Boots, Bikes and Border Crossings
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Bianca Orqueda: Paraguay’s Voice to the World
Bianca a very talented Paraguayan international singer proudly performs in her local Indigenous dialect, sharing the language, culture and spirit of Paraguay with audiences around the world. Her work has even earned her recognition for promoting Paraguay internationally. But perhaps the most beautiful part of Bianca’s story happens away from the stage. She collects donated…
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Four Tribes, four different stories.
There are four main Indigenous tribes associated with Filadelfia — the Enlhet, Nivaclé, Guaraní Occidental and Ayoreo — each with their own language, history, traditions and relationship with the Chaco. The Enlhet — the original locals The Enlhet are the traditional people of the central Chaco around what is now Filadelfia. They were here long…
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Four Tribes, One Yogi & an Existential Crisis
Yesterday Marilyn took Jy and me on a tour of the four Indigenous communities around Filadelfia. I thought we were going to learn about cultures, traditions and ways of life. Instead, I apparently signed up for a little spiritual enlightenment as well. Jy is about 35, from South Korea, and is a Yogi. Like most…
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My Dreams of Becoming Wife Number 63
Before I came to Paraguay, I told several friends that I was going to stay with the Mennonites. Their response? “Well, don’t be surprised if you come home as the 63rd wife of a Mennonite!” Apparently they had a very interesting idea of Mennonite culture. I have now done my research and, sadly, I have…
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The Women and Children Behind the Silence
There is another, much darker side to the history of the strict traditional Mennonite colonies of Paraguay. This is not a story about all Mennonites or every Mennonite family. Many are loving, hardworking and deeply committed to their families. But in a society built around obedience, religious authority, conformity and family reputation, women and children…
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Beyond the Bonnet: Marilyn and the Progressive Mennonites
After everything I have been learning about Mennonite history and the much stricter traditions of some conservative communities, staying here with Marilyn and her family has given me a rather different perspective. Marilyn comes from a Mennonite family whose parents were among the founders of a more progressive Mennonite community. They kept many of the…
Visited Countries
Interactive World Map
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Route Plan (Eastern Europe)
Here’s the planned route PDF. Download below.
Route Map
About Me
Happy, grateful, and full of joy – that’s how I see my life. Growing up in the small country town of Karaka, New Zealand, I was a curious little girl who dreamed of seeing the world. At 14, I took my first trip overseas to Fiji, and since then I’ve explored 66 countries, each adventure filling me with wonder at new cultures, unexpected moments, and the thrill of discovery.
I’ve leapt from planes, dived into unseen depths of the ocean, pedaled across borders, and roared through deserts on motorbikes. From crossing the Gobi Desert on two wheels to cruising down to Antarctica, from riding through roads less traveled to moments that took my breath away, I collect memories, not possessions.
Contact Me
Have a question or want to collaborate? Drop me a line.