To do;

Now that my body is back in sync with this side of the world, it's time that I start implementing changes and making decisions.

Goals;

1) Get a new job (if retail) that does'nt involve persuasion or sales targets
2) Apply for uni
3) Get driver's licence, and with said job, save for a car
4) On the topic of money, start several savings groups;
i) $5 a week for an annual designer wallet/bag/jewellery purchase
ii) $10 a week to replace what I spent in Europe
iii) $5 a week for an annual holiday/roadtrip
5) Save enough money to move out again by January

On track! On track! On track!

Home Sweet Home

At the beginning of this trip, a friend was telling me about his 6 month adventure in Sydney.
I questioned the 6 months- in terms of 'living' in a city this a short period of time.

''Yeah, but you have to go home...y'know?''

9 weeks ago I didnt understand this- travel is the type of adventure you want to last forever.

But I understand what he said now.

The world keeps spinning, even if I dont. To really appreciate this adventure, I have to return to the norm....

As ready as I (reluctantly hope) I am to get back to life as I know it, I am content with saving up and doing it all again next year....

Smoke and Candles.

I write this on the eve of my 19th birthday. It's 4:15pm and I'm nearing Barcelona.
It's the last leg of Ash+ my European trip...
It's raining outside and the sky is pasted in grey.
I'm flicking through music on my ipod that, at this time of day, makes me reflect on the last couple of months...
It's been absolutley hella crazy fun. I've had such a ball running around this incredible part of the world. I wish I could do this forever!
It's funny how that each year that passes, we are usualy in a completley differant state of mind. This time last year...this was all just a dream. Apart of the 'grand plan'.

Tomorrow, I am officially older and wiser. '19' is such an ugly sounding age. I'm already having hang ups of being 'old'! But I guess this is the real beginning of the 'prime' years of my life.
Still, being 18 is a great year. Trying, sometimes painful, and a whole heap of old fashioned teenage fun- It's the gateway to adulthood, where everything is new, fresh and exciting.

I think a good way of looking at one's birthday is to think of it as a clean slate. A new year, without beginning the seasons over.
I want all this and more!
Here's to the future...

The world is big.

Went out to dinner the other night with the busabout group. It was the first night in Nice, France, and I had mediocre expectations of what it will be (Merci, Pari)

The bookings are at an Irish Pub, but upon arrival we all discovered that they stuffed up and had no idea of our group booking.
So our guide Kelly managed to go to a romantic little french restraunt across the road and negotiated wth the owner.

The set menu (for same price as the pub would have charged) was by far the nicest meal we'd eaten so far...

But the converstaions we had that night really made me realise how big the world is and of how possible anything is...

Kelly was so enthusiastic for us- particualry at the fact we've started travelling young. As a person, I could tell she was hungry for life and was in awe of how lovely this litle stuff up had turned out.

On our table, there was a group pf friends in particular, who intrigued me- 2 girls and a guy- who told us after doing Europe they were all moving to London for a year.

Why?

'Just for a fresh change, to
meet new people. Were all sick of the same old....'

brilliant.

Perhaps?

I cant help but look to the future.
I'm in the middle of an amazing adventure- the best I have ever embarked upon! But with 2 weeks to go, I'm subconciously having odd dreams of home instead of the next city I'll be in tomorrow...

I think, I think, I think...

Hmmm.
When I return, I'll enforce some fresh changes into life.

The thought of Melbourne... dare I say? Bores me a little. I think very, very soon it will be time for a location change....

Cafes; Germany; Munich; Berlin; Inspiration

I want to own my own cafe one day- with a fish bowl inside a tv, loungey vintage couches and kitsch 70's decor. And a big leafy smoking terrace...