Delhi

New Delhi, India

I could show you a photo, but it would not do justice to what I have seen.  When you arrive in Delhi you are assaulted by so many different aromas and sounds. Your mind is racing struggling to keep up with the chaos that is India. The roads are bursting with cars, bikes, buses and livestock. There are no obvious traffic laws, just the constant sound off horns, yelling and screeching breaks. The streets are bordered with rubbish; feral dogs, cows and street kids fight over the takings. Everything looks broken and dirty. Even the children have old eyes. There are smells of rotting meat, human excrement, curry, smoke and incense.  The smells are so intoxicating that you can taste it. But among all this ugliness there is color. Sari's of every shade draped over beautiful Hindi women. Bustling Bizarres with hawkers selling foods, clothing and materials that hold more colours than a rainbow.

What an incredible experience

A Singapore Sling, Wicked Witches and a Night at the Zoo

Riverside, Singapore

I am currently in Singapore on a five day stop over on my way to India. I landed in Singapore three nights ago, giddy from the complementary in flight cocktails. Since arriving I have done nothing but eat amazing food, and take in the sights. Singapore is not like any place I have ever travelled to before. It is clean, safe, easy to navigate and the standard of living is high. I plan on enjoying the creature comforts, as I know my next destination will be a complete contrast.

Last night I went on a night safari. There were lions, and tigers and bears (oh my). I sat in an open tram, as we weaved through equatorial Africa, the jungles of Asia and the  Himalayan foothills . There were elephants, rhino's and giraffes and for a second it was like being back in Africa or Indonesia as the animals approached our train. I sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the ride.

Then today I went to the theatre and saw Wicked the musical. The untold story of the Witches of Oz. It was a spectacular performance. I sat on the edge of my seat captivated by the narrative, the music and extravagance.

Actually extravagant is probably the best word I could use to describe Singapore. Since coming hear I have stumbled across play groups that teach three year old children Mandarin, phonics and mathematics. More designer shops than people, and Christmas decorations like no where else. 

Singapore has been an interesting place to visit, but it is India that I have really come to see.

Me Plus Three

Nadi, Fiji

I have always travelled independently. This year I have explored southern Africa, Asia and Indonesia as a lone nomad. I had complete control of my itinerary. I shared the joys and tragedies in written word, for the face sitting in the seat beside me was ever changing.

Now it is me plus three. Me and my friend set off for Fiji a week ago with two children in tow. I have to admit as we raced around the airport with our kids, anxiety sat in the pit of my stomach. I would have to negotiate every decision made. There would be fighting, stress and tears. It turns out that negotiating enhanced the experience. I grew as an individual and as a friend. I actually enjoyed having the faces beside me remain unchanging. I shared the joys, beauty and frustration with my friend and two children. Me plus three; that has a nice ring to it.
 

Bula

Nadi, Fiji 

CRASH

Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia

Today I made the impulsive decision to rent a motorbike.

I figured that on a small island things couldn't go to wrong. Before I begin telling this story I should confess that I do not know how to ride a motorbike.My experience of riding such machines is limited to a small three wheeler Yamaha when I was 8 ( I crashed that too). But I put that to the back of my mind and decided to give it a go anyway. I managed to start the damn thing and take off down the rocky gangway. Within  a minute I glanced at the flashing petrol gauge and realised the bike had no petrol. 'that's fine' I thought "I will take the bike back'. Then I made a discovery. In the short time I had been riding I had managed to get lost. I decided I should ask someone for directions. But I was to make an even worse discovery. I had forgotten where I was staying.

I tried to stay calm. 'The Island is only 2 square kilometers, it can't be too hard to find". But it turned out it was. I bumped in to an Aussie tourist who was friendly enough to join me on my scavenger hunt. All we had to do was turn my bike around and retrace my steps (so to speak). Easy does it, no need to panic. As I was turning the bike around I pulled back to hard on the accelerator. SMASH, I managed to crash the automatic bike that a four year old can drive. I had performed this stunt for half the village to witness. The bike was relatively undamaged, but my pride was shattered. I dusted myself of, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

Then I saw the sign, "Nanuks Bungalows 100m". The damned sign had been there the whole time.

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia

Travel is unique because it is like nothing else in the world. You can find pleasure in unexpected places, and you never know what to expect. Something wonderful can suddenly become painful. Travel makes you reevaluate everything you believe in and question who you are as a person. Yet despite the challenges and heartbreak travel can bring, there is also so much beauty and joy. 

This leaves you wanting the board the emotional roller-coaster again and again, regardless of the whiplash.

Fields of Bali

Bali, Indonesia

The Art of Haggling

Seminyak, Indonesia

I am a terrible haggler. I think I have sucker written on my forehead. The western guilt I used to carry on my shoulders has lessened since I first started traveling. Unfortunately this has not improved my ability to barter in the slightest. I think a key factor that contributes to my hopeless haggling ability in Maths.  I suck at Maths even more than I suck at haggling. The other big factor is that I hate saying no. The word seems so toxic when it come out of my mouth.

Today I tried to buy some cheap flips flops to cover my naked feet. 450,000rp the young Balinese male said. I stared at him in a daze, 'hold on isn't that 40 Australian dollars' I asked myself. 'There is no way he would even try and get me to buy a pair of rip off thongs for forty dollars' I told myself. "Maybe it's 4 dollars and the argument in my head continued' My dazed look set me up. He began smiling broadly ('"this dumb broad is considering it'", is what I am convinced he said to his mate beside him).  Finally I reply with "that's to expensive". Then the supposed fun began. I got the price down to 100,000rp which was still 10 times more than they were worth (even in Australia). I handed over the money, because I  am way to nice. I smiled at him and said "I know you are ripping me off", he smiled smugly back. So I marched of in my rip of, Rip Curl thongs, cursing myself. 

I have had to walk back past him three times already today and he smiles and waves and tries to get my attention. I call back "these flip flops are hurting my feet, I think I was better of bare foot" He laughs, and so do I. I am hoping my bartering skills develop soon.

Flying Away

Sydney, Australia

My homeland always appears more beautiful the day I am leaving it behind. Even the suburbs appeared pretty this morning, basking in the dawn light. In a couple of hours I will be boarding a plane for Indonesia and my mind is racing.

It was only 56 days ago that I arrived back in Australia after my travels through Africa and Asia. I experienced and learnt so much during that time away. Coming home was a roller coaster of mixed emotions. It was a struggle to process how all I had experienced could fit into my normal life. I returned to work, and I realise now that I wasn't the same person. Living the same life was not going to fulfil me. My job suddenly became soul destroying

Last week I had a car accident. I lost control of my car on the freeway  and skidded up an embankment at 100km's p/h. The car somehow self navigated its way around a concrete wall and small trees. The paint from my car soils the concrete wall, evidence of how close I had come. My car rolled several times back down the embankment throwing me around like an out of control amusement ride. Miraculously the car landed back on it's wheels. I walked out without a scratch, the angels had protected me that day. 

But I was shaken with the realisation of how quickly it could have been all over. So as I set of for Indonesia today it is with the recent reminder of how short life can be. I will make the most of every moment 

One Month Later

Sydney, Australia

It seems like a life time ago that I was working in Africa and travelling the world. But I have only been back a month. It is amazing how quickly life returns to normal. I thought there would have been a profound change inside me, that everything would be different. But I look at my life and things seem exactly the same. I took the same route home from work this morning, ordered the same coffee at my favourite coffee shop and returned to the same house.

Maybe I am more grounded, more aware. Seeing and experiencing so much must change a person. Things have returned to normal so fast and slipping back into routine has been surprisingly easy. I realise that I rarely talk about my life overseas, about the tragic beauty of it all. About the inspiring people I met, about the remarkable things I learnt.

So where do I go from here. Do I allow my self slip into a monotonous existence. I want to make the most of every moment. That is what I loved the most about being abroad. I never wasted a second.