I have been back in the UK 5 1/2 weeks now and time is passing so quickly i barely have time to think. I have returned to work although only part time, but to be honest this is enough with the course in London and trying to finish my dissertation too. The hardest thing about being back has been the lack of money, (not had a full months pay yet), but on the whole i am happy to be back. The most shocking aspect for me since returning is that i actually feel quite settled, a feeling i haven't had for years.
I have been asked many times which country has been my favourite, in truth i have loved it all, the world is a beautiful place and my journey has made me many friends which i will have for a long time, i am sure. However, Zambia and Zimbabwe were amazing, the people are wonderful and the beauty of each county is breathtaking. Those red dusty roads that run in between very green bushes you see while you are sat in the back of a uht, i will never forget. The love of seeing animals such as zebras, vervet monkeys, hippos, lions, cheetahs, crocs in their natural habitat is a favourite and sure enough gives you a different perspective of the local zoo, there is no comparison!
Although Africa is very much mix for example on one hand you have the little villages with the mud houses and then another a five star resort, high rised business buildings and bars with brown leather seating, it is the simple way of living which i admire the most. The Zambians who live in the villages compared to people in the UK have nothing, they don't have the latest fashion designs, they don't have a five bedroomed detached house, their access to health care is poor but what they do have are close family and communty ties and above all are happy. Here in the UK i feel that materialism takes presidence above our happiness.
Australia was another of my favourites for its vastness and its diversity. Sydney felt like home and i am sure will go their again. New Zealand has scenary that will take your breath away and i love looking at the pictures i have taken there.
Before i left for travelling i sold my house and gave up my job but i have no regrets and as i have been told many a time whilst i was on my travels, i have just done something that people only dream of doing, i have every reason to feel proud.
Most of all i am glad i had the opportunity to go, its given me a different outlook and also some wonderful memories which brings a big smile to my face.
Andreaxxx
Friday, 5 October 2007
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Miami was good!!
Hello
had a great time in Miami, lots of sun and resting to be had! I met up with some girls from England on my last few days so i had quite a sociable time. There are a lot of Latin Americans in Miami got i had plenty of opportunity to practice my Spanish although on a few occasions i announced that "i am sick" (yo soy enferma) instead of " i am a nurse" (yo soy enfermera), initially i could not understand why people were looking at me so horrified, then i realised what i was saying.
Anyway after two weeks of sun, a new haircut, my nails and feet pampered and a small shopping expedition i decided it was time to come home.
I came back to the UK on 28th August, tired and not fresh. Just chilling at the moment, catching up with friends and family.
I think that one last blog entry is in order so keep watching this space as they say every story has a beginning, a middle and an end!
See you soon xxx
had a great time in Miami, lots of sun and resting to be had! I met up with some girls from England on my last few days so i had quite a sociable time. There are a lot of Latin Americans in Miami got i had plenty of opportunity to practice my Spanish although on a few occasions i announced that "i am sick" (yo soy enferma) instead of " i am a nurse" (yo soy enfermera), initially i could not understand why people were looking at me so horrified, then i realised what i was saying.
Anyway after two weeks of sun, a new haircut, my nails and feet pampered and a small shopping expedition i decided it was time to come home.
I came back to the UK on 28th August, tired and not fresh. Just chilling at the moment, catching up with friends and family.
I think that one last blog entry is in order so keep watching this space as they say every story has a beginning, a middle and an end!
See you soon xxx
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Party Week
hello all!
Three weeks to go now, can you believe how time flies, its scary. I decided not to go to the animal project in the end, my heart wasn´t in it and i decided to take a full refund and go to Miami for three weeks instead. I fly out tomorrow (Monday 13th August).
I have been in Quito an extra week now and i have been staying with isobel still, my host family. I have had quite a nice time this week, now that a few of us had finished Spanish school we decided to relax, eat, chat and visit a few tourist places, i revisited a few Museums and there is this really good photography exhibition in the Cultural museum depicting the lives of people in South America which i really liked.
I have also been out quite alot with my school friends (most nights) so i have been having a lot of fun. This weekend i went to a town called Otavalo which hosts a big art and craft market which i managed to find a few things to buy. I stayed overnight and in the evening we met up with jack and sandra who we knew from Spanish school, they have now started a South American tour. We ended up in this tiny room (a bar) with plastic tables and chairs and sang really badly on the Karaoke for a few hours, locals kept coming in but then walking back out again ( i guess the singing was really bad).
Today (Sunday 12th August) i am just having a relaxing day catching up on emails and packing my bag for the next section of my trip, i am really looking forward to realaxing on the beach or by the pool as so far this is the one thing i have done very little of. I will probably not write in the blog for a few weeks unless i have something very interesting to say, i reckon i will write here again once i get to Madrid.
Love
Andreaxx
Three weeks to go now, can you believe how time flies, its scary. I decided not to go to the animal project in the end, my heart wasn´t in it and i decided to take a full refund and go to Miami for three weeks instead. I fly out tomorrow (Monday 13th August).
I have been in Quito an extra week now and i have been staying with isobel still, my host family. I have had quite a nice time this week, now that a few of us had finished Spanish school we decided to relax, eat, chat and visit a few tourist places, i revisited a few Museums and there is this really good photography exhibition in the Cultural museum depicting the lives of people in South America which i really liked.
I have also been out quite alot with my school friends (most nights) so i have been having a lot of fun. This weekend i went to a town called Otavalo which hosts a big art and craft market which i managed to find a few things to buy. I stayed overnight and in the evening we met up with jack and sandra who we knew from Spanish school, they have now started a South American tour. We ended up in this tiny room (a bar) with plastic tables and chairs and sang really badly on the Karaoke for a few hours, locals kept coming in but then walking back out again ( i guess the singing was really bad).
Today (Sunday 12th August) i am just having a relaxing day catching up on emails and packing my bag for the next section of my trip, i am really looking forward to realaxing on the beach or by the pool as so far this is the one thing i have done very little of. I will probably not write in the blog for a few weeks unless i have something very interesting to say, i reckon i will write here again once i get to Madrid.
Love
Andreaxx
Monday, 30 July 2007
All Change!!
hi , hope all is well.
My Mum commented on the fact that my blog entries were getting shorter and shorter. There is a reason for this i haven´t had my journal when i have been writing it and i have forgotten the things i have done. My travel journal is so big and full now that it requires a suitcase of its own.
Anyway i am about to liven things up. My Galapagos project has been cancelled due to Government restrictions on the National Park and having volunteers working with the tortoises. So as a result i am going to an animal sactuary just near the Amazon Jungle for 12 days. I know you will think i am mad, but i am fairly happy with this as i have had a really bad feeling about the Galapagos since June, and since i have been in Ecuador i have not heard one good word about the project. Somethings are not meant to be!
After the animal project i will then return to Quito for four days before flying to my beach holiday in Miami for 11 days, which i am really looking forward to.
See you all soon
Andreaxx
My Mum commented on the fact that my blog entries were getting shorter and shorter. There is a reason for this i haven´t had my journal when i have been writing it and i have forgotten the things i have done. My travel journal is so big and full now that it requires a suitcase of its own.
Anyway i am about to liven things up. My Galapagos project has been cancelled due to Government restrictions on the National Park and having volunteers working with the tortoises. So as a result i am going to an animal sactuary just near the Amazon Jungle for 12 days. I know you will think i am mad, but i am fairly happy with this as i have had a really bad feeling about the Galapagos since June, and since i have been in Ecuador i have not heard one good word about the project. Somethings are not meant to be!
After the animal project i will then return to Quito for four days before flying to my beach holiday in Miami for 11 days, which i am really looking forward to.
See you all soon
Andreaxx
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
Still here
hi everyone hope you are all well. On the countdown to coming home now, roughly about 51/2 weeks now. Have already been making preparations for my return.
Over the past week or so i have been doing quite a bit of sight seeing and concentrating on me Spanish. 99% of the time i have absolutely no idea what to say and then i will get in a taxi or go into a shop and will start speaking Spanish. I can roll my Rs really well...
Today Wednesday 25th ( i think), we had a trip to a wildlife sactury, where they save animals who have been badly treated. Its quit a good place and tourists are not meant to go but it was good to see.
As my travelling bones have got a bit tired since arriving in Ecuador i have treated my self to a nice beach holiday which i am really looking forward too. One last extravagance before i return back to the rat race!!
Andreaxx
Over the past week or so i have been doing quite a bit of sight seeing and concentrating on me Spanish. 99% of the time i have absolutely no idea what to say and then i will get in a taxi or go into a shop and will start speaking Spanish. I can roll my Rs really well...
Today Wednesday 25th ( i think), we had a trip to a wildlife sactury, where they save animals who have been badly treated. Its quit a good place and tourists are not meant to go but it was good to see.
As my travelling bones have got a bit tired since arriving in Ecuador i have treated my self to a nice beach holiday which i am really looking forward too. One last extravagance before i return back to the rat race!!
Andreaxx
Monday, 16 July 2007
Feeling Normal
My first week in Ecuador has been a little hectic, from being in nice quietplaces such as the Australian outback and nice little town in New Zealand, i am now submerged in a hectic major city like Quito. Not only have i had to get used to traffic again, there has also been the high altitude and the jet lag to deal with.
In the morning i have four hours of one to one tuition of Spanish and in the afternoon its free time. Last week i killed my self sight seeing in the afternoon and now i am taking a more relaxed approach of doing very little in the afternoon.
At the weekend a few of us went to Banos to visit the thermal pools, i wasn´t well though and had to stay in bed, better now, think i was doing too much.
This week its more of the same, although at the weekend i am planning a hike up Mount Cotopaxi!!
Buenas Dias, Hasta Pronto!!
In the morning i have four hours of one to one tuition of Spanish and in the afternoon its free time. Last week i killed my self sight seeing in the afternoon and now i am taking a more relaxed approach of doing very little in the afternoon.
At the weekend a few of us went to Banos to visit the thermal pools, i wasn´t well though and had to stay in bed, better now, think i was doing too much.
This week its more of the same, although at the weekend i am planning a hike up Mount Cotopaxi!!
Buenas Dias, Hasta Pronto!!
Monday, 9 July 2007
End of a chapter, start of another one!
hi, hope all is well. My last days in New Zealand were good, went to a Maori culture evening which was a good night andd the following day we went to a Maori culture centre, saw a few geothermic mud pools. My favourite activity was the 150ft night abseil into the glo worm caves, really cool but terrifying and adrenaline busting, after the abseil we then had to climb 150ft back up so i could do it all again.
I also did a trip to Cape Regina the most northernly point of New Zealand and also a cruise of the bay of islands.
Now i am currently in Ecuador, i spent one night in Chile although i spent it sleeping as i was very jet lagged. Ecuador so far is pretty good, bit breathless from the high altitude but this will settle down in a few days, which is good as i am planning to climb a few mountains. Had my first spanish lesson which was pretty intense but hopefully i will pick it up quite soon.
Take care
Andreax
I also did a trip to Cape Regina the most northernly point of New Zealand and also a cruise of the bay of islands.
Now i am currently in Ecuador, i spent one night in Chile although i spent it sleeping as i was very jet lagged. Ecuador so far is pretty good, bit breathless from the high altitude but this will settle down in a few days, which is good as i am planning to climb a few mountains. Had my first spanish lesson which was pretty intense but hopefully i will pick it up quite soon.
Take care
Andreax
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