Boots, Bikes and Border Crossings
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Craft, Chat and a Pocket Full of Sparkle
What an amazing morning spent with the wonderful ladies at the co-op! A room full of talent across all ages — some threading beads with laser focus, others knitting, painting, shaping pottery, working the loom, or cleverly transforming tired old clothes and upholstery fabric into something completely new and fabulous. It’s more than just a
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A Morning at Anıtkabir: Where History Stands Tall (and Stomps Loudly)
One of the most memorable places I visited in Ankara was Anıtkabir, the grand resting place of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey.And when I say grand… I mean grand. This isn’t just a mausoleum — it’s a vast ceremonial complex complete with statues, sweeping courtyards, a long ceremonial road, and a museum filled
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The Great Cheese Stretch of Trabzon
Breakfast today came with theatre — and its name was kuymak. A Trabzon classic made from cornflour, butter, local stringy cheese, water and a sprinkle of salt. That’s it. Five humble ingredients… and somehow it turns into a bubbling pan of golden happiness. You dip your toast in and lift — slowly — as the
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Following the Hazelnut Trail Along Turkey’s Black Sea Coast
Travelling through Turkey, it’s easy to think hazelnuts are just another tasty snack — until you realise they’re part of a story thousands of years old. Native to Anatolia, hazelnuts were being traded here as early as ~2000–1700 BC, long before modern roads, borders, or supermarkets even existed. As you move north toward the lush
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Beginning With a Turkish Welcome and a Thankful Heart
As this new adventure begins, I’m feeling pretty grateful. Nuri, my Turkish host, and Jan, a German Workawayer, picked me up from the airport and took me straight up to Boztepe Hill for incredible city views, that was being enjoyed by others having a Turkish Tea experience. We then wandered through the Grand Bazaar, with
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Last Sunday Before Ramadan — A Special Morning at the Mosque
With Ramadan starting on the 19th Februay this year, Vildan and I headed to the mosque this morning — joining many others for prayers on the last Sunday before the holy month begins. I decided to tag along to experience the atmosphere, the sense of community, and the quiet anticipation leading into such an important
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
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