It’s not that far from capitol city Canberra, Australia, to the coast, and makes for a lovely 2 day getaway. With friends Amanda & Maurice, we popped our way in & out of shops in several quaint little Australian towns on our way to the coast at Wollongong. It’s fun to look, even thought I don’t have extra money to spend, space in my backpack, or a home to bring anything back to. But someday I may, and in the meantime,...

A friend in the States asked me on Skype the other day if I’m really as happy as I appear in my Facebook photos, and the short answer is yes, absolutely. I’m meeting interesting, fun, kind & generous people, seeing beautiful places, and learning new things every day. It reminds me of when I sold most of my possessions the first time, 8 years ago, and moved across the country to California with just what fit in my little Toyota....

According to locals in Canberra, their city is not tops on the tourist route, but should be, as they have much to offer. It’s a beautiful city, originally planned out through a design competition, which was won by an architect from Chicago in the US! In the center a lovely lake meanders, providing a place to sail or sit and ponder, or walk, run or bike along it’s shore. Cultural opportunities abound. The National Gallery has a great...

…and bonus, Secret Sydney! You may have heard of Sydney’s famous Manly & Bondi beaches (pronounce it Bond-eye!) They live up to their reputations for scenic beauty & waves, and are a great place to people watch. Take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. You’ll cruise right past the Opera House and get great views of the harbor. Once there, pass through the main street of surf shops & restaurants, pick up a new...

Many people fear traveling, and let that keep them from exploring the world. It’s much safer to stay at home, right? What if something really bad happens? Like a terrorist attack or someone unhinged taking innocent people hostage? This actually happened while I was in Sydney recently. I was, in fact, less than 3 blocks away from the Lindt Cafe where a lone man took 17 people hostage and held them at gunpoint for 17 hours. I had no idea...