Barbara McAvaney writes of how she began her journey around Australia and what set her to travelling. She traded her for a campervan, loaded up her two dogs and set off from Adelaide around Australia.
To my surprise friends turned up to say goodbye. I met the rest of my family out nearer the northern boundaries of Adelaide. Tears flowed all morning for me but they were tears of happiness.
The future is finally here…
My journey began in April, 2010; a journey of growth, understanding and self-discovery, I will not say it has been easy; far from it. Small steps at first, one day at a time, many trials and tribulations filled with emotional times. Along the way I have upset some people, something I would not normally do, but when you are finding your feet and leading a new, independent life some people are going to get hurt, and to those people I am sorry.
Gradually things do get better as time goes by the hurt is only a shadow of the past, and a new journey is just around the corner. Read more
A guest blog post by Lucia Monlia about her Family Camping Trip in the Jura region of France
During the school holidays I went on my first camping trip with my husband, my two children and my rabid dog, it was at times an unmitigated disaster. To stop you from making the same mistakes I made I’ve compiled a list, I hope you can learn from my misery…enjoy.
Decked by a chair
Before going camping my husband kindly gave me the task of buying some deck chairs as well as some other bits and bobs. It’s fair to say teaching isn’t the most lucrative career but my decision to the buy our deck chairs from the pound shop is one I now regret. It was only the second day when reading through my latest novel the deck chair suddenly collapsed from under me only to be followed by eruptions of laughter from my caring husband and children.
Marshmallow meltdown
With our careful supervision the children toasted some marshmallows on the camp fire. On one occasion a marshmallow became engulfed with flames and in a mad panic my youngest son threw it in the direction of our dog, which steadily picked up the stick and flaming marshmallow before running in the direction of our tent. Luckily, the marshmallow melted and fell off the stick before our dog entered the tent.
Light my fire
On our first night, my husband, with his caveman like behaviour took charge of the fire. He had the kids collect the perfect fire wood and began constructing his masterpiece; I sat back in amusement a little smug knowing what will likely happen or not in this case. After 40 or so minutes all he had summoned were a few measly sparks, I was getting hungry and so were the kids. Somewhat dejectedly he reached for the lighter fluid and within seconds he had it lit. Please men don’t think you are Bear Grylls, it’s chilly and we’re hungry just get the lighter fluid and don’t be a hero.
Digital switch off
We let our eldest son take his new portable game console on the trip this was more to keep him entertained while travelling in the car. One day we decided to go hiking and we let him pack his own bag including a water bottle, chocolate bar, sandwich, another chocolate bar and unknown to myself and my husband his portable game console. Like all young teenagers he was at the back flagging, however, what we didn’t know was that while he was climbing over rocks and boulders he was also playing on his portable games console, impressive multitasking until he slipped and cracked his screen, he won’t be getting a new one.
Domestic Enemies
My husband the ever practical joker, thought it would be funny to move our tent while I was sleeping in it, right up against a wall. I woke up blurry eyed haven’t not slept very well due to the very raucous wildlife and climbed out of the tent head first straight into a stone wall. Be very wary of practical jokers, camping brings the worst out in them.
I’ve now got a cracked head, sore backside and an even grumpier teenage son. Maybe I’m a little crazy but despite all of the calamities experienced during our family camping holiday I would still go back. Life is about creating stories and camping facilitates this beautifully, hopefully for myself and my family this is just the beginning, chapter one.
http://www.keycamp.co.uk/ Camping Holidays in the UK and Europe
Amy
Guest Blog by Amy Keenan who went backpacking over the summer but could only afford to go for two weeks due to work commitments and money etc. She still had an amazing time and has written this piece to help others do as much as you can in Europe in two weeks. Read more
Pam writes about her Fun Fund:
My girlfriends and I have been travelling as a group for about 4 years now. I organised our “Fun Fund” so we always had money at the ready for our trips. We have had some wonderful experiences including a South Pacific Cruise! It has been so successful that I was urged to write a book about how to go about setting up a “Fun Fund” so others could do the same. Read more
Their story all began during the summer of 2005. While Nara was backpacking solo after almost a year of working in Dublin (Ireland), Tanya was traveling with her friend after spending a semester abroad in Torino (Italy).
They write at Off-Track Backpacking a blog dedicated to travel, adventure and fun! Women Travel caught up with them and asked them more…
Where and how did you meet?
We met randomly at a hostel in Lisbon, Portugal in 2005. Nara was backpacking solo and approached Tanya by asking her a random question. The rest was history!
Cost and character
I was in Europe for a few months and the idea of staying in a monastery guest house had a fascinating spiritual aura about it. And not just because the budget. In fact the cost had little to do with the desire. It was more about authentic character and immersion in history, as well as the wish to be a momentary part of a long tradition, even going into the chapel to experience the music and the silence, and the deep sense of prayer and tradition. Read more
The idea of volunteering in another country has long been considered the province of students and recent graduates; images of intrepid twenty-year-old Peace Corps workers in a remote Sierra Leone village might spring to mind. Today, however, the idea has reached far beyond that to become accessible, and highly popular, among travelers of all types and ages. Volunteer travel has grown so popular that a term has even been coined for it: Voluntourism. Read more
Mark Baldwin saw the potential to match cash strapped travelers with people who need a hand and has set up Helpandhost.net Read more
Hostel Bookers are paying attention to women travellers on a budget through putting together information especially for women:
- about travel for in different countries
- Where are the Hottest Men – results of a survey
- Hostel Bookers blog posts about women and travel
- Results of survey of Women Travellers Read more
