Sojourn adventures of the land beyond

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30 March
Italy
Ok, so I'm slowly getting around to it... Italy was yet another awesome highlight! I will return to this place, somehow, to finish what I started there.

I'll say briefly, I had 3 days in London Town after Ireland, seeing all the major city sights and catching my breath after almost 2 weeks of non stop action. Its a big city, famous and trendy, worth a visit - Id like to get out into the English countryside and up to Scotland next time.

I finally flew into Rome, passing over the Swiss Alps (they really look amazing from the sky). I was pretty excited to be setting down in a place of so much famous history. And it all started from the view before touch down... And only got better.

Afew dodgy buses and directions later, I settled in at my hostel and headed back out to check out the colliseum and surrounding ruins. Its amazing Rome as a city was built around them. Kind of like the highway past stonehenge... insane. Anwayz I ended up getting caught in a big storm while kickin around the ruins, which, as usual turned out to be a turn for the better. The pics are awesome and I had so much fun chasing sights sopping wet, getting lost and meeting more strange people that I wouldnt have met otherwise... Another blessing in disguise.

So that night I met Mike, Tim and Victor, who really added a detour to my travel un-plans. In short, after checking out Vatican City with them the next day, I travelled with them to Florence 'for afew days' which turned out to be a little longer, but for good cause. I could get lost in Florence forever, its so beautiful, plus I had really great company and I wouldn't change a second of it. Best part? as far as tourism goes... the Gardens in Florence on the Hill across the river. Its not crowded, very traditional and seems like a million miles from civilisation. Total Bliss. And the city... Think a quaint little italian town with some of worlds most precious artworks and galleries, Amazing Italian architechture (Duomo), narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, truly the worlds best Gelati!! Pontivecci - Decorative bridges over the River that runs through Florence and an air of romance and peace... Or just go there.

Then comes Cinque Terre... 5 seaside villages built into the rocky landscape of coastal northern Italy. Its an 11km walk between the 5 towns, which have been well preserved from the development of housing or roads, mostly due to the lack of access. But hey going by principal, the harder the road there is, the more rewarding is the destination... So check out my photos. I could walk this path a million times and still find new amazing things to inspire me.

After Italy we travelled up to Oktoberfest in Munich, South East Germany... which was also my Bday so hey, any excuse will do! Ciao! ox
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10 March
Ireland
Ok so a temporarily brief description...
After a decent flight from Bangkok to Frankfurt, Germany, I waited 5 hours before boarding again for Dublin, Ireland. I booked with Paddy Wagon Tours to do a 6 day whole of Ireland trip, which turned into a 7 day trip ;-)


First day to Dublin - Drogheda - Belfast - Giants Causeway

The first day I checked out Dublin town, Temple Bar and just in general. And did my washing, leaving me wearing my horse riding boots and a skirt around town *classy*. But thats the glory of knowing I wont bump into any home-towners. BUT before I go as far as to say that, the next day on the tour, I met a couple from my home town... *small world.

Giants causeway is cool! The coast is beautiful and the grass is amazingly green. The giants causeway itself, incase you didnt know, has hexagonal pillars of stone making up a rocky area on the coast. It is said it was made for a mythological hero to cross the water to his lady... ah romantic... Well theres a little more to the myth but who wants goss?

Belfast - really just had time to run around the town, check out the architecture and make it to Crown pub (Irelands Oldest Pub) for some Guiness... just to be Irish... not that Im jealous :-? The next morning we headed off early due to the political warfare going on in the town - riots, car bombs and all the shazamm...


Day 2 Ballintoy - Derry - Muff - Donegal

Haha.. Muff town ok... diving club? So the Irish and the Aussies understand eachother on this level. The other Europeans generally don't *sigh* . We stayed in Derry in a haunted hostel - went out in the insane nightlife... ? Lost the others, therefore ran into much more adventure than the original plan, as usual. (Plans Suck!) I met some very interesting irish people with my mate from Prague in a jam packed irish pub with traditional music.. EVERYONE was dancing to it. I was lots and lots of culture...

The next day we were taken on a Derry history tour - This country has SO much more war and political conflict than I ever imagined. Most buildings, especially in certain areas, Have huge painted murals, banners or signs portraying their point of view or adoring their political idols. Its intense.


Day 3 Donegal - Silgo - Connemara - Galway

Ah Donegal...Which has the Ring Fort of the O’Neill Clan, former King of Ireland, built on top of 240m hill with awesome views of patchwork fields and lakes.. Galway rocks and explored it more on day 4- Spanish Arch and Blind Arch, both built in mid 1400's.. heaps of history, waterways and a gorgeous little cobble stoned pedestrian street. Pam and I were looking up and down it for the old castle, according to the map we were walking past it. Turns out its now the local bank... well disguised.

Day 4 Galway - The Burren - Cliffs of Moher - Killarney

The burren is an ancient rock formation/burial site which was built with flat rocks weighing in over a ton.. the mystery is "how did they build it thousands of years ago?" (3800-3100 BC).

The cliffs... magic. They are HUGE, glorious, mystical, breathtaking... you just have to see it for yourself. The combination of sea breeze, fresh green grass (and Irish cows), sea sounds - crashing waves, cliffs... Its a buzz for the senses. Photos don't do justice.


Day 5 Ring of Kerry tour

I believe this is where we caught the famous ferry over the large sea passage between the land point... This area is famous for its landscape formed from the last ice age, 10,000 years ago.

At this town, I joined a different tour group to go to Cork for a 7th day of travel.

Day 6 Killarney - Blarney Castle - Cork

Killarney castle... good. Cork... Well I only ran around it as much as I could before sun down but generally saw some crazy things.. School was just finished so it was an underag-athon between the kids- ah the days of teeny-bopperness. Otherwise, its dirty, lots of advertising, ok town river and people who are impossible to understand... Its strange when you know they are speaking the same words as the english language but are completely uninterpretable... Very Strange children too..

Day 7 Cork - Cashel - Killkenny Castle - Blarney Castle - Dublin

Blarney castle... Great! Kissed the blarney stone so now I should have gift of the gab. Its a little worrying waht the drivers were saying about what the locals do to the stone at night ... Eeek! Aaanyway. This day was more a chill out telling jokes on the (smaller) bus and waiting for Dublin to meet us. We ended with the Guiness factory in Dublin.

I stayed in Ireland afew more days with a friend who showed me some of the Wicklow Mountains - south of Dublin, and a sweet little fishing town called Hoath, where the pancakes are mouth watering!

All in all? Ireland was awesome. I dont have my photos of it but the memories are great. Will I return? Absolutely.






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06 March
Reason, Season or Lifetime
People come into your life for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime. When you know which one it is for a person, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

They may seem like a Godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong going on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled,their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered, and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being a part of my life!

You are all awsome people. XX
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04 March
A Travel Brief of Thailand
Those of you reading this probably know I was travelling for 6 months from August 06 so Ill just add a short sum up of where Ive been.

First stop, Thailand - I spent 3 weeks in this amazing country. Who ever told me I would get bored in 3 weeks was dead wrong. I could easily spend months travelling, learning and living with this beautiful culture. I learnt some of the language in the short time I was there and the locals really appreciated the effort, especially out in rural parts where theres not much english.

Phuket Island entertained me with a health retreat-fast for a week, massage, saunas, total mind body cleanse... & bunji jumping (wicked), elephant riding, a little shopping ... all the Patong tourist Hoo-ha. Thanks to the amazing women Doretta and Jacqueline who are ever inspiring to me.

Following this was a week on Phi Phi Island, scuba diving, swimming and living on banananana pancakes & shakes and pineapple on a stick & sun, sand, sea. $3 a night luxury accommodation at the Rock. I also met so many amazing, interesting people.Thanks Alex, Richie, Ali, It was great to meet you. This place is Paradise. But Can you believe I got my thongs nicked off the beach from right beside me....? I know I was Distracted by the fire show on the Beach at the Pub. And lets face it.. If thats my biggest worry... *Uh Life is so Sweet.

Next stop Chiang Mai - North Thailand (Via Bangkok). I was supposed to make it to Anchor Wat, Cambodia, but It was a mission in only 5 days. I stayed 'in town' and sat with the locals for some home cuisine in a car port. AU60cents for Traditional Thai food, the best Ive ever tasted, whos objecting if the table is plastic? No english. No Complications. Nothing but thai and smiles. And barefeet, as my thongs remained somewhere on Phi Phi Island.

Motor bikes for $4 a day - easy done! Grabbed one and headed to Doi su Thep Temple, about an hour ride from the city up the mountain. On the way I passed an army of market stalls offering delicious, tasty bugs, crickets & creepy crawlies for nibbles... mmmm... Crunchy... Past that, this road is just surrounded in scenic trails and waterfalls and national park... I had another beautiful sunny day in Paradise. The temple at the top is up a bazillion stairs but has the most amazing carvings and detailed rails and buildings. So enchanting.

I also trekked for 2 days through the forests/bamboo/rice fields, beside streams and waterfalls, up a mountain, to a little tribal village nestled among the enormous bamboo forest - which is where we camped for the night. Bliss through simplicity. This is one of my 'happy places'. Spent the night with the other crazy trekkers, thai party guides and beer, jokes, songs, imitations (to say the least) and... Had a blast and somehow stumbled my way back to my bed among the others. Cheers to Paul and Will, Merry & Pippin ;-) The following day, we headed down hill to the river rafting on bamboo rafts... So champion!! Rock jumping and playing around before heading back into the back of the ute bound for town.

Next stop, that afternoon, Bangkok Via bus... To arrive 6am in the pouring rain. The city is OK. Not for me, Im a countryish chick but I can appreciate the big sights and Temples. The 1 day I was there was enough. I did pick up some fire Pois for $14 though so hey still no complains from this girl... I went to the ruins at Ayettheya, an hour north of the City to escape the rush rush. They resemble Anchor Wat and were a great place to photograph. So ancient, picturesque and magic...
I flew to Dublin Via Frankfurt that night.