STRANGE LOWS FOR MALDIVIAN POLITICS - SCUBA MEETING, MALDIVES

As if we really needed another reason to be utterly infatuated by the Maldives. I will warn you that this is somewhat ancient news however upon reading about it I couldn’t pass up a blog post highlighting further evidence on just how bloody cool this place really is.  Back in October 2009 a cabinet meeting was called with all state officials to discuss the impact global warming was (still is) making on the low level island nation of the...

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10 LESSONS LEARNT WHILE LIVING IN HOLLAND

There is no such thing as bad weather; just inappropriate clothing. I’d really like a little sign stating this so when I’m in Australia or the UK I can hold it up each time I hear a girl complain about how bad the weather is while trying to navigate through the snow in heels or wonder why she’s cold in the belt she’s passing for a skirt. Dress appropriately people and you will never be uncomfortable! ;) Credit cards are a life choice not a necessity....

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JET BLAST MAY CAUSE DEATH - Blown away at Maho Beach, St Maarten

Photo Credit: Bennyzheng Photography An experience that blew me away. Literally. By blown away I mean fighting with all my might to keep vertical, squinting my eyes in the wind and shielding my face from the rocket sharp stabs as each grain of sand came pelting towards me. I’d anticipated it being quite a blast, not quite to this extent though. At no point did I expect to end up naked. I guess that’s what happens when you stand behind a 747...

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10 TIPS FOR THE VEGETERIAN/VEGAN TRAVELLER

I am indeed a vegetarian.Or at least I was until recently when I made the decision to go completely vegan. :)*Cue stereotype influenced mutter & responses* Yes, I am fully aware I can be a pain to dine with, cook for or serve at a restaurant and I regularly have the golden phrase thrown at me "BUT... BACON?". Before I begin enlightening you with my veg-happy tips let's clear that one up. Few vegetarians stop eating meat because they...

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THE LURE OF LUMINESCENCE - Bioluminescent plankton, Maldives

Photograph by Doug Perrine, Alamy         A little bit of magic in the Maldives. I’ve heard stories of these mystical blue lights dancing around and gently lighting up the shores of Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives. Since recent shots of the phenomenon has graced news pages I've been sent a number of messages along the lines of ‘You need to see this while you’re living there!' At a glance it almost seems too cool to...

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HANG ON, I'M READING! -Spanish Journal W3

I’ve come to the end of week three in my attempt to teach myself Spanish. I learned something interesting this week about language learning and it’s one of the top reasons I believe people give up. While sitting st my desk, stuck on an exercise in the TYS book I began feeling like I was never going to get anywhere. The dreaded thoughts came flooding in Had I even learnt anything so far? Is Spanish something I just can’t learn? Much less on my own?...

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DITCH YOUR FRIENDS AND TRAVEL SOLO

Annecy, France. The chair of self discovery. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..”  Wise words from a wise man. I could sit here and tell you countless reasons solo travel triumphs over group travel (in most cases). There's nothing greater than discovering yourself while...

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STARS COME & GO BUT SOY SAUCE IS FOREVER: Spanish Journal W2

"Stars come and go but soy sauce is forever."-The line I've created to overcome my initial issue with having two versions of "I am" in Spanish. Me llama Ashlea. Quien es usted?De dónde es ustedes? Soy Australiana- yo vivo en las Maldivas. Tego vientedos años. Encantada! Success! I can say with a grin I’ve reached my mini conversation goal this week & can now introduce myself and ask where someone's from. Translation (here’s hoping I actually...

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