When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.

Well.. Here I am. I have made it to the 6 month mark. Are you surprised?

I am not. From the moment I decided to embark on this journey I knew that I would be successful. It wouldn't matter if I lasted three weeks, three months or even three years, I would still have succeeded. I tried without fear of failing and that is success enough.

I have had an amazing time so far. At times it's been challenging, but the personal growth I've accomplished has made me see just how much I can achieve. Over the last week I've had a list of six questions, I am going to try and answer them for you now.

1. What do I absolutely love in life?

This wasn't a difficult question. I am a girl that wears my heart on my sleeve. I hate drama and I hate bullshit, if I have an issue I will tell you. It is therefore relatively easy for me to make a list of things that I love. First and foremost, the thing I can't live without. Family. Family is anybody close to you so this extends to all my dear friends, old and new, too. Back in Australia, I never wore the latest fashions or carried the most expensive handbag, but I did like to have things. Over here, I have learnt that much more can be gained from experiences. I love that while I am here I can do the things I love, teach people, live through music and sport. Being here has reinforced some feelings that I was having back in Australia, I love teaching kids, but hate ( hate is such a strong word...), everything else that comes with it. I am excited about the changes to come. Music. I describe my life as a Broadway show. I say I don't like drama, but it always seems to follow me, but luckily enough, there is always a song that is relevant and suitable that I am singing. No one will ever stop me singing.

2. What are my greatest accomplishments in life so far?
This one is subjective. I will say though, that I am proud of myself. There, I said it! Why shouldn't I be able to say that though? I have overcome tremendous adversity to make my mark on the world. Everything that has happened to me has helped me to become the person I am. I like who I am. Greatest accomplishments, finishing high school after the suicide of my brother is one. The Grief. The loss has become significantly less traumatising over time and I accept Alex's suicide as a fact of my life. There are still days that are really hard, but I know that because I survived that, I can survive anything. Other great accomplishments include being the first person in my immediate family to graduate from University. My first real job. Most recently, it's having the guts to jump on a plane and live in a city on the other side of the world.

3. What would I stand for if I knew no one would judge me?

I am not really afraid of the judgements of others'. I stand up for what I believe in and I don't mind if I stand alone. I am lucky, I have brilliant friends and family who will usually stand beside me. I would like to see greater equality in this world.

4. If my life had absolutely no limits and I could have it all and do whatever I wanted, what would I choose to have and what would I choose to do?

My life has no limits. Well, perhaps some financial restraints, but that adds to the excitement of it. I am already doing what I want to do. I know who I am, what I want, who I want to be and what I need in order to achieve it all. I am not scared about taking risks, or failing, so that helps. I am doing what I want.

5. What would I do if I had one billion dollars?

Nothing in nature is superfluous. I don't need money to be truly happy, and while we all dream about being frivolous, I'd be quite content sailing off into the sunset with nothing but a great collection of books, possibly some great company and the simplicities of life. Being over here has made me realise that even more. I don't need stuff or things. There are many people that could make better use of that one billion dollars.

6. Who do I admire most in the world?

This question is a little more difficult. My mum is an incredible woman. I look up to her, and hope that I am making her proud. Everything she has done for me has not gone unappreciated. I can't wait to one day return the favour. I wouldn't be the woman I am today without the support of friends and family so thanks again to them all. Christopher McCandless aka Alexander Supertramp. His journey was in part, what inspired me to do mine. He has so many amazing quotes and I am going to borrow some.

“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.” 

“If you want something in this life, reach out and grab it.”  

“Don´t hesitate or allow yourself to make excuses. Just get out and do it. Just get out and do it. You will be very, very glad that you did.”  

"I've decided I'm going to live this life for some time to come. The freedom and simple beauty is just too good to pass up.”  

and finally...

“Happiness only real when shared.”  

I don't think they need any explanation, but they are the principles that I have been living my life by since I began my journey 6 months ago. Don't worry though guys, I don't plan on dying in an old bus.

Obviously there are many people that I admire, but the last one I am going to mention is a kid from home. I met this young man a few years ago, just after he started his own journey. He's made me cry, made me laugh more often, I've worried about him, prayed for him, encouraged him, supported him. Because of him, I challenge myself to live everyday, because you really don't know when your last day is going to arrive. If he can smile going through what he's been through then I certainly can. So thank you, you know who you are. To his beautiful mum and sister, you are two amazing women with big hearts.

Next, my life has changed so much in the last 6 months and there are many more changes to come. This week I handed my resignation in from my teaching job back in Australia. It was with mixed emotion, but following Chris's advice “If you want something in this life, reach out and grab it.”   That's what I am doing. I've had some tough decisions to make in the last 6 months, but I have made them and am excited about the possibilities. A week after arriving in the UK I received an email from RMIT University in Melbourne. It came as a bit of a shock. With the support from my cousin I applied for a Uni course in the final week of lodgement back in July, I guess I never really expected to hear back from them, and with the excitement of moving to the other side of the world, I forgot. The email was acceptance into a university course of my dreams, something that I thought was so far out of reach, especially 7 years after finishing high school. But they wanted me. I deferred the course for 2013, but if all goes to plan, I will start studying next year. I am going back to Uni, five years, it will be hard, but I am excited. I really can do anything. I send my heartfelt thanks to everyone back at Highview for the love and support you've given me. I don't think I will every truly walk away from that place, but the gains I've made from them are indescribable.

Thank you to everyone for their continued love and support on my adventure, you believing in me has helped me to believe in myself. I love the postcards, letter, care packaged, emails, tweets, inboxes, snapchats, vibers, Skypes, whatsaps, everything!

Make everyday better than yesterday, may the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows. Keep your head up, keep your heart strong. Don’t you cry for the lost. Smile for the living. Get what you need and give what you’re given. Life’s for the living so live it or you’re better off dead.


Things I've done:
Travel alone
Moved to London
Been a tourist in London
Called London home
Kissed a boy under the Harrods Christmas lights
Been drunk on the tube (few times)
Got lost
Stonehenge
Visited Bath
Christmas in Scotland
Hogmany Scotland
Spontaneous trip to Croatia
ANZAC Day in Turkey
Ridden a camel in Egypt
Swam in the Nile
Been in a tomb
Kissed the Spinx
Watched a show in the West End (or 12)
Seen a gig (or 30)
Monopoly pub crawl
Gosh, there has to be more...

Things to do:
See a gig in Paris (soon, next week in fact)
Eat cheese and wine under the Eiffel Tower (and see other sights of Paris)
Krakow (Auschwitz)
Work at a festival
Sound of Music tour in Salzburg
Visit Amsterdam
Venice
Rome
Florence
Prague
See Spain
Oktoberfest
La Tomitina
Greek Islands
The Northern Lights
and much more, but with only 6 months left I will see how I go!

Nothing is impossible. The word itself says "I'm possible!"

Before this year, I'd never really given much thought to travelling to Egypt. The pyramids, while they sounded cool, didn't really excite me, and what else could you do in a desert?

Walking like an Egyptian!

I am glad that I have an open mind and listened to friends when they told me exactly how amazing a trip to Egypt would be!

It was an idea that was kind of thrown around the dinner table at Jade and Jayson's one night with Nic and myself. It was only when Jade said that Travel Talk had a two for one offer that I actually really considered it. I jumped online when I got home and saw that it was too cheap to pass up on, the most expensive part being the flights, even they were reasonably priced.. Who wants to visit a country in turmoil I guess.. The decision had been made, Nic and I were going to Egypt! This was either going to strengthen our friendship or end it.. Time would tell I guess.

Before the trip I had spoken to a number of friends who reinforced what others had said, that it would be a trip of a lifetime. They also kept mentioning a felucca, whatever that was...

The night before the trip it was decided that I'd sleep on Nic's couch as the night bus departed from just outside of there at 3am... Joy... About midnight I finally retired to the delightful pleather couch with a sleeping bag and tried to sleep.. At 2:00 I heard voices and someone stumbling with a key at the front door. It was ok though, it was just Nic's housemate on his way home from the pub, he knew I was here, it'd be ok, they'd go straight to his room and leave me sleep for another hour right?

...

Wrong.. Thanks Bel for the wake up call- he then dragged me off the couch and made me sleep on a mattress on his floor so some of his mates could have some "privacy" in the lounge.. Basically I was woken from my slumber so they could bang....

The journey there was pretty uneventful, stopped over in Vienna (? gargh can't even remember now) and then on to Cairo. First thing I noticed upon exiting the airport was the heat. Wow, something I hadn't experienced in so long! Sunglasses were required. We headed to the hotel with two girls off our flight who'd also be joining us on the tour. Was absolutely speechless when I first saw the pyramids in the distance.. The hotel was pretty incredible, massive pool, bars, green grass. Heaven.. The WiFi connection had a lot to be desired but that was ok too...

The first thing we did upon arrival was head over the road to the little old lady selling bottled water. This was an experience in itself.. Me being blonde, stood out like dog's balls, so we were heckled, bellowed at, tooted even before we left the hotel compound.. The traffic was pretty crazy.. They have road rules in Egypt like they do everywhere else, but the guide put it quite simply that these were only "suggestions". Any who, we made it back alive somehow and went to cool off in the pool. We had some group meeting that night, and I must say I was a little surprised at the penis/vagina ratio... Lots of girls...

The tour group!

 

The first real day of tour was Pyramid Day! We went first to the step pyramid built by King Zoser in 2700 B.C. Pretty bloody old if you ask me.. From here we went to The Great Pyramid of Giza- the largest and the oldest pyramid in the world. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely in tact. It is believed to have been build over a 10-20 year period finishing in around 2560BCE. It's original height of 146.5 meters made it the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3800 years. I also learnt that with the stones used to build The Great Pyramid of Giza, a three metre wall could be built around France or a line which stretches two thirds of the way around the equator :) Pretty cool huh!

Happy Camel

After that we jumped on the bus and drove up the hill to panoramic hill for a few cliché photos before CAMEL RIDES!!! Yeeee Haaaa! I possible got stuck with the "most experienced" camel (meaning he was old as all hell) and I affectionately named him Jack. The experience of riding camels across the desert, with the pyramids in the distance was quite surreal, couldn't wipe the smile off my face! From here we visited the Sphinx- wowsers! I am not even going to begin to explain how unbelievably amazing it was, you have to see it to believe it.

At the end of this day I thought that was it, pinnacle of the trip, couldn't get any better than this. And again, am happy to admit I was wrong...

Spent the next few days wandering around tombs and temples and deserts and 5 star hotels and perfume shops and restaurants and beer. Which brings me to my next exciting stories...

An optional extra on the tour was a Nubian dinner- basically we went to a home of a Nubian family - They are the African Egyptians, for a meal or authentic Nubian food and entertainment. We jumped on a boat and sailed down the Nile. My new friend Rach and I has the best seats in the house, we were able to watch the sun set and enjoy a few quiet beers. The food was incredible, I got to hold a crocodile, apparently they keep them as pets, I think it was just a tourist ploy though to be honest, they weren't domesticated in any way, shape or form. It was the journey home that was epic. Most of us climbed to the top of the boat to enjoy the stars and the fresh night air. Captain Honeymoon came up to get us and we all went down and were greeted with Nubian entertainment. Loud drums, loud singing and lot of loud laughing. Possible a warm up for what the next few days had in store?

Rachel and I relaxing on top of the boat on the way to the Nubian dinner.. Best seats in the house.

 

The next day I was about to discover what the felucca was... I wasn't sure what to expect. Sailing down the Nile on a boat, with no motor, no kitchen, no toilets?

 

We were lucky, only 14 of the 24 people on our tour were doing Felucca, this meant we could all be on the same boat. I boarded the boat and claimed my spot on the mattressed floor, complete with mini mouse pillows and sheets. Before we set sail we enjoyed our first felucca prepared mill.. Falafels. Yum! If this feast was anything to go by, I was going to have a GREAT time regardless of the toilet situation! Within about half an hour of being on the boat the water was calling me, I had to get in! And I didn't even need to pee!!! So, in I jumped. Holy shit I was swimming in the Nile, who'd have thought that that would be something that I'd ever do?!? Not me, that's for sure!

 

After a few hours sailing we docked at our port for the night. The three boatmen went to work setting up our lavish bathroom facilities (basically they dug a hole, put a little chair over it with a toilet set and chucked a tent over it), started cooking our tea and all the while kept the boat of us entertained with an array of activities! Bedtime came, and without actually saying a word, people just found a spot and drifted off to sleep. On the first night we didn't have blankets, we just had a makeshift wall put around the boat (think hammock material). Slept well. We had a leisurely morning, an amazing breakfast of omelets, cheese, this amazing tomato and fetta stuff and chocky biscuits.. The Nubians certainly knew how to brew a decent cuppa!

Just hanging out in the River Nile

 

We set sail again and the day was very relaxing. We played cards, listened to music, swam, napped... It really was what dream are made of! We had a few docks throughout the day for toilet stops and lunch but our final stop was something else. The sun was setting over the palm trees in the background as we pulled up to a sandy patch of land. On one side was a bunch of locals playing a game of football, and to the other was farmland. Animals tethered (poor things) and farmers working the crops. It was here that I took a minute. I stopped, blocked out all of the sounds around me and appreciated me and what I was doing. Life really couldn't get much better than this.

Me taking some time out.

Tonight the crew joined us for a meal, apparently this doesn't happen often. Was something else. We had a bonfire and more Nubian music, fun and games.. As trees were scarce and it was dark, to go to the toilet you'd just wander a little way away from the group and drop your dacks... Really was something else. Slept really well that night and woke up the boat sailing and was lucky enough to watch the African sun rise over the River Nile.

 

It was sad to leave the boat. I made some truly wonderful friends that I can't wait to share more adventures with in the future. Today was one of the hottest days I have ever experienced. 47°... It was a dry heat, with not shade for respite. Today was the day we wandered around one of the largest, and probably spectacular temples in Egypt.. Due to the heat I can't remember much :/ The icy-poles were tasty though.

 

The coolest historic sight visited would have to have been the Abu Simbel Temples. Still don't know how they managed to move two temples 65 meters higher and 200meters away from the rising dam, but WOW! This sight, blew my mind!

Abu Simbel with the amazing Zizu!

 

The rest of the trip was a whirlwind of amazeballs.. Our tour guide Zizu was something else, really added to the experience! Much better than the disaster of Turkey! Egypt is probably the coolest places I have ever visited. Can't believe that I was sceptical. Recommend it to anyone and everyone who will listen!!

The tour group!

 

 

 

We toured a mosque.. These are the outfits that all women have to wear.. We looked lovely..