Violet & Wild Orchid

'Violet, you're turning violet, Violet!'

Pretty Peonies

I was feeling a little flat, so I bought myself some flowers. Thanks me!

Quote Creator

There are many apps and websites (I used canva to create mine) that allow you to combine your favourite quote with gorgeous imagery, be it your own photo or one from their stock library. I chose to use a photo of the photogenic pink cherry blossoms I just can't get enough of come Spring.  

It was simple, fun and only took a few minutes! 

Your Mind Or Body Should Be On A Journey

To me books are not a luxury, they are essential. They are one of the best tools for learning about the world and peoples experiences, whether I'm off exploring it myself or tucked under the covers at home. 

I've heard that 'Either your mind or body should be on a journey.' I'd recently taken my body AND mind on a journey throughout Asia, and while exploring the continent I also read a few bloody good books along the way. After getting home and realising it may be a while until I take my body on another big journey, I decided to continue the journey for my mind by buying the books recommended to me by fellow travellers.

Here are the books I read while travelling:

Wild by Cheryl Strayed: I seem to have been attracted to stories of strong women of late. Whether it be to hike the Pacific Crest Trail or something of the like, this book will likely empower you no matter what journey you're currently taking, or plan to take in the future. Many women before you surely have. To quote Anchorman, 'Times are changing. Women can do stuff now.'

You never know, maybe 'The Wild' effect will take a hold of you too!

Marching Powder: A True Story of Friendship, Cocaine and South America's Strangest Jail by Rusty Young: This book is one of the most interesting stories I've ever read and one that I won't be forgetting any time soon. Bolivia's notorious San Pedro prison, also known as 'The prison run by prisoners' has received much interest and media attention since Rusty's book release in 2003. A society within itself, inmates have to buy their own cell, carry out work to earn a living (little food is provided with little nutrients to survive off), and wives and children of the inmates live together in the prison.

Convicted English drug trafficker Thomas McFadden's often dark and shocking experiences throughout his sentence in the prison are told through his eyes, written by Aussie backpacker Rusty who stayed voluntarily in Thomas's prison cell for months while he wrote the book and the two forged a lifelong friendship. Thomas eventually ran illegal tours of the prison which attracted backpackers to La Paz (at one time it was even featured as a tourist attraction in the Lonely Planet), which have since been shut down. At times the story is extremely confronting - after reading one particular part I had to put the book down to process the horror of what I'd just read. The prison is one of the most bizarre, unique, violent and dangerous places in the world.

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: The 10th anniversary of this book (and coincidentally also my 10th anniversary since my first visit to Indonesia when I was 17) meant that during my second visit to the country this book was for sale everywhere! I eventually gave in and picked it up at the airport, and I'm so glad I did. My favourite quote by writer Alain de Botton is 'Most of what makes a book 'good' is that we are reading it at the right moment for us.' I read this book at precisely the right time - after boarding a plane solo for an overseas trip and while on a spiritual journey in Ubud... you don't get much more cliché than that! I have a theory about the Eat Pray Love story: if you don't love it, you don't get it.


Here are the books I read after getting home:

What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristin Newman: 'That 70's Show' writer and wanderluster Kristin recounts her hilarious overseas adventures as a single woman. For any woman who has ever been asked 'so when are you going to stop travelling and settle down.'

Farm Sanctuary by Gene Baur: A confronting look into the world of factory farming that will make you question your daily diet choices.

Troppo by Madelaine Dickie: This story centers around a young girl who travels to Indonesia after opportunity to work for a man who runs a hotel by the beach arises. Upon arrival she's warned by everyone she meets that he has a terrible reputation and dangerous relationship with the locals. Based on a true story, you'd be shocked to discover just how much of this actually happened.