Vegabond Me

"I believe i was born under a roaming star, and I must say, I infinitely prefer this… way of..."

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:37:15 +0000

“I believe i was born under a roaming star, and I must say, I infinitely prefer this… way of life, unshackled as it was, to the artificial stupidity of civilization.”

- Mrs. Colonel Elwood - 1830

"The open road is a beckoning, a strangeness, a place where a man can lose himself.” – William Least..."

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:45:25 +0000

““The open road is a beckoning, a strangeness, a place where a man can lose himself.” – William Least Heat Moon”

A Canadian visit....

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Since moving to the UK this was my first visit back home for my twin sisters wedding, and what could be a better time to visit than August. When flying in we were confused by the hazy sky, thinking it was cloudy i got a bit bummed, this wasn’t the summer i was expecting. But sure enough our hazy sky was only remnants of a forest fire from our neighbors to the left, B.C. The day was HOT and dry and everything that i could have wanted, and only 11am! This trip to Canada is going to be 3 weeks of summer, as i wasn’t getting much heat on the little island of England this year!

The trip was everything i wanted and more, with one memorable trip into the mountains, thankfully shared by the newlyweds. We stayed in one of our families cabins, in Fairmont B.C. Nestled in the woods, on the side of a mountain, and just far enough away from people so that we felt like we were on an adventure. The air was dry, the sun was warm, and when it did rain, it had this wonderful way of making everything look so damn green! We felt like mountainous people!

Among all the trekking about through the wilderness, my most memorable was our day in search of the natural hot springs. After climbing up a mountain, and through a crowded camp ground, we found our trail, the long path that would lead us to what we were looking for. Alas we found our grand waterfall! We disrobed, and went for a dip into the crystal clear warm wondrous waters. There’s nothing quite like finding something special like this in nature, a private pool party away from the world. I will go back one day, i promised it.

3 weeks flew by, i gave my goodbye’s once again to my beautiful home and headed back over to my other adventure, England.

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Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0100

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Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A weekend of Camping

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:00:00 +0100

A packed up car and 2 people geared up for a weekend away, and like that we set off to North Devon and beyond!! North Devon is home to some of the most beautiful beaches Ive seen, and far better than i had ever imagined! big beaches full of gold soft sand, and though the water is bit cold, the sun was out and scorching!

We stopped in lots of random spots, taste testing the different types of ice cream of course. All the while keeping in mind that we needed to find a camp site to stay the night. In and out of the car, stopping here and there. taking loads of pictures and having so much fun…. we realized the sun is starting to set, and we hadn’t yet found a campsite that we felt good about. So off a country road, and into the thick of the unknown until we found a field, with the perfect amount of space for the car, and our tent…Voila, our campsite, our not so luxurious bed for the night. We cooked our little dinner of sausages, and half expected to be confronted with the farmer of this land telling us to leave. As the night grew darker, we felt more comfortable in out little spot, and layed our heads for a nights sleep. We awoke to sunshine, and no sign of other people, so in a haste we packed up and headed out to continue the adventure, and find a place to eat breakfast. Roughing it, apparently we do it good! We stopped and played in the sand dunes, which i had never known existed, it took me back to New Zealand in a weird deja vu sort of way. Where these dunes are, is where American soldiers had conditioned for the war, and again I’m reminded of the huge amount of history that every inch of this country holds!

We Eventually find a beach, and were officially in Cornwall! This place too is postcard worthy, every inch of it. We continued south after our stop, and ended in Tintagel, the birth place of King Arthur! where i learnt that he is more than just a Disney character, who would have thought? I devoured a genuine Cornish Pasty and reveled in this little towns history. A castle in ruins on the edge of a cliff, a place for kings and knights so I’m told.

Ive seen so much, and with just a short drive home.

Camping trip success!

Dublin

Sat, 01 May 2010 01:00:00 +0100

A surprise trip to Dublin, what could be nicer on a random spring weekend! just a quick flight and we’re in The land of Leprechauns, Shamrocks, Rainbows, and pots of gold…. just kidding! But it is the land of Guinness, and i intended to feast on pint after pint of the sweet national nectar! We roamed the old streets of Dublin, and were surrounded with Irish charm, that and other tourists But alas, we found our solitude in sweet little pubs, serving up our one and only. Guinness in Dublin… what could be more sweet. And how is it so, that it tastes so much better? Another national favorite: Irish Stew! Cozy in a small pub, keeping warm, indulging on the finest of stews, with the heartiest of breads, and the most divine pint money can buy. We walked along old and new streets, saw museums, castles, the canal and city parks, in the rain, the sun, and under the stars.

Oscar Wilde loved it here, and i now understand why.

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Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Pond Hop!

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0100

Dearest friends, i have taken the plunge and moved across the ocean to England to live with my beautiful Boyfriend! The decision to do this was no harder than than wondering whether or not to brush my hair, of course I’m going to! The magical experience that this will be, and already is, is astounding. To live a day to day life here will be an adventure like no other! I’m so excited to travel every inch of this country, and to take advantage of being neighbors with Europe! Be prepared to see a tour of all things, and ill try my best to get them all up here. As it stands I’ve got a 2 year work visa, so I’m just rolling with it, and letting the wind take me where i need to be! Ive settled into Exeter nicely with Simon, and found a lovely salon to work at! So now that’s good, ill be setting out whenever possible to explore, explore, explore!

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Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

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Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Mexico - Te Quiero

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Bienvenidos! Mexico holds a special place in my heart. The raw, authentic culture sets me on fire! From the food to the music, to the warm spirited people, and the beautiful landscape. Mexico breeds fun! people go here to have fun, and to let loose! Ive been a few times before, and always prefer the off the beaten path, renting a house sort of vacation. This time was with my boyfriend, my sister and her husband, all of whom had never been to Mexico before, and all of whom are amazing friends! We set off to Puerto Vallarta, and found hotels in the old town, also known as the Romantic zone! This place oozed culture, what some might call a dirty street, i call raw authentic, and i loved it! Mexico is a place of never ending wandering, constant sunshine, and the amazing ability to find a perfect place to sit on the beach and sip beer and Margaritas all day. When beers as cheap as water, you find yourself in a tipsy haze most days, and its lovely. We made it our quest to dine into the most divey of joints, and with each new place we found the best food we’d tasted. The flavour is astounding, and the price is ridiculously cheap! We did a few typical boaty things, but this wandering in search of food, was our most favorite. I can still pick out my favorite of places, nestled into a random tiny street, with the bar stool seating, and the best fajitas on earth.

Our trip was one to be remembered forever. A week of bonding, exploring, and taking some beautiful pictures!

Buenas Noches!

A good friend Hawaii

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

My Quickie Vacations to Hawaii always leave me so refreshed and energized.

That first glimpse of the sun sparkling blue water and its magnificent waves, the smell of the sweet fruity air, the first moment of my toes in the sand, and that unforgettable relaxing moment when i lay back and listen to the waves and remember: i am in Hawaii!

But as it all must end, i hold on to those beautiful moments. Those remnants of salt and sand on my body and in my hair. The bitey kiss the sun has left across my cheeks. And the smell of coconut that still lingers around me like a fluffy cloud of tropical fragrance.

oh Hawaii, i bid you adieu

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Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Feta Cheese and Olives

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

AHHHHHH finally a break from reality in form of a 3 week vacation, *sigh*

Back to England, back to my lovely boyfriend, then off to Cyprus for some romance and sunshine. England is wonderful to me. Though its raining more than usual, maybe foggy, and cloudy and wet and not so bright out, these things keep me intrigued. I walk down the, what Simon might call just a boring neighborhood, and i feel as though im in some movie or tv set. Like Ive just walked onto the set of Coronation Street, and i love it!
The people in Exeter, where i spend most of my time, are LOVELY. Simons friends are such a vivacious kind of fun, spunky and hyper, with a wonderful sense of humour. I really laugh so much while there my tummy is all kinds of hurting. Theres such a wonderful modesty to clubbing as well. And by that i mean you get these fun people, craving a good night out with good friends, so they dress as they will ( which naturally is trendy, we ARE in England) and they find a familiar watering hole, they have a good laugh, and then they scoot off to some place where they can break it down English style. A side note, guys love dancing here, its amazing! Ok, the clubs: trendy dressed, fun loving, drunk and dancing and not one sense of cheesy or sickly sluttyness( like you find pretty much everywhere here in calgary) plus did i mention the music is always GOOD! this is reason enough for me to love the ways of an English night out, you can always count on good music. end.

We then hopped on a plane to a little place called Pathos, Cyprus! We got in at night, so it wasn’t until we woke up and went out onto the balcony that we truly, or at least I, had the first glimpse of the Mediterranean! it was gorgeous! The white washed color of all the buildings, the blue blue ocean, the cloudless sky, and that wonderful innate feeling that - i am far far away from home! This place was beautiful we were staying at, a friend of simons flat. So we had our own little home for a week, our own little kitchen to cook all our own food! Now we were a little bit of a hike to get really anywhere, long walks plus bus rides, but its all of this that makes you feel like your living there, and makes you at the end of your trip feel as if you now know this place! We took beautiful pictures, we swam at the gorgeous beaches, we walked about the old and new parts of town, we tasted local delights, and created our own delights, we baked in the sun, and walked in the shade, we slept in for the sunrises, but watched every sunset in awe. All in all we tasted life in Cyprus and loved it.

I still dream about the Olives and Feta cheese!

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Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Truth

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
- St. Augustine

My Definition is my Inspriration

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Vegabond as described in the yahoo dictionary, as well as most any dictionary states the following:

VEGABOND: Noun: A person without a permanent home who moves from place to place.
A wanderer; a rover. Adjective: characteristic of a wanderer; nomadic. Aimless; drifting. Irregular in course or behavior; unpredictable. intr.v. vag·a·bond·ed , vag·a·bond·ing , vag·a·bonds

To lead the life of a vagabond; roam about

Most importantly to me, is the last bit: “to lead the life of a vegabond; roam about”. the most beautifully simple statement, but one of which profoundly moves me. The idea of permanently wandering the earth may not appeal to every soul on earth, but if compared to the definition of traveller, the worlds seem very alike. I myself wish to be a vegabond forever, to the ends of the earth, maybe not consistently moving my home from place to place, but when in a new place, sinking in as if it IS home. And allowing myself to be a child of the earth, taking in life, experiencing everywhere tucked away in the tiniest corner of this vast expansion.

Secondly: the ME part of the title, Vegabond Me, is referring to the chances you have to be a vegabond out of the regular daily routine. You need a break? Vegabond yourself…. and so i say to the world, and to myself whenever it need be: Vegabond Me!