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| Lake Tagimaucea, Fiji |
Where would you be sitting right now if you'd said "yes".
What would you be doing?
Who would you be?
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| Wilson's prom, Australia |
I had everything to lose. [Or at least I thought I did].
I lived in a perfect home with amazing housemates {and even owned some of the the furniture].
I was semi-self-employed with more random, yet exceptionally fun, work contracts than the amish have children.
I had great friends, and my family was just down the street.
I was young and free and, by my own standards, I was a success.
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| Drinking toxic floats with a brother. Joburg, South Africa |
But did I want to travel the East coast of Africa with some of my besties? YES!
Was I prepared to move out of my perfect home?
Not really.
Could I sacrifice 3 months of my life to do it?
Probably not.
Was I willing to leave other people to look after my work contracts?
No way!
Did I have the money to do it?
No chance!
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| The safety and beauty of the homelands |
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| Dietary alterations, Malawi |
I'm not sure why I did it.
I'm not sure how I broke myself free from the comforts of life.
I was young.
I was naive.
I had determination and adventure. And a brand new backpack.
The world was mine for exploring!
It wasn't an easy descision, but it was the best descision I ever made: I said "Yes."
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| Cliff jumping, Aling Aling, Indonesia |
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.
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| Ijen volcano, Java |
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| Kudat, Borneo |
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| Stone Henge |
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.
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| Perth, Australia |
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.
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| Kioa, Fiji |
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| Pnom Phen, Cambodia |
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| New wheels, Cambodia |
Suddenly I wasn't a scrawny, naive 22 two year old anymore. The [meant to be] three month trip had somehow spanned 9 years.
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.
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| The first significant scar acquisition, from falling into a volcano in Kenya |
Today I'm sat in Fiji, a somewhat tropic paradise ravished by a recent cyclone.
I'm about as far away from South Africa as I could possibly be - but looking at the smiles of the people around me.
The welcoming spirit.
The generocity.
The sense of humour.
The hugs, and the acceptance... I'm home.
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| Nawakalau, Fiji |
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!)...
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.
Man am I glad I said "Yes"!
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.
Man am I glad I said "Yes"!
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| Still the most disgusting place I've stayed (that's poo dropping down the walls behind me) and it was a "luxury hotel". Kazakhstan |
