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swissmaple - World Citizen, aka Mél

A World Citizen's Map

Map Legend: 10%, 27 of 263 Territories

Places to visit

I've lived here

I've got a passport

I've visited here

Where I've lived, where I've been and where I'd like to go.

Current location: Montreal, QC, Canada

After finishing a degree and a diploma, I still had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. All I knew was that I wanted to crumple up the "before-30 checklist" that one is expected to complete. So I extended my travels and ran away to the land down under...some might argue I'm still on the run. For a few years now, I haven't been in one place for more than 6 months, as I try to see the world and figure out my path at the same time.

The plan at the moment: Somehow getting some sort of career path started while figuring out how to keep a certain amazing guy in my life and have enough money left over to travel more. Any suggestions?

Happy reading!

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Joined on: October 4th 2006
Last Login: November 10th 2009

Blog Entries: 56
Photos: 346
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by swissmaple, order by Date newest first.

By swissmaple
July 20th 2009

Road Trip, Part Deux Oceania » Australia » Queensland

Rosellas
These birds come out for feeding time at O'Reilly's in Lamington National Park

We drove into Queensland via an inland road, up a very steep hill that the car didn't like (he responded to the hill by blowing white smoke at us through the vents). We left the car to cool as we took pictures of the New South Wales and Queensland signs, and then headed on our way. Our goal was Lamington National Park, the Green Mountains Section. We had in mind to do a big overnight hike, as I have yet to do one. One of Queensland's Great Walks went through Lamington and Springbrook National Parks, but we couldn't get the in [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
July 20th 2009

Different Country, Another Road Trip! Oceania » Australia » New South Wales

Hanging Rock
In the Blue Mountains

We set off on our road trip to explore a bit of the east coast of Australia. The last time I was in Oz, I checked off all the states except Queensland, and I hadn't explored a whole lot of New South Wales. I basically missed the regular tourist trail up the east coast. Thus this time, we decided I had to see something new. We started our road trip in the Blue Mountains. Having quite enjoyed my walkabout that I did a few years ago in the area, I wanted to go back and explore a little more. We booked [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
June 26th 2009

Painful pinpricks and alien creatures Oceania » Australia » New South Wales » Kiama

Waterfalls in Jamberoo
This is on the Brennan's property; it's just lovely!

This time, coming to the land down under was somehow even longer than the first time. Well, I did chose the discount flight (I was quite pleased that I wasn't sharing economy class with chickens at the price I got my ticket!), and had two layovers, but either way, Australia is bloody far away! Within a few days of arriving Down Under, I discovered a new phobia. Now, last time I was here, I chased a dingo in the outback, didn't even think twice when I almost stepped on a black snake in Tasmania (hello one of the most poisonous in [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
May 3rd 2009

Old Cities and Whales North America » Canada » Quebec » Tadoussac

400 Years Old
Some of the buildings in old Quebec City

After the USA: A-Ok! trip, I spent about a month in Goshen, NY before I decided I had to return to Montreal. I moved into an apartment chock-full of international people doing various internships, and returned to work whilst trying to enjoy as much spring as possible. I took great delight in walking down my Plateau stairs every morning, watching the tree in the front yard change from a dull, dead grey matter into a full blown blooming purple lilac tree. The little changes that happen every day, as well as the seemingly sudden bursts of spring all over the city, [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
February 27th 2009

And the Car Dies in the Desert... North America » United States » Nevada » Las Vegas

Stranded
We decided that Shoshone, CA was a very nice place to be stranded

Note to readers: You may want to read the stories of our USA road trip in chronological order - in that case, start with or , and work back from there! Ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump, klang, powf, screeeeeeeeeeeeeech! Ba-bump, screeeeeeeeeeech! An odd smell begins to join the chaos that was pounding our ear drums. Oleg had enough. He did not want to go any further. The funny noises started shortly after Kelso Sand Dunes in Mojave National Preserve. We had continued on to Baker, CA to fill up the tank before heading north to Deat [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
February 16th 2009

Nights in the Desert North America » United States » California » Mojave National Preserve

Dr Suess Trees?
No, just the Joshua Trees!

We entered southern California, expecting to stop at a visitor's centre to pick up brochures; instead we were greeted by yet another border patrol / truck inspection site. We had seen these in New Mexico and Arizona...but like everywhere else, we were just waved through, leaving us to wonder what that was all about. Taxpayer dollars hard at work? We needed supplies, but unfortunately for us, we had to drive past our destination to the town of Indio. By this point, both of us were a little sick of driving, so getting lost in Indio didn't suit us well. After picking [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
February 11th 2009

Snowed out in the dry heat North America » United States » Arizona

Canyon de Chelly
A Navajo guide is required to descend into the canyon.

We entered Arizona on a sour note, as it was snowing yet again. We decided to try and see northern Arizona despite the weather, as it would be a shame to be in Arizona without seeing the grandest of canyons and the valley of monuments. But the weather just wouldn't cooperate. We drove on Navajo roads to Canyon de Chelly, managing to catch it in the brief sunlight. Canyon de Chelly is breathtakingly beautiful. Especially at the end of the the south-rim drive, with a view of the convergence of canyons at Spider Rock. To go down into the canyon would've [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
February 5th 2009

Land of Enchantment North America » United States » New Mexico

Old & New
The Alamo with a state building behind, in San Antonio, Texas

After leaving New Orleans, we continued west, to the big state of Texas. We reached Texas past sunset, having driven on bridges over the Louisiana bayous for what seemed like hours. One of the first "cities" we came to was oddly not on our map. It took us a few moments to realise the cities we were seeing in the distance were not actually glistening gold cities but really cities of huge oil refineries, lit up in golden lights for all to see. What had clued us in were the plumes of smoke and the flames from gas burn-offs. It was [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
February 3rd 2009

Fat Tuesday? North America » United States » Louisiana » New Orleans

Have a seat!
I just liked this old chair...

New Orleans was one of the cities on Dave's list. Nevermind that it was too early for Mardi Gras. I was a bit apprehensive of New Orleans. I knew lots of people who had been there before the hurricane in 2005, but no one could tell us what it was like since then. Except Chuck and Charles, our Florida Keys buddies, who spent the weekend drinking on Bourbon Street. All the stories I had heard were mixed: it was a fantastically friendly party city, it was a sketchy city full of racism, it had a lovely old quarter, it was run [View Full Entry]

By swissmaple
January 31st 2009

Florida or Bust! North America » United States » Florida

Cannon at St Augustine
One of the cannons at the old fort

Finally, we reached Florida! After getting some maps and freshly squeezed Florida orange juice at the visitor's centre, we ventured off into the state known for Disney, car races, old people, alligators and sunshine. Of course when we first arrived, everyone was bitterly complaining of the cold, as it was hovering between 10-15°C (50-60°F). The warmth we were so desperately trying to find was eluding us. But it was well above freezing, and as our Quebec license plates may have indicated, we'd take what we could get. Our first night we reached the town of St Augustine, where we decided [View Full Entry]

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swissmaple - World Citizen, aka Mél

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