This is me!

who says mud is a bad thing???

Born and raised in South Africa, immigrated to the US at 19, started traveling after Uni in 2000! Taught English in Korea, went for 11mths and stayed for 3yrs. Have been to 23 countries at last count and still have the itchy feet. Have had to come to terms with the fact that I am not a “normal” 30 something that wants to settle down, but rather have an intense love of culture and nature, and travel is the best way to enjoy that. So am breaking out of the mold and spending a year or more on the road. Hope you will join me in my preparations and adventures.

Update
Well I returned from my year abroad and loved most of it, there were definately highs and lows. My country count moved upto 30. I learnt many things about the world, about myself and about people in general.
My list of crazy things grew to include:
– Living in the Amazon at a wildlife refuge for 2mths
– Cusco and Machu Picchu
– Living in the South Pacific on Tonga for a month
– Shaving my head for charity in Aus
– Paragliding in NZ
– Scuba diving in Borneo
– Bathing with an elephant in Chitwan NP in Nepal
– Meeting my boyfriend in Kathmandu

All in all a good year, even with the bumps. Now I am back in Oregon working as a vet nurse for a mobile clinic and planning my future adventures.

Updated Update

Who would have thunk it… I started this trip with the small hope of maybe finding a partner in crime to share my life, leaning towards an Aussie or Kiwi. Then a twist of fate after a volunteer position fell through led me to Kathmandu, Nepal. Here I met the man I am now engaged to, he is a bartender on cruise ships and was home for his 3mth vacation. It all started when his friend offered him up to take me to Monkey Temple. Now my plans include getting a job on the ship with him and the adventures continue…

Latest Update – Sept 2012

Well, the man I loved turned out not to be the man I thought he was when his girlfriend essentially broke up with me on skype. So after having quit my vet nurse job in preparation to leave with him next month I am faced with no other choice but to travel. Guess there is always a silver lining. So off we go to Korea and Thailand on Oct 1st, not to wallow in self pity but to do my PADI scuba DiveMaster!

Start of 2013

With the New Year I have returned to Oregon a certified PADI divemaster, opening up countless doors for me. I will also be starting my job as an English Hostess on the MSC Lirica at the end of March. Am very excited as the countries include Greece and Turkey. I plan to travel after my 7mth contract.

So life handed me a rather big lemon, and I made a margarita to enjoy while sitting in a hammock on a tropical island and new adventures round the corner.

Ending 2013

The last 6mths I have worked on the MSC Lirica as the English hostess. I have traveled to amazing places (Greece, Ukraine, Cyprus, Italy, Turkey, Israel) and met even more amazing friends. With a 3 week vacation I have another contract coming up soon, this time I will be doing the transatlantic from Venice to Miami and spending the winter in the Caribbean, then sail down to Rio and fly home again.

Update July 2014

Only 3 weeks till my 37th birthday…. can’t believe it! I don’t feel 37, but if you add the 3 and the 7 you get 10… yup that’s more like it.
I spent the past 7.5 mths in the Caribbean. Flew to Venice did a week there where I got to enjoy Dubrovnik, Croatia, amazing country would love to go back. Then trans-atlantic to Miami, 6.5 mths there in the islands, then crossing to Brazil for a charter for the world cup. I flew home from Rio. Amazing friends were made, contract felt a lot harder and more stressful, but am still up for another.
Am home now for 3-4mths and will be visiting a mate in Norway in 2 mths.
Adventure is out there!!!

Update June 2015

After completing my 3rd contract on the MSC Fantasia in the Med, I headed home for a month and a half. A few months ago a friend from the island in Thailand offered me the opportunity to work and do my Dive instructor… a childhood dream potentially coming true??? Incredible!!! Presently exploring Slovenia with a friend from my first contract and then off to the island, Koh Phangan!!! Life leads me on fantastically crazy paths, all I can do is follow!!

Update July 2015

Just 2 weeks shy of my 38th birthday I passed the Instructor Exam and am now officially a teaching status PADI Dive Instructor!!!!

Update March 2016

End of April I shall be returning to ship life on the MSC Opera in the North Baltic. Super excited to explore these incredible countries and add them to my list….

Update October 2016

Well who would have thought… this year turned out to be the year I met my guy. Literally walked into “his” bar type thing…. Am happy to announce I am engaged to a wonderful man from Macedonia.. now comes the fun part of visas and weddings and hopefully a family…

Update April 2018

Big apologies for being off grid for a year and I half but getting married seems to have me rather distracted… However, we have a big trip coming up in May, driving around the Balkan countries surrounding Macedonia, so hopefully things will start to get updated. See you all soon!!!!