature in. I've had serious [View Full Entry]

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Made it to Quito in Ecuador in one piece. After almost two days travelling like a zombie in the plane, lots of unpredicted delays and two extra plane changes I am in South America. What a spin out after so much pretrip anticipation? I arrived about 10 hours ago, about 1am local time to a crazy packed airport, found my sweet little transfer dude and jumped in the car. Everything really sunk in finally then and my first effective words in Spanish translated into "Excuse me Senor, can you please turn that music up LOUD?" It worked, and we screamed from [View Full Entry]

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We where delayed from Cherbourg in France two days as the rough seas where too dangerous. That should have warned me enough of the nightmare to come and told me to get off the damned ferry and head to Ireland via England. No such luck, finally we set off and I found my little cabin. Half an hour from shore I woke to huge crashing bangs, extreme thrashing, and the ferry bouncing all over the ocean like a drunk. The motion went straight to my stomach and I spent the next 12 hours clutching the toilet bowl vomiting. In between throws [View Full Entry]

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Everything is a little dirtier and more lived in, washing on the balconies overhanging the streets, people seem more alive and a little crazier, food I love to eat and really good smells. Spain is quite a reality change after weeks in Scandinavia and the Alps. Southern Europe suits my soul, expressive hand waving and warmer weather. It feels like a great mixture of Southern Italy and Greece. Barcelona got me moving today, I ran around like a woman possesed, the highlight for me being the Gaudi architecture. He was the main attraction for me to visit this city, his style [View Full Entry]

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There is still a sense of the struggle of man to control the beast that is nature, as I travel across miles of untouched open spaces. Futile attempts at order are everywhere as you can feel the hands of the icy winter hovering. It is still quite wild and unexplored terrain in some parts f Scandinavia and the silence can be almost deafening. It has been 0 degrees with snow and the vast distances between any point of interest or hospitality remind me of a cold Australia. How different it is to gaze on an ocean of whiteness, pine green trees [View Full Entry]

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As I crossed the train bridge that connects Denmark with Sweden and headed North to Stockholm the landscape changed drastically. The long bridge that stretches for 5 minutes of the journey, incredible in itself, was surrounded by a vast steely grey ocean. Lit up occasionally with shimmering patches where the sun managed to break free from the clouds. The landscape seems controlled, so symmetrically divided by agriculture without a hint of ruggedness. Punctuated by perfect little buildings staring blank and lifelessly back at me. It all appears so ordered and visually crafted, ultra modern i [View Full Entry]

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After a three week whirlwind tour of Italy I'm heading to Austria where apparently the hills are alive with the sound of music!! Italy has been beautiful. After hooking up with an English couple met months ago in Turkey we saw how much the Tower of Pisa really leans, gorgeous little towns like Luca and SIenna and now I'm in Venice. The numerous canals of Venice are truly romantic but the gondola ride of love is unfortunately now so expensive and exploited that Casanova would turn in his grave. Plus traveling solo isn't really conducive to feeling the gooey vibe here [View Full Entry]

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I am typing madly next to the Trevi fountain, listening to Pavarotti and sitting next to a priest in black typing emails. Very strange. Obviously I am in Italy safe and sound in beautiful Roma. After over two months in Greece it's still a culture shock. Conversation is a little trying as I'm still in Hellenic mode and the Grand Prix is on so all eyes seem to be on the box!! My Italian is EXTREMELY poor but my sign language exceptional (thank god). No one in Southern Italy, where I have just come from, speaks English naturally and because I [View Full Entry]

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