View Of The Acropolis From The Temple Of Olympian Zeus

The view of the great Acropolis on top of the hill in the middle of Athens could be seen from so many vantage points - like this one, being at the foot of the columns that remain standing from the Temple Of Olympian Zeus, just down the way.

Athens Faces - Street Art Finds

I didn't know what to expect when I traveled to Athens - knew nothing really of the city and the culture and feel of the place. I was delighted to find a vibrant cafe world in the neighbourhood of my AirBnB stay, with street art and other quirky features everywhere.

These faces actually guided me home from a day of exploring the city. They marked the little laneways and turns I needed to make, to get back to my apartment building.

"Welcome to Athens", says the sign with the little guy on the top of the right hand window on this derelict building - indeed!

Top 5: Places In The World I Would Runaway To

Many times when I am wandering the streets of a new city in a new country, it occurs to me that no one there knows who I am, and really, no one else knows where I am. I mean, family and friends have a rough idea when I head off somewhere of what country/city I will be in, but when I am on the move a bit when travelling and exploring, that plan may be pretty vague. The idea of being far from home, away from everything appeals, a lot of the time.

In that vein, there have been a few places on my travels where things have just felt right, and away and good, that the idea of running away to said place and staying there, has popped into my head. Living, maybe escaping from everything. I guess posting this won't make it a secret anymore - so if I do vanish from the world, these may be the places I have gone to!

It must be the country girl in me, who needs periodic escapes from the city to return to a more rural, slower paced setting.

So, here is my list:

1 Banff, Canada. Little town feel, in the middle of the mountains, with spectacular views, even from the little, quaint main streets. Far from the world, without being cut off. The food was amazing, and there were some pretty amazing sights to be seen not far away - and I would imagine tons more to discover.

2 Wilderness, South Africa. A little piece of natural forest next to the ocean, and along the Garden Route road. The people were friendly, the guesthouse I found I would return to for a longer term stay in a heartbeat, and the food was amazing (like everywhere in South Africa, really). Tucked away, peaceful and beautiful.

3 Green Island, Queensland, Australia. The place that really stood out for me on a trip to Far North Queensland - a little island where you can day trip, or stay.
Another forest meets the ocean place, so it's the best of both worlds. It was possible to take an early morning walk around the island, and oftentimes it felt like we were the only people there. The water was calm, so scaredy-swimmers like me could enjoy, and managed to snorkel there to see the amazing underwater world.

4 Fafa Island, Tonga. Lying in a hammock next to your private entry to the island beach, personalised staff service, minimal contact with the outside world, on an island in the Pacific - need I say more? Simple, clean living - the perfect place to recharge. It has day trips off the island to snorkel, and to see the main island of Tongatapu and the sights there, which could give me my fill out outside world a little bit.

5 Luang Prabang (but from what I have read of late from travellers, this entry is from the memory of the little Laotion town from 12ish years ago), Laos. I loved it there when I made it across from Cambodia for a few days - it's was a sleepy local town, with authentic streets of local stores and cafes, surrounded by mountains. The night market was lovely, the small bars at night had a great feel to them, and everything was easy.
Maybe it's not like that anymore, which would be such a shame. It's a place around the world that still lives in my memory as one of my favourite towns.

Where would you go? Where should I escape to next?

Aussie Faces In The Hinterland

As much as we like to pretend that we encounter our Australian native animals all the time, we don't really come across them very often. Unless you live in the bush, you don't see them in their natural environment at all.

That's why spotting them is still a pretty special moment.

These two guys crossed my path as a drove back down the mountain in the Gold Coast Hinterlands. The koala walked across the road, without a worry in the world, totally stressing me out, given the bend in the road he was near.

The kangaroo just happened to catch my eye, as I was taking in the spectacular views around another bend. And there he was, watching the car go by. I hope he stayed on that side of the road!

Sri Lanka Is A Tale Of Two Parts: Safe For Travellers, A Danger For Some Cultural Groups

Australia's current government travel advise for Sri Lanka remains at Exercise A High Degree Of Caution...because whilst the 30-something year long civil war is meant to be officially over for a few years now, there is still danger in parts of the country, for some.

The steady stream of Tamil, and some Sinhalese, asylum seekers continues. There are refugee camps in India where Tamils who have fled Sri Lanka have lived and waited for a better life for years and years. Many Tamils, and some Sinhalese, from different religious groups but mainly Christians, have made the decision to escape and try and seek asylum in Australia.

This understanding of danger depends on which side of politics you come from, and what publications you believe. Although I know what I have heard in my line of work, and the stories people tell. The trauma, the fear, the desperation and need to leave.

I have traveled to Sri Lanka twice, to watch cricket, and never a thought of being unsafe entered my mind. I did stick to the southern two thirds of the country, though. As a Westerner with money, it was easy. Without participating in a religious practice, I did not expose myself to any prejudice or danger.

Tamils have been in danger in Sri Lanka since the end of English rule in the country, back in 1948. The brutal civil war was sparked by the militant Tamil Tigers, who fought for an independent state, with an end only being reached in 2009. But the current dangers to parts of the Sri Lankan population are not about the Tigers and the civil war.

Buddhist extremist groups have been targeting Christians in violent attacks, making the practice of their faith a target. Heavy military control of the Tamil regions in the north continue, with reported abuses such as harassment, torture, sexual violence, indefinite imprisonment. They can be denied access to education, and healthcare. Land has been denied to them.

Australia says the country is safe, and has returned failed asylum seekers. It clearly isn't. The volume of people fleeing say otherwise. The lengths some have gone to to avoid being returned, also scream for help. When will they be heard?

*This post is part of a series joining my travels with the lessons and stories I have come across in my work. Much of my travel has helped me understand different issues faced by my client group, and then many of my client's stories and experiences now shape my understanding of the world as I move through it. I wanted to share some of these points, to help others start to get this insight. These points are by no means a comprehensive thesis about the issues for each cultural group discussed - merely a starting point of thought and hopefully an antecedent to further reading and research, to gain an understanding for readers.

These photos were taken on my last trip to Sri Lanka, albeit down south in Galle.

The State Of The Post-Flood Solomons

When nature hits with a force on a small country in the Pacific, it takes so much more to rebuild and restore life for the people affected than when this happens in Australia, or other larger nations.

At the beginning of April this year, a storm that built up and eventually became Tropical Cyclone Ita when it hit Queensland, devastated areas of Honiara. It caused at least 24 deaths and displaced 10,000 people.

When I was visiting Honiara at the end of May there were still 2000 people living in temporary accommodation, in school buildings and other shelters. There were discussions about relocating the cultural minority that many of these people belonged to, a long-standing battle on Guadalcanal which has caused rioting and unrest in the recent past of the nation. A potential hot pot of cultural issues, this flood has stirred up again.

The physical devastation was very visible - particularly from the vantage point of the US War Memorial, but also along the river that was hit the hardest. The ruined buildings all along the river that flooded were in complete disrepair. The local community have needed to made a makeshift crossing over the river, to temporarily replace the bridge that was washed away and now being rebuilt, to allow their daily commute to and from that side to continue in the meantime.

I was lucky enough to attend a morning tea with my friend Fi, of a group of women working hard to assist the displaced community as much as possible. They were working on support through basic needs, like blankets, nappies for babies, and women's sanitary supplies.

I have looked for an NGO still working on support, and providing assistance to those in need in Honiara and the surrounding area, to promote and add to this post. I have had confirmation from Baptist World Aid Australia that they are still taking donations and helping the people that most need it - you can drop a few dollars their way here, to help.

Tassie Big Things

Setting off on a roadtrip from Launceston to Hobart after a football game this Winter, Laura and I happened the have checked out the list of Aussie Big Things that are in the Apple Isle, and started making some detour suggestions as we set off. Not big detours, but a slight diversion that would have us collect THREE! Our co-roadtrippers thought we were mad, but they went along with it nonetheless. And loved the end result, I might add!

The diversion meant coming off the main highway, and joining the road that had us also go past the Great Lake. Which was very pretty.

But first on the Aussie Big Things trial were the Big Wickets! In Westbury, they are standing in the public park, next to the football/cricket oval, and stand tall to mark the achievement of the local Australian test player. We were pretty excited to have found these!

Next up, and just further down the road, was a refashioned silo, painted with a handle and spout addition to be the Big Coffee Pot. This was on a farm on the side of the road in Deloraine.



A little further up the road is Mole Creek, and given that we were on a roll, we were hardly going to stop now, so close to another. The Big Tassie Devil! He is sitting out the front of a Wildlife Sanctuary, and looks pretty menacing!

Three Big Things in one day, plus the gorgeous Great Lakes area - definitely worth the detour on our drive down the island state!