About Me

Hi!

I grew up in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, & I've got wanderlust. Here's a bit about me.

Short version?

I got super lucky, with an exchange in California, USA, & later working in London, UK, where my wanderlust grew & threaded itself through me. I work the full time office job, which makes itself no small part of me. But it's travelling where my heart lives. I love the feeling of freedom, love the architecture of nature & history. The human connections too, those brief moments with their ripple effects. So. This is a record of where my heart lives.

Longer version?

Growing up I got to see a good amount of the country (though I can't take credit for this - mostly family or school trips!). While studying I did the (rushed) drive across the country a number of times, between studies in Cape Town & hometown Pietermaritzburg. It is an amazing breath-taking stomach tightening place. Such striking contrasts. The beautiful beaches & coastlines, the grand majestic mountains (Drakensberg being one), the dry-sharp expanse of the Karoo, the varied awesome wildlife spaces. And then there are the urban spaces that are no less varied or intense. For me, it's somewhere you feel life.

During this time I got an amazing opportunity to study abroad in California, USA. I met great people from around the world (living with other exchange students), built enduring friendships &, of course, went on as many roadtrips as I could. Despite how much I deeply, messily love South Africa, the travel bug was only bigger & more demanding. And I was lucky enough to scratch that itch, following the well worn path to London as my launch pad (may be unoriginal for South Africans who could afford the opportunity, but it was one of the few places South Africans could work). London was great to explore from & also gave me a partner in crime, Ben.

As my UK visa expired I moved to Ireland & spent 3.5 tough years studying for my career. In spite of the studies, Dublin & Ireland nuzzled it's way into my heart. Dublin re-humanised me after London's tube ratrace - total strangers smile & greet you on public transport. You can easily find yourself chatting away to the person next to you on transport, in queues, & nights out are a whole 'nother story! I've been here a good while now & could talk about it ages - but I'll stop myself!

After them icky studies, things fell into place for the "trip of a lifetime" (I use that phrase not understanding it - just 1 trip a lifetime?) - 6 of us in a basic 4x4 travelling around Southern Africa for 5 months. I won't lie, of course there were tough times along the route, but travelling for that amount of time gets you into a whole different space. I felt more restored, stronger, than I can ever remember coming back from that trip.

So, this is a record of travels, where my heart feels most alive, where I "feel" life. Even if just to remind myself.