tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42935398122830956032024-03-13T13:52:13.107+02:00 Bearfoot Gypsy The Adventures of a Part Time Professional Gypsy (and her ginormous teddy thing)Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-76418658661851252232017-11-28T16:25:00.001+02:002017-11-28T16:25:48.488+02:00We got a real website!<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We've just launched our new site!!!</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bearfootgypsy.com/">www.bearfootgypsy.com</a></h2>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Make sure you visit it and follow our new adventures!!</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WgtGYauFTyM/Wh1vAQsGStI/AAAAAAAAGCY/7TjElVINooweJUIBdRtlZOgAmyaXfiIhwCLcBGAs/s1600/11878881_1649287051985826_2005621399790451538_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WgtGYauFTyM/Wh1vAQsGStI/AAAAAAAAGCY/7TjElVINooweJUIBdRtlZOgAmyaXfiIhwCLcBGAs/s400/11878881_1649287051985826_2005621399790451538_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There will be more cycling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dq9SiGwq4o0/Wh1vHPj-99I/AAAAAAAAGCc/SpEBToJzxxw_k46Y1-3yUCflzneU-SN1QCLcBGAs/s1600/16722505_10154851614947324_4108035011294756522_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dq9SiGwq4o0/Wh1vHPj-99I/AAAAAAAAGCc/SpEBToJzxxw_k46Y1-3yUCflzneU-SN1QCLcBGAs/s400/16722505_10154851614947324_4108035011294756522_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There will be more sailing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OljMPvxby0E/Wh1vjAi9aII/AAAAAAAAGCo/LkOEHMWi5BMe7AGqJ0cw00a-VgfnwSz0QCLcBGAs/s1600/GOPR0531_1459076670848_high-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OljMPvxby0E/Wh1vjAi9aII/AAAAAAAAGCo/LkOEHMWi5BMe7AGqJ0cw00a-VgfnwSz0QCLcBGAs/s400/GOPR0531_1459076670848_high-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There will be more hitching</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YejwnSZgF2U/Wh1vJIooHhI/AAAAAAAAGCg/d8h8ysR0egY2Ye_FNSMT9OOFwzWHy8gKgCLcBGAs/s1600/330212_10150520502717324_586945491_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1346" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YejwnSZgF2U/Wh1vJIooHhI/AAAAAAAAGCg/d8h8ysR0egY2Ye_FNSMT9OOFwzWHy8gKgCLcBGAs/s400/330212_10150520502717324_586945491_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there will be plenty more exploring!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
See you at <a href="http://www.bearfootgypsy.com/">www.bearfootgypsy.com</a></div>
<br />Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-6777002895241001602017-11-03T09:24:00.000+02:002017-11-03T09:36:28.244+02:00Anywhere for a Hug<div style="text-align: center;">
"Make sure you come visit if you're ever in [insert random name of strange town you will likely never visit]"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-Anyone who has ever traveled is familiar with this phrase. </div>
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It has become something of a generic salutation, the "politically correct" open-ended goodbye that is expected among gypsies.</div>
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<br /></div>
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On the road we are all strangers. </div>
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In new environments. </div>
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We are open to trying things we would never contemplate at home. </div>
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We walk with the freedom of boxless living. </div>
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We go out of our way to meet and mingle with people our parents probably wouldn't approve of.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You have some crazy experiences with your "bestie" of the week/day/hour and then you hug each other goodbye and continue in different directions likely never to connect again.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But what happens if you do?<br />
What happens if you go out of your way to [insert random name of strange town you will likely never visit] just to see the strange human you once had a random experience with?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
I did it.<br />
I went [almost] EVERYWHERE FOR A HUG:<br />
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<br />
I flew to <b>WORCESTER PARK (</b>Well actually I flew to <b>London </b>but then I headed through<b>)</b><br />
<br />
A little nervous and unsure about land travel after so many years as a sea gypsy,<br />
I was rather glad to arrive in Europe to these smiling faces:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DKRd62KO-DQ/WfrxEsWinvI/AAAAAAAAF30/SDgjC6ay3PkfXqPrlprn6qgWr4RXAv4OACLcBGAs/s1600/1%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DKRd62KO-DQ/WfrxEsWinvI/AAAAAAAAF30/SDgjC6ay3PkfXqPrlprn6qgWr4RXAv4OACLcBGAs/s320/1%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Megan was privileged enough to know me since primary school.<br />
In 2008 we moved to London together.<br />
She never left.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PrqWtJVdRW8/Wfrze1TY4UI/AAAAAAAAF7U/diVrHYHEJlkVvT3bADjNixUDjSPZbUo_ACLcBGAs/s1600/P4130591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PrqWtJVdRW8/Wfrze1TY4UI/AAAAAAAAF7U/diVrHYHEJlkVvT3bADjNixUDjSPZbUo_ACLcBGAs/s200/P4130591.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN:<br />
Being awe struck by the fine monuments in and around London.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U4WsLfV6zQY/WfrxAArPY9I/AAAAAAAAF3o/LBJ6j0HWTJY5WWY67FDe22ZwfZGvikR4gCLcBGAs/s1600/1%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U4WsLfV6zQY/WfrxAArPY9I/AAAAAAAAF3o/LBJ6j0HWTJY5WWY67FDe22ZwfZGvikR4gCLcBGAs/s200/1%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOW:<br />
Being awe struck by God at church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jarred (pronounced "Jay-raid") was my baby baby brother's friend.</div>
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I liked him, I stole him.</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W9P3_QQ4Wvg/Wfr2WEsrp9I/AAAAAAAAF7k/T1FS-Zz_9XMveUCspAoeTIewLZjfVFMyQCLcBGAs/s1600/P1214052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W9P3_QQ4Wvg/Wfr2WEsrp9I/AAAAAAAAF7k/T1FS-Zz_9XMveUCspAoeTIewLZjfVFMyQCLcBGAs/s200/P1214052.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THEN:<br />
Hardcore and fearless.<br />
Playing mini golf.<br />
(Johannesburg, 2008)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUKpVqq0hqc/Wfrxk61oLSI/AAAAAAAAF5I/8BeOCGdgfJ4HnoBlgfpaJSKtpICtHNzUQCLcBGAs/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RUKpVqq0hqc/Wfrxk61oLSI/AAAAAAAAF5I/8BeOCGdgfJ4HnoBlgfpaJSKtpICtHNzUQCLcBGAs/s200/2.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOW:<br />
Still hardcore.<br />
Still fearless.<br />
Not playing mini golf.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I trained to <b>BALHAM (London)</b> to see Sarah. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww0IEVKRv64/WfsWsxlu6wI/AAAAAAAAF70/pX-vl9m7GPI5UIZFzF3yaLkuly7DGrLJgCLcBGAs/s1600/408168_10150459172412168_1337517890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ww0IEVKRv64/WfsWsxlu6wI/AAAAAAAAF70/pX-vl9m7GPI5UIZFzF3yaLkuly7DGrLJgCLcBGAs/s320/408168_10150459172412168_1337517890_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vietnam, 2012.<br />
The first day we met. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFpQwNJbseU/Wfrx6HnPA5I/AAAAAAAAF6A/2JPZk01eBCwHntvk9drDHUgHE64Ui_CCACLcBGAs/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFpQwNJbseU/Wfrx6HnPA5I/AAAAAAAAF6A/2JPZk01eBCwHntvk9drDHUgHE64Ui_CCACLcBGAs/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">April 2017<br />
Now happily married, living in an actual house, and with a real job.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I took a bus to <b>BIRMINGHAM </b>to see Fliss and Will<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wQWCCH2J6RA/WfsXvP7lG8I/AAAAAAAAF78/ieTL2KhR51A5LjBn6GbZZ1ped1bkDmbSQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_20150201_144349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wQWCCH2J6RA/WfsXvP7lG8I/AAAAAAAAF78/ieTL2KhR51A5LjBn6GbZZ1ped1bkDmbSQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_20150201_144349.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australia 2014<br />
Shortly after this picture was taken we stranded ourselves on a sand dune and had to be rescued.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SudTxuFPjkw/Wfrx9aAl-jI/AAAAAAAAF6U/orarG5iQ7Ec4hpI8KUBrWHo3diHiVSOdgCLcBGAs/s1600/4%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="582" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SudTxuFPjkw/Wfrx9aAl-jI/AAAAAAAAF6U/orarG5iQ7Ec4hpI8KUBrWHo3diHiVSOdgCLcBGAs/s400/4%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May 2017.<br />
Shortly before they decided to get engaged.</td></tr>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I walked to <b>CAMDEN</b> to see George</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4R-oyBlyXWY/WfsX3HHhleI/AAAAAAAAF8A/AWaXK4nbcv4xmcGf079QjPLyNQJUAeWmQCLcBGAs/s1600/17796245_10154978995917324_933451660062809450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="453" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4R-oyBlyXWY/WfsX3HHhleI/AAAAAAAAF8A/AWaXK4nbcv4xmcGf079QjPLyNQJUAeWmQCLcBGAs/s400/17796245_10154978995917324_933451660062809450_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter 2008<br />
We worked with Children and chlorine, <br />
the chemicals inside the unidentified blue liquid were comparatively good for us</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2GwpgEiFyUI/WfryDsaVLpI/AAAAAAAAF6k/IZSsQGBfA-0c2zUru9D0vruf8HH0EiQmQCLcBGAs/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2GwpgEiFyUI/WfryDsaVLpI/AAAAAAAAF6k/IZSsQGBfA-0c2zUru9D0vruf8HH0EiQmQCLcBGAs/s320/5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today she's a happily married, legendary mum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I hitched to <b>KRUISHOUTEM (Belgium) </b>to see Ilse and Miguel<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZAnKqAF_Fk/WfsYGWepsVI/AAAAAAAAF8E/RAIFng8vJg0l41dhUPuPkRs3dIsThgwyQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMGP4523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZAnKqAF_Fk/WfsYGWepsVI/AAAAAAAAF8E/RAIFng8vJg0l41dhUPuPkRs3dIsThgwyQCLcBGAs/s320/IMGP4523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laos 2009 after a heated game of patong had the cops arrive to break up the fight.<br />
They'd just met.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AzJy4sbVlOI/WfryEh3yOAI/AAAAAAAAF6o/GuREVMLGcjwYRoz5L58-SIFnlgApR6L-wCLcBGAs/s1600/6b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AzJy4sbVlOI/WfryEh3yOAI/AAAAAAAAF6o/GuREVMLGcjwYRoz5L58-SIFnlgApR6L-wCLcBGAs/s400/6b.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now they're married with kids and a robot vacuum cleaner and lawn mower.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hitch hiked on to <b>PRAGUE</b> to see Helena</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wimp5MY5Jsc/WfsYdNyNbII/AAAAAAAAF8M/uI10gwUewXoXQkw5ZDNfmCoS6DwvFW-6QCLcBGAs/s1600/431760_10150643860117324_1472058005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wimp5MY5Jsc/WfsYdNyNbII/AAAAAAAAF8M/uI10gwUewXoXQkw5ZDNfmCoS6DwvFW-6QCLcBGAs/s320/431760_10150643860117324_1472058005_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malaysia 2012<br />
Exploring the land </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPICP03rC04/WfsjLgvZbfI/AAAAAAAAF-c/ckfhphx9e60XPgJSg0tkabAoxYjCEwzUgCLcBGAs/s1600/405274_10150620714247324_1769752841_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="960" height="226" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XPICP03rC04/WfsjLgvZbfI/AAAAAAAAF-c/ckfhphx9e60XPgJSg0tkabAoxYjCEwzUgCLcBGAs/s400/405274_10150620714247324_1769752841_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the sea (after a shipwreck and having to swim for our lives)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJifrEgTLw0/WfryFXc4cEI/AAAAAAAAF6w/68UBqd9BFckpss1uxfdZqbQ991R0BSJ5ACLcBGAs/s1600/7%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJifrEgTLw0/WfryFXc4cEI/AAAAAAAAF6w/68UBqd9BFckpss1uxfdZqbQ991R0BSJ5ACLcBGAs/s320/7%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">June 2017<br />
Helena's wedding day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I continued to hitch hike through Poland and Lithuania and Latvia before taking a ferry to <b>SWEDEN </b>to see Karl-Oskar</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXu9nkH_ESo/WfsYl9TNS4I/AAAAAAAAF8Q/OeO7Dx2EaRUckuGdVDYW57mRIE9bzgiiACLcBGAs/s1600/P1060795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXu9nkH_ESo/WfsYl9TNS4I/AAAAAAAAF8Q/OeO7Dx2EaRUckuGdVDYW57mRIE9bzgiiACLcBGAs/s400/P1060795.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marquesas, 2014<br />
Finally finding land (and fresh baguettes) after fifty long days being stuck at sea.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eDoy2wxArYg/WfryJrw-9dI/AAAAAAAAF7A/ncNtGL40NdkuKBhWWbCoKqhZnGjwvP1ugCLcBGAs/s1600/8%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eDoy2wxArYg/WfryJrw-9dI/AAAAAAAAF7A/ncNtGL40NdkuKBhWWbCoKqhZnGjwvP1ugCLcBGAs/s400/8%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midsummer 2017<br />
Karl's life is no longer quite as "hairy" as it used to be.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M1_nUQ69tYE/WfryHxr72kI/AAAAAAAAF64/LPzrbkOXF_YNIZZvoizNPS26i3QKP8obwCLcBGAs/s1600/8%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M1_nUQ69tYE/WfryHxr72kI/AAAAAAAAF64/LPzrbkOXF_YNIZZvoizNPS26i3QKP8obwCLcBGAs/s320/8%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first introduction to Inger was a skype call to tell her her son was in hospital...<br />
I'm glad meeting her in person was not with a machete, but a hug! </td></tr>
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In <b>GAVLE </b>I caught up with Marlin who I'd briefly met at some bucket bar in Cambodia, 2009.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BTaDD1SgCPA/WfryIvJ49nI/AAAAAAAAF68/uPN4XVlgXCoRGH_4DXUwtQWEjRwvLskSACLcBGAs/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="788" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BTaDD1SgCPA/WfryIvJ49nI/AAAAAAAAF68/uPN4XVlgXCoRGH_4DXUwtQWEjRwvLskSACLcBGAs/s320/9.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today she's still a very interesting awesome woman!<br />
But I think she now prefers tea.</td></tr>
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In <b>STOCKHOLM </b>I tracked down Johan (who we simply used to call "Sweden")</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n12fqCwBZVI/WfsY6XJV3NI/AAAAAAAAF8U/vVesgdD4a5Is2LDO_YWAepBqO6SeiOJiACLcBGAs/s1600/1916466_225318477323_1817260_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="604" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n12fqCwBZVI/WfsY6XJV3NI/AAAAAAAAF8U/vVesgdD4a5Is2LDO_YWAepBqO6SeiOJiACLcBGAs/s400/1916466_225318477323_1817260_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did some jungle bashing through Cambodia in 2009</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lYKhb7AuVms/WfsntJB_1ZI/AAAAAAAAF-o/6ykzA6T-qHgZ0znCICaYjdYsZCX73Wf7wCLcBGAs/s1600/149179_465102405822_6395605_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lYKhb7AuVms/WfsntJB_1ZI/AAAAAAAAF-o/6ykzA6T-qHgZ0znCICaYjdYsZCX73Wf7wCLcBGAs/s320/149179_465102405822_6395605_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I randomly bumped into him again in Austrlai in 2011 and inherited Karla, <br />
the camper van of awesomeness.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQOrkAB7Fu0/WfrxA-WrsrI/AAAAAAAAF3s/42qfJbh-3qYiZqE_t3gmo-uG85--9xpbQCLcBGAs/s1600/10%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQOrkAB7Fu0/WfrxA-WrsrI/AAAAAAAAF3s/42qfJbh-3qYiZqE_t3gmo-uG85--9xpbQCLcBGAs/s400/10%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this year I was lucky to catch him and his beautiful wife just before kid number three popped out.</td></tr>
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I bought a bicycle and cycled to <b>FREDERICKSBERG </b>(Denmark) to see Mia</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMrUIX_8W-0/WfspKdTI8HI/AAAAAAAAF-4/DiVMoiCFewEhsJs-qA1CwYOKJyBtHu3fwCLcBGAs/s1600/P1190024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMrUIX_8W-0/WfspKdTI8HI/AAAAAAAAF-4/DiVMoiCFewEhsJs-qA1CwYOKJyBtHu3fwCLcBGAs/s400/P1190024.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Philipines, 2012<br />
She helped me medicate a broken foot with beer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cV_SIlPCKQA/WfspmVodQ2I/AAAAAAAAF-8/6dyVJdBW_wcf7m0pQ-f3P3Att75i_1T7QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cV_SIlPCKQA/WfspmVodQ2I/AAAAAAAAF-8/6dyVJdBW_wcf7m0pQ-f3P3Att75i_1T7QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2770.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today she's a real doctor and even more of a legend (and phenomenal tour guide) than I remembered!</td></tr>
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I kept peddling through to <b>HAMBURG</b> to see Ole<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WUeS9RfgGmQ/WfsZDYEQcxI/AAAAAAAAF8c/YmY8ZPhxrWEvjECpnx93hBNgrPmnvzcdgCLcBGAs/s1600/P1040364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WUeS9RfgGmQ/WfsZDYEQcxI/AAAAAAAAF8c/YmY8ZPhxrWEvjECpnx93hBNgrPmnvzcdgCLcBGAs/s320/P1040364.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malaysia 2016<br />
Ole was busy cycle touring Asia when I met him in a strange surfing town.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3WkVcP0oFM/WfrxHoEknnI/AAAAAAAAF34/_sgxYiPs7ToEmLIi6i_EHILfhcmoIEzawCLcBGAs/s1600/12%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X3WkVcP0oFM/WfrxHoEknnI/AAAAAAAAF34/_sgxYiPs7ToEmLIi6i_EHILfhcmoIEzawCLcBGAs/s400/12%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having done plenty of cycling himself, he knew exactly how to welcome a biker to his home!</td></tr>
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And then I finally arrived in <b>THE NETHERLANDS,</b> my fatherland,<br />
and cycled to <b>PATRESWOLDE</b> to see Joy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DcgeJh58uiU/WfsZKJpEj8I/AAAAAAAAF8g/OYA29MuwTvcUXq5QEy9GGra-6EhSJZZGwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DcgeJh58uiU/WfsZKJpEj8I/AAAAAAAAF8g/OYA29MuwTvcUXq5QEy9GGra-6EhSJZZGwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_5191.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Africa 1985.<br />
Yes, that's me on her back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N04XPJ9U1DA/WfrxIv9WdeI/AAAAAAAAF38/7KMwMTKFp2sT9JuA52Lt5KE9EofW3rJrwCLcBGAs/s320/13%2B%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's still as friendly today.<br />
But I didn't let her carry me.</td></tr>
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I temporarily abandoned the bicycle and sailed to England </div>
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and hitched to <b>STRATFORD UPON AVON</b> to catch up with the wild woman I had temporarily brushed wakes with in the Solomon Islands (2015), Sharna.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSos-b-WK5Q/WfrxJNVuQYI/AAAAAAAAF4A/szyH1teNEs8SSo6abFQdl9EAamWTsRmzwCLcBGAs/s1600/14%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSos-b-WK5Q/WfrxJNVuQYI/AAAAAAAAF4A/szyH1teNEs8SSo6abFQdl9EAamWTsRmzwCLcBGAs/s400/14%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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These pictures speak for themselves!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtVCI1NyBOQ/WfrxPI1nIoI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/Vp9Sx2tlZoM4IpfFOWofDcN4AtkzA2qSQCLcBGAs/s1600/14%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NtVCI1NyBOQ/WfrxPI1nIoI/AAAAAAAAF4Q/Vp9Sx2tlZoM4IpfFOWofDcN4AtkzA2qSQCLcBGAs/s400/14%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I continued moving by the power of thumb through to <b>SWINDON</b> to see Emily</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_Lrar1Iy2E/WfsZU8t2G4I/AAAAAAAAF8k/Wgv7VlunAQ0dGdGb41-NSIEgB5UQPD3DACLcBGAs/s1600/304459_10150369322722324_1371228631_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7_Lrar1Iy2E/WfsZU8t2G4I/AAAAAAAAF8k/Wgv7VlunAQ0dGdGb41-NSIEgB5UQPD3DACLcBGAs/s320/304459_10150369322722324_1371228631_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australia 2011.<br />
Em introduced me to both the world of outdoor instructing and chicken farming.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmZysBifcAc/WfrxPCMLK9I/AAAAAAAAF4U/NE_nKKbItZYNNGzV9KIaHQXpvhvW-McXACLcBGAs/s1600/15%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmZysBifcAc/WfrxPCMLK9I/AAAAAAAAF4U/NE_nKKbItZYNNGzV9KIaHQXpvhvW-McXACLcBGAs/s400/15%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still can't believe that she now has a real grown up job and lives in a house!<br />
(and still likes chickens)</td></tr>
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A ferry across to France and a hitch through to <b>BLONVILLE-SUR-MER</b> had me reunite with Damien<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XDPYJTEN0d4/WfsZiuzg_RI/AAAAAAAAF8s/t1FG-lzRsegNSu4XzuqmDXBRnbFFXD02wCLcBGAs/s1600/P1090934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XDPYJTEN0d4/WfsZiuzg_RI/AAAAAAAAF8s/t1FG-lzRsegNSu4XzuqmDXBRnbFFXD02wCLcBGAs/s400/P1090934.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiji, 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvPTs0Fup2Y/WfrxPJpkZfI/AAAAAAAAF4M/t4MWq4NekiILqrld5TeZ2Y8GILg2u5CVQCLcBGAs/s1600/16%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pvPTs0Fup2Y/WfrxPJpkZfI/AAAAAAAAF4M/t4MWq4NekiILqrld5TeZ2Y8GILg2u5CVQCLcBGAs/s320/16%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I might have been lost in France without him</td></tr>
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I continued the hitch to <b>PARIS</b> to meet up with Rohan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stXd7rZzDX8/WfsZuEdDmWI/AAAAAAAAF84/NG_g2XsG-rcoHeqL2RhPuYGJAJQubRY0QCLcBGAs/s1600/P1140032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stXd7rZzDX8/WfsZuEdDmWI/AAAAAAAAF84/NG_g2XsG-rcoHeqL2RhPuYGJAJQubRY0QCLcBGAs/s320/P1140032.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanoi (Vietnam) 2012.<br />
He convinced me to buy a [Chinese] bicycle and cycle with him to Thailand...<br />
I don't know why I thought it was a good idea.<br />
But I'm glad I did it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OiJAoHF8XiE/WfsZuQOK5_I/AAAAAAAAF88/hkZNdhp4F3wWR71h69N5H0H6yuEiTPj_QCLcBGAs/s1600/P1140357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="400" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OiJAoHF8XiE/WfsZuQOK5_I/AAAAAAAAF88/hkZNdhp4F3wWR71h69N5H0H6yuEiTPj_QCLcBGAs/s400/P1140357.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure he thought it was such a good idea when we ended up stranded under a fruit stand with a flat tyre in Laos.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ayz-h_H55bU/WfrxRdpY-xI/AAAAAAAAF4c/7s15fiQmMVQouezBFHftrz0qfYPYtbgrACLcBGAs/s400/17%2B%25281%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He hasn't changed much.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ayz-h_H55bU/WfrxRdpY-xI/AAAAAAAAF4c/7s15fiQmMVQouezBFHftrz0qfYPYtbgrACLcBGAs/s1600/17%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMKOcfUFe74/WfrxWUCGfcI/AAAAAAAAF4k/p0TzvyiNsyAutRwvW_Rcb4m1wpiMOXnyACLcBGAs/s1600/17%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMKOcfUFe74/WfrxWUCGfcI/AAAAAAAAF4k/p0TzvyiNsyAutRwvW_Rcb4m1wpiMOXnyACLcBGAs/s400/17%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And still has the best taste in accommodation!</td></tr>
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I crossed into Germany and headed to <b>STUTTGART</b> to find Marc, "The Wizard"</div>
I'd last seen him in Pai (Thailand), 2010<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L-PjsOzhRR4/Wfrxby7koUI/AAAAAAAAF4s/Fnq7GZoRehgkXKwMH0Uu-rKXtuHW4AO3gCLcBGAs/s1600/18%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L-PjsOzhRR4/Wfrxby7koUI/AAAAAAAAF4s/Fnq7GZoRehgkXKwMH0Uu-rKXtuHW4AO3gCLcBGAs/s320/18%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Marc was even more interesting than I'd remembered him being.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsThfVLp_wU/Wfrxc8r__eI/AAAAAAAAF4w/gjpY6C11F10_3AKWGmkRbbMxgV99aS-PgCLcBGAs/s1600/18%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsThfVLp_wU/Wfrxc8r__eI/AAAAAAAAF4w/gjpY6C11F10_3AKWGmkRbbMxgV99aS-PgCLcBGAs/s400/18%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In <b>ROTTENBERG</b> I found Miki<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ffWJTqcFinY/WfsaC0FUqeI/AAAAAAAAF9A/ZRcdlgK7gM4rV9NCHv5lFQ2QN5zUT4hHwCLcBGAs/s1600/P1090147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ffWJTqcFinY/WfsaC0FUqeI/AAAAAAAAF9A/ZRcdlgK7gM4rV9NCHv5lFQ2QN5zUT4hHwCLcBGAs/s320/P1090147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 2015 we sailed from New Zealand to Fiji</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjjOmletC6I/WfrxiUDSNvI/AAAAAAAAF5A/SYEVf45sxmcKScQuzgTluPSJCjjM0EKygCLcBGAs/s1600/19%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjjOmletC6I/WfrxiUDSNvI/AAAAAAAAF5A/SYEVf45sxmcKScQuzgTluPSJCjjM0EKygCLcBGAs/s320/19%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today she is still as happy and positive and awesome as ever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After hitch hiking to Liechtenstein for a beer,<br />
I hopped on a bus through to <b>PARIS</b> to meet Mylene for lunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kG8DQS-sIws/WfsaLUqwtTI/AAAAAAAAF9I/RLcp6SJT6uQTYVVIJhqpFMB5qs_MYUWKwCLcBGAs/s1600/188864_1770598338774_4607270_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kG8DQS-sIws/WfsaLUqwtTI/AAAAAAAAF9I/RLcp6SJT6uQTYVVIJhqpFMB5qs_MYUWKwCLcBGAs/s320/188864_1770598338774_4607270_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 2011 we camper vanned Australia together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OPDeO1-skMU/WfrxocvGTNI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/rpqkH7TzsWgxFYWoace-FMhSFyc07SJJACLcBGAs/s1600/20%2B%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OPDeO1-skMU/WfrxocvGTNI/AAAAAAAAF5Y/rpqkH7TzsWgxFYWoace-FMhSFyc07SJJACLcBGAs/s400/20%2B%25287%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now she's somewhat settled and employed.<br />
But just as beautiful and awesome as ever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I hopped back on a bus and took the chunnel to <b>LONDON </b>because the little guy on the right was turning thirty...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HwTEcnQz7-Q/WfsbcrD68TI/AAAAAAAAF9c/p0rlitN4SE0qRFRnND0LZY-AcsiqzJXRQCLcBGAs/s1600/14900400_10154524343397324_8290679420159759078_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="960" height="292" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HwTEcnQz7-Q/WfsbcrD68TI/AAAAAAAAF9c/p0rlitN4SE0qRFRnND0LZY-AcsiqzJXRQCLcBGAs/s400/14900400_10154524343397324_8290679420159759078_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I am proud to say that I taught Brendon everything he knows.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sGI_nJ3kV6A/WfrxmxGqS4I/AAAAAAAAF5Q/NUw6ZSTJjswcaQMaqnVLGs5yrQHJnUx8gCLcBGAs/s1600/21%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="960" height="397" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sGI_nJ3kV6A/WfrxmxGqS4I/AAAAAAAAF5Q/NUw6ZSTJjswcaQMaqnVLGs5yrQHJnUx8gCLcBGAs/s400/21%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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and while I can't take credit for all of Chloe's life;<br />
for this I can:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opBftPex1yg/WfsbsxmzIsI/AAAAAAAAF9g/XqwsWYixp1Eolh6fu6Gvfuzlwng0FzC5wCLcBGAs/s1600/971667_10152843387585587_310658931_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-opBftPex1yg/WfsbsxmzIsI/AAAAAAAAF9g/XqwsWYixp1Eolh6fu6Gvfuzlwng0FzC5wCLcBGAs/s320/971667_10152843387585587_310658931_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I first met her, 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLF82ImwHQc/WfrxpvLo7WI/AAAAAAAAF5g/Rz97xvEB_Jg1xb80t4u_8pJocKMNqLC7ACLcBGAs/s1600/21%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dLF82ImwHQc/WfrxpvLo7WI/AAAAAAAAF5g/Rz97xvEB_Jg1xb80t4u_8pJocKMNqLC7ACLcBGAs/s400/21%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And still just as classy today!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I took the subway through to <b>CLAPHAM</b> to meet Kirst<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pTdvymBOoiM/WfsbyfBdAUI/AAAAAAAAF9k/n6fwW28tY6ADsqVT5BAAZK4YSaT6Whi1ACLcBGAs/s1600/403396_10151699802680511_1928527199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pTdvymBOoiM/WfsbyfBdAUI/AAAAAAAAF9k/n6fwW28tY6ADsqVT5BAAZK4YSaT6Whi1ACLcBGAs/s400/403396_10151699802680511_1928527199_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roommates in Chaingmai, Thailand (2012)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgfuXTJ3IE4/WfrxntXsmqI/AAAAAAAAF5U/2hs6CzS46t8MXb4Q3nZeQGMNysR0d8XrACLcBGAs/s1600/23%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wgfuXTJ3IE4/WfrxntXsmqI/AAAAAAAAF5U/2hs6CzS46t8MXb4Q3nZeQGMNysR0d8XrACLcBGAs/s320/23%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't think either of us have changed much!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
I returned to the Netherlands and met up with Luc and Pluto in<b> BLIJ-BURG.</b><br />
<br />
He was even more happy and awesome than he had been in Saint Lucia (Caribbean) back in 2014.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5OPWTkm73K0/Wfrxs2PBzjI/AAAAAAAAF5k/vgaACE-sys4cTrr2hbNGiiqIjSGfvLjagCLcBGAs/s1600/24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5OPWTkm73K0/Wfrxs2PBzjI/AAAAAAAAF5k/vgaACE-sys4cTrr2hbNGiiqIjSGfvLjagCLcBGAs/s400/24.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In <b>GRONINGEN</b> I reunited with Jarco and Folkert who I had met on a plane back in 2013.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PPKYfJyujmw/WfrxpU_E4lI/AAAAAAAAF5c/QbR0fMuqIjY4NkweLHXPbs93plJaJZRKACLcBGAs/s1600/25%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PPKYfJyujmw/WfrxpU_E4lI/AAAAAAAAF5c/QbR0fMuqIjY4NkweLHXPbs93plJaJZRKACLcBGAs/s400/25%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
I pedaled across the afsluitdijk and headed to <b>HUIS TE HEIDE</b> to see Jairo<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K9BkDbOV__o/Wfsc5VAWXoI/AAAAAAAAF-M/18SpUO43A28LgC3abxwkUlySo2U-cPA-gCLcBGAs/s1600/P1040062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K9BkDbOV__o/Wfsc5VAWXoI/AAAAAAAAF-M/18SpUO43A28LgC3abxwkUlySo2U-cPA-gCLcBGAs/s400/P1040062.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panama, 2013<br />
We helped each other take boats across the Panama canal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3m-1T4tLMr0/Wfrxv2yZsUI/AAAAAAAAF5o/P29WIyVhByM6MGNfEIQYNoXK0fqdxm7KgCLcBGAs/s1600/265%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3m-1T4tLMr0/Wfrxv2yZsUI/AAAAAAAAF5o/P29WIyVhByM6MGNfEIQYNoXK0fqdxm7KgCLcBGAs/s320/265%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today he's a family man!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I cycled to <b>LEIDEN </b>to see Laurence.<br />
I met him in Borneo while I was waiting to board my first sailing boat.<br />
He still a smiling legend!<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--uXc9cMJsoI/WfrxzRk5T6I/AAAAAAAAF5w/V_w2LmN7SvIbwGzJjDlLCh_0zvBL5U11ACLcBGAs/s1600/27%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--uXc9cMJsoI/WfrxzRk5T6I/AAAAAAAAF5w/V_w2LmN7SvIbwGzJjDlLCh_0zvBL5U11ACLcBGAs/s320/27%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In <b>LAGE ZWALUWE</b> I caught up with Jean Michel</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r2inbMPwpe8/Wfsb5okrz7I/AAAAAAAAF9o/ko2rAKGLVdw-8HKsuX-2A08UhgVIUa31QCLcBGAs/s1600/16463752_10154798322672324_1808112970728933064_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r2inbMPwpe8/Wfsb5okrz7I/AAAAAAAAF9o/ko2rAKGLVdw-8HKsuX-2A08UhgVIUa31QCLcBGAs/s320/16463752_10154798322672324_1808112970728933064_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I met him in Panama in 2013.<br />
In New Zealand, 2014.<br />
And again in South Africa, 2017.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFJMY_iu378/WfscQ4VFARI/AAAAAAAAF9w/Xdldbabz1vkthF9eVw8vb_4FXvavr1FwACLcBGAs/s1600/P1230359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFJMY_iu378/WfscQ4VFARI/AAAAAAAAF9w/Xdldbabz1vkthF9eVw8vb_4FXvavr1FwACLcBGAs/s320/P1230359.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After completing his circumnavigation, he has temporarily ditched the boat, and found some land (and really cool glasses)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In BREDA I found Hugo</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UcDRExY5bOY/Wfsca1VFWJI/AAAAAAAAF90/_6CCMln6qz8QSuM1tOTrAuekygTjokjnACLcBGAs/s1600/528547_10151699782215511_26772297_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UcDRExY5bOY/Wfsca1VFWJI/AAAAAAAAF90/_6CCMln6qz8QSuM1tOTrAuekygTjokjnACLcBGAs/s400/528547_10151699782215511_26772297_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many random nights out in Chiangmai</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qj78Y3L_EYI/Wfrx3bUeU5I/AAAAAAAAF54/uLRQZE8h1dcWDmdke5g-GFloAkJvxigiQCLcBGAs/s1600/29%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qj78Y3L_EYI/Wfrx3bUeU5I/AAAAAAAAF54/uLRQZE8h1dcWDmdke5g-GFloAkJvxigiQCLcBGAs/s320/29%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A not quite as random night out in the Netherlands.<br />
Apart from his hair, he really hasn't changed.</td></tr>
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In <b>DORDRECHT</b> there was Jenny<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pe8MfPFgOSU/Wfrx5hZhibI/AAAAAAAAF58/RA_MNbbgAq0jeWLX8r-re1iDQy-I7UHoACLcBGAs/s1600/30%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pe8MfPFgOSU/Wfrx5hZhibI/AAAAAAAAF58/RA_MNbbgAq0jeWLX8r-re1iDQy-I7UHoACLcBGAs/s400/30%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Africa (1987)<br />
She's exactly 17 days older than me.<br />
And clearly far more responsible.</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7tAbNWYjWQ/Wfrx8d0DMTI/AAAAAAAAF6M/vRyyRG8bj8coluQOS3c9XeN-G45g4DE0wCLcBGAs/s1600/30%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7tAbNWYjWQ/Wfrx8d0DMTI/AAAAAAAAF6M/vRyyRG8bj8coluQOS3c9XeN-G45g4DE0wCLcBGAs/s400/30%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's still 17 days older than me.<br />
And still far more responsible.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
And then I finally made it to <b>ROTTERDAM </b>to see Daisy and Jenna<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_S-h681O-cQ/WfscvHSj0RI/AAAAAAAAF-A/CoFUjqaUmos2sJn1TuJH1yduAhd4MHxFwCLcBGAs/s1600/774081_10152435472470587_111429244_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_S-h681O-cQ/WfscvHSj0RI/AAAAAAAAF-A/CoFUjqaUmos2sJn1TuJH1yduAhd4MHxFwCLcBGAs/s320/774081_10152435472470587_111429244_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy is family.<br />
Even if he was not born a Gerding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1NX-_jTPrI/WfscuyxPwqI/AAAAAAAAF94/az--6IutZMgzV-Ru3mSGuZjWpcZYzX5hQCLcBGAs/s1600/1374109_10151928338007324_1932778749_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="206" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1NX-_jTPrI/WfscuyxPwqI/AAAAAAAAF94/az--6IutZMgzV-Ru3mSGuZjWpcZYzX5hQCLcBGAs/s400/1374109_10151928338007324_1932778749_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy was my flatmate in 2013</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10_nryqa3G8/Wfrx7fswaII/AAAAAAAAF6E/Of-HYbSHzcYvUpusD10Z9exapd7K-gt1wCLcBGAs/s1600/31%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10_nryqa3G8/Wfrx7fswaII/AAAAAAAAF6E/Of-HYbSHzcYvUpusD10Z9exapd7K-gt1wCLcBGAs/s400/31%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I left the country for ten minutes and Daisy found Jenna.<br />
I don't even know how, but he convinced her to marry him.<br />
They now have their own house.<br />
Unfortunately they also have a cat.<br />
Nut I love them anyway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
People are awesome.<br />
It doesn't matter if they are travelling, or at home.<br />
I may have spent five months running crazy rings around Europe,<br />
but of all the people I forced hugs upon; even those I'd only known for only an hour (or a day, or a week), every single one was a delight!<br />
(And don't even get me started on all the exceptional people I met on the way to these legends...)<br />
<br />
I totally recommend it.<br />
Go EVERYWHERE for a HUG!!<br /><br />(Apologies to all the people I skipped. Next time I will plan better [maybe] and I will not let winter defeat me quite as easily [maybe]. But I will be back!!)</div>
Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com1Europe54.5259614 15.255118700000025-13.773431099999996 -149.97925629999997 90 -179.51050629999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-82702919006810897052017-10-20T13:36:00.000+02:002017-10-20T13:42:55.728+02:00The Most Important Lesson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGOpM4vYvlI/WenfYDQ0pPI/AAAAAAAAF00/z-9y1njd_ooyWk91cb4SYt2uzXX2Oy4TQCLcBGAs/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pGOpM4vYvlI/WenfYDQ0pPI/AAAAAAAAF00/z-9y1njd_ooyWk91cb4SYt2uzXX2Oy4TQCLcBGAs/s400/unnamed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />Always.<br /><br />That is all.</div>
Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Europe54.5259614 15.255118700000025-13.773431099999996 -149.97925629999997 90 -179.51050629999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-70000363866359089432017-09-22T11:00:00.000+02:002017-09-22T11:00:45.049+02:00Sea Gypsy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n-QHZ-MsPoY/WcPMa9DEfRI/AAAAAAAAFys/buCRZZQ7clw7_1KkLtLtewTOM4Gb1KPLQCEwYBhgL/s1600/GOPR2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n-QHZ-MsPoY/WcPMa9DEfRI/AAAAAAAAFys/buCRZZQ7clw7_1KkLtLtewTOM4Gb1KPLQCEwYBhgL/s200/GOPR2327.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dlwN1IbHfFk/WcPMba28pNI/AAAAAAAAFys/fXoN-Iofk14ElhhlpnAnPAFGR-XP1hPrQCEwYBhgL/s1600/GOPR2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dlwN1IbHfFk/WcPMba28pNI/AAAAAAAAFys/fXoN-Iofk14ElhhlpnAnPAFGR-XP1hPrQCEwYBhgL/s200/GOPR2332.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am the first to admit that I fail to adult.<br />
And proud of it.<br />
<br />
Every time I begin the job hunt or prepare to "settle down", I get whisked away on magical adventures to far away places I have never heard of (I never paid much attention in Geography) <br />
by means I never dreamed I would dabble with.<br />
(No, even though I fall into adventures seemingly elegantly, none of this was planned).<br />
<br />
And that's why I found myself back in Sweden.<br />
Neptune knew I was seeking gainful employment, and instead he threw this at me:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5IqfkRS8Di8/WcPPSNTAfXI/AAAAAAAAF0I/PdMyosC_W2QnF8vVG9l2Mf3X75bQi2wRgCLcBGAs/s1600/P1220536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5IqfkRS8Di8/WcPPSNTAfXI/AAAAAAAAF0I/PdMyosC_W2QnF8vVG9l2Mf3X75bQi2wRgCLcBGAs/s400/P1220536.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
The beautiful Eilean of Rue.<br />
She needed help relocating...<br />
<br />
Now, for all of you who have never sailed and don't have salt pumping through your veins,<br />
you have to realize that this passionate love of the ocean is not a choice, it's a disease:<br />
That feel of the breeze on your face as your hair knots with joy. <br />Your heart races as you heel to the side, holding on as you slice through the water carried only on whispers of wind - across bays, across oceans, across the world...<br />
It's the simplest existence.<br />
It's mesmerizing.<br />
It's a drug.<br />
Once you have tasted it, you have to have more.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqb6EZXY6Bc/WcPMcBp-SjI/AAAAAAAAFys/wo8uXoGsRj0cfWiDxqzRYUKZrJXSgpx4gCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqb6EZXY6Bc/WcPMcBp-SjI/AAAAAAAAFys/wo8uXoGsRj0cfWiDxqzRYUKZrJXSgpx4gCEwYBhgL/s400/P1220033.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
And so, only hours after arriving in Stockholm, we set the sails, and were off.<br />
Fortunately there were sights to see even at sea:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glgmDE_7rbE/WcPMcqxamuI/AAAAAAAAFys/QkOuQSILI-cBwysuH6KewYhBJVVsHaJEwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1220060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-glgmDE_7rbE/WcPMcqxamuI/AAAAAAAAFys/QkOuQSILI-cBwysuH6KewYhBJVVsHaJEwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/P1220060.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aFhHtczyMys/WcPMdcAs5uI/AAAAAAAAFys/EXJedqFVWG0Jbn2rcTlzKu0pdXlo6_0hACEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="1600" height="86" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aFhHtczyMys/WcPMdcAs5uI/AAAAAAAAFys/EXJedqFVWG0Jbn2rcTlzKu0pdXlo6_0hACEwYBhgL/s400/P1220076.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec9cKQLs7FU/WcPPMIE3NgI/AAAAAAAAF0M/1UOzq87n9Wo4x8kxOjioA127YVedsDAzgCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec9cKQLs7FU/WcPPMIE3NgI/AAAAAAAAF0M/1UOzq87n9Wo4x8kxOjioA127YVedsDAzgCEwYBhgL/s320/P1220106.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
We sailed night and day. Day and night.<br />
And didn't stop till the very tip of Sweden to shelter from a passing storm.<br />
(it generally is so very much nicer being in a safe harbour when a storm strikes).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DzI1O3jAEE/WcPPMGuXqoI/AAAAAAAAF0M/t_QWqK7YLHE6z0vU0ypkDwt3eSCZ1iAGQCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DzI1O3jAEE/WcPPMGuXqoI/AAAAAAAAF0M/t_QWqK7YLHE6z0vU0ypkDwt3eSCZ1iAGQCEwYBhgL/s320/P1220126.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The calm of the after-storm.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCTUlT5F23I/WcPPNCqMpnI/AAAAAAAAF0M/ppkHiWKjfmQ3e7nj2iy4uG1WgnIadZ7qwCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCTUlT5F23I/WcPPNCqMpnI/AAAAAAAAF0M/ppkHiWKjfmQ3e7nj2iy4uG1WgnIadZ7qwCEwYBhgL/s400/P1220142.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
After a few hours rest (and a shower) we continued.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HL2FiMn-U6A/WcPPNuCv84I/AAAAAAAAF0M/aR0PBFXPsjIchJajzx7LfJV4RUzjHX62ACEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HL2FiMn-U6A/WcPPNuCv84I/AAAAAAAAF0M/aR0PBFXPsjIchJajzx7LfJV4RUzjHX62ACEwYBhgL/s320/P1220155.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
We dodged tankers and cargo boats and tall ships and wind farms as we sailed around Denmark and into Germany.<br />
I didn't know what traffic was until we reached the Kiel canal:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzJX20xQBlc/WcPPOxcwMqI/AAAAAAAAF0M/nm0T01DD_l8O4-jJASgyzuZygEqq9xSEACEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzJX20xQBlc/WcPPOxcwMqI/AAAAAAAAF0M/nm0T01DD_l8O4-jJASgyzuZygEqq9xSEACEwYBhgL/s320/P1220247.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JgwtT_hK8Nc/WcPPPIaBF0I/AAAAAAAAF0M/ABY8uNZ2jyETZTeM7hV-kNLqKNMBG6yPACEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JgwtT_hK8Nc/WcPPPIaBF0I/AAAAAAAAF0M/ABY8uNZ2jyETZTeM7hV-kNLqKNMBG6yPACEwYBhgL/s320/P1220248.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats behind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0EJEbLsM-k8/WcPPPw5nAHI/AAAAAAAAF0M/d7bUYaOMWlMnB-X4ySeJXJQNOFOLRexLQCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0EJEbLsM-k8/WcPPPw5nAHI/AAAAAAAAF0M/d7bUYaOMWlMnB-X4ySeJXJQNOFOLRexLQCEwYBhgL/s320/P1220253.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats along side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9nTvJC774E/WcPPQmSThKI/AAAAAAAAF0M/uQVIat0ts60KC3vfJkTKRRhMJKp80yiugCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r9nTvJC774E/WcPPQmSThKI/AAAAAAAAF0M/uQVIat0ts60KC3vfJkTKRRhMJKp80yiugCEwYBhgL/s320/P1220313.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boats we're glad we dodged when rounding corners.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were so many boats and so much wind that we needed a break and a beer and tied up in Rensburg.<br /><br />
Rensburg is a strange place.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-0h4HhQ6PI/WcPPQf-wUaI/AAAAAAAAF0M/imAhlxUUmV4bCDs1mB7IUVCTx_fbduo4QCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l-0h4HhQ6PI/WcPPQf-wUaI/AAAAAAAAF0M/imAhlxUUmV4bCDs1mB7IUVCTx_fbduo4QCEwYBhgL/s400/P1220291.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the flip?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Kiel canal spat us out into the most spectacular sunset as we rounded the German bite into the Northern sea.<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hcsmkJ9z-jU/WcPPRE9MOdI/AAAAAAAAF0M/B1BsAuLxOKY-Nj6eV_2yIlUhGrzz9tyCACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1220369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hcsmkJ9z-jU/WcPPRE9MOdI/AAAAAAAAF0M/B1BsAuLxOKY-Nj6eV_2yIlUhGrzz9tyCACPcBGAYYCw/s320/P1220369.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br />The sun came out and the seas calmed.<br />We sailed past the Netherlands and Belgium and France.<br />This, my friends, is what we call the high life!<br />(Although European summer really ought to be much warmer)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkq-NVmRuc8/WcPPN_c54nI/AAAAAAAAF0M/cJqG44zqMCsb7M16ssdXUxVh-vIiizq1QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1220164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hkq-NVmRuc8/WcPPN_c54nI/AAAAAAAAF0M/cJqG44zqMCsb7M16ssdXUxVh-vIiizq1QCPcBGAYYCw/s400/P1220164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NB7_maRzFM4/WcPPOmn242I/AAAAAAAAF0M/rPQzP_d43CQnFYxuzFUx5bYT1JBs6YjOACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1220212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NB7_maRzFM4/WcPPOmn242I/AAAAAAAAF0M/rPQzP_d43CQnFYxuzFUx5bYT1JBs6YjOACPcBGAYYCw/s320/P1220212.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now picture this with a cup of fresh roasted coffee in hand.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After surviving rush hour in the English channel (even those crazy swimmers were out)<br />the fog descended and the UK disappeared as we followed her shores.<br />Surreal eerieness as the sea became the sky.<br />We drifted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-woXawUqPXAU/WcPPRT8OduI/AAAAAAAAF0M/BWnWvjUMbxUj4NJMgHik0WsOEP2Fu2MgwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/P1220438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-woXawUqPXAU/WcPPRT8OduI/AAAAAAAAF0M/BWnWvjUMbxUj4NJMgHik0WsOEP2Fu2MgwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/P1220438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With fuel levels critical, we were forced to sail into Falmouth.<br />But tacking your way through boats and buoys has its own set of joys.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br />All too suddenly, the adventure came to an end.<br />
And while it's always horrible to end one epic (especially a boaty one)<br />you have to walk away from one journey to begin another.<br /><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr8YLHGwbpA/WcPPMHrjLlI/AAAAAAAAF0M/xTUjUfyExmIDaL87XAZf6u66pETuZw9XgCEwYBhgL/s1600/P1220129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr8YLHGwbpA/WcPPMHrjLlI/AAAAAAAAF0M/xTUjUfyExmIDaL87XAZf6u66pETuZw9XgCEwYBhgL/s320/P1220129.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Falmouth, UK50.152570999999988 -5.066270000000031450.11187249999999 -5.1469510000000316 50.193269499999985 -4.9855890000000311tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-84943186139170937282017-08-17T11:22:00.001+02:002017-08-17T11:41:40.843+02:00Root of my Roots<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_OqNtYofUI/WZViBgTQi3I/AAAAAAAAFw4/kjCToCqH5HAjDsBvYibncyLy5Z55qVWCQCLcBGAs/s1600/KSOD3221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8_OqNtYofUI/WZViBgTQi3I/AAAAAAAAFw4/kjCToCqH5HAjDsBvYibncyLy5Z55qVWCQCLcBGAs/s400/KSOD3221.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When you kick off your shoes and put on some pedals, you will find that anything is in fact possible! </div>
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You may have an old rickety bike.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-leWCw9y8MyI/WZViCZ2jhyI/AAAAAAAAFxA/iGU5Zhz8djInUGf6sp8c09-6JvPw_BhSwCLcBGAs/s1600/VXRH2185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-leWCw9y8MyI/WZViCZ2jhyI/AAAAAAAAFxA/iGU5Zhz8djInUGf6sp8c09-6JvPw_BhSwCLcBGAs/s320/VXRH2185.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br />You may camp alone in soggy fields.<br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2eAg_pxaE5I/WZVhRgOSJVI/AAAAAAAAFwo/g55Cd_9nyk4T0GsVP5Nk93ex5hYjwDsYACLcBGAs/s1600/P1210684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2eAg_pxaE5I/WZVhRgOSJVI/AAAAAAAAFwo/g55Cd_9nyk4T0GsVP5Nk93ex5hYjwDsYACLcBGAs/s320/P1210684.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br />You may spend far too much time hanging out with sheep.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFO_qWO1hkU/WZVhRczfqMI/AAAAAAAAFwk/dDV0cYyzvz4XycLhydBNCXlectOpDyOGACLcBGAs/s1600/P1210702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CFO_qWO1hkU/WZVhRczfqMI/AAAAAAAAFwk/dDV0cYyzvz4XycLhydBNCXlectOpDyOGACLcBGAs/s320/P1210702.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /><br />But eventually you will arrive.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rvmVK7lpdfI/WZVhRvuxLEI/AAAAAAAAFws/zMWAtUS9Jw065VxKJ4YAZSjn60CZHnWWACLcBGAs/s1600/P1210956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rvmVK7lpdfI/WZVhRvuxLEI/AAAAAAAAFws/zMWAtUS9Jw065VxKJ4YAZSjn60CZHnWWACLcBGAs/s320/P1210956.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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You too can find your windmill!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdu9uBttmYQ/WZVhSSHjjgI/AAAAAAAAFww/OhbIm1osmCIpWThpxz0JNL3SV2KO9oTewCLcBGAs/s1600/P1220008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdu9uBttmYQ/WZVhSSHjjgI/AAAAAAAAFww/OhbIm1osmCIpWThpxz0JNL3SV2KO9oTewCLcBGAs/s320/P1220008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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⇩⇩⇩ Here's my journey ⇩⇩⇩</div>
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Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Groningen, Netherlands53.2193835 6.566501700000003453.1433285 6.4051402000000035 53.295438499999996 6.7278632000000034tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-9794887306781362192017-08-10T22:53:00.000+02:002017-08-10T22:53:58.688+02:00Go ADVENTURE now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-un6wOeA4e3s/WYxCtgeSPpI/AAAAAAAAFtI/4c5CaWuTvoc528iOSfWEvt58BmeiBYBkwCLcBGAs/s1600/JIQT2347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-un6wOeA4e3s/WYxCtgeSPpI/AAAAAAAAFtI/4c5CaWuTvoc528iOSfWEvt58BmeiBYBkwCLcBGAs/s400/JIQT2347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Definition of <span style="font-size: 1.047em; font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adventure</span></h2>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 1.1875em; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="definition-inner-item with-sense" style="clear: both; font-size: 1em; letter-spacing: 0.04em; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2.1875em; position: relative;">
<span class="sense" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 0px;">1</span><span style="display: block; margin: 0px 0px 0.125em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="sub sense alp" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; top: 0px;">a</span> <span class="intro-colon" style="display: initial; font-weight: 600; margin: initial; padding: 0px;">:</span> an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks<br /><span class="vi" style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; position: relative;">a book recounting his many bold <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adventures</em></span></span><span style="display: block; margin: 0px 0px 0.125em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="sub sense alp" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; top: 0px;">b</span> <span class="intro-colon" style="display: initial; font-weight: 600; margin: initial; padding: 0px;">:</span> the encountering of risks<br /><span class="vi" style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; position: relative;">the spirit of <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adventure</em></span></span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 1.1875em; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="definition-inner-item with-sense" style="clear: both; font-size: 1em; letter-spacing: 0.04em; line-height: 1.5em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2.1875em; position: relative;">
<span class="sense" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 0px;">2</span><span style="display: block; margin: 0px 0px 0.125em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="intro-colon" style="display: initial; font-weight: 600; margin: initial; padding: 0px;">:</span> an exciting or remarkable experience<br /><span class="vi" style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; position: relative;">an <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adventure</em> in exotic dining</span> <span class="vi" style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; position: relative;">They were looking for <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adventure</em>.</span></span></div>
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<span class="sense" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 0px;">3</span><span style="display: block; margin: 0px 0px 0.125em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="intro-colon" style="display: initial; font-weight: 600; margin: initial; padding: 0px;">:</span> an enterprise involving financial risk<br /><span class="vi" style="display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; position: relative;">wanted to pay off her debts before embarking on any new financial <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">adventure</em><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">s</em></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivVyGh7IFSA/WYxLHHAeeFI/AAAAAAAAFtY/eELLApOUze8mijKFOoMMpRERKjzap3d5QCLcBGAs/s1600/PDWD9891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivVyGh7IFSA/WYxLHHAeeFI/AAAAAAAAFtY/eELLApOUze8mijKFOoMMpRERKjzap3d5QCLcBGAs/s320/PDWD9891.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When was the last time you stepped out of the front [or back] door with absolutely no idea where you were heading? </div>
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When was the last time you felt your stomach churning for you had no idea what you were doing?<br />When was the last time you were so excited you [almost] weed yourself?<br /></div>
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Don't you think it's about time you went on an adventure? <br />You know, a journey of unplanned, unexpected, unfathomable epicness... </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w41PctVlxUs/WYw_m2f6r2I/AAAAAAAAFs8/ZEsRQr6vbugDOkk5asiYCzDo0SUa97yDgCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w41PctVlxUs/WYw_m2f6r2I/AAAAAAAAFs8/ZEsRQr6vbugDOkk5asiYCzDo0SUa97yDgCEwYBhgL/s400/IMG_2610.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>But what if I'm not ready?</b></div>
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You'll never be ready for a real adventure, it's part of the definition.<br />Yes take some precautions, make sure you have water and toilet paper.<br />Don't stress.<br />Remember to breathe.<br />And then, once you've successfully tricked yourself into believing you're ready, run out the door. <br />Most of the stuff you think is important, you won't even need.<br />Trust me [I'm a gypsy]!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPTN8l54cPo/WYxLuiQTuqI/AAAAAAAAFtg/Q3A0ElLcRo8gFSz-EcPGG2X5ED6qDFd1wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPTN8l54cPo/WYxLuiQTuqI/AAAAAAAAFtg/Q3A0ElLcRo8gFSz-EcPGG2X5ED6qDFd1wCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2184.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started my last cycle tour without a bicycle.<br />I started walking, and I let it find me on the way.</td></tr>
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You may not be as [seemingly] prepared as the next chap, but they're probably thinking the same about you!</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qr5tEndX-as/WYxS_rLcc7I/AAAAAAAAFuw/ymwq_7e_UmA0XZenVaN_dUtgPVsNPQklACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qr5tEndX-as/WYxS_rLcc7I/AAAAAAAAFuw/ymwq_7e_UmA0XZenVaN_dUtgPVsNPQklACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2619.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zj5735kCtbY/WYxS_WJa3xI/AAAAAAAAFus/yj9AUsrFAAYyAqGUNGatRq03PXtrp8JBQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zj5735kCtbY/WYxS_WJa3xI/AAAAAAAAFus/yj9AUsrFAAYyAqGUNGatRq03PXtrp8JBQCLcBGAs/s200/IMG_2565.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nl3842S6KJQ/WYxS_5ABbsI/AAAAAAAAFu4/h-XEI5GITgMTQpVDUv72AhDPTKIRRVLpgCLcBGAs/s1600/GGOU2217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nl3842S6KJQ/WYxS_5ABbsI/AAAAAAAAFu4/h-XEI5GITgMTQpVDUv72AhDPTKIRRVLpgCLcBGAs/s200/GGOU2217.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_b5xpi3Alw/WYxTSIk9efI/AAAAAAAAFu8/Xd71Dnqa2P0LsAa1lbnOKgzpB2KoNdNeQCLcBGAs/s1600/GIEU7081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_b5xpi3Alw/WYxTSIk9efI/AAAAAAAAFu8/Xd71Dnqa2P0LsAa1lbnOKgzpB2KoNdNeQCLcBGAs/s400/GIEU7081.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot the subtle differences between the other cycle tourists I met along the way and my set up?</td></tr>
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<b>But where will I sleep?</b></div>
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Wherever you want!</div>
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Seriously, the world is your bedroom!</div>
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<br />Take a tent. Find a haystack. Sleep under bridges<br />Couch Surf, Squat, use Tinder<br />Beaches, caves, trees, fields, barns, stranger's homes and gardens... <br />There will always be somewhere for you to rest your weary head.</div>
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And if the above list fails, there are always hostels, palaces, and hotels.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDc6hECAH7o/WYxNuRajI3I/AAAAAAAAFt4/JufqoO4HaHAAHvlAdxtc6K0ZPIvdvrEXwCLcBGAs/s1600/MZGQ9440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MDc6hECAH7o/WYxNuRajI3I/AAAAAAAAFt4/JufqoO4HaHAAHvlAdxtc6K0ZPIvdvrEXwCLcBGAs/s400/MZGQ9440.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Lekeberg lake, Sweden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tOyeohLJ8N0/WYxNt0sRy_I/AAAAAAAAFts/K7CLQg6CPmk-ZRafom79QzdFCeNiKdkqgCLcBGAs/s1600/OMUM6020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tOyeohLJ8N0/WYxNt0sRy_I/AAAAAAAAFts/K7CLQg6CPmk-ZRafom79QzdFCeNiKdkqgCLcBGAs/s320/OMUM6020.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fragrant field of manure, Sweden</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7va383GNnKg/WYxNvvmH_UI/AAAAAAAAFuA/vzegqudN9CURqLl24TOr3_lUpEzF0FhOQCLcBGAs/s1600/QBSP1642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7va383GNnKg/WYxNvvmH_UI/AAAAAAAAFuA/vzegqudN9CURqLl24TOr3_lUpEzF0FhOQCLcBGAs/s400/QBSP1642.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friendly farm. Germany</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QRcY0T4yrfI/WYxNvomwYeI/AAAAAAAAFt8/QnyIhZlRad4sOBUVuB9b6VK4g1jg5JQBgCLcBGAs/s1600/QHII3065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QRcY0T4yrfI/WYxNvomwYeI/AAAAAAAAFt8/QnyIhZlRad4sOBUVuB9b6VK4g1jg5JQBgCLcBGAs/s320/QHII3065.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A forest lake, Sweden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gPXtuZ7__08/WYxNvqeVoOI/AAAAAAAAFuE/SO0seQWa1tcFT9SFCrK80DHYMxKv4FvYgCLcBGAs/s1600/QQZE9017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gPXtuZ7__08/WYxNvqeVoOI/AAAAAAAAFuE/SO0seQWa1tcFT9SFCrK80DHYMxKv4FvYgCLcBGAs/s400/QQZE9017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In a field of flowers, Sweden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bn-QVDb5s28/WYxNwiZfN-I/AAAAAAAAFuM/5LcUgLe404YdN1fuN3NqTaN8wVbely2qwCLcBGAs/s1600/RUQE5192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bn-QVDb5s28/WYxNwiZfN-I/AAAAAAAAFuM/5LcUgLe404YdN1fuN3NqTaN8wVbely2qwCLcBGAs/s320/RUQE5192.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living it up on a pile of hay, Northern Germany</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ia4CmWId-4A/WYxNxBUOTCI/AAAAAAAAFuU/imUYkk2pl_EcVjK6bsaWbiHYpmkOv61gwCLcBGAs/s1600/TBNB0642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ia4CmWId-4A/WYxNxBUOTCI/AAAAAAAAFuU/imUYkk2pl_EcVjK6bsaWbiHYpmkOv61gwCLcBGAs/s400/TBNB0642.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In a field of wind turbines, Germany</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KQt8oOhsqAM/WYxP4HEVIGI/AAAAAAAAFug/aaB3wnSIuNIvLkPLuInbvLe8GVRHhrE4QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KQt8oOhsqAM/WYxP4HEVIGI/AAAAAAAAFug/aaB3wnSIuNIvLkPLuInbvLe8GVRHhrE4QCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2579.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On some vacant lawn of a wealthy upper-class suburb, Sweden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What if it rains?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</b><div style="text-align: center;">
It will.<br />You will dry.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What if I get lonely?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b>When you head out on adventure there may be times you feel completely lost and alone. <br />You will often wish that you had someone to talk to, to share experiences and challenges with.<br />But throwing yourself out of your comfort zone and into the mercy of the world will lead you to some of the most fantastic humans you can[t] imagine.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1l4vobSGsk/WYxUoPTsLoI/AAAAAAAAFvI/ESy7YbiN99AK9l5_7WWOLyQmC4rd07ydACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1l4vobSGsk/WYxUoPTsLoI/AAAAAAAAFvI/ESy7YbiN99AK9l5_7WWOLyQmC4rd07ydACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2174.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These legends at iRecycle (Stockholm) gave me laughs, kitted me out with a bicycle, and coated me with hope for the adventure that lay ahead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0prDUHsC2B8/WYxUoDxcp9I/AAAAAAAAFvM/zXgtSCX292Mp7vX-K3EZjydXfPG4OXG3ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0prDUHsC2B8/WYxUoDxcp9I/AAAAAAAAFvM/zXgtSCX292Mp7vX-K3EZjydXfPG4OXG3ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first flat tyre led me to meet my new Iranian friend and a BBQ and a trance party and pizza.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKVk41VB7Xw/WYxUoKPLmOI/AAAAAAAAFvE/otnrE46p91MkGPzVuDcKfTBHwr8Ziak1gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKVk41VB7Xw/WYxUoKPLmOI/AAAAAAAAFvE/otnrE46p91MkGPzVuDcKfTBHwr8Ziak1gCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2582.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There will be other adventurers of the road too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-4jMBJlR_U/WYxUocyWnJI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/wFJdWEm3ZYc4nqNA7DXBHu8tEGPZzvQrgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-4jMBJlR_U/WYxUocyWnJI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/wFJdWEm3ZYc4nqNA7DXBHu8tEGPZzvQrgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2630.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And you never know when it might be a friendly refugee or an elderly person [or both] that will take you in for fika (Swedish tea time)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDlkfKFs9vs/WYxUou4gbmI/AAAAAAAAFvU/PlOGg-YyqWUAU5YaPv-_5FP0K1eyuGEXgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDlkfKFs9vs/WYxUou4gbmI/AAAAAAAAFvU/PlOGg-YyqWUAU5YaPv-_5FP0K1eyuGEXgCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2770.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You might run into old friends along the way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEp9ifBN2EQ/WYxUoj0ER7I/AAAAAAAAFvc/9xSq1S9ZPycyfPdtztIAtArcHJVw90QOQCLcBGAs/s1600/NKSF4494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zEp9ifBN2EQ/WYxUoj0ER7I/AAAAAAAAFvc/9xSq1S9ZPycyfPdtztIAtArcHJVw90QOQCLcBGAs/s400/NKSF4494.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or you may be accosted on the side of the highway and be forced to party and laugh and sing with strangers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PSPK80fP15A/WYxUpOpBMtI/AAAAAAAAFvg/5hXdJVC_Sy8ONE9yjgQgCtU1kiHtLe7lACLcBGAs/s1600/PPBV0709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PSPK80fP15A/WYxUpOpBMtI/AAAAAAAAFvg/5hXdJVC_Sy8ONE9yjgQgCtU1kiHtLe7lACLcBGAs/s320/PPBV0709.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friendly stranger may see you struggling and simply pick up your 50+ kg bicycle and carry it up the stairs for you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What happens if something goes wrong?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</b><div>
It will. </div>
<div>
And normally quite badly. </div>
<div>
You can prepare for everything, but there will ALWAYS be something you never thought of. </div>
<div>
There might be tears and a bit of spilled milk/ blood/ or self-shitting, but things going wrong are proof that you are in fact on an actual adventure.</div>
<div>
Besides, you need the bad times to remind you how awesome the good really is.</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
</div>
<b style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qctd_vbri4/WYxX1A7cyOI/AAAAAAAAFv8/IOi5fLOmsl4iL5OoyaWSPzHzkrlImMsdQCLcBGAs/s1600/CCOX0346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qctd_vbri4/WYxX1A7cyOI/AAAAAAAAFv8/IOi5fLOmsl4iL5OoyaWSPzHzkrlImMsdQCLcBGAs/s400/CCOX0346.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What if I get lost?</b></div>
</b><div style="text-align: start;">
</div>
<br />
This is when adventures are at their best!<br />
You are often far away from where you ought to be, but you will find you are always exactly where you need to be.<br />
<b></b><br />
<div style="display: inline !important; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DsFBH1CC4cA/WYxYGSreKUI/AAAAAAAAFwA/PmuHrWqoc3YAN41hWMZore7ZGOPgYDLhgCLcBGAs/s1600/XZWC6759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DsFBH1CC4cA/WYxYGSreKUI/AAAAAAAAFwA/PmuHrWqoc3YAN41hWMZore7ZGOPgYDLhgCLcBGAs/s400/XZWC6759.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
</div>
</b><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What about money?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
What about living?<br />Seriously, you really don't need much to explore.<br />It's up to you how comfortable you want your trip to be.<br />You can budget for hotels and fine dining restaurants.<br />But you can also free camp and cook your own [delicious] meals.<br />Travelling by bicycle or by thumb are basically free.<br />But you can also take cars, motorbikes, buses, trains and private planes...<br />You could spend millions.<br />But you can also survive seven weeks on $13.70 (tried and tested)<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>What if I don't need an adventure?</b><br />Don't be ridiculous!<br />Everyone needs an adventure.<br />Everyone needs to be challenged.<br />Everyone needs to push themselves to realize what their bodies are capable of.<br />If you don't ever leave your comfort zone, how will you grow?<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Take the first step. <br />Start your adventure NOW.<br />You will find what you need along the way.<br /><br />If you're still not convinced, watch this:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/2gs1LHwoU4Y/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2gs1LHwoU4Y?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Hällevadsholm, Sweden58.579994 11.54076250000002858.0615965 10.249869000000029 59.0983915 12.831656000000027tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-36679943230513618982017-08-03T10:36:00.000+02:002017-08-03T10:44:48.952+02:00Hitch To [watch the Czech] Get Hitched [The Secondth]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-Cq8kIPxNY/WYLci8qMEyI/AAAAAAAAFqk/yet_BpU08D0WTA7JwOR4iL8IzHJTrnfggCLcBGAs/s1600/20117094_10212903191955417_2487549998674799348_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1275" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-Cq8kIPxNY/WYLci8qMEyI/AAAAAAAAFqk/yet_BpU08D0WTA7JwOR4iL8IzHJTrnfggCLcBGAs/s400/20117094_10212903191955417_2487549998674799348_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So there I stood in Germany, thumb poised, hopes high...<br />
Hitch hiking had proved far too easy.<br />
It was probably about time I got stuck in the rain.<br />
And then on the autobahn to be dragged off by the police...<br />
But it didn't matter, the people I met kept getting happier and the epic continued to build.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VhrueKRZdLw/WYLdJWKgHYI/AAAAAAAAFqo/jElitrTuwHEX4e84TPA-51Y0JLvYpbOYwCLcBGAs/s1600/19390588_10155251618957184_6406330420717862789_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VhrueKRZdLw/WYLdJWKgHYI/AAAAAAAAFqo/jElitrTuwHEX4e84TPA-51Y0JLvYpbOYwCLcBGAs/s320/19390588_10155251618957184_6406330420717862789_o.jpg" width="319" /></a><br />
<br />
I was about to set up camp at a petrol station when I got an offer to Berlin.<br />
It wasn't quite in the right direction, but at least I was still moving East.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.google.nl/maps/dir/Maulden+Wood,+Bedford+MK45,+UK/Dover,+United+Kingdom/Calais,+France/Dikkelvenne,+Gavere,+Belgium/Ghent,+Belgium/Antwerp,+Belgium/Cologne,+Germany/Wuppertal,+Germany/Berlin,+Germany/Prague,+Czechia/@51.2116173,2.5403148,6z/am=t/data=!4m62!4m61!1m5!1m1!1s0x4877b4e0995dfeb5:0xde5ebdb9e3e5a5b!2m2!1d-0.4370294!2d52.0420767!1m5!1m1!1s0x47dea4d1553332ff:0x32785c875ad74851!2m2!1d1.3134027!2d51.1278758!1m5!1m1!1s0x47dc3f75d7f1e363:0xacbed9e08cd279f4!2m2!1d1.858686!2d50.95129!1m5!1m1!1s0x47c30c8693fe7e6d:0xad12d7cc20dc3970!2m2!1d3.6874247!2d50.9190023!1m5!1m1!1s0x47c370e1339443ad:0x40099ab2f4d5140!2m2!1d3.7174243!2d51.0543422!1m5!1m1!1s0x47c3f68ebfc3887d:0x3eaf448482a88ab8!2m2!1d4.4024643!2d51.2194475!1m5!1m1!1s0x47bf259169ab2fe5:0x42760fc4a2a77f0!2m2!1d6.9602786!2d50.937531!1m5!1m1!1s0x47b8d63a5c61d467:0x42760fc4a2a7440!2m2!1d7.1507636!2d51.2562128!1m5!1m1!1s0x47a84e373f035901:0x42120465b5e3b70!2m2!1d13.404954!2d52.5200066!1m5!1m1!1s0x470b939c0970798b:0x400af0f66164090!2m2!1d14.4378005!2d50.0755381!3e0?hl=en">The [unplanned] Route</a><br />
<br />
I had a couple of days to go and hopes of possibly even having a shower before the wedding.<br />
<br />
Here's what happened:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GIdeWEGdK4s/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GIdeWEGdK4s?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com1Prague, Czechia50.0755381 14.4378004999999849.749331100000006 13.79235349999998 50.4017451 15.083247499999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-12894242657263714862017-06-15T10:49:00.000+02:002017-08-03T10:13:11.618+02:00Hitch to [watch the Czech] get Hitched<div style="text-align: center;">
"Let's take a short trip to Europe" I said. "I need a little adventure" I said.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So I did.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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And after catching up with the British for a pint and a cuppa, I thrust out my thumb and was off...</div>
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I had one week to make it to the Czech Republic.<br />
1272 km away (If vehicles were actually heading where I needed to go)<br />
I had no idea of the awesomeness that lay ahead.</div>
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This is what happened</div>
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So much for settling down and killing the inner gypsy spirit...<br />
Adventure is addictive!</div>
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Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0London, UK51.5073509 -0.1277582999999822351.1912379 -0.77320529999998222 51.8234639 0.51768870000001777tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-36193425161665196482017-04-17T15:50:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.425+02:00Lesotho for Lunch<div style="text-align: center;">A one way ticket to Bloemfontein. Yes, I know what you're thinking... </div><div style="text-align: center;">But it was good stuffing my measly supply of gypsy essentials into my pack again. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It felt right stepping out of the front door and taking the hike down the road to the bus station. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Good Friday is as "good" a day as any for thirteen and a half hour bus journeys. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Adventure beckoned and once more I needed to heed it's call!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2iznLINoGc/WPSpKQaOoiI/AAAAAAAAFm8/Mek9i5jqD0oDoPJ0vSlUExddro8vdxZRwCLcB/s1600/P1170832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2iznLINoGc/WPSpKQaOoiI/AAAAAAAAFm8/Mek9i5jqD0oDoPJ0vSlUExddro8vdxZRwCLcB/s400/P1170832.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You're probably wondering what adventures could possibly lie in Bloemfontein? </div><div style="text-align: center;">But did you know that they have a 24 hour disco bar at the tourism office? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Did you know that Leon Schuster was born there?</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And did you know that Lesotho is only a brick throw (two[ish] hours) away from the bustling Town?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had [sort of plans] plans. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I had [kind of] a mission. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I had a crazy adventure into unknown worlds ahead of me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then my mother phoned from China and reminded me that Easter was about family.</div><div style="text-align: center;">[And Jesus also of course]. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there I sat in Bloemfontein at 2am with the big questions ploddering about in my head:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Why do they have a 24 hour hour bar disco at the tourism office which also doubles as the bus station?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Why was Leon Schuster born?</div><div style="text-align: center;">But mostly I was wondering where to from here??!?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd planned to try and spend some time exploring Lesotho and maybe even venture into Swaziland before eventually heading to Johannesburg to surprise my granny for her birthday. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But the family would all be celebrating both her birth and that of my cousins over Easter dinner...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I did what any of you might do in my situation.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I jumped into a taxi to catch a bus to the border. </div><div style="text-align: center;">My brand new South African passport needed some stamps.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I needed a cultural experience.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I followed a friendly lady into a share taxi and explored the markets of Maseru before I clambered onto a bus to the next major town.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The conductor forced us deeper in to merge with the back of the already over-crowded bus.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A human mosaic of colourful blankets and vivid emotions. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I eyed the rolling hills and tiny villages and building supply shops as more people were added to our human mangle.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mountains. Goats. Potholes. Puddles. Smiling faces.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A few hours later we stopped.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lunch.<br />Maluti.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then I walked to the border and cleared out. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WLf08p4uXnE/WPSrkCDIq8I/AAAAAAAAFnQ/VrkQqKQ6q743scYXzn_3I-B_RqipuiYzgCLcB/s1600/P1170838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WLf08p4uXnE/WPSrkCDIq8I/AAAAAAAAFnQ/VrkQqKQ6q743scYXzn_3I-B_RqipuiYzgCLcB/s400/P1170838.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I begged for a small portion.<br />The regular servings could feed a family for a month.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />The police pointed me in the right direction, but I was only the third person looking for a minibus taxi to Johannesburg that day and if I was lucky we'd leave before dark.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I walked down the road and started hitching.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt bad about hitching after mum had sworn me never to do it in South Africa.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But if mum wanted me to be with family at Easter, there was no other way.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I got a ride to Senegal. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But before you get too excited, it's actually spelled "Senekal" and that place is is not all that exotic.</div><div style="text-align: center;">From there I got a very entertaining education on the South Africa I did not know as we bounced along a potholed road to Vereeniging (not all that exciting a spot either).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I tried to make friends on the minibus taxi to Jo'burg but nobody paid me any attention.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to know where exactly we were going? </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to know there was a way out of downtown Johannesburg in the dark. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to know I'd be safe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But 'safe' became a distant notion.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Monica turned around and whispered to me that she would help me, but it was not safe to talk to people on taxis. The man next to me agreed and told me how the gangs of Jo'burg now operate. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A man at the back told me never to question anybody anything, because then you owe them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You walk like you know where you are going, even if you do not have a clue. </div><div style="text-align: center;">At almost every corner are touts who want your money, your luggage, and [of late] your dignity. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And then the whole taxi got involved with helping me make a plan to get to my granny.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As we stepped off the taxi I had a whole load of new friends, but I was not allowed to talk to them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Looking more touristy than ever</div><div style="text-align: center;">[With my backpack and rainbow gypsy pants]</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I was to follow them a few blocks to another taxi rank </div><div style="text-align: center;">but pretend like I did not know them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Their helping me would get them into all sorts of trouble. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This was one ride for me, but a regular commute for them.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was not allowed to greet anyone. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I was to stare straight ahead and walk with purpose.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They nodded to the Alexandra taxi and I climbed on.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Balfour please" I called to the driver.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I'll hold your bag" said the friendly man next to me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I declined.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Do you know the area?" he asked later.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Yes." I replied, feeling bad for being short.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When we passed Balfour Park, I asked my friendly neighbour if I was remembering it right.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Yes." He replied and then demanded five rand for the information.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I laughed, asked the driver to stop at the next convenience store and called Ouma.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And then there was family.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And [stinky-two-day-travelling] hugs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then a shower.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And then less stinky hugs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There was an Easter egg hunt.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And church.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And more [even cleaner] hugs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And laughing. And celebrations. And a feast.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fDGKfX0dj_I/WPSpVBje8eI/AAAAAAAAFnA/-DCMnGtu_4YA24STn5pifW8qZO85MdfQACLcB/s1600/P1170842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fDGKfX0dj_I/WPSpVBje8eI/AAAAAAAAFnA/-DCMnGtu_4YA24STn5pifW8qZO85MdfQACLcB/s400/P1170842.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mum was right.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Family is the best way to Easter.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But Swaziland for Supper?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thursday?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who's coming with me?</div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Lesotho-29.609988 28.233608000000004-33.142105 23.070034000000007 -26.077871000000002 33.397182tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-74992088966625875152017-04-12T14:52:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.504+02:00The Good Life<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">You need a change of job. Or maybe just a job.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">You need to lose weight. And build muscle.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">You need more friends. Less enemies.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">You need more hours in a day.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">You need less distractions.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">More adventures. More money to afford adventures. More leave. More time.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Hell, you need to find the one. Your life partner. That person that will complete you. And, of course, adventure with you. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">You want to be rich. Or at least richer.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">You want chocolate. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">MORE:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Free time. Laughing. Hugs. Singing. Dancing. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Love. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Sunshine. Yes. Wine. Good coffee. Unsuspected random acts of kindness. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Tears of joy. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Chilli. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Exercise. Giving. Challenges. Music. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Hammocks. Cowbell. Trust. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Epic.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">LESS:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Worry. Pain. Suffering. Wasted time. Crappy TV. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Hate. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Guilt. Blobbing. Social Media. Loneliness. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">No. Pirates. Unfriendly sharks. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Zuma. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Diets. Regrets. Boredom. Gossip. Crappy pop music. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Rules. Red robots. Fillings. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Inflation.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Stop wanting more. Stop thinking about all the things you need. Focus on what you have.</div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">The good life starts when you stop wanting a better one.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVRJAuP3QNY/WO4iUfUwj7I/AAAAAAAAFms/yuFCkXVmhb86P1pqslqs2-8xHBoGp872ACLcB/s1600/1160276-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVRJAuP3QNY/WO4iUfUwj7I/AAAAAAAAFms/yuFCkXVmhb86P1pqslqs2-8xHBoGp872ACLcB/s400/1160276-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Cape Town, South Africa-33.9248685 18.424055299999964-34.768186 17.133161799999964 -33.081551000000005 19.714948799999963tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-15235889087449201222016-12-08T11:53:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.538+02:00Find your Passion. Find your Purpose.<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">“The two most important days in your life are the day that you are born,<br />and the day you find out why.”<br />- Mark Twain <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbcYuhCUZhs/WEkhZwoF_3I/AAAAAAAAFjM/9Lxkk6IgZmY8r3X43udasKOxpbcZEdQIQCLcB/s1600/_DSC8896-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZbcYuhCUZhs/WEkhZwoF_3I/AAAAAAAAFjM/9Lxkk6IgZmY8r3X43udasKOxpbcZEdQIQCLcB/s400/_DSC8896-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">I guess I've got a lot to look forward to then...<br />I don't have a clue why I was born, but I'm quite glad that I was.<br />This world is a terribly beautiful place and I would have hated to miss out on it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">A good friend recently taught me to make inverse bucket lists so that instead of simply talking about all the amazing things you're one day going to [maybe] do with your life,<br />you make a list of all the great things you have already accomplished.<br />Not for anyone else, but so that you can recall them, and remember the things they taught you.<br />That way you don't have to think and plan too much.<br />You just have to jump at opportunities and say “YES!”.<br />And if you don't, your list stays empty. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all”<br />- Helen Keller<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5__SHiVts8/WEkgACnpQnI/AAAAAAAAFi8/iw_scS-FVcsZfSAEcoDf-nf0xQeY9A7EgCLcB/s1600/1150780-01-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w5__SHiVts8/WEkgACnpQnI/AAAAAAAAFi8/iw_scS-FVcsZfSAEcoDf-nf0xQeY9A7EgCLcB/s400/1150780-01-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">I'm sitting in my new room in my new house in my old country and older age contemplating.<br />There's quite a lot to contemplate. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">But as another year draws to a very rapid premature end, I need both red wine and reminiscence and re-evaluation. [And you may think this sentence wrong, but I have two kinds of wine].</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">Looking back, it's quite easy to feel like a failure, to look back at regrets, failures,<br />and the bad hair days of 2016.<br />Personally I'm an optimist.<br />It may sound like a pleasurable happy thing, but when it comes to making plans and setting out what you want to do with your life, it's quite easy to get carried away.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">This year:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">I set off to finish my circumnavigation. I gave up just before the end. I failed.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">I attempted to find gainful employment. I quit twice, before getting paid. I failed.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">I hoped to visit many many new exciting countries. I made it to three. I failed. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">I was hoping to work out what I'm on this planet for. I'm even more confused now. I failed.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">I thought it might be nice to finally meet the one. I failed miserably.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qkt4w9vR2N8/WEkmmmd7PpI/AAAAAAAAFjc/BFWRRmZ_gXEILwSkKi3msIUEaKoTKSkdACLcB/s1600/Mongolia-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qkt4w9vR2N8/WEkmmmd7PpI/AAAAAAAAFjc/BFWRRmZ_gXEILwSkKi3msIUEaKoTKSkdACLcB/s400/Mongolia-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My life going up in flames [literally]</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">But the list of things I did accomplish is far longer.<br />And as far as I'm concerned the only set new year resolution I had was: “Survive 2016.”<br />I'm doing pretty well on that front.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">How did you find 2016?<br /> What did you accomplish?<br />Who did you meet?<br />What did you do?<br />Who did you become?<br />How do you feel about all of that?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SMEwdQZazo8/WEkrO6RZ1RI/AAAAAAAAFjk/C5nmD-Errbc75KrE2nsJ79Fgv--UxdVmACLcB/s1600/1120427-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SMEwdQZazo8/WEkrO6RZ1RI/AAAAAAAAFjk/C5nmD-Errbc75KrE2nsJ79Fgv--UxdVmACLcB/s400/1120427-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">I got back to South Africa at just the right time to watch the world wind down.<br />People appear to be in a state of limbo-ed complacency as they count down the days till<br />Christmas leave.<br />It's been good to listen to people talk about what they want to do differently next year.<br />It's been good to remember why I chose a life of professional gypsyism.<br />It's reminded me even more about what I don't want to do with my life! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is,<br />maybe you should set up a life you don't need to run away from”<br />– Seth Godin</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">But still it is good to work. It is good to toil.<br />It's good to break a sweat and feel like you've accomplished something,<br />that you've led a life worthy of your calling.<br />Remember life's not meant to just be average!</div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">“When I stand before God, at the end of my life,<br />I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left<br />and could say “I used everything you gave me” “<br />- Erma Bombeck<br /><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffKn1NmePSc/WEkf4q7OieI/AAAAAAAAFi4/4gJTl8pwv7Ir8GutWKdzIgMdAuP5s6N9gCLcB/s1600/1150910-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ffKn1NmePSc/WEkf4q7OieI/AAAAAAAAFi4/4gJTl8pwv7Ir8GutWKdzIgMdAuP5s6N9gCLcB/s400/1150910-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-73176449969350636292016-11-04T08:45:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.569+02:00Top Ten Things To Do When Unemployed<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xjrYHLSLbe4/WBtW4yo_8RI/AAAAAAAAFck/QvyJe33Dbhgmx_nTGb3MO4bjHv8nI-vNwCLcB/s1600/P1040251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xjrYHLSLbe4/WBtW4yo_8RI/AAAAAAAAFck/QvyJe33Dbhgmx_nTGb3MO4bjHv8nI-vNwCLcB/s400/P1040251.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping under a bridge isn't really as bad as they say it is.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's time we had a little heart to heart. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A hug in fact. And maybe even a high five. </div><div style="text-align: center;">(Because let's be honest, we can't afford anything else...)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now whether you chose the unemployment or the unemployment chose you doesn't really matter. What matters is that you make the most of it!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Milk it for every cent that it's worth (because you probably can't afford any other forms of calcium)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">People often forget that unemployed people are people too! </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's your duty to remind them that you have a soul! You have a heart! You used to have a job!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You could be sitting around lamenting the bastard who fired you or wondering why you quit.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You might be looking out the window and thinking you should clean it so you can at least know what sort of day it is now that you don't have to leave the house.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You might even [because I've heard it's possible] be getting bored of Solitaire and Pokemon.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whatever state of disarray you currently find yourself in, I (a semi-professional unemployed gypsy) am about to attempt to share my advice on making the most of your unemployed journey.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eE6SrSSuD6M/WBtXm2fl0sI/AAAAAAAAFcs/JID8Rvyuouk7eyRcpUXFV-2H014xLc66ACLcB/s1600/1130099-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eE6SrSSuD6M/WBtXm2fl0sI/AAAAAAAAFcs/JID8Rvyuouk7eyRcpUXFV-2H014xLc66ACLcB/s400/1130099-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">[Please note that despite having numbers, these are in absolutely no particular order] </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>10) Make New Friends</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Everyone you know probably has a real job. A nine to five (or whatever "they" call it).</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or maybe you're in a new country/ city/ suburb?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Either way you're going to need some new people to hang out with!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not as daunting as it sounds!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The world is full of awesome people who need to meet you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can start by helping old ladies cross the road. They're probably retired and have all the time in the world for you (Think home cooking and awesome stories from their many years of existence).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Backpackers hostels are an ever ready supply of colourful people from around the world who are looking for an adventure. The turn-over rate for them being in town is normally so fast too that if you mess up, you can try again in a couple of days. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Go door knocking - see who's home.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Crash house parties/ company golf days/ funerals (Make sure you dress for the occasions) </div><div style="text-align: center;">Put an ad on Gumtree/ Craigslist. If you don't have the internet, make a cardboard sign and stand at the robots (traffic lights).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Try tinder.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you're needing someone to talk to in a hurry I suggest you go down to the local tax office. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The queues are generally ridiculously long, allowing you good quality time to really get to know the people around you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I spent two days in the last week at the South African Revenue Service and made many new friends. Some of them have even invited me around for coffee. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">The opportunities are endless!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8neOrfNTEww/WBtJs5FGHJI/AAAAAAAAFbY/56hHnMC07j0QhCP-YyBuOudzAmWokRBIgCLcB/s1600/christmaas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8neOrfNTEww/WBtJs5FGHJI/AAAAAAAAFbY/56hHnMC07j0QhCP-YyBuOudzAmWokRBIgCLcB/s400/christmaas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crashing a German Christmas party in Freemantle <br />(I even made the group photograph)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>9) Go to the Places That are too Busy on the Weekends.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Theme parks (imagine no queues and no-one to laugh at you wet your pants/ vomit!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Beaches (Every wave is yours to surf.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">[But avoid nudist beaches in the week. They tend to attract the wrong sorts of overly excitables]</div><div style="text-align: center;">The movies (You can change seats every time an actor says the word "Vortex" [for instance] </div><div style="text-align: center;">Make sure it's not school holidays first!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOrNsYQxk7Q/WBtGAY1zDYI/AAAAAAAAFbI/X0CDHJBBlpwBAvNpm66M9UJ6r0n3HcnhQCLcB/s1600/loner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOrNsYQxk7Q/WBtGAY1zDYI/AAAAAAAAFbI/X0CDHJBBlpwBAvNpm66M9UJ6r0n3HcnhQCLcB/s400/loner2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An awesome day spent on our own "private" beach in Australia</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>8) Stalk People</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now obviously it's better if you try and do this without completely freaking people out [or getting arrested], but there's joy in that too.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Find people who have mad skills or jobs that you would like to learn and see how they do it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Take a day/week/month and trail them carefully, watching their every move.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ask questions when you don't understand. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you have nothing left to learn or no aspirations to learn from anyone else, purely just follow people to discover new areas, shops, and gaits.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">[Disclaimer: I take no personal responsibility for anyone who takes this too seriously and does anything/everything against the law]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vthwF7wyxEk/WBwqFNuaieI/AAAAAAAAFds/VRbR1TTKftsFJ5pj7nv5x74ABqgqoUkCACLcB/s1600/creepy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vthwF7wyxEk/WBwqFNuaieI/AAAAAAAAFds/VRbR1TTKftsFJ5pj7nv5x74ABqgqoUkCACLcB/s400/creepy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are creepy, and there are less creepy ways to do said stalking</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />7) Get Uber Fit</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Go for long runs and hikes and swims. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Climb mountains [and box slide down].</div><div style="text-align: center;">Surf.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Learn to do the splits while rollerskating backwards.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Save money by walking or cycling everywhere, even if it takes you all day to get there (and if it does take a whole day, take a tent, because it will take a whole day to get back too.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p_FxOC0IbjU/WBtP87D3M4I/AAAAAAAAFbs/i3NwcLI3fs4OlGgI47CxMB7FgJMr1zz_wCLcB/s1600/hill%2Bslide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p_FxOC0IbjU/WBtP87D3M4I/AAAAAAAAFbs/i3NwcLI3fs4OlGgI47CxMB7FgJMr1zz_wCLcB/s400/hill%2Bslide.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even if you don't get uber fit, make sure you still go cardboard box sliding!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>6) Write Your Memoirs</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Everyone always dreams of writing a book.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now's your chance, you've got the time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And so what if you haven't done anything with your life yet? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Write the book now and then go and lead a life that lives up to the legendness of the tale. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqb7V-XxMIA/WBtWFmz1KsI/AAAAAAAAFcc/RWDbax5EoYUUiV3hWcUBgCyz83RFGURkACLcB/s1600/1060611-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fqb7V-XxMIA/WBtWFmz1KsI/AAAAAAAAFcc/RWDbax5EoYUUiV3hWcUBgCyz83RFGURkACLcB/s400/1060611-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Find the perfect spot and then start - even if you need to do it on paper</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>5) Find Creative Ways to Make Cash</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Busk - you can earn heaps of money by being really good. But being really bad earns you just as much. (This is also chance to learn an [new] instrument)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sell the belongings you don't need. And if they won't sell, creatively adapt them into something that will.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you have no possessions you can always donate your eggs/ sperm/ and kidneys.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Blog (and if you learn how to make money from it, please teach me how).</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teach classes in successful unemployment-ism (or whatever else your specialty may be).</div><div style="text-align: center;">Become a self-acclaimed sommelier / beer connoisseur/ or personalized chef.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Walk dogs and/ or hyperactive children.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I'm going to stop my list here because I need to keep some options for myself)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Take a temp or casual job.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You don't need to rush into a full time job that you'll probably hate [and that will definitely destroy your soul] just because you need cash.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TnKql2Dtw8M/WBtAsF4Y47I/AAAAAAAAFaw/5PAqPZsMTXYcMc5i-LD1YtB4w3kTopGawCLcB/s1600/haircut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TnKql2Dtw8M/WBtAsF4Y47I/AAAAAAAAFaw/5PAqPZsMTXYcMc5i-LD1YtB4w3kTopGawCLcB/s400/haircut.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At a traffic light in Johannesburg.<br />I made 50 bucks :)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />4) Go on an Epic Adventure</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Contrary to popular belief, you don't need money to travel!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go down to your local marina and try hitch a ride on a boat.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or hope on your bicycle and see where you end up.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go visit those countries and cultures and places that you've always wanted to see!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Unemployment has taken me around the world one and a half times.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Spend all you have for the loveliness the world has to offer.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uBo-1Y4R7jw/WBwnBA74VUI/AAAAAAAAFdY/o3CpnpcWivck0i0TqrCEsnU7NouSo1dJwCLcB/s1600/hitch%2Bflag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uBo-1Y4R7jw/WBwnBA74VUI/AAAAAAAAFdY/o3CpnpcWivck0i0TqrCEsnU7NouSo1dJwCLcB/s400/hitch%2Bflag.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitch hiking to get to forbidden areas in Burma</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b>3) Learn new Skills</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Haven't you always wanted to[<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">↓]</span>? Now's your time to practice.</div><div style="text-align: center;">yodel.</div><div style="text-align: center;">do a handstand.</div><div style="text-align: center;">read binary.</div><div style="text-align: center;">be a ninja.</div><div style="text-align: center;">undo all your bad karma.</div><div style="text-align: center;">memorize the entire periodic table of the elements.</div><div style="text-align: center;">navigate by the stars.</div><div style="text-align: center;">fish.</div><div style="text-align: center;">pole dance.</div><div style="text-align: center;">discover an undiscovered species or breed of germ.</div><div style="text-align: center;">make a movie.</div><div style="text-align: center;">sing opera.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-694fGwEB0PE/WBtJa8w_YII/AAAAAAAAFbU/Yuh7HEGViMMPDFQr_aOwR3C7dExwI4NmwCLcB/s1600/handstand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-694fGwEB0PE/WBtJa8w_YII/AAAAAAAAFbU/Yuh7HEGViMMPDFQr_aOwR3C7dExwI4NmwCLcB/s400/handstand.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to do handstands.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>2) Send Emails and Pictures to Long Lost Friends [and Enemies] and Family</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">You know how you always wondered what happened to such and such...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or you've always wanted to thank [insert name here] for [insert thankful thing here]</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is your chance!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Better yet, send them actual hand-written letters or visit them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even if it's been years, and they might not remember who you are, they are still going to enjoy hearing from you! </div><div style="text-align: center;">And remember that if you don't hear back from them, they're either just jealous that you're unemployed or too busy doing boring job stuff.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WGEDRpLDRMQ/WBwrN469mHI/AAAAAAAAFdw/VDtu8j5hbNESsL9ZbitG9svPc0P917bxACLcB/s1600/start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WGEDRpLDRMQ/WBwrN469mHI/AAAAAAAAFdw/VDtu8j5hbNESsL9ZbitG9svPc0P917bxACLcB/s400/start.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm still flipping grateful to these guys for getting me started as a gypsy!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>1) Look for Jobs</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">But don't make getting employed your primary concern.</div><div style="text-align: center;">People tend to get so fixated on getting a job that they forget to enjoy their freedom. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Jobs will always be there, free time won't!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Make sure you're looking for something that you really want to do - Why did you quit [or were you a rubbish employee] at the last job? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Jobs take up such a huge portion of your life that you really don't want to be wasting hours of your short existence for a measly pay check!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Apply for jobs that are above you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Challenge yourself!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, they'll probably say no; but what if they don't??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, while you're at it, if you can't find something you want to do locally; search the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Maybe it's time for a change of scenery?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Or maybe there's something awesome that you need to bring to your neighbourhood!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jobs are a bit like partners; when you're not looking for them and obsessing about them, they find you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bsXryLjihdI/WBwojFv2vUI/AAAAAAAAFdg/td25MNn8TAswj39guXtpJSycBV0QZgV9wCLcB/s1600/broke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bsXryLjihdI/WBwojFv2vUI/AAAAAAAAFdg/td25MNn8TAswj39guXtpJSycBV0QZgV9wCLcB/s320/broke.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an actual screen shot of my life last January</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's so many good aspects of the unemployed life!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Boredom is not an option!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLMCCvY18WM/WBw0m8sx8OI/AAAAAAAAFeM/jqaVTFiiDLw078BGvBCb2qVF31y6rd7XwCLcB/s1600/lick%2Ba%2Bjelly%2Bfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLMCCvY18WM/WBw0m8sx8OI/AAAAAAAAFeM/jqaVTFiiDLw078BGvBCb2qVF31y6rd7XwCLcB/s400/lick%2Ba%2Bjelly%2Bfish.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If all else fails, just go find something to lick!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Cape Town, South Africa-33.9248685 18.424055299999964-34.768193000000004 17.133161799999964 -33.081544 19.714948799999963tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-7021143454247663852016-10-18T11:02:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.613+02:00Thank You for being Born<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_s57q_xTzXI/WAUAOK7lgwI/AAAAAAAAFYU/WR3h200Heaca8w4DJRNFOCwOYWlsxvk5wCLcB/s1600/1130694-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_s57q_xTzXI/WAUAOK7lgwI/AAAAAAAAFYU/WR3h200Heaca8w4DJRNFOCwOYWlsxvk5wCLcB/s400/1130694-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Coming home is not quite as easy as you might think. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Even when you "just take a plane"...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3DicKJudVWA/WAUAClVu-_I/AAAAAAAAFYM/Dw3SYG70Tq8EUV7pxizmZm0b1V4-0Yl1wCLcB/s1600/1130681-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3DicKJudVWA/WAUAClVu-_I/AAAAAAAAFYM/Dw3SYG70Tq8EUV7pxizmZm0b1V4-0Yl1wCLcB/s320/1130681-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8rWi21Fris/WAUABBU7nEI/AAAAAAAAFYI/OeHBwaS8UF8iRL45qtwuJrUWpc7OLxQLgCLcB/s1600/1130639-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8rWi21Fris/WAUABBU7nEI/AAAAAAAAFYI/OeHBwaS8UF8iRL45qtwuJrUWpc7OLxQLgCLcB/s320/1130639-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While everyone else breezed past security, I had that bear scanned at all five airports on the way (Cairns. Bali. Bangkok. Addis Ababa. Johannesburg). </div><div style="text-align: center;">Apparently either he or I look like we might be pushing drugs or smuggling some small children inside (although I'm not quite sure how I might have gotten said "small children" inside). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJe85p-GpZs/WAUAK52pqsI/AAAAAAAAFYQ/47v7Nd1OG5wBhc81jlfojR-qC-udvYygACLcB/s1600/1130693-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dJe85p-GpZs/WAUAK52pqsI/AAAAAAAAFYQ/47v7Nd1OG5wBhc81jlfojR-qC-udvYygACLcB/s400/1130693-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And yes it was great to lick South African soil (some may call it "airport floor") </div><div style="text-align: center;">and have my grandmother smiling and ready to make me her eternal housemate, never allowing me to venture off on another adventure ever again; </div><div style="text-align: center;">but I had to keep her waiting an hour while I attempted to change $20 into rands. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't own an address or a phone number... even with a foreign passport, this simple task was impossible!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It took me four days and five attempts to try and acquire a phone number [luckily Ouma came in to rescue me... she'll have to do the same again as I attempt to unfreeze my bank account...] </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iOAfv9qlad0/WAUECvZjpcI/AAAAAAAAFYk/wMV1EAl3MtASCQcbCsvsNG_ofDiLua_YQCLcB/s1600/1130699-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iOAfv9qlad0/WAUECvZjpcI/AAAAAAAAFYk/wMV1EAl3MtASCQcbCsvsNG_ofDiLua_YQCLcB/s320/1130699-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Ouma. She's amazing!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I tried to hire a car, but without a credit card, nobody wanted to give me one. </div><div style="text-align: center;">That's okay I suppose, I have started exploited our non-existent transport system for what it's not worth! </div><div style="text-align: center;">And have enjoyed a whole host of incredible "taxis" with a plethora of friends and family!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But despite the bureaucracy and transportlessness, I have to admit it is flipping good to be back.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I've spent a few days with my brother and his "pets". </div><div style="text-align: center;">I've witnessed the miraculous growth of families as almost everyone I know has milked their wombs for their fertileness.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I've spent time with my granny and cousins and friends. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And I even had the privilege of crashing a best friend's wedding!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6A3WaJsUB_g/WAUFxnWhJnI/AAAAAAAAFYs/4RmE9r0jXGgh5kIua1JHmAm0gip5GoSuwCLcB/s1600/IMG-20161017-WA0004-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6A3WaJsUB_g/WAUFxnWhJnI/AAAAAAAAFYs/4RmE9r0jXGgh5kIua1JHmAm0gip5GoSuwCLcB/s400/IMG-20161017-WA0004-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WJSa6in2CRo/WAUF-A8m5vI/AAAAAAAAFY0/AYqiQQQsgKUigrpx7nQQi5oakzxaMwXTgCLcB/s1600/1130746-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WJSa6in2CRo/WAUF-A8m5vI/AAAAAAAAFY0/AYqiQQQsgKUigrpx7nQQi5oakzxaMwXTgCLcB/s320/1130746-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And just one of his many pets.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwYCcrC06RA/WAUMjO2KAZI/AAAAAAAAFZI/43X037dsRMg7qQ1_oNfxfwgDKvYdaJ85wCLcB/s1600/1130705-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwYCcrC06RA/WAUMjO2KAZI/AAAAAAAAFZI/43X037dsRMg7qQ1_oNfxfwgDKvYdaJ85wCLcB/s400/1130705-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how fertile South African soil is...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abF3mH73yfM/WAUMmaCLzkI/AAAAAAAAFZM/WiyrMeiI_qM-kO5Y3aIlXRkhRGWIEHWcQCLcB/s1600/1130709-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-abF3mH73yfM/WAUMmaCLzkI/AAAAAAAAFZM/WiyrMeiI_qM-kO5Y3aIlXRkhRGWIEHWcQCLcB/s320/1130709-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtJ6mK2lLUk/WAUNLd9UrVI/AAAAAAAAFZQ/18IZOTu3zRkMxoZSHyawq1dItbe4N_QagCLcB/s1600/1130980-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtJ6mK2lLUk/WAUNLd9UrVI/AAAAAAAAFZQ/18IZOTu3zRkMxoZSHyawq1dItbe4N_QagCLcB/s400/1130980-01.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a great wedding to crash too!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">On long flights, in bank and sim card queues, on long bus rides, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and while trapped in camp by herds of elephants; I've had much time to think and reminisce. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think any of you have an inkling of an idea of how incredible you really are and how much you've given to my life! </div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact the list of people I need to thank for keeping me alive, off the streets, out of prison, and with a smile on my face is impossibly long!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ghF60Mzp2GA/WAUF5lupHHI/AAAAAAAAFYw/Yd6apGXtJ5cjFE1LMbJMrW0KWaTQ-QlMACLcB/s1600/IMG-20161017-WA0008-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ghF60Mzp2GA/WAUF5lupHHI/AAAAAAAAFYw/Yd6apGXtJ5cjFE1LMbJMrW0KWaTQ-QlMACLcB/s320/IMG-20161017-WA0008-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They seem to get a kick out of trapping you inside</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Some of you I have known for years and you've actively shaped and guided my life; </div><div style="text-align: center;">you've put up with my nonsense, </div><div style="text-align: center;">encouraged me, inspired me, given me all sorts of sound advices, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and you've supported my weird life directions (sometimes with bated breath). </div><div style="text-align: center;">For that I thank you profusely! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But there's also all those people who hitched me (to get an ice-cream, or across countries, or oceans).</div><div style="text-align: center;">And those who hitched with me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Those who helped me reach dreams (like getting out of prison, or spending a day filling in potholes, or visiting Ikea, or building a raft and sailing it out into the ocean...) </div><div style="text-align: center;">The amount of people who have taken me in for a night (or a month), </div><div style="text-align: center;">those who have have fed me, </div><div style="text-align: center;">or eaten with me (thank you too to the cannibals who refrained from eating me), </div><div style="text-align: center;">who have kept me entertained and positive through all sorts of trials and tribulations and the hours/days/weeks of border crossings.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YB68IbJFhUI/WAXYUHAoPUI/AAAAAAAAFZk/aAEChUtXg0cfR1v2Q2UgxGMUlF8WX9dygCLcB/s1600/1935617_150964042323_201956_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YB68IbJFhUI/WAXYUHAoPUI/AAAAAAAAFZk/aAEChUtXg0cfR1v2Q2UgxGMUlF8WX9dygCLcB/s400/1935617_150964042323_201956_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On some random border somewhere in central Asia </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwzZ8ciQZ9U/WAXYUOC6i-I/AAAAAAAAFZg/bml2i_RgclIVu4BmtgskY1m0458Lr2jMwCLcB/s1600/10399920_145524392323_4401684_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mwzZ8ciQZ9U/WAXYUOC6i-I/AAAAAAAAFZg/bml2i_RgclIVu4BmtgskY1m0458Lr2jMwCLcB/s320/10399920_145524392323_4401684_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkmenistan: where every time you stop to ask directions, you get welcomed in for a meal!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for random hugs and laughs and adventures.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you too to those who carried a scowl and a frown; your misery reminded me I needed joy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you to all those who stop and help when crises strike!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ap-wQuwbiM/WAXYUgjQxhI/AAAAAAAAFZs/dT4v9XPW3Gg0zKsdKXgh7kUd5IliX0PpgCLcB/s1600/1937187_177363807323_5427331_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ap-wQuwbiM/WAXYUgjQxhI/AAAAAAAAFZs/dT4v9XPW3Gg0zKsdKXgh7kUd5IliX0PpgCLcB/s320/1937187_177363807323_5427331_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three flat tyres, at the same time in Mongolia.<br />A party ensued with all those who stopped to help!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In fact. It doesn't matter who you are, and whether I've known you for a minute or a decade; </div><div style="text-align: center;">I want to thank you for being born! </div><div style="text-align: center;">There's a reason you are here, and the world is a happier, friendlier, and epicer place because of it!</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rFR5vOv9UE/WAXYU7YxFDI/AAAAAAAAFZw/UtSbsxUXkm0iRjzIW3BSx6h4BLWx1zX5ACLcB/s1600/199227_10150204029592324_1385226_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rFR5vOv9UE/WAXYU7YxFDI/AAAAAAAAFZw/UtSbsxUXkm0iRjzIW3BSx6h4BLWx1zX5ACLcB/s400/199227_10150204029592324_1385226_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere in Australia with some happy people who made my week!</td></tr></tbody></table>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Johannesburg, South Africa-26.2041028 28.047305100000017-26.432114300000002 27.724581600000018 -25.9760913 28.370028600000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-37372019913449114272016-10-03T13:04:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.664+02:00Home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The end was in sight. </div><div style="text-align: center;">In just three weeks my circumnavigation would be [more or less] complete. </div><div style="text-align: center;">After 4 awesome [and challenging] years of hitch hiking on other peoples boats across the Indian, the Atlantic, and now the Pacific, I could just about smell the accomplishment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BsUJLmfiM90/V_IEofCgJOI/AAAAAAAAFU8/To7ivGa5iD8LbHpilsw2KViQ7kmTQoxsQCLcB/s1600/IMG_3758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BsUJLmfiM90/V_IEofCgJOI/AAAAAAAAFU8/To7ivGa5iD8LbHpilsw2KViQ7kmTQoxsQCLcB/s400/IMG_3758.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S/V Fiddler. <br />60 Foot steel sloop<br />On which [not entirely against my will] I was forced to be a vegetarian.<br />I sailed her across the Indian Ocean and rejoined again in the Caribbean</td></tr></tbody></table><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJrnKdHGXOc/V_IMX2B_KoI/AAAAAAAAFVw/NTQBZKoVClga5xTc1qZ7dwnVijkDmPyTwCLcB/s1600/P1000871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJrnKdHGXOc/V_IMX2B_KoI/AAAAAAAAFVw/NTQBZKoVClga5xTc1qZ7dwnVijkDmPyTwCLcB/s320/P1000871.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S/Y Nereid<br />47 foot Beneteau<br />We survived the freezing cold of the Atlantic and the Pirates who stole everything including my birthday plans<br />Although it wasn't all bad celebrating at sea! </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMkr6oXOs74/V_IFXOO69_I/AAAAAAAAFVI/kIwOhpV4PXId_Lh7J5qcr-1t2OfOwEi-wCLcB/s1600/GOPR0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IMkr6oXOs74/V_IFXOO69_I/AAAAAAAAFVI/kIwOhpV4PXId_Lh7J5qcr-1t2OfOwEi-wCLcB/s400/GOPR0569.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S/Y Yoldia<br />27 foot toiletless Albin Vega<br />I hitched her to Panama but then forgot to get off and stayed on board [through loss of autopilot and propane and rigging] all the way to Tonga.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-04yUSvGYgyA/V_IKGpHc_UI/AAAAAAAAFVk/cwmlxDTkszQLX8ekNtfH68EKs33tndCTwCLcB/s1600/1090109-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-04yUSvGYgyA/V_IKGpHc_UI/AAAAAAAAFVk/cwmlxDTkszQLX8ekNtfH68EKs33tndCTwCLcB/s320/1090109-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schooner Sjostrom<br />96 foot gaff rig<br />I sailed her through the glassy, windless waters from New Zealand to Fiji</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHErvNYOt7I/V_IFCHDDAuI/AAAAAAAAFVA/iWiHWVHZypEsXZdww2wY56bnR-iPtL85wCLcB/s1600/1120566-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHErvNYOt7I/V_IFCHDDAuI/AAAAAAAAFVA/iWiHWVHZypEsXZdww2wY56bnR-iPtL85wCLcB/s320/1120566-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">S/Y Yacare<br />25 foot fiber Beneteau.<br />The waves were frequently bigger than the boat.<br />I sailed her from Fiji through the Solomons and PNG</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">But epiphany strikes when you expect it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was casually sailing through some of the most phenomenal islands in the world when one hit me with vengeance.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I suddenly knew what I wanted to do.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(As a woman that's just about unheard of)</div><div style="text-align: center;">And I was so excited about it, it couldn't wait!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lgSQJD9E3M/V_IfoLgnL3I/AAAAAAAAFWE/U3DUWuqkYt0SYl14dTz6lRmHg3Cf-7JpgCLcB/s1600/1130251-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lgSQJD9E3M/V_IfoLgnL3I/AAAAAAAAFWE/U3DUWuqkYt0SYl14dTz6lRmHg3Cf-7JpgCLcB/s400/1130251-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset in the Louisiades</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">It wasn't an easy decision. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But when more-or-less-civilization struck (Port Moresby), I jumped ship.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I watched Yacare sail off to Indonesia and had tears roll down my face as I realized I was giving up on one dream in the quest for another.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvaRMS5JTj8/V_IgEIVRdsI/AAAAAAAAFWM/mNKFtz3MQm0AzJ4FQVJqR5BIhwnXPLZpgCLcB/s1600/14440788_10154389886947324_4603057839268168166_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tvaRMS5JTj8/V_IgEIVRdsI/AAAAAAAAFWM/mNKFtz3MQm0AzJ4FQVJqR5BIhwnXPLZpgCLcB/s320/14440788_10154389886947324_4603057839268168166_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For years I have been helping other people chase their goals and build their projects and float their ships. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I've sweated and toiled and pushed myself because I don't believe in doing anything half-hearted, </div><div style="text-align: center;">but at the end of the day I've walked away with only memories (and warm fuzzy feelings).</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've loved most of it, and learned a lot but, and this sounds selfish, it's time for me to build something myself. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Time to start my own exploit.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm quite literally exhausted by "aimlessly" floating around the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And even more agonizing is my dire case of homesickness </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I missed the people.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The colours.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I missed the culture.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The animals.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I missed the braais.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The beaches and mountains and forests.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even the jaapies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68Z3DW9Q5fg/V_IreEgo4yI/AAAAAAAAFWk/nlp096pjy800HwaMwp1q8q0GyDeVgypWwCLcB/s1600/13398836_1021269081303401_246736230_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68Z3DW9Q5fg/V_IreEgo4yI/AAAAAAAAFWk/nlp096pjy800HwaMwp1q8q0GyDeVgypWwCLcB/s320/13398836_1021269081303401_246736230_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instagram photo by my incredibly talented baby brother Jeandre' Gerding <br />(Follow him @Umlunguish)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDLL6nssb8w/V_Irc_qXNgI/AAAAAAAAFWg/Qcg2rOO78kwUZVQdIcmiZR1IKjlzNwwbACLcB/s1600/14350637_680140218805693_4948383326692966400_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDLL6nssb8w/V_Irc_qXNgI/AAAAAAAAFWg/Qcg2rOO78kwUZVQdIcmiZR1IKjlzNwwbACLcB/s400/14350637_680140218805693_4948383326692966400_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by @Umlunguish</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KC6vz0zL0KQ/V_Irx1fk2PI/AAAAAAAAFWo/NMexf8LqRgAFTV4sC1z6wSp5Eka3kJGpQCLcB/s1600/12917918_219266938452346_236037485_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KC6vz0zL0KQ/V_Irx1fk2PI/AAAAAAAAFWo/NMexf8LqRgAFTV4sC1z6wSp5Eka3kJGpQCLcB/s320/12917918_219266938452346_236037485_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo by @Umlunguish</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, I also had a rather peculiar realization;<br />one that will save months of my life:<br />IT"S FASTER TO FLY!</div><div style="text-align: center;">And so I gave up trying to wangle my way onto cargo ships (or other random means of transport) and bit the bullet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Although it's not quite as easy as it sounds!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I flew from Papua New Guinea to Cairns.</div><div style="text-align: center;">From Cairns to Bali.</div><div style="text-align: center;">From Bali to Bangkok.<br />And my final flights have just been confirmed.<br />Tonight I fly to Addis Abba and in the morning, for the first time in three long years, I'll be home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UsJsF5pxjk/V_IwStlXuNI/AAAAAAAAFW4/w2Er_YwA9WQ_U3huyuoZ_YRrEdxvzqajQCLcB/s1600/13768299_1694699070852265_1473168745_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5UsJsF5pxjk/V_IwStlXuNI/AAAAAAAAFW4/w2Er_YwA9WQ_U3huyuoZ_YRrEdxvzqajQCLcB/s400/13768299_1694699070852265_1473168745_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by @Umlunguish</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I'm quite terrified!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have no idea what's waiting for me in South Africa.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been gone for so long that I'm not even sure my family will recognise me, let alone friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've seen, experienced, learned and grown so much that I don't even recognise myself.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VJbzYOFmjro/V_I5Le1T8ZI/AAAAAAAAFXQ/WAD2ceHirYI5NHcm_N7mA1-xFpVM6LNPwCLcB/s1600/DSCN0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VJbzYOFmjro/V_I5Le1T8ZI/AAAAAAAAFXQ/WAD2ceHirYI5NHcm_N7mA1-xFpVM6LNPwCLcB/s320/DSCN0199.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beetle nut for breakfast</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">In the last 9 years of Part Time Professional Gypsyism (PTPG), this is the first time I've decided to go home for me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Not for a wedding. Or by accident. Or for any other reason.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just because it's time. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's where I need and want to be.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I always thought I'd return fit and lean, with excessive bundles of foreign cash...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Instead I carry a squiggy sailor's build and I'm broke (but fortunately not broken).</div><div style="text-align: center;">But if you wait for perfect conditions, you'd better by quite good at knitting.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm can't knit!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure how long I'll be back for.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not at all sure of the practicalities of what I'm setting out to do...</div><div style="text-align: center;">(The "epiphony" still carries some haziness)</div><div style="text-align: center;">For so long I have taken solace in knowing that I'm a good gypsy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm good at scumming it; scavenging for food, hitching, exchanging skills and muscle for shelter and adventure.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm used to migrating. To moving. To letting life distract me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I crave a base. A home. Community.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I might be 27 degrees short of a circumnavigation, but for now </div><div style="text-align: center;">I've had enough of licking foreign soils. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Enough stories. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Enough challenges and new places.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> For a while at least.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's time for something different.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's time to catch up and reconnect with old friends (if any of you remember me?)</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's time to remember my roots.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's very much time to go to the airport.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's time to go home!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl94CtelLD0/V_I5SnvLUHI/AAAAAAAAFXU/d_fGILs1bKU42TDyOuwkDFk2ZR2SBkcXwCLcB/s1600/1120081-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pl94CtelLD0/V_I5SnvLUHI/AAAAAAAAFXU/d_fGILs1bKU42TDyOuwkDFk2ZR2SBkcXwCLcB/s400/1120081-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Bangkok, Thailand13.7563309 100.5017651000000613.2627269 99.856318100000053 14.2499349 101.14721210000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-37150011659225166042016-09-20T14:56:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.705+02:00Turning Bras into Pumpkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kTQgs-Al6-o/V-Ct50QJ9FI/AAAAAAAAFSc/iLEJoXGdVBQoBuDGMvUcVhgzDjRwCo5LgCLcB/s1600/1120896-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kTQgs-Al6-o/V-Ct50QJ9FI/AAAAAAAAFSc/iLEJoXGdVBQoBuDGMvUcVhgzDjRwCo5LgCLcB/s400/1120896-01.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Are you an African?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">"How did you know?" </div><div style="text-align: center;">"You look like one?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">"You have met many?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">"No. I have never met an African."</div><div style="text-align: center;">I smiled in confusion</div><div style="text-align: center;">"But I have read about them.They are good people."</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8v7Q9U1Ldk/V-CuH6fLEII/AAAAAAAAFS4/cH9ji3-gmPciD3FSOQ8_3H346xhuX_bJQCLcB/s1600/1130046-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8v7Q9U1Ldk/V-CuH6fLEII/AAAAAAAAFS4/cH9ji3-gmPciD3FSOQ8_3H346xhuX_bJQCLcB/s400/1130046-01.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to show my new mates where Africa is...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Charles was clearly incredibly wise and insightful. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We got talking about good people. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We got talking about bad people </div><div style="text-align: center;">(PNG is renowned for their rascals - the raping pillaging, lawless anarchists hungry to inflict pain and violence in their wake). </div><div style="text-align: center;">We got talking about cannibals:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"The headman would choose who he would like to eat. Sometimes the men. Sometimes the woman. Normally visitors - especially the lumo lumo" (<i>white men</i>; maybe I was dark enough to avoid the palet). </div><div style="text-align: center;">"And how would they eat them?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Well first they would remove the head. The body would be cooked on a fire and served to the village. When the flies stop sitting on the head then it is ready to be boiled and turned into a soup. The soup is a special delicacy."</div><div style="text-align: center;">"IS!!??" I asked in a mild panic. "What do you mean is?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">"No no no" said Charles. "We do not eat humans anymore. Now we have enough meat."</div><div style="text-align: center;">I wondered how their "meat" supply was doing with the famine and drought they'd experience just last year.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I delved deeper into the technicalities and the history on the matter and probably shouldn't have. Just one bay over there still sat a boat where all thirty [plus] passengers were dragged ashore and feasted upon </div><div style="text-align: center;">"And how long ago was that?" </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Ahhh, not so long ago... maybe 40 years." </div><div style="text-align: center;">That was just short of my lifetime!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G3_v4WOaCaM/V-Ct5e9lPhI/AAAAAAAAFSY/iczzOt8oCn4s04tq9dYUF24adnQ68DMvQCLcB/s1600/1120898-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G3_v4WOaCaM/V-Ct5e9lPhI/AAAAAAAAFSY/iczzOt8oCn4s04tq9dYUF24adnQ68DMvQCLcB/s320/1120898-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"She's half school" (<i>one coconut short of a palm</i>) chuckled the toothless beetlenuters who'd tied up to our boat to give us yams as another wanga [<i>outrigger]</i> paddled over. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We seemed to have an endless supply of curious visitors wandering over. Sometimes we'd still be dropping anchor when the friendly smiles would bargain and trade and want. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Day. Night. Too frequently before breakfast.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UAeAjBcBdNE/V-CyAvBx_wI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/HIrku6LViKIqc7ER2Iem5tBVsFpPFK7cACLcB/s1600/1120889-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UAeAjBcBdNE/V-CyAvBx_wI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/HIrku6LViKIqc7ER2Iem5tBVsFpPFK7cACLcB/s400/1120889-01.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I traded 3 balloons for 2 coconuts and a bunch of tasty leaves.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I traded an old t-shirt for a bunch of bananas.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I traded beads or pens or notebooks for papayas.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Soap for wild bird eggs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Fish hooks for potatoes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Balloons were the first niche that all the kids wanted</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the next bay it was bracelets...</div><div style="text-align: center;">And finally i dug deep into my scant bundle of life belongings and produced luminous hairpins - they were an instant success!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had more fresh supplies than we could eat! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I liked this way of life. Out here money was about as useless as a roll of toilet paper that had been swimming in the bog. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfeN3hGtUIo/V-CuHDyj-BI/AAAAAAAAFS0/_TSiUidB7KQFk8hc9Y6ckH3sxFr9jHLlACLcB/s1600/1130026-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfeN3hGtUIo/V-CuHDyj-BI/AAAAAAAAFS0/_TSiUidB7KQFk8hc9Y6ckH3sxFr9jHLlACLcB/s400/1130026-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQv2j3a17m4/V-CuAOAokFI/AAAAAAAAFSk/fgb2gBGN060AfqZ3xLOzW8lImC81jwCywCLcB/s1600/1120903-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AQv2j3a17m4/V-CuAOAokFI/AAAAAAAAFSk/fgb2gBGN060AfqZ3xLOzW8lImC81jwCywCLcB/s320/1120903-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Can you help me please, I have cut my finger" </div><div style="text-align: center;">John climbed on board and removed his grass bandage. It didn't look like much and had already closed. We took out the first aid kit and disinfected it before covering it up with a white men bandaid. We told him he'd live.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And where are my pills?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pain killers? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes. I need painkillers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first visitor the next morning needed the same thing. She claimed neck pain.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Please miss we are very remote." </div><div style="text-align: center;">Remote? Remote? Do remote people NEED lumo lumo painkillers to survive minor pains. Aren't these the wildest of the wild- people who wrestle crocs and horde off rascals. Aren't these people genetically fearless warriors. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I said no. And almost added a "flip off"...</div><div style="text-align: center;">She paddled away miraculously appearing to be healed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While it wasn't everywhere, there were some islands where visiting yachts had over traded and introduced people to things that were never meant to be introduced to. When people wanted yeast or water containers, it was normally for [illegal] homebrew.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When we tried to give swimming goggles, they simply spat them back in our face and demanded our personal dive masks instead.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Boats coming from Australia would load up with bags of donated clothes and equipment for trading, so it was hard to communicate that the t-shirt I was trading had sentimental value and was one of the only four I owned...</div><div style="text-align: center;">We didn't stick around these places for long. The residents here had seemed to forget about what was really important in life!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENob4pRn464/V-CuMN_boHI/AAAAAAAAFTA/PYmdLBzH-TQazqUmDeQLA2dya0KSDRZvACLcB/s1600/1130292-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ENob4pRn464/V-CuMN_boHI/AAAAAAAAFTA/PYmdLBzH-TQazqUmDeQLA2dya0KSDRZvACLcB/s400/1130292-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The local sailing canoe (Sailow)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">We tried to stick to the places where we were welcomed and accepted. The places where sailows laughed as they breezed past and the smiles sang as they paddled home from their farms. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Where the children simply wanted to give and smile and visit and play with your hair, you knew the community still held. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2VBdLhf4ic/V-CuGunS8EI/AAAAAAAAFSw/op8uSEI-a0ETz756id8MQYn0Azp8AJ_BACLcB/s1600/1130033-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2VBdLhf4ic/V-CuGunS8EI/AAAAAAAAFSw/op8uSEI-a0ETz756id8MQYn0Azp8AJ_BACLcB/s400/1130033-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Are there crocodiles?" I asked the smiling faces who'd paddled over to greet us as we arrived after a very rough passage from Honiara, Solomon Islands.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Yes! Plenty."</div><div style="text-align: center;">"In this bay?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">Synchronized nods.</div><div style="text-align: center;">"And do they attack?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Yes." [matter-of-factly as if to say "duh!"]</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Have you seen it?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Many times."</div><div style="text-align: center;">"And what about in your wanga? Can they jump up and pull you down?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Yes. Can!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfOydaGAYHU/V-CuAo7TweI/AAAAAAAAFSo/vqPn_Kew_6MfumRRRU8XvZaqzMi63ieDgCLcB/s1600/1120933-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfOydaGAYHU/V-CuAo7TweI/AAAAAAAAFSo/vqPn_Kew_6MfumRRRU8XvZaqzMi63ieDgCLcB/s400/1120933-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I sensed that maybe we drew so many visitors because they wanted to give us food to fatten us up and make us more attractive to the neighborhood pets.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So much for swimming. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It was two days later on a lonely dusk [inflatable kayak] paddle back from a village where I stumbled upon a big shape drifting through the water towards me. It dropped down leaving two eye like blobs submerged and then it vanished all-together. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I cannot confirm the nature of the creature but it separated me from the yacht and left me at a bit of a quandry: did I paddle faster and [hopefully] get back quicker? Or did I slow right down and drift in the current and wind hopefully to be mistaken as a log?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you may have suspected I did make it back alive. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The swarm of visitors all confirmed the nature of the creature to be as I suspected. They leave the rivers in the dry season in search of food and only return when sated.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was glad to be home - but I saw the anguish on the faces of our guests who had a long dark row back in their dainty serving dishes.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIwFKDc44D0/V-Ev1CtAqAI/AAAAAAAAFUI/lSFB4hi0K-ojIZJaB8E6oSEsRmKNZsAZgCLcB/s1600/1130469-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIwFKDc44D0/V-Ev1CtAqAI/AAAAAAAAFUI/lSFB4hi0K-ojIZJaB8E6oSEsRmKNZsAZgCLcB/s400/1130469-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As we hopped beautiful islands and bays I was continually challenged to face the fears nature threw at me. I was in some of the most bewithching, unexplored islands on earth and I was towering in fear - almost too scared to enjoy them.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The crocodiles, sharks, malarial mosquitoes, pirates and canibalisms seemed to merely mirror the inner insecurities I needed to tackle. Fear of failure, fear of inadequacy, fear of dissappointing others... These terrified me even more than the salties! It's amazing how much you learn about yourself when you completely remove all technological and worldly distractions. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XgVEl5hwneA/V-EwcJBgcNI/AAAAAAAAFUM/FEurXA-bxaMWQlL3Hw4VY7RvgNX6YSLEQCEw/s1600/1130233-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XgVEl5hwneA/V-EwcJBgcNI/AAAAAAAAFUM/FEurXA-bxaMWQlL3Hw4VY7RvgNX6YSLEQCEw/s320/1130233-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMMSx7F36Dk/V-CsTOLMtKI/AAAAAAAAFSM/gUtHnZqSwEA37irz9UsmbwJ_qDcVoAEkACLcB/s1600/1130343-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cMMSx7F36Dk/V-CsTOLMtKI/AAAAAAAAFSM/gUtHnZqSwEA37irz9UsmbwJ_qDcVoAEkACLcB/s400/1130343-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7v0pvS12ZA/V-CuAhZ5aNI/AAAAAAAAFSs/jSmLMMDfYYkx0c24qvYL3oTF9pxqh-r3ACLcB/s1600/1120990-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7v0pvS12ZA/V-CuAhZ5aNI/AAAAAAAAFSs/jSmLMMDfYYkx0c24qvYL3oTF9pxqh-r3ACLcB/s320/1120990-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I began wrestling the self issues, I found the natural threats becoming less alarming. I began swimming and snorkeling the pacific blues (When the kayak broke it became a necessity) and climbing hills where wild people might reside. I got myself tangled in webs and had massive tarantulas crawl over me. We even pulled up a snake on the anchor...<br />I ran into a few huge reef sharks and got plenty of mosquito bites; but I began to trust I'd be okay.<br />After all, I also only had one chance to explore these almost untouched cultures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It took a long time to overcome my own inner turmoil but If I could trade my bra for a pumpkin, I could trade in my own insecurities for an unrestrained life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did. I think this one was a fair trade.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y2ewzrKT5qs/V-Ex2nGR2vI/AAAAAAAAFUY/J0SzFBjNtuscTw7OmJm6s5Cg854ARhbuACLcB/s1600/1130537-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y2ewzrKT5qs/V-Ex2nGR2vI/AAAAAAAAFUY/J0SzFBjNtuscTw7OmJm6s5Cg854ARhbuACLcB/s400/1130537-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Papua New Guinea-6.3149929999999994 143.95555000000002-22.2698805 123.30125300000003 9.6398945 164.609847tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-87376975935275129082016-08-23T04:09:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.767+02:00Wild People<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jwJXNDTaho/V7uat3uBACI/AAAAAAAAFOw/4TRH-WqPTBQO0vwvEKMGbe98RhRcmn0SwCLcB/s1600/1120426-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0jwJXNDTaho/V7uat3uBACI/AAAAAAAAFOw/4TRH-WqPTBQO0vwvEKMGbe98RhRcmn0SwCLcB/s400/1120426-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The world is full of all sorts. It's curiously viciously grotesquely beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For most of us, we walk around with our eyes half closed and try and maintain the status quo - trying to fit into our surroundings - be just beautiful enough, just successful enough, clean and groomed enough so that we fly by life with only the right kinds of attention. We long to fit in. And if we want to be noticed, it's normally for all the wrong reasons. You probably don't believe me, but look in the mirror and tell me who you really are!?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_hptDHD64Y/V7uSE0z6ltI/AAAAAAAAFOg/Ilj40cdvrf4qnC4NarxrtBI5nuYzGM7WgCEw/s1600/1120191-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_hptDHD64Y/V7uSE0z6ltI/AAAAAAAAFOg/Ilj40cdvrf4qnC4NarxrtBI5nuYzGM7WgCEw/s320/1120191-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I didn't know much about the Solomons, in fact the only thing I'd read on the country said this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"The Solomon Islands is a melting pot of various ethnicities, and they don't always get along. One group or another is always unhappy, and they don't mind expressing it with a<b> protest, </b>which often turns into a <b>riot</b>, which sparks looting and general <b>lawlessness</b>... <b>Trouble brews quickly here</b>.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Honiara is also the <b>crime capital</b> of The Solomons, and wealthy-looking visitors are often a target. Leave the expensive watches and expensive jewelry at home. Don't walk around the streets alone at night (best to go with a group or a guide), and give the early morning jog a miss.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>If you do go out to a bar at night, be aware there'll always be a few locals who <b>like to fight</b> – there were <b>active headhunters</b> on these islands until the 1930's, so they probably know how to handle themselves.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>During the day <b>pick pocketing, bag snatching, mobile phone theft and general harassment</b> is common.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Yachties Beware</b>! Foreign governments also warn their yacht-based citizens to take care in Honiara harbour where there have been reports of <b>criminals boarding yachts at night</b> and stealing valuables. They are usually <b>armed and are not deterred if confronted</b>. It's best to let them take what they want and live to tell the tale.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>...Swearing is a crime. It can lead to compensation claims or jail, or both.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Homosexual acts (by either sex) are illegal and penalties include jail sentences.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Bull, Hammerhead and Tiger sharks</b> are present throughout Solomon Islands coastal waters. The timid Reef Shark is harmless, but, unless you know the difference, be wary of all sharks.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>About <b>50 people are killed every year by saltwater crocodiles</b>. These are locals, well-acquainted with the ever-present danger. Unsuspecting tourists are well advised to seek advice before entering unfamiliar waters and to be wary in any case.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>In and around Honiara, <b>uncontrolled dogs roam freely, often in packs</b>. Tourists are advised to be cautious.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Solomon Islands is part of the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire', an area of volcanic activity over 40,000 kilometres long where 90% of the world's <b>earthquakes occur.</b> Four <b>active volcanoes</b> are listed. In April 2007, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake and <b>tsunami</b> struck the Solomon Islands killing at least 20 people and destroying villages. The most recent earthquake occurred in the Western Province on 4 January 2010. The resultant tsunami caused significant structural damage on the islands of Tetepare and Rendova. No lives were lost.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><b>Cyclones</b> bring heavy rain and cause local flooding. Roads are damaged and bridges often washed away. Travelers are advised to check local weather forecasts before traveling in unfamiliar areas."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-World Nomads. Solomon Islands : Everything you Need to Know Before you Go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Self-highlighted in bold for emphasis)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dycFcoWnY_A/V7uRuLXs3_I/AAAAAAAAFOg/AOqpyILyBfgiSOV5R_TLspoMPjGVpJBWgCEw/s1600/1120124-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dycFcoWnY_A/V7uRuLXs3_I/AAAAAAAAFOg/AOqpyILyBfgiSOV5R_TLspoMPjGVpJBWgCEw/s400/1120124-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was also mention of tropical beaches; but you tend to remember the negatives...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtsKDgt_fMQ/V7un9Y3uACI/AAAAAAAAFQY/Yp1MD0saMzIkkcHA7lAcAIF-gsANHNpsgCEw/s1600/1120134-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mtsKDgt_fMQ/V7un9Y3uACI/AAAAAAAAFQY/Yp1MD0saMzIkkcHA7lAcAIF-gsANHNpsgCEw/s320/1120134-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I suddenly remembered why I don't normally read up on countries before I visit them... At least I had a nice ten day sail up from Fiji to masticate this information and prepare myself for what [mis]adventures lay ahead. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sure the native crocs were going to love our inflatable kayak dinghy-tender.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIVXQZgKlAE/V7ulAWeqaLI/AAAAAAAAFP0/J0SI7jffUVA5mMN0P0iqXgskTNzKH6jRQCLcB/s1600/IMAG1882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIVXQZgKlAE/V7ulAWeqaLI/AAAAAAAAFP0/J0SI7jffUVA5mMN0P0iqXgskTNzKH6jRQCLcB/s320/IMAG1882.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZGmvNtVY4U/V7ug2Ws99DI/AAAAAAAAFPk/aOC2yMaVObc8Za5gBs9vBOtkNea4a57nACLcB/s1600/IMAG1938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ZGmvNtVY4U/V7ug2Ws99DI/AAAAAAAAFPk/aOC2yMaVObc8Za5gBs9vBOtkNea4a57nACLcB/s400/IMAG1938.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Manuel Sturm; S/Y Gamine</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0sEbrpSvJ4U/V7uH1jD9X-I/AAAAAAAAFNc/PdpK3nXxRK0vUIWi5pWt8clGn3FQKiAiQCEw/s1600/1110795-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0sEbrpSvJ4U/V7uH1jD9X-I/AAAAAAAAFNc/PdpK3nXxRK0vUIWi5pWt8clGn3FQKiAiQCEw/s320/1110795-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The perfect setting to contemplate your fate.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPIGrJCNP6o/V7uHvSXN7mI/AAAAAAAAFNc/xIQy2dPS63AgbCqqvVMPn64_mSBNu3UUwCEw/s1600/1110805-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SPIGrJCNP6o/V7uHvSXN7mI/AAAAAAAAFNc/xIQy2dPS63AgbCqqvVMPn64_mSBNu3UUwCEw/s400/1110805-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We arrived at night. A phosphorescent crocodile swam over to pilot us in to Groscious Bay, Santa Cruz. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The jungle buzzed around us as we celebrated our arrival with a bottle of red. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the still of the anchorage my heart raced: Pirates... Malaria... Are we safe?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3MA0Ln1YqA/V7unWZhI-NI/AAAAAAAAFQE/rJFaSFLNoIAt7BHosvZ-c0H28iJssKjFQCLcB/s1600/1120177-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3MA0Ln1YqA/V7unWZhI-NI/AAAAAAAAFQE/rJFaSFLNoIAt7BHosvZ-c0H28iJssKjFQCLcB/s1600/1120177-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The morning bought schools of visitors in dug-out canoes. Half naked. Red beetle nut toothed. Wild! Missionaries... Fishermen... Traders. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can trade for just about everything in the Solomons; one college we visited encourages their students to pay tuition in dried fruit or pigs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They no longer accept trees. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r4pvbQnRvAg/V7ur55wJ-dI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/TAJ3yw4qsR4RxM7lTIjDoIiCOThHoyCpACLcB/s1600/1120464-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r4pvbQnRvAg/V7ur55wJ-dI/AAAAAAAAFQ8/TAJ3yw4qsR4RxM7lTIjDoIiCOThHoyCpACLcB/s400/1120464-01.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we jumped islands and bays we got sucked into the beauty of the wild. The bleach blond hair of the kids. We would paddle ashore to glares and unwelcoming machete yielding stances, but without fail our greeting the various onlookers would return a ferocious toothless smiles and friendships would be struck in minutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bridKxF2MO8/V7us0TbRKZI/AAAAAAAAFRA/-fB5C971Kac-ZZj0PYyChO297LHQNoTNACLcB/s1600/1120408-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bridKxF2MO8/V7us0TbRKZI/AAAAAAAAFRA/-fB5C971Kac-ZZj0PYyChO297LHQNoTNACLcB/s400/1120408-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Such was the love for the Hapi Isles, that one crew member opted to plant roots; and we said goodbye to Cocotino in a very moving, well attended burial ceremony.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-at677oaU7Ok/V7unwteZO4I/AAAAAAAAFQY/3vvmbYx4emQ24PzlKfku2lblvknO1TMQgCEw/s1600/1120165-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-at677oaU7Ok/V7unwteZO4I/AAAAAAAAFQY/3vvmbYx4emQ24PzlKfku2lblvknO1TMQgCEw/s400/1120165-01.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raphael bidding farewell to his trustee first mate.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In Santa Ana the people still challenge each other in warrior fights where spears are flung at neighbouring tribes to prove hero status. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's often casualties; but the heroes live on in legend and their bones are kept as sacred reminders for future generations. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a wild world out here. A beautiful one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvPx5tEkAtg/V7utsGQvS9I/AAAAAAAAFRI/ET1VTCAnzA8EYaUI3Fk4DXnpNeQsWGPpgCLcB/s1600/1120461-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lvPx5tEkAtg/V7utsGQvS9I/AAAAAAAAFRI/ET1VTCAnzA8EYaUI3Fk4DXnpNeQsWGPpgCLcB/s320/1120461-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House of the warriors.<br />Woman are not allowed to look upon the bones, but the boys were nice enough to get a picture for me.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even the capital, Honiara, and it's dusty beetle stained streets has something genuine and raw about it. The dogs don't seem to bite, and neither do the people [yet]. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It also has WiFi and real coffee and that's a plus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What did you see in the mirror? Who looked back at you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you look deep inside you will find that we are in fact wild things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have flames of passion and lustre for life burning inside. An inextinguishable flame. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We too are in fact wild people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XjZ4SGBqHq4/V7ur5UPRNMI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/DLeAM0Lebm05wXO5oPwuDya5DNuBXK3LACLcB/s1600/1120477-02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XjZ4SGBqHq4/V7ur5UPRNMI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/DLeAM0Lebm05wXO5oPwuDya5DNuBXK3LACLcB/s400/1120477-02.jpeg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's funny how the men all fight and get called "The Heroes"<br />...But the woman are the only ones brave enough to battle intruding snakes...</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGlmHCtqhNE/V7uP_FmP6lI/AAAAAAAAFOE/S_CUVEf02QIH1TZmg2pl4K-ReYnwQ__SQCEw/s1600/1120057-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CGlmHCtqhNE/V7uP_FmP6lI/AAAAAAAAFOE/S_CUVEf02QIH1TZmg2pl4K-ReYnwQ__SQCEw/s400/1120057-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Honiara, Solomon Islands-9.4456381 159.97289990000002-9.5709491 159.81153840000002 -9.3203271 160.1342614tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-19180162338405453312016-07-27T11:53:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.800+02:00And they will know us by the Trail of Bread...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6XaIeL1tgI/V5h_Dof7zTI/AAAAAAAAFLU/DE69x_bpz3gyLzqRKPuW9AmOMy7mvAjRQCLcB/s1600/1110520-01%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6XaIeL1tgI/V5h_Dof7zTI/AAAAAAAAFLU/DE69x_bpz3gyLzqRKPuW9AmOMy7mvAjRQCLcB/s400/1110520-01%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You know that feeling you get just before you begin a new chapter??</div><div style="text-align: center;">When you hear adventure calling your name and the beckoning is so loud that you have to heed it... even though you're not quite sure where it will take you and what you will find when [if] you get there...??</div><div style="text-align: center;">When you're thrillingly terrified... And you can't sit or relax or even think for fear of what it is that is about to pounce at you??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After 9 years of incongruously traipsing this planet, I'm amazed that I still get the jitters; that exhilaration still pulses through my veins... Actually I suppose it's the bewilderment that keeps me doing this. Yes, I should have it down. I should be mentally and physically prepared and set and... this should be a walk in the park... But still the flutterbys swarm my intestines and well...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IPVOWGZsbmY/V5iA142kg0I/AAAAAAAAFLo/iTfYVfv119IecRKl2uuRLpKQ7V-3QQnEACLcB/s1600/1110573-02%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IPVOWGZsbmY/V5iA142kg0I/AAAAAAAAFLo/iTfYVfv119IecRKl2uuRLpKQ7V-3QQnEACLcB/s400/1110573-02%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...Well yes, it's back into the vortex of sea I go... </div><div style="text-align: center;">And this time I'll be crewing on my smallest sailing boat yet, a Beneteau First 25; which, as the name suggests, is a "mega yacht" measuring in at a whopping 25 feet (7.62 m). Mono hull. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm still trying to work out my explanation for my choice of vessels (there were a plethora of bigger, flasher, faster boats to choose from and an array of kind and funny and adventurous skippers), but I've learned enough in life to follow my instincts. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And sometimes you just know something's right. It's infinitely more important to be on the right boat with the right crew - regardless of the destination - than anything else... Boat hopping is as extreme as hitch hiking gets: There is nowhere to just hop off, it's a flipping long way before you get to refeul and replenish, and you don't get bathroom stops... </div><div style="text-align: center;">Fortunately this time, as I reassured my mother this morning, we actually even have a toilet aboard.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8PgbeKaYcw/V5iCFxGTj3I/AAAAAAAAFL0/C8d4QyAf8_w_QZnQ1CorsTQRF1Ey_Ih2QCLcB/s1600/10170723_10152283902562324_1549520683_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8PgbeKaYcw/V5iCFxGTj3I/AAAAAAAAFL0/C8d4QyAf8_w_QZnQ1CorsTQRF1Ey_Ih2QCLcB/s400/10170723_10152283902562324_1549520683_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although I still maintain that this is the world's best toilet!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">In fact it's a pretty interesting mix of cultures aboard: The boat (Yacare) and the skipper (Raphael) are French. The first mate (Cocotino) is a young coconut tree. Then there's me, the African. And my first mate, the trusty (little bit crusty) Teddy Teddison. </div><div style="text-align: center;">To top that we also have yogurt, wild yeast and other foody cultures we'll be cultivating and experimenting with as we continue to cross the Pacific. And, with the lack of fridge and freezer, we'll be forced to be regularly producing sour dough and fermented milk products... </div><div style="text-align: center;">We may even leave a trail of bread crumbs for you to follow. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFz5H179bxg/V5iAaVo6-SI/AAAAAAAAFLg/I9vjE4Kic6YRhZsL_Guj2eqSNZGFG3TZgCLcB/s1600/1110565-01%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFz5H179bxg/V5iAaVo6-SI/AAAAAAAAFLg/I9vjE4Kic6YRhZsL_Guj2eqSNZGFG3TZgCLcB/s400/1110565-01%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="325" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You ought to be able to tell who's who in this picture...</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">There will be stars. And sea. And whales. And dolphins. Mermaids, and flying fish.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There will hopefully be time to read and write and draw. </div><div style="text-align: center;">There will be French... a language I don't speak [yet]. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But here we go again... Goodbye Fiji and thank you for a flipping phenomenal time!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...Next stop, The Solomons [probably] with it's crocodiles and pirates and malarial mosquitoes and volcanoes... </div><div style="text-align: center;">Yes, here we go again.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, the excitement!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JaFC7Lx2ZK8/V5iECLFwqMI/AAAAAAAAFME/uY04l6AtFiUOl8AU6x7E1np1EYfH2lvHQCLcB/s1600/1110051-01-01%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JaFC7Lx2ZK8/V5iECLFwqMI/AAAAAAAAFME/uY04l6AtFiUOl8AU6x7E1np1EYfH2lvHQCLcB/s400/1110051-01-01%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Fiji-17.713371 178.06503199999997-25.4836375 -12.262116500000047 -9.9431044999999969 8.3921804999999949tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-56851139400704384002016-07-21T09:53:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.831+02:00Namesake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7nW6k8gLvk/V5CA7C0xXSI/AAAAAAAAFLA/Zj6XSjOUlTsV7Z75a_QTSzwk1ZfbScQQwCLcB/s1600/1080780-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7nW6k8gLvk/V5CA7C0xXSI/AAAAAAAAFLA/Zj6XSjOUlTsV7Z75a_QTSzwk1ZfbScQQwCLcB/s320/1080780-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I was named after my late grandmother: Dina. Man was she an epic sort... but then again, everyone in my family is.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R_jdl1E8rGM/V5BwK3MiLDI/AAAAAAAAFJw/vUQfI4Jq9ZsRFrCb2dxnfqc4yOgwv4R8gCLcB/s1600/P1050220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R_jdl1E8rGM/V5BwK3MiLDI/AAAAAAAAFJw/vUQfI4Jq9ZsRFrCb2dxnfqc4yOgwv4R8gCLcB/s400/P1050220.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Epic sort, Epic sort. Epic sort. Epic sort</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">But I've never really given much serious thought to the whole "who am I really?" nonsence... you know, all the name meanings and heritage mumbojumbo... but maybe, yes maybe, there's something to it?? All of Fiji keep talking about their namesakes and they're pretty smart and excessively happy beings!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWOHHhS5fd4/V5B-FVPqPQI/AAAAAAAAFKk/kzrEtHDMagIeWWvEkeohQaDXM-U_kSLKgCLcB/s1600/P1100348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VWOHHhS5fd4/V5B-FVPqPQI/AAAAAAAAFKk/kzrEtHDMagIeWWvEkeohQaDXM-U_kSLKgCLcB/s320/P1100348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31SCPEhT4lg/V5B_DQgNpKI/AAAAAAAAFKs/4SVRwtxsMBY2OECZwBvkG4TsPgWxYoNpACLcB/s1600/P1100385.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31SCPEhT4lg/V5B_DQgNpKI/AAAAAAAAFKs/4SVRwtxsMBY2OECZwBvkG4TsPgWxYoNpACLcB/s400/P1100385.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mum told me that my name meant "noble woman of esteem." I thought that sounded a bit posh and ostentatious - but I rolled with it. And then my travels led me across many an Israeli who informed me that in fact my name, apart from being an "old people name", also meant "soft and gentle". And yes, after a couple of months spent in Fiji, I am pretty soft and squishy; but gentle? I'm not so sure.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After sitting through many a gift giving (sevusevu) and grog drinking (kava: dry mildly-sedative roots mashed up and soaked into water) ceremony where my name and a lot of clapping gets thrown about almost hap-hazardly, I've come to realise three things. Firstly, I don't like kava very much. Secondly, I've got some flipping big foot prints to fill if I want to live up to my grandmother's legacy (even though she was a tiny human) and finally, I've found a more accurate depiction of who I am (although I suppose that's just my noble esteemist opinion)... In Fijian "Dina" means "true and genuine". And I'll take that!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6aPj6JXcj8/V5B_3q6Yw9I/AAAAAAAAFK0/HAvIc3HmCjsGtH73ZGVROC_Pf89ZOfxMwCLcB/s1600/1080799-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6aPj6JXcj8/V5B_3q6Yw9I/AAAAAAAAFK0/HAvIc3HmCjsGtH73ZGVROC_Pf89ZOfxMwCLcB/s320/1080799-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What better person to be than who you really are?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Big, small, tall, short, funny, passionate, boring, gregarious, impulsive, bad-ass, inbred, accident-prone, cross-dressing... whatever, it doesn't matter as long as you're you!</div><div style="text-align: center;">And that's who I want to be; a true and genuine [Dina] me.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Who's your name sake? What's your name mean? What shoes were you born to fill??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rIvDJESDwTQ/V5B33BDYVPI/AAAAAAAAFKA/USxPV8fQOp4zVbtXE9U4Dmg-kdF9ka61ACLcB/s1600/Familie_vakansie_20160224_110831-01%255B1%255D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rIvDJESDwTQ/V5B33BDYVPI/AAAAAAAAFKA/USxPV8fQOp4zVbtXE9U4Dmg-kdF9ka61ACLcB/s400/Familie_vakansie_20160224_110831-01%255B1%255D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Fiji-17.713371 178.06503199999997-25.4836375 -12.262116500000047 -9.9431044999999969 8.3921804999999949tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-67464959651732533572016-07-13T03:20:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.868+02:00Blown Away<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SXYFNY8Un2w/V4WC9yFXzvI/AAAAAAAAFG0/tY8VdZEZ2oQnTRqHGnUez0NQo8qSbzLOQCKgB/s1600/1090840-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SXYFNY8Un2w/V4WC9yFXzvI/AAAAAAAAFG0/tY8VdZEZ2oQnTRqHGnUez0NQo8qSbzLOQCKgB/s400/1090840-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You're sitting in your home and the wind starts to pick up. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It gets stronger. Stronger. Stronger still. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Before you know what's happening, the whole house begins to tremble and your roof gets whisked away. You cluster together as a family and run to the neighbours, but their house isn't there anymore so you keep running. The community hall... </div><div style="text-align: center;">You find solace for a second, but the concrete starts disintegrating so you huddle together again and run for your lives. The only protection you can find is a uprooted tree. With eight of you hiding in it's roots, you know your chances are slim...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-xICEJznIQ/V4WA1stiuxI/AAAAAAAAFGs/59AnxF21zxEnA1tAgGP0G6mMg5wJOTNOwCKgB/s1600/1110266-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-xICEJznIQ/V4WA1stiuxI/AAAAAAAAFGs/59AnxF21zxEnA1tAgGP0G6mMg5wJOTNOwCKgB/s400/1110266-01.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You heard there was a storm coming, so you'd battened down the shutters... Three families sit inside sipping sugary tea and eating custard tart (a national pass time). The rain's bucketing down outside, but your house is strong. You think you're safe. In an instant water comes gushing through the living room and you're in it. Struggling for breath you follow the flood, fight the currents, even though you can't swim... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvslKpHFDM4/V4WPkkXBfRI/AAAAAAAAFII/x5Yg0Vr9_MUtYZ42BIKUYxGQ9L9eymdnQCLcB/s1600/1110324.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvslKpHFDM4/V4WPkkXBfRI/AAAAAAAAFII/x5Yg0Vr9_MUtYZ42BIKUYxGQ9L9eymdnQCLcB/s320/1110324.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The walls are shaking and you have no idea what to do and nowhere else to go. You sit and sing and pray. You've got all generations of the family in your house and you know that at any second you could all be face to face with Saint Peter or whoever it is that controls Heaven's admission list. For hours the wind pounds on the door and roof threatening to come in. When nobody answers, it leaves, only to return again with more force. When it's finally safe to peek outside, you find you're the only house left standing...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYFERI-IZ6g/V4WJe-EGv-I/AAAAAAAAFHU/gq2gP0hE7Ek6lTMPmPWV0Wca0r86XmCaQCLcB/s1600/1090432-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qYFERI-IZ6g/V4WJe-EGv-I/AAAAAAAAFHU/gq2gP0hE7Ek6lTMPmPWV0Wca0r86XmCaQCLcB/s400/1090432-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there I stood in Fiji, eager to explore. I had a vague notion that I'd be meandering through a cyclone and tourist destroyed, money expecting, land of smiles and tropical beaches. I thought a week would suffice. With all my life belongings stuffed into my backpack, the infamous bear on my side, and a friend from New Zealand, we set off to see what Fiji was all about. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYoUlwfvY1w/V4WHC2wVmVI/AAAAAAAAFHE/kDNylGy8zm8GHnid4oU1y2Yy5anF37SkwCLcB/s1600/1090542-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYoUlwfvY1w/V4WHC2wVmVI/AAAAAAAAFHE/kDNylGy8zm8GHnid4oU1y2Yy5anF37SkwCLcB/s320/1090542-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">A friendly lady on a bus told us to come and see her village. We had no idea where else to go, so we did. We adorned ourselves in sulus (sarong skirts), covered our shoulders and carried our bunch of dry kava roots to the chiefs house [as is custom] where a ceremony of clapping and mumbling ensued before our sevusevu (gift) was presented and we were welcomed as villagers. We ended up living with Sara and her family for three days, being fed and catered for and blessed with so much that we felt we had to leave - we'd arrived with bags of vegetables but they gave us everything they had and wouldn't accept a thing. I'm not very good accepting anything from anyone - so we fled Vatu Lele.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g96gqU2UR0s/V4WHCCVg-RI/AAAAAAAAFG8/myl_ydbO0gkzMO-r2fZFI5TDKZd0vPvTACLcB/s1600/1090701-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g96gqU2UR0s/V4WHCCVg-RI/AAAAAAAAFG8/myl_ydbO0gkzMO-r2fZFI5TDKZd0vPvTACLcB/s320/1090701-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not wanting us to go astray, our exceptional hosts called up their family near Labasa and told them we were coming. We arrived with even more vegetables, and a bigger bunch of kava. Malau was tucked away between an oil refinery and a sugar plant. The kids played with whatever they found washed up on the shores (crabs, syringes, diapers...). When we arrived we were immediately treated like royalty (only instead of a red carpet, we had to make do with mats). We were living amongst the poorest of the poor and here they were lavishing us with luxuries. It was impossible to do anything without having 7 or 19 children hanging off your arm. They all wanted to be your friend. They all wanted to bring you fresh coconuts off the highest palm trees. They all wanted to make sure your daily hug quota was filled. If I went to the bathroom, they would wait patiently outside; and when I braved the shower, they'd poke their eyes through every gap in the corrugated iron walls. In the morning I'd see their shadows lurking around my tent waiting for any sign of life. They had the most beautiful voices and, with a diet of mostly sugar, more energy than the power station down the road. Again the village gave us everything and took nothing in return. Again I felt like I had to flee - my heart would burst if I had to accept any more generosity!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We worked our way to the edge of Vanua Levu (The second biggest island in Fiji) being given more than we bargained for every jolt of the way. We began to see more and more evidence of the cyclone as we traveled East - destroyed homes, derooted palm trees, road works... and, when we ferried over to Taveuni, it was even more blatant. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eXD2IG_3gdg/V4WMFj6W_kI/AAAAAAAAFHg/06qzhQer28YINrdKW4LcGTOVwbM83LxNgCLcB/s1600/1090820-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eXD2IG_3gdg/V4WMFj6W_kI/AAAAAAAAFHg/06qzhQer28YINrdKW4LcGTOVwbM83LxNgCLcB/s320/1090820-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We partnered up with another friend and were trying to work out how to avoid resorts and learn more about village life as a threesome, when some friendly ice-cream licking ladies invited us to follow them home. We followed them all the way to their family reunion on a neighbouring island and for days we were fed to the point we thought we may actually burst </div><div style="text-align: center;">(Fijian facts:</div><div style="text-align: center;">There is no limit to the amount of food a human can consume. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The average cup of tea must contain at least three heaped table spoons of sugar.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oil is a food group. Sugar is another. All meals must contain a 50/50 balance of the two.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2oKIGG5dso/V4WOnj1mR5I/AAAAAAAAFH0/4BHBjbjdUUoOh5nRXA4FEQgpi58NW1NpQCLcB/s1600/1100408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2oKIGG5dso/V4WOnj1mR5I/AAAAAAAAFH0/4BHBjbjdUUoOh5nRXA4FEQgpi58NW1NpQCLcB/s320/1100408.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Custard Tart: a normal dinner in Fiji</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6RLV9nuX9U/V4WPzA2kkII/AAAAAAAAFIU/DyynZDEll_g_GP5VMv8K6_e2OS--YY45wCLcB/s1600/1100877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P6RLV9nuX9U/V4WPzA2kkII/AAAAAAAAFIU/DyynZDEll_g_GP5VMv8K6_e2OS--YY45wCLcB/s320/1100877.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmgplBitRo0/V4WHC40z4lI/AAAAAAAAFHA/uXmyi8ZAFaAk-JaZSXgOkVxh-mAhdxazQCLcB/s1600/1090836-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dmgplBitRo0/V4WHC40z4lI/AAAAAAAAFHA/uXmyi8ZAFaAk-JaZSXgOkVxh-mAhdxazQCLcB/s320/1090836-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our seven daily feasts</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;">Using Naselesele as a base, we ventured down South, stopping to climb a volcano (which, thanks to Winston, became a 14 hour machete-a-path expedition of epic proportions) and explore beaches; constantly growing our Fijian families with people taking us in for a couple of nights and spoiling us rotten, then crying when we left - begging us to stay longer.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P0fiOAG5Kk8/V4WPKSnXKnI/AAAAAAAAFH8/cnTftud_7XImkybdK3y-34NGWwv9IdAHQCLcB/s1600/1100179.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P0fiOAG5Kk8/V4WPKSnXKnI/AAAAAAAAFH8/cnTftud_7XImkybdK3y-34NGWwv9IdAHQCLcB/s320/1100179.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing to Lake Tagimaucea</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bnY5FIt8MJs/V4WOdlYNJAI/AAAAAAAAFHw/NzNvdGnNW_oOKKgwh6sVP-11hZnt1D-KwCLcB/s1600/1100505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bnY5FIt8MJs/V4WOdlYNJAI/AAAAAAAAFHw/NzNvdGnNW_oOKKgwh6sVP-11hZnt1D-KwCLcB/s320/1100505.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of the kids in Navakawau</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;">"Should we grab some groceries first?" I asked as we clambered on yet another bus. "Nah. everything we bring gets given back to us and I'm tired of having things go off in my pack. There'll be a shop anyway..." We weren't sure where we should be going, so we asked the bus. There was a unified agreement amongst the other passengers that we should be going to Navakawau. So we did.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We arrived in the dark, and Mella, who I'd sat next to on the bus, told me to follow her. We walked through a tented camp and into her brother's home - which was reconstructed from debris to a third of its original size - and now housed two families with nine children. "Winston stole our house" she laughed. They shared their evening meal with us and poured us tea. Apart from being the worst hit village on the island (25 of 135 houses were salvageable), the chief had just died; it appeared that our timing couldn't have been any worse. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sat in their China-Aid tent (they wouldn't let us pitch our own tents in the dark) we cried. Here we were in the worst of the worst disaster zone, and we'd arrived empty handed. We didn't know what to do, so we escaped into the land of books.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the morning we were taken to the [former] chief's brothers to present our sevusevu and we felt seriously sheepish. With the death of the chief, others were lavishing the village with gifts of whale bone and pigs; and here we were with a measly bunch of dry smelly roots. They accepted us anyway. We wanted to run as far away as we could, but we didn't want to offend anyone, so we decided we'd stick around for a day. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znSVViKyLec/V4WQtRafghI/AAAAAAAAFIo/lvquGTdT0m4jomz4edTIWW95LGdvUtZeACLcB/s1600/1100338.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-znSVViKyLec/V4WQtRafghI/AAAAAAAAFIo/lvquGTdT0m4jomz4edTIWW95LGdvUtZeACLcB/s320/1100338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">We stayed a week. We somehow managed to stop looking at what the Fijians didn't have and instead saw what they did have. Winston stole their roofs. Winston stole their houses. Winston stole their power, their water, their family heirlooms... but Winston left them with their lives, and they knew how lucky they really were. Watching how they worked together to constrct shelters and do food preparations for the ten day funeral made me realise that Winston had actually bought them closer together.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jpd86Jjakp8/V4WQdc7pdkI/AAAAAAAAFIk/92hF5-vyf14fRU6xHf_vBfERF_SXxQyTACLcB/s1600/1100608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jpd86Jjakp8/V4WQdc7pdkI/AAAAAAAAFIk/92hF5-vyf14fRU6xHf_vBfERF_SXxQyTACLcB/s320/1100608.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing the lunch time Casava portions</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;">It didn't take long for us to find roles in the village. There was always something to do (whether it be construction, vegetable chopping, or making thousands of pancakes[which I did for three days straight]). In fact, I blended in so well that most of the funeral guests spoke Fijian to me. Everyone had stories [similar to the ones above] to tell about how they had survived the cyclone. You could see why they believed in God. Everyone had something to teach, and at the same time, everyone wanted to learn what they could from us.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUZqaMBe_bs/V4WOQQgxpNI/AAAAAAAAFHs/CwF3LF4wQOwe6icZhY6IlE04hWRH8fXJACLcB/s1600/1100592.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kUZqaMBe_bs/V4WOQQgxpNI/AAAAAAAAFHs/CwF3LF4wQOwe6icZhY6IlE04hWRH8fXJACLcB/s320/1100592.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funeral clothes... looking more Fijian than ever!</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;">I left not feeling like I'd pillaged the village, but with a renewed soul and a motivated outlook to give and lavish love and to do something meaningful. I carried this with me to further islands and back to Savusavu where I met up with another old friend who was sailing out to rebuild communities with Sea Mercy... Of course I wanted to join...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gG72AiG0HXs/V4WAvfZDhkI/AAAAAAAAFGs/nqhXJnJcItEw7Eq-KNTzba-RNtFH4VFeACKgB/s1600/1110225-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gG72AiG0HXs/V4WAvfZDhkI/AAAAAAAAFGs/nqhXJnJcItEw7Eq-KNTzba-RNtFH4VFeACKgB/s1600/1110225-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above and below: Just some of the joys of off and on-loading building materials for very remote islands.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHAK6o3hNxs/V4WAtmzcsqI/AAAAAAAAFGs/2NWZRowzogsUMKsWZ7_XA992WBAmHwgIACKgB/s1600/1110283-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHAK6o3hNxs/V4WAtmzcsqI/AAAAAAAAFGs/2NWZRowzogsUMKsWZ7_XA992WBAmHwgIACKgB/s1600/1110283-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmbsyt3woQ4/V4WAOvZfVoI/AAAAAAAAFGk/ZxBNjf_Oe60bFEiY7H-XSxYzAVvt_7oWQCKgB/s1600/1110085-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmbsyt3woQ4/V4WAOvZfVoI/AAAAAAAAFGk/ZxBNjf_Oe60bFEiY7H-XSxYzAVvt_7oWQCKgB/s320/1110085-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before: The begins of salvage work on Makongai</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XCKhB6j2xJw/V4WPRMIaB3I/AAAAAAAAFIA/OTahZ3HulOQQZiRrUnMwVlvcxTzpyG7mwCLcB/s1600/1110398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XCKhB6j2xJw/V4WPRMIaB3I/AAAAAAAAFIA/OTahZ3HulOQQZiRrUnMwVlvcxTzpyG7mwCLcB/s320/1110398.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After: The first of the rebuilt homes</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFoLQXxl11Y/V4WPrgdmmgI/AAAAAAAAFIM/c_5kPrFLMzc0a8S1h-w9Z5GdrhL84ysYACLcB/s1600/1110205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFoLQXxl11Y/V4WPrgdmmgI/AAAAAAAAFIM/c_5kPrFLMzc0a8S1h-w9Z5GdrhL84ysYACLcB/s320/1110205.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Just a few of the Sea Mercy volunteers in Makogai</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you read my last blog, it was a tale about how I got lost in the world. Really I found myself in Fiji. The people are the friendliest I've ever met and the smiles are by far the biggest. The generosity of the villages has been unparalleled. But it's also been one of the most difficult countries to travel. Every stop I've made has made me look deep within and showed me things I didn't want to see. It's challenged me about my own motives. It made me learn how to accept things. It's a country that has wrestled with my heart and my soul and bought me out with a new outlook on what really is important in life.<br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kZV2mG3ILs/V4WJdaSRgKI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/mSEh3Qc78N8llQEGjqe7fpEdmOJxji2pgCLcB/s1600/1090912-02.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5kZV2mG3ILs/V4WJdaSRgKI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/mSEh3Qc78N8llQEGjqe7fpEdmOJxji2pgCLcB/s320/1090912-02.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Makogai Island, Fiji-17.4472678 178.96532260000004-17.507860299999997 178.88464160000004 -17.3866753 179.04600360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-52649248598907926732016-07-06T01:28:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.918+02:00Losing Yourself in the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FsEicfQ8KKc/V3IE_GUQi-I/AAAAAAAAFDQ/8Pp5tV-Cb8UQsekNU2C9Z3W7aDuukWl1QCKgB/s1600/1100240-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FsEicfQ8KKc/V3IE_GUQi-I/AAAAAAAAFDQ/8Pp5tV-Cb8UQsekNU2C9Z3W7aDuukWl1QCKgB/s400/1100240-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Tagimaucea, Fiji</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where would you be sitting right now if you'd said "yes".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What would you be doing? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Who would you be?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biFg1IV0YiQ/V3w1t64LFgI/AAAAAAAAFDs/KgA5Yi4AtXcv7omlqbQVWw24B-Wg_7Q3QCLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757361940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-biFg1IV0YiQ/V3w1t64LFgI/AAAAAAAAFDs/KgA5Yi4AtXcv7omlqbQVWw24B-Wg_7Q3QCLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757361940.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilson's prom, Australia</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had everything to lose. [Or at least I thought I did].</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I lived in a perfect home with amazing housemates {and even owned some of the the furniture]. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was semi-self-employed with more random, yet exceptionally fun, work contracts than the amish have children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had great friends, and my family was just down the street. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was young and free and, by my own standards, I was a success.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlB3y8LRAYE/V3w2AjIHuvI/AAAAAAAAFDw/R2KoRECjE889dSaGqUM5fEHIFO5C8k7fgCLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757566266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KlB3y8LRAYE/V3w2AjIHuvI/AAAAAAAAFDw/R2KoRECjE889dSaGqUM5fEHIFO5C8k7fgCLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757566266.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinking toxic floats with a brother.<br />Joburg, South Africa</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But did I want to travel the East coast of Africa with some of my besties? YES!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Was I prepared to move out of my perfect home? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not really.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Could I sacrifice 3 months of my life to do it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Probably not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Was I willing to leave other people to look after my work contracts?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No way!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did I have the money to do it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">No chance!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUlYCPUGBSo/V3w6CosUDmI/AAAAAAAAFEA/kTf3YT9wZys93FlE6G96bTe-Ls0FvMFqgCKgB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757831351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUlYCPUGBSo/V3w6CosUDmI/AAAAAAAAFEA/kTf3YT9wZys93FlE6G96bTe-Ls0FvMFqgCKgB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757831351.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The safety and beauty of the homelands</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WiZ_QqwWzg/V3w7nVtofdI/AAAAAAAAFEk/DhacyXdrnmQ8xH5oLR3gydpD60IS--dcwCKgB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757870149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WiZ_QqwWzg/V3w7nVtofdI/AAAAAAAAFEk/DhacyXdrnmQ8xH5oLR3gydpD60IS--dcwCKgB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757870149.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dietary alterations, Malawi</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>I'm not sure why I did it.</div><div>I'm not sure how I broke myself free from the comforts of life.</div><div>I was young. </div><div>I was naive. </div><div>I had determination and adventure. And a brand new backpack.</div><div>The world was mine for exploring! </div><div>It wasn't an easy descision, but it was the best descision I ever made: I said "Yes."</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z51XS-1mv5U/V3w6jzCIYkI/AAAAAAAAFEE/hB0wv9dYWIAICMqebhQeqdZw09vsvQOVQCLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757499445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z51XS-1mv5U/V3w6jzCIYkI/AAAAAAAAFEE/hB0wv9dYWIAICMqebhQeqdZw09vsvQOVQCLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757499445.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cliff jumping, Aling Aling, Indonesia</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Every jolt of every bus, ferry, truck, and car knocked wisdom and sense into my life. I changed from a Joburger to a citizen of the world. I had no idea how intoxicating wanderlust could be and before I knew it; I transformed from a tourist to a traveller: a student of Earth.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ2NgeMNnGw/V3w8bEg9JvI/AAAAAAAAFEo/qBNNoR1no80MDCFnzCl6oYU5ST_8v7m0wCKgB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757667592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eJ2NgeMNnGw/V3w8bEg9JvI/AAAAAAAAFEo/qBNNoR1no80MDCFnzCl6oYU5ST_8v7m0wCKgB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757667592.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ijen volcano, Java</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Bj8JorFMH0/V3w7BKatzUI/AAAAAAAAFEM/PHP8QlIZiJgGcZSn4_vpvSxmq4AUyY05ACLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757591276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Bj8JorFMH0/V3w7BKatzUI/AAAAAAAAFEM/PHP8QlIZiJgGcZSn4_vpvSxmq4AUyY05ACLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757591276.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kudat, Borneo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJUbmxCkTKg/V3w7GraavZI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/ZFzwAmTiT-UQJEbBZpkzn1eTjPAcKbf2QCLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757852030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mJUbmxCkTKg/V3w7GraavZI/AAAAAAAAFEQ/ZFzwAmTiT-UQJEbBZpkzn1eTjPAcKbf2QCLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757852030.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone Henge</td></tr></tbody></table><div>I found myself lost in some of the most beautifully remote places on Earth. Every day was a chance to reinvent myself. Every day bought with it new lessons, new cultures, and a new [dirtier, scruffier, more care free] me.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pynHXpG_R_A/V3w9MwIxfII/AAAAAAAAFEw/iCTH4pG0zzY53fWzvoAj_7gyCJibpsBOgCLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757720698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pynHXpG_R_A/V3w9MwIxfII/AAAAAAAAFEw/iCTH4pG0zzY53fWzvoAj_7gyCJibpsBOgCLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757720698.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perth, Australia</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I started chasing challenges. I found myself setting unrealistic goals. If something was deemed "impossible" I would try it. If a destination was "too difficult to get to" I'd aim for it. I stopped taking busses and started travelling by thumb, bicycle, horse, motorbike, sailing boats... I forgot motorbike, sailing boats... I forgot about deadlines. I forgot about comforts. I forgot about time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FcdSW4zOzw/V3w92PByhQI/AAAAAAAAFFA/dpjGlBL5weUaa7j7urIaYXbiqMwid6AwQCLcB/s1600/IMG_20160701_082417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1FcdSW4zOzw/V3w92PByhQI/AAAAAAAAFFA/dpjGlBL5weUaa7j7urIaYXbiqMwid6AwQCLcB/s320/IMG_20160701_082417.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kioa, Fiji</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-1lFhD5n2U/V3w99ql3eoI/AAAAAAAAFFE/bRbhXXCQbIE0FOOpO6DWYXumV1BuSXqbwCLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757771417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-1lFhD5n2U/V3w99ql3eoI/AAAAAAAAFFE/bRbhXXCQbIE0FOOpO6DWYXumV1BuSXqbwCLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757771417.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pnom Phen, Cambodia</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho1gFIdBrC8/V3xD1FQQihI/AAAAAAAAFF4/2YcNYMhyFngBixltNFdglcqVu6xoV_jmACKgB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757634730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ho1gFIdBrC8/V3xD1FQQihI/AAAAAAAAFF4/2YcNYMhyFngBixltNFdglcqVu6xoV_jmACKgB/s400/FB_IMG_1467757634730.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New wheels, Cambodia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>Suddenly I wasn't a scrawny, naive 22 two year old anymore. The [meant to be] three month trip had somehow spanned 9 years.</div><div><br /></div><div>I still live out of the same backpack (although you can barely recognise it now). The contents have been overhauled countless times and there isn't even a remnant of fancy outdoor gear left. My body is a mangle of souvenir-scars tattooed on by the greatest artist of all: adventure herself.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1g8GKje_Xl0/V3w_BGyAb9I/AAAAAAAAFFQ/HDzNqSpu-x0WVwAMOVKNzEKoj39uxKwLwCKgB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467758628528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1g8GKje_Xl0/V3w_BGyAb9I/AAAAAAAAFFQ/HDzNqSpu-x0WVwAMOVKNzEKoj39uxKwLwCKgB/s320/FB_IMG_1467758628528.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first significant scar acquisition, from falling into a volcano in Kenya</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Today I'm sat in Fiji, a somewhat tropic paradise ravished by a recent cyclone.</div><div>I'm about as far away from South Africa as I could possibly be - but looking at the smiles of the people around me. </div><div>The welcoming spirit.</div><div>The generocity.</div><div>The sense of humour.</div><div>The hugs, and the acceptance... I'm home.</div></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iv3MpCV0MNw/V3xAme9u8bI/AAAAAAAAFFg/UNgkCyxVOaA1Q0o-dlToN9-V0L7JRwmJgCLcB/s1600/1100505-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iv3MpCV0MNw/V3xAme9u8bI/AAAAAAAAFFg/UNgkCyxVOaA1Q0o-dlToN9-V0L7JRwmJgCLcB/s320/1100505-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nawakalau, Fiji</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>Yes, if I'd stayed behind I might have a big corporation, I may be a home owner, I might even have a family of my own... Hey, I could be president (if Trump, Jacob, and Keates can do it, anybody can!)...<br />Instead i have a dismal bank account and almost nothing in the way of material possessions, but traveling taught me so much... in fact it made me rich.<br />Man am I glad I said "Yes"!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2bOWDXcSmCI/V3xBHy0mdcI/AAAAAAAAFFk/nd63D-z4kOwwTUCyYLF6CDgYp3xyQO3xACLcB/s1600/FB_IMG_1467757748131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2bOWDXcSmCI/V3xBHy0mdcI/AAAAAAAAFFk/nd63D-z4kOwwTUCyYLF6CDgYp3xyQO3xACLcB/s320/FB_IMG_1467757748131.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still the most disgusting place I've stayed (that's poo dropping down the walls behind me) and it was a "luxury hotel". Kazakhstan</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Makogai Island, Fiji-17.4472678 178.96532260000004-17.507860299999997 178.88464160000004 -17.3866753 179.04600360000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-46583702605669522332016-06-14T02:12:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.955+02:00Plenty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OMZGiuPcgnQ/V10vQ3OUhMI/AAAAAAAAE_A/MW80eoOopCA3jZiivcykg_Fs_3RQ_DduACLcB/s1600/1090969-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OMZGiuPcgnQ/V10vQ3OUhMI/AAAAAAAAE_A/MW80eoOopCA3jZiivcykg_Fs_3RQ_DduACLcB/s400/1090969-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the land of plenty!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A land ripe with plenty of coconuts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZoUqezXRvE/V10xkxspP6I/AAAAAAAAFAY/T0Al9dgJqhAU-ZWRmNuxAsHsNwqRGLguACLcB/s1600/1090838-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZoUqezXRvE/V10xkxspP6I/AAAAAAAAFAY/T0Al9dgJqhAU-ZWRmNuxAsHsNwqRGLguACLcB/s320/1090838-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kZkAypdZhdc/V10vvLbOAPI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/pbY8o_0hhSgzOB64UObxJcsSi0TYVC85gCLcB/s1600/1090981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kZkAypdZhdc/V10vvLbOAPI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/pbY8o_0hhSgzOB64UObxJcsSi0TYVC85gCLcB/s320/1090981.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm still perfecting my coconut shaving techniques.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Where everyone has plenty of kids.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-maHYWBL6lT4/V103EhSPSsI/AAAAAAAAFCs/bs2NJz7BfQoJg3WidgMy27Zfu_Ow1QYZQCLcB/s1600/1090701-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-maHYWBL6lT4/V103EhSPSsI/AAAAAAAAFCs/bs2NJz7BfQoJg3WidgMy27Zfu_Ow1QYZQCLcB/s400/1090701-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">All of whom can climb coconut trees in seconds and effortlessly use a machete before they can walk. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wfbomKJpCBE/V102CVAiFUI/AAAAAAAAFCI/9uDmdyn8B6wHVzIeM3LBsYeAyltsJ4aCQCLcB/s1600/1090613.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wfbomKJpCBE/V102CVAiFUI/AAAAAAAAFCI/9uDmdyn8B6wHVzIeM3LBsYeAyltsJ4aCQCLcB/s320/1090613.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is plenty of muscles to help out whenever you need it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bo9xnbrR4Pw/V10zVZCmkzI/AAAAAAAAFBM/9DhxGkPNg6MjgfxwF3aNfyiqr70Ilh0sACLcB/s1600/1090706.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bo9xnbrR4Pw/V10zVZCmkzI/AAAAAAAAFBM/9DhxGkPNg6MjgfxwF3aNfyiqr70Ilh0sACLcB/s320/1090706.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are plenty of fish in the sea (and plenty of fear of sharks in the sea, so if do go in, you have plenty of room to splash around)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EHq7q14owjc/V10wFBrC4uI/AAAAAAAAE_s/diguZEKJo2gppMYIplHUCTKWye9DyyK4gCLcB/s1600/1090876-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EHq7q14owjc/V10wFBrC4uI/AAAAAAAAE_s/diguZEKJo2gppMYIplHUCTKWye9DyyK4gCLcB/s400/1090876-01.jpeg" width="400" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7T6E4XpxcU/V10wDJVozZI/AAAAAAAAE_k/ScYhkjmAhX4YVVfAeUufzGjTyuYF-nZXgCLcB/s1600/1090907-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z7T6E4XpxcU/V10wDJVozZI/AAAAAAAAE_k/ScYhkjmAhX4YVVfAeUufzGjTyuYF-nZXgCLcB/s320/1090907-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are plenty of friends to be made.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yD29fyapSF8/V10xtwamE9I/AAAAAAAAFAg/1MBOW5WtjFQ89SXO_YL-AKhucZ5pd8H4ACLcB/s1600/1090820-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yD29fyapSF8/V10xtwamE9I/AAAAAAAAFAg/1MBOW5WtjFQ89SXO_YL-AKhucZ5pd8H4ACLcB/s400/1090820-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Latisia (Qamia), Ben (Austria), Debra (Taveuni), me (South Africa), Damian (France)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">There are plenty of people who invite you to share their homes and their villages.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There's plenty of food.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And plenty plenty of sugar. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2phoojQIRE/V102eDNU8aI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/IxTJQ-qbk4MBDW_oBKZoWTcrD0FUCkQgACLcB/s1600/1090542-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f2phoojQIRE/V102eDNU8aI/AAAAAAAAFCQ/IxTJQ-qbk4MBDW_oBKZoWTcrD0FUCkQgACLcB/s400/1090542-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vatu Lele village</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fnzEc5IxIQ/V102BOt4l9I/AAAAAAAAFCA/z6oIHNk-Ci0QYecwe6qiN092vuFlc-awQCLcB/s1600/1090577.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fnzEc5IxIQ/V102BOt4l9I/AAAAAAAAFCA/z6oIHNk-Ci0QYecwe6qiN092vuFlc-awQCLcB/s320/1090577.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malau village</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hLm2a3XQY-E/V10xb15TSaI/AAAAAAAAFAI/9kJLyAQugRok-nYP5THq15SWFrnrInLoACLcB/s1600/1090836-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hLm2a3XQY-E/V10xb15TSaI/AAAAAAAAFAI/9kJLyAQugRok-nYP5THq15SWFrnrInLoACLcB/s400/1090836-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Korowai Settlement</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">There are plenty of new skills to learn</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1dS7rB5_Xq4/V10wRl53C8I/AAAAAAAAE_4/BRjcZUeEbZUu7s5mFDkcqPahxgG-7FCkgCLcB/s1600/1090857-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1dS7rB5_Xq4/V10wRl53C8I/AAAAAAAAE_4/BRjcZUeEbZUu7s5mFDkcqPahxgG-7FCkgCLcB/s320/1090857-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOA__g9nhRM/V10vhbkC4OI/AAAAAAAAE_I/CUu4bZRzJdAfWOhIRniBA6oQutXzPeBSQCLcB/s1600/1090966-02.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iOA__g9nhRM/V10vhbkC4OI/AAAAAAAAE_I/CUu4bZRzJdAfWOhIRniBA6oQutXzPeBSQCLcB/s320/1090966-02.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And plenty of beautiful places to see.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And plenty of ways to get there.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-1GwY8Mg2w/V10yl8uLhWI/AAAAAAAAFAw/2J8oLcibDAAV7LDYuT5Ii-y-EcwCFoLOgCLcB/s1600/1090779-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-1GwY8Mg2w/V10yl8uLhWI/AAAAAAAAFAw/2J8oLcibDAAV7LDYuT5Ii-y-EcwCFoLOgCLcB/s400/1090779-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking the ferry from Buca Bay to taveuni</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BfWBQaIYl2A/V10yno-g_9I/AAAAAAAAFA4/QP8KmrnLr242wacW7pP2X7U_UPnexqYLgCLcB/s1600/1090736.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BfWBQaIYl2A/V10yno-g_9I/AAAAAAAAFA4/QP8KmrnLr242wacW7pP2X7U_UPnexqYLgCLcB/s320/1090736.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking the morning school bus to Lobasa</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Plenty of amazing sunrises and sunsets</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_voNYKiBNA/V10vs0ETWvI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/K1dWf2OXOpkddXHsYAEFtC-V6RZm7IscQCLcB/s1600/1090912-02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_voNYKiBNA/V10vs0ETWvI/AAAAAAAAE_Q/K1dWf2OXOpkddXHsYAEFtC-V6RZm7IscQCLcB/s400/1090912-02.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">But there's also plenty of cyclone damage.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Plenty of poverty.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Plenty of sickness and medical problems.</div><div style="text-align: center;">There's plenty of hard work to be done.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7ww4AoPQZo/V10xb6VHcPI/AAAAAAAAFAM/BHYzNGXi81s6E6sQ-SLZFg7_82vJ1llIwCLcB/s1600/1090840-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E7ww4AoPQZo/V10xb6VHcPI/AAAAAAAAFAM/BHYzNGXi81s6E6sQ-SLZFg7_82vJ1llIwCLcB/s400/1090840-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-maHYWBL6lT4/V103EhSPSsI/AAAAAAAAFCs/bs2NJz7BfQoJg3WidgMy27Zfu_Ow1QYZQCLcB/s1600/1090701-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Every single day I have been taken in and housed and showered and fed and served and and overloaded on love and sugar and smiles.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(I'm not sure why I'm still carrying a tent and a cooker) </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's funny how those with the least always give the most. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fbgXtFs1f-I/V10183-JDYI/AAAAAAAAFBw/Y_JXW8Co0CQilIMKkhzc198kt0G15E79QCLcB/s1600/1090703-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fbgXtFs1f-I/V10183-JDYI/AAAAAAAAFBw/Y_JXW8Co0CQilIMKkhzc198kt0G15E79QCLcB/s320/1090703-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> In Fiji they don't have the newest gadgets.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They don't have the biggest houses.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They often don't have shoes, or fancy name-brand clothing.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They share beds and bedrooms.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They share everything.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But you can ask any Fijian if they have enough, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and the answer will always be the same:</div><div style="text-align: center;">They have PLENTY!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-1GwY8Mg2w/V10yl8uLhWI/AAAAAAAAFAw/2J8oLcibDAAV7LDYuT5Ii-y-EcwCFoLOgCLcB/s1600/1090779-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jslzJOOo-CY/V10zUgtnMdI/AAAAAAAAFBE/ZEokvJ_C32gyTmKQpmMwtgTgXyiyPKYOQCLcB/s1600/1090646-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jslzJOOo-CY/V10zUgtnMdI/AAAAAAAAFBE/ZEokvJ_C32gyTmKQpmMwtgTgXyiyPKYOQCLcB/s320/1090646-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Taveuni Island, Fiji-16.8414365 -179.98134449999998-17.3277355 -0.62679149999996753 -16.3551375 0.6641025000000127tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-47389647231582594282016-05-30T01:25:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:11.983+02:00Cage Eggs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Yl3_IaC1uuI/V0ppaxdFS5I/AAAAAAAAE6k/XT6b2KGfZts/s1600/1090316-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Yl3_IaC1uuI/V0ppaxdFS5I/AAAAAAAAE6k/XT6b2KGfZts/s400/1090316-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"></div><div style="text-align: center;">So you're a good egg right?? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Or at least your mother told you that once upon a time... [mine did]</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">I've never been a huge fan of chooks - they smell, they eat their own young and, if injured, they peck each other to death... </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">After working on an organic chicken farm in Australia, I felt I had every right to claim that chickens belonged in cages.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SVZt8fRBb6s/V0tvELT1HUI/AAAAAAAAE70/yJV15rfWPRscJo9P0Ehug_dap_HqoP6bgCLcB/s1600/13301458_10154078049947324_4225400990900640173_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SVZt8fRBb6s/V0tvELT1HUI/AAAAAAAAE70/yJV15rfWPRscJo9P0Ehug_dap_HqoP6bgCLcB/s400/13301458_10154078049947324_4225400990900640173_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schooner Sjostrom</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">But apparently you can taste the difference between cage and organic eggs (or so it was agreed on a starry windless night as 12 of us endlessly drifted on Schooner Sjostrom towards Fiji). </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Apparently you can taste when a chicken has had a good life. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKCMW88CN6M/V0ts_ajFDlI/AAAAAAAAE7s/xlpn2SafbfoQQhmtwG93ehmO0T0oOpuSACKgB/s1600/G0340290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKCMW88CN6M/V0ts_ajFDlI/AAAAAAAAE7s/xlpn2SafbfoQQhmtwG93ehmO0T0oOpuSACKgB/s320/G0340290.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Conor Carftwright.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">And life really was good.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">Eight nationalities of all different creeds and cultures lit up the 100 foot gaff rig.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">I'd been expecting a rough passage from New Zealand - but instead of crashing waves and sea sickness, the sea was glass and we had daily swims without even needing to hold on for dear life.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mhNYA0h0QuQ/V0ttAWOB-KI/AAAAAAAAE7o/xsJqF-eEy1M4lXh8dHBzH2XKpCun3LSfwCLcB/s1600/G0760938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mhNYA0h0QuQ/V0ttAWOB-KI/AAAAAAAAE7o/xsJqF-eEy1M4lXh8dHBzH2XKpCun3LSfwCLcB/s400/G0760938.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This just doesn't happen in the middle of the ocean. Ever!</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">The beautifully hand-crafted wooden boat boasted 5 toilets and fridges and freezers and a coffee plunger - all things I'd skipped in previous Pacific escapades.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">We feasted on wholesome meals and fresh fish (When sharks didn't steal it off the line)</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">For 14 days we bobbed up and down in an ocean blue and glassy.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ntSCOudOoC0/V0ttAIUOL3I/AAAAAAAAE7k/yXEbONQNyDgVJYhFf2skX-kZyCkUVks-QCLcB/s1600/G0630758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ntSCOudOoC0/V0ttAIUOL3I/AAAAAAAAE7k/yXEbONQNyDgVJYhFf2skX-kZyCkUVks-QCLcB/s400/G0630758.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The crew:<br />1 Swede. 1 Fin. 1 Frenchie. 1 Dutchie. 1 German.<br />2 Scotts. 2 Kiwis. 2 Poms.<br />1 Gypsy. 1 manky teddy bear.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QIClzDVYeNU/V0ppdW8L74I/AAAAAAAAE6s/64niYUZYkN4/s1600/1090130-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QIClzDVYeNU/V0ppdW8L74I/AAAAAAAAE6s/64niYUZYkN4/s320/1090130-01.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After trying to reel this guy in for hours, we lost most of him to a shark.</td></tr></tbody></table>We stopped at the North Minerva reef for a night and dived and snorkeled and kayaked and enjoyed a safe anchorage as a storm blew in.<br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FnGbu36b8-o/V0ppt9pP88I/AAAAAAAAE7E/qMC7LUlYV8Q/s1600/1090181-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FnGbu36b8-o/V0ppt9pP88I/AAAAAAAAE7E/qMC7LUlYV8Q/s640/1090181-01.jpeg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WNQ8YgYqvqU/V0ppf2jWkgI/AAAAAAAAE6w/Di4ngtZ0mnk/s1600/1090095-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WNQ8YgYqvqU/V0ppf2jWkgI/AAAAAAAAE6w/Di4ngtZ0mnk/s400/1090095-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br />The sunrises and sunsets never ceased to amaze!<br />And even though we were hand steering without an auto pilot [again], having many hands on board meant you could find time to put your feet up.<br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wRfSj0FtIuk/V0pprsQzfxI/AAAAAAAAE7A/2bLcmZpz01g/s1600/1090079-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wRfSj0FtIuk/V0pprsQzfxI/AAAAAAAAE7A/2bLcmZpz01g/s640/1090079-01.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />Life at sea always makes you think.<br />Of people. Of places.<br />Of where you should be. And what you should be doing.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kbYa_i-cPao/V0ppitfVJ5I/AAAAAAAAE60/9QBqwbwSquk/s1600/1090108-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kbYa_i-cPao/V0ppitfVJ5I/AAAAAAAAE60/9QBqwbwSquk/s400/1090108-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do I not look enlightened???</td></tr></tbody></table>And so it was that I realized I wasn't quite where I should be.<br />I was surrounded by more luxury than a gypsy of my caliber could handle.<br />I missed simplicity.<br />I missed roughing it.<br />Instead of blood, adventure pumped through my veins.<br /><br />I felt caged by this beautiful vessel.<br />Trapped by comforts.<br />And so, after arriving in the beautiful land of Fiji, I've decided to jump ship, and steer my "vessel" in another direction (although I have no idea what the direction is quite yet)<br /><br /><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IBUGDwi4uuY/V0ppnKxjWsI/AAAAAAAAE64/hlhwe2Lw8cQ/s1600/1090006-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IBUGDwi4uuY/V0ppnKxjWsI/AAAAAAAAE64/hlhwe2Lw8cQ/s400/1090006-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />It's a scary move leaving behind the beautiful smiles and faces and personas of this floating community, but it needs to be done.<br />Dwelling in place, job, boat, speedo or relationship (etc) you know you don't belong in is never a good idea!<br />For any reason!<br /><br />As Sjostrom sets sail for Nadi, I'll be hopping off in Savusuvu with a bear and a tent and a backpack.<br />Even without any plans, I'm not too worried.<br />Life has a funny way of navigating you when you listen to your soul and follow that little inner voice<br />[that may actually just be your split personalities]<br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?<br />Where would you go if you could go anywhere?<br />What legacy would you live if you were really living life to your full potential?</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">What's caging you? What's stopping you from having a happy life?? </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;">What would it take to make you a truly good [uncaged] egg??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pm5av8jUikw/V0ppxET6T_I/AAAAAAAAE7I/TEF_hFkKzLs/s1600/1090150-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pm5av8jUikw/V0ppxET6T_I/AAAAAAAAE7I/TEF_hFkKzLs/s640/1090150-01.jpeg" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And appologies if this was next level too deep...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just completed an ocean passage :)</div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-66471438125797662572016-05-11T02:52:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:12.023+02:00Descisions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCIL0NJ6wVs/VzKQ8cmz91I/AAAAAAAAE6E/waLWiI1shbIWXxbKH7DjRJgUJ1SkjMHGwCLcB/s1600/1050003-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCIL0NJ6wVs/VzKQ8cmz91I/AAAAAAAAE6E/waLWiI1shbIWXxbKH7DjRJgUJ1SkjMHGwCLcB/s400/1050003-01.jpeg" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They say that 10 years of doing something makes you an expert... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But after 31 years of practice I'm so bad at making descisions that I can't even spell the word. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I descided that my thirties would be a progressive decade where I leaped forward and lived a lot; grabbing life by the testicles and valiantly tackling all of life's problems as they were thrown at me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I successfully cycled over 5000 kilometers across Australia for the amazing charity that is Bikes 4 Life.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zD9CHdiQr6s/VzJ1k4URKII/AAAAAAAAE5Q/Uk_NWZuB4ecIIkeNZmgQZ4hofJbcdN-2QCLcB/s1600/unspecified-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zD9CHdiQr6s/VzJ1k4URKII/AAAAAAAAE5Q/Uk_NWZuB4ecIIkeNZmgQZ4hofJbcdN-2QCLcB/s400/unspecified-2.jpeg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last leg of the trip (and the first leg in lycra) down the Great Ocean Road (Feb, 2016)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I conquered both the Southern tip of Australia and Mount Kosciuszko with an over-sized teddy bear and a torn achilles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mK0BIrwu9fA/VzJ0xc5VRFI/AAAAAAAAE4s/S954QDK9fMU/s1600/IMG20160216135013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mK0BIrwu9fA/VzJ0xc5VRFI/AAAAAAAAE4s/S954QDK9fMU/s200/IMG20160216135013.jpg" width="200"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Kosci (Feb 2016)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GW562WBg29A/VzJ1jp10qHI/AAAAAAAAE5M/sKoiUjmy1AM8PBG72QvHEX_XJ8ydybXKACLcB/s1600/Screenshot_2016-02-22-23-15-48-797-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GW562WBg29A/VzJ1jp10qHI/AAAAAAAAE5M/sKoiUjmy1AM8PBG72QvHEX_XJ8ydybXKACLcB/s320/Screenshot_2016-02-22-23-15-48-797-01.jpeg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilson's Prom (Southern tip - Feb, 2016)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I survived the first family reunion in 6 years (and Sydney).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jv_Z9lNUi6I/VzJ00WsiSVI/AAAAAAAAE44/SsNCVxg0l_0/s1600/IMG-20160225-WA0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Jv_Z9lNUi6I/VzJ00WsiSVI/AAAAAAAAE44/SsNCVxg0l_0/s400/IMG-20160225-WA0028.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NSW, Feb 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I braved the flight to New Zealand and valiantly hopped around by the power of onesy (and thumb).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JjSh_ojWX0U/VzJ1hfz_AbI/AAAAAAAAE5E/kM0hzoz2PbM-l7jDvEcuG3TVT5U7_xvdACLcB/s1600/1060936-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JjSh_ojWX0U/VzJ1hfz_AbI/AAAAAAAAE5E/kM0hzoz2PbM-l7jDvEcuG3TVT5U7_xvdACLcB/s400/1060936-01.jpeg" width="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Island New Zealand, March 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I out-paddled a storm as we kayaked the Abel Tasman.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rscZkI8okk/VzJ1rT7-_9I/AAAAAAAAE5Y/D-Vo3j3zww8YnqxfWl7_8W3Aa0gS0swrACLcB/s1600/G0200901_1459068885796_high-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rscZkI8okk/VzJ1rT7-_9I/AAAAAAAAE5Y/D-Vo3j3zww8YnqxfWl7_8W3Aa0gS0swrACLcB/s320/G0200901_1459068885796_high-01.jpeg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1 of 5 paddling the Abel Tasman, March 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I tackled my first grade 4 white water rapids (only because I was too slow to hop out and carry my pack raft).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKjs15pQp9Q/VzJ112PtZrI/AAAAAAAAE5c/PJYe2S_M7sA2FDfA43rj4eAX72dCho8-wCLcB/s1600/P1080180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKjs15pQp9Q/VzJ112PtZrI/AAAAAAAAE5c/PJYe2S_M7sA2FDfA43rj4eAX72dCho8-wCLcB/s400/P1080180.JPG" width="297"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking out to the Pelorus river (March 2016)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I licked the tip of the South and the top of the North.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DldRm0T-kG0/VzJ1h0auKOI/AAAAAAAAE5I/Js2N7tqMJs4f30wYGP0nMO3_h022HyrGgCLcB/s1600/1070466-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DldRm0T-kG0/VzJ1h0auKOI/AAAAAAAAE5I/Js2N7tqMJs4f30wYGP0nMO3_h022HyrGgCLcB/s320/1070466-01.jpeg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Absolute South (Mar 2016)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ns-ODMW40aY/VzKBO0yQgMI/AAAAAAAAE5w/wsLpSp_GJNI_LWIdTF-I19K9ECl-sBYJgCLcB/s1600/P1080779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ns-ODMW40aY/VzKBO0yQgMI/AAAAAAAAE5w/wsLpSp_GJNI_LWIdTF-I19K9ECl-sBYJgCLcB/s320/P1080779.JPG" width="240"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top of North, May 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then I descided it was time to complete my circumnavigation by other-peoples sailing boats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MoX5c7ov14U/VzJ0z23y5GI/AAAAAAAAE40/XCoBPfZoavI/s1600/IMG_20160418_210359.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MoX5c7ov14U/VzJ0z23y5GI/AAAAAAAAE40/XCoBPfZoavI/s640/IMG_20160418_210359.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whangerei, May 2016</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've spent the last few weeks hunched over with terrible back ache and chronic knots in the shoulder and what feels like cows roaming and grazing on the inner lining of my stomach. My heads been on a spin cycle for 25 days and I still struggle to get a clean thought out of it. I've been unable to function on any normal level; and as you might imagine, that's not quite fitting for my gypsy regime. Why you ask? I've had a terrible case of indecisiveness!<br><br></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There were too many boats owned by far too many nice people heading in far too many exotic tropical directions and I just didn't know how to chose. Fiji or Tonga or Vanuatu or New Caledonia?? Sail with a family or a couple or a single hander? Do a delivery or go cruising? A mono-hull or a cat? Step aboard as crew or take plunge and go captain?... The descisions were endless!!! And every time I was about to comit (another word I can't spell) a new option would appear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yesterday I finally descided to cut the crap and I did it - I took the plunge and made a big life descision! I've just hopped aboard my new home and in the morning we set the sails and wish new Zealand goodbye and well... [watch this space] ... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apparently descisions are going to haunt us for the rest of our lives. And you know what? It's probably a good thing! For most descisions it doesn't matter so much what you choose: The chicken or the beef... going commando or granny panties... it doesn't matter where you go and what you do ... but you only have one life so make sure you make epic ones!<br><br><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1S_NVkCdXo/VzKQpsmL8uI/AAAAAAAAE6A/1TcDh0tjwjs6qI2nDezIOI6uCKOtfaSKwCLcB/s1600/1070582-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1S_NVkCdXo/VzKQpsmL8uI/AAAAAAAAE6A/1TcDh0tjwjs6qI2nDezIOI6uCKOtfaSKwCLcB/s400/1070582-01.jpeg" width="400"></a></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com3Whangarei, New Zealand-35.7251117 174.323708-35.9313977 174.00098450000002 -35.5188257 174.6464315tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-68734588204631767512016-04-24T00:33:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:12.051+02:00Legacy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUl8A1rhrkE/Vxv17N4IsxI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/BDHsl2v01yE9Ft6qH_DVn_2PQxgntCLywCLcB/s1600/1040952-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUl8A1rhrkE/Vxv17N4IsxI/AAAAAAAAE3Y/BDHsl2v01yE9Ft6qH_DVn_2PQxgntCLywCLcB/s400/1040952-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">What were you born for??<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">In this cruel world of suffering and refugees and homeless people and war and taxes and divorce and hatred and PMS and Trump you can’t help but wonder why it is you turned up on this here planet… right?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">I mean, whether we like it or not, we’re adding to the problems. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We’re simply another mouth to feed. Some more footprints of carbon. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We’re the ones having bad days and mood swings and frustrations. We’re the ones cursing the check-out counters for the back log of elderly people taking an hour to buy half a litre of milk. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We’re either the bosses other people hate or we’re the ones spreading hate by bad-mouthing our bosses.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YiclvQiyWNE/Vxv2Id2LwjI/AAAAAAAAE3c/OHOFWW6xXLcg2HKz1ZDQPnJkY0tfY4E8ACLcB/s1600/IMG-20160226-WA0007-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YiclvQiyWNE/Vxv2Id2LwjI/AAAAAAAAE3c/OHOFWW6xXLcg2HKz1ZDQPnJkY0tfY4E8ACLcB/s400/IMG-20160226-WA0007-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">But what are you living for?? Why are you here?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We all won the sperm race. We’re all alive today. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We forget that there may be a reason for that.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">It’s easy to simply exist: eat, sleep, work, facebook, repeat. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">It’s easy to hang out with this or that sort of person. It’s easy to relax in your comfort zone. It’s easy to simply be. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">But is that living?? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">In staunch contrast to the gawking beauties of the islands of New Zealand, I’ve seen more pain and hardship than I have in a long time. I’ve been more confronted with death and pain and suffering than I’d like. It’s bought me a few tears and break downs; but it’s also bought me back to life. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8mhrpajREA/Vxv2NJNlK5I/AAAAAAAAE3k/eqAuKde5qNkRqQc9DDeHNt_r-gAh3cwlACKgB/s1600/IMG-20160226-WA0003-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8mhrpajREA/Vxv2NJNlK5I/AAAAAAAAE3k/eqAuKde5qNkRqQc9DDeHNt_r-gAh3cwlACKgB/s400/IMG-20160226-WA0003-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">Sometimes we get so caught up in comparing ourselves and our abilities with others. It’s easy to think that we’re not good enough or that our lives are meaningless. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We’re selfish, but often self-loathing. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We’re rich in so many things, but we all call ourselves broke. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We’re too scared to give for fear that we won’t have enough. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">We’re all too scared to try things, just in case we fail.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dAy71oRgtZ0/Vxv2kcVD-6I/AAAAAAAAE3w/o6x0f1gWod4hqH4pK9Ts6NSi9nLJOIT_ACLcB/s1600/1040740-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dAy71oRgtZ0/Vxv2kcVD-6I/AAAAAAAAE3w/o6x0f1gWod4hqH4pK9Ts6NSi9nLJOIT_ACLcB/s400/1040740-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">But if you have legs; go places. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">If you have eyes; fill them with beauty. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">If you have a voice; sing, laugh and yell for joy. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">If you have friends and family; hug them often. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">If you have dreams; chase them. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">If you have life; make the most of it.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">One day we’re all going to die. The question is, what legacy are you going to leave behind??</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnjLQ2IQTJU/Vxv2iC_bQbI/AAAAAAAAE3s/RgV_zr4pWkELG6YVZOwsve3EEqJNke2sgCLcB/s1600/1060611-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xnjLQ2IQTJU/Vxv2iC_bQbI/AAAAAAAAE3s/RgV_zr4pWkELG6YVZOwsve3EEqJNke2sgCLcB/s400/1060611-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293539812283095603.post-84328565932697485402016-02-11T01:16:00.000+02:002017-06-02T16:08:12.075+02:00Monsoons of Malaysia<div style="text-align: center;">"Don't go to the East coast of Malaysia in February" they said. "It's monsoon season" they said.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As usual, Adeena didn't really have a plan for Malaysia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I mean, it's one of those countries that you kind of just see what happens.</div><div style="text-align: center;">...(Or at least that's what she said)<br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ih6jxAMu94s/VrsBhQrQF9I/AAAAAAAAEwI/Y8vv4-Cz1-o/s1600/P1030800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ih6jxAMu94s/VrsBhQrQF9I/AAAAAAAAEwI/Y8vv4-Cz1-o/s400/P1030800.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First sights and sounds of Malaysia</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">The first visit to the wonderful lands of Malay, back in 2009, got her lost in the jungle for hours and when she finally escaped, she was forced to sing her first ever karaoke while Barney the purple dinosaur played in the background.<br /><br />The second visit got her shipwrecked and marooned on a deserted island (2011).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f50QMt-AjcQ/VrsLmHOTC0I/AAAAAAAAExA/nag7CaXJ0ys/s1600/407560_10150620717927324_1505535815_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f50QMt-AjcQ/VrsLmHOTC0I/AAAAAAAAExA/nag7CaXJ0ys/s400/407560_10150620717927324_1505535815_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The third had her attacked by a stray dog (2012).</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X_06KNgnuqo/VrsLl_eutsI/AAAAAAAAEw8/Tv8rdNoynrk/s1600/418610_10151139224402324_491224364_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X_06KNgnuqo/VrsLl_eutsI/AAAAAAAAEw8/Tv8rdNoynrk/s1600/418610_10151139224402324_491224364_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />This time she promised me it would be different.<br />In fact, being the responsible [near] adult that she is, she stopped right at the border (Jahor Bahru) to work out where to head next.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrU4JIm6Rr4/VyU8fje7ZCI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/rvoVN7myJYgEOH3DC7GYr0mk0W-ufZoSgCLcB/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrU4JIm6Rr4/VyU8fje7ZCI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/rvoVN7myJYgEOH3DC7GYr0mk0W-ufZoSgCLcB/s400/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Overwhelmed with decisions, she wondered over to the local bus station and took the first bus out of town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It just sop happened to be heading to the East Coast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where everyone had told us not to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bYk4sZwqloY/VrsNIjO6_YI/AAAAAAAAExQ/To3cylZyPaA/s1600/P1030817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bYk4sZwqloY/VrsNIjO6_YI/AAAAAAAAExQ/To3cylZyPaA/s320/P1030817.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The welcome party that came out to meet us.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then despite the adverse weather warnings, we jumped on a boat and headed to Tiomen island.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OrDsYRlC0rw/VrsNCo5SEZI/AAAAAAAAExM/ovnlBnUlCtc/s1600/P1030842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OrDsYRlC0rw/VrsNCo5SEZI/AAAAAAAAExM/ovnlBnUlCtc/s400/P1030842.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was an alright kind of place....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GttYTdIJmZo/VrsOoTuHgAI/AAAAAAAAExg/tX3lskVv5Q4/s1600/P1040169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GttYTdIJmZo/VrsOoTuHgAI/AAAAAAAAExg/tX3lskVv5Q4/s320/P1040169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AYHCi1aI5k/VrsOmC21b3I/AAAAAAAAExc/ollEcN8i0kw/s1600/P1040171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8AYHCi1aI5k/VrsOmC21b3I/AAAAAAAAExc/ollEcN8i0kw/s320/P1040171.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw_jmO6Od-A/VrsPeRGAWLI/AAAAAAAAExo/8EgAe2-2Wwk/s1600/P1030903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rw_jmO6Od-A/VrsPeRGAWLI/AAAAAAAAExo/8EgAe2-2Wwk/s320/P1030903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0x2XQ_A1SU/VrsSGOHp3OI/AAAAAAAAEyU/RrMhC5eQfJY/s1600/P1040085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0x2XQ_A1SU/VrsSGOHp3OI/AAAAAAAAEyU/RrMhC5eQfJY/s400/P1040085.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z66WyNPHrD0/VrsPgLCGgGI/AAAAAAAAExw/AOH7wlgC25c/s1600/P1030971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z66WyNPHrD0/VrsPgLCGgGI/AAAAAAAAExw/AOH7wlgC25c/s320/P1030971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w80N_j7vORc/VrsPfk9cpCI/AAAAAAAAExs/9YjpbKf7Fh0/s1600/P1030988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w80N_j7vORc/VrsPfk9cpCI/AAAAAAAAExs/9YjpbKf7Fh0/s400/P1030988.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H3ToI_XEoEQ/VrsPvB6yP5I/AAAAAAAAEx0/jFx-SW4ZVXQ/s1600/P1040021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H3ToI_XEoEQ/VrsPvB6yP5I/AAAAAAAAEx0/jFx-SW4ZVXQ/s320/P1040021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did the weather close in and get us stranded without a ferry for almost a week???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course it did!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least when the seas get rough, Adeena finds other ways to keep busy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VXzoqH-xobo/VrsR0TEz-wI/AAAAAAAAEyI/pRCehOYM5d0/s1600/P1040163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VXzoqH-xobo/VrsR0TEz-wI/AAAAAAAAEyI/pRCehOYM5d0/s400/P1040163.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's always something bizarre for her to lick</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U4PbpyZryzM/VrsR0X7b16I/AAAAAAAAEyE/kysWxB-vuNg/s1600/P1040213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U4PbpyZryzM/VrsR0X7b16I/AAAAAAAAEyE/kysWxB-vuNg/s320/P1040213.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best fruit shakes in Malaysia - we returned to The Take Away shop 6 times in a week!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">I suppose there are worse places to get stranded.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-za3V6gG4lGg/VrsSFyFokaI/AAAAAAAAEyQ/okHF6xrw8ak/s1600/P1040237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-za3V6gG4lGg/VrsSFyFokaI/AAAAAAAAEyQ/okHF6xrw8ak/s400/P1040237.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />When eventually we did head back to the main land, we decided on some jungle time...<br /><br />But after being attacked by a kitten...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FX8Ix1bLCdo/VrsUmFEU62I/AAAAAAAAEy0/-hFMdpo5HsM/s1600/P1040290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FX8Ix1bLCdo/VrsUmFEU62I/AAAAAAAAEy0/-hFMdpo5HsM/s320/P1040290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...And marveling at a restaurant's decor...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPb3Hj-ihqc/VrsUVVQgfnI/AAAAAAAAEyw/9k_z8TVUrXU/s1600/P1040296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPb3Hj-ihqc/VrsUVVQgfnI/AAAAAAAAEyw/9k_z8TVUrXU/s400/P1040296.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...And having the bus driver forget to kick us off the bus to take a connecting one inland....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We would up back at the beach, in Cherating, Malaysia's number 1 surf beach.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unfortunately, due to my unfortunate genetic make up [fluffiness] I don't water well, and I don't surf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gsQ1SlcQ6aM/VrsU02sq8qI/AAAAAAAAEy8/XBHqhOQzQUI/s1600/P1040338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gsQ1SlcQ6aM/VrsU02sq8qI/AAAAAAAAEy8/XBHqhOQzQUI/s400/P1040338.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />At least Adeena left me in good hands.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ubpjLrF7JcM/VrsVRblCZLI/AAAAAAAAEzI/UCqDO4ERP3g/s1600/P1040359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ubpjLrF7JcM/VrsVRblCZLI/AAAAAAAAEzI/UCqDO4ERP3g/s320/P1040359.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maznah, our guesthouse owner bearby sitting me for the day.</td></tr></tbody></table>And then rather suddenly we realised that weeks had passed and we had to get to Kuala Lampur in a hurry... so we hitched off into the abyss.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jdIVfVG0Vv0/VrsU40NpaKI/AAAAAAAAEzA/R_sOeAXHk-o/s1600/P1040319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jdIVfVG0Vv0/VrsU40NpaKI/AAAAAAAAEzA/R_sOeAXHk-o/s320/P1040319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adeena's not very good with maps, so we ended up going in the wrong direction...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fortunately it's not so difficult to write in Malay</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oQqe88DjWOk/VrsVw6DpBlI/AAAAAAAAEzU/slm0L940d8k/s1600/P1040369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oQqe88DjWOk/VrsVw6DpBlI/AAAAAAAAEzU/slm0L940d8k/s400/P1040369.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1500912416"></span><span id="goog_1500912417"></span>And these fine gentlemen saved the day.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKQkKd1L3HY/Vrsds8Bw3AI/AAAAAAAAEz0/Yh8m_vrJmIA/s1600/P1040375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKQkKd1L3HY/Vrsds8Bw3AI/AAAAAAAAEz0/Yh8m_vrJmIA/s320/P1040375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After three weeks of beach life, the city was a lot overwhelming</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GPQd9ogBaOU/Vrsds5h_mNI/AAAAAAAAEzs/UyXuAFB6mxE/s1600/P1040384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GPQd9ogBaOU/Vrsds5h_mNI/AAAAAAAAEzs/UyXuAFB6mxE/s400/P1040384.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But we escaped to Pods, the Backpackers Home, where smiles, and comfy beds and good showers and free breakfast and a chill out roof and peaceful retreat welcomed us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(Totally worth a visit whether you're passing through, or staying 3 months!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-goEkhql0KUo/VrsefYftPTI/AAAAAAAAE0E/_qTs40L-MgM/s1600/P1040388.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-goEkhql0KUo/VrsefYftPTI/AAAAAAAAE0E/_qTs40L-MgM/s400/P1040388.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />In fact it was such a haven that I didn't mind being left behind to sip good coffee and chill out while Adeena last minute Malaysia-ed and made new friends.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gs4d1zeD6xM/VrsefH0QPZI/AAAAAAAAEz8/ZP0dWd9ZLag/s1600/P1040389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gs4d1zeD6xM/VrsefH0QPZI/AAAAAAAAEz8/ZP0dWd9ZLag/s320/P1040389.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PODS Cafe'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ehPJYSssSI/Vrsefehqp_I/AAAAAAAAE0A/-bd1M4pTZ9I/s1600/P1040395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ehPJYSssSI/Vrsefehqp_I/AAAAAAAAE0A/-bd1M4pTZ9I/s400/P1040395.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(no caption needed)</td></tr></tbody></table>No, I suppose it really was the perfect trip. Maybe some times it's better not to listen to what people tell you to do and just follow your heart. There's some flipping excellent places out there!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OFRCQ5eDBHM/VrvCBPMX2RI/AAAAAAAAE0U/56aNjGnSv38/s1600/P1040198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OFRCQ5eDBHM/VrvCBPMX2RI/AAAAAAAAE0U/56aNjGnSv38/s400/P1040198.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Adeena SomethingSomethinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08451881071040649198noreply@blogger.com0Malaysia4.210484 101.97576600000002-11.796052 81.321469000000022 20.21702 122.63006300000002