Nostalgia Sunday

It's really beyond acceptable that my last post was in February. A few fellow bloggers have inspired me to keep calm and carry on....this whole daily thanks thing isn't really working out for me, is it? I may have to change the theme, but am picking up where I left off. A lot has happened in the past few months, we've made some wicked and fast approaching holiday plans, I've started a new job and am attempting to cook as many tasty, roasted meats as possible (including the shoulder of lamb currently in the oven). So watch this space...

I'm feeling a little nostalgic today as I sit in the sun eating my tuna, fennel and sprout salad, so this was the perfect Sunday afternoon activity. I promised some pictures of my fave moments over the last year, and plan to deliver, so feast yer eyes on these bad boys. Some I like the actual picture, and some for the memory they bring. My technical blogging skills aren't the hottest, so bear with me...

 African sunsets....this one is in Senegal.

 This may seem an odd one, but a fond memory of bush camping when overlanding....if I recall we played frisbee and drank cold beer.

Who wouldn't love a cart with chickens???

 I'm not sure what I like more, the goats in the street, or the girl wearing the Obama shirt....

 By far the best part of Africa is the people, especially the kids. Even if they are snotty, they get SO excited about seeing their picture. Who can say no to this face???

 And now we're in Mali in Dogon Country. An absolutely amazing place. In 40 degree heat (or just over 100 degree for you Fahrenheit-ers) the men of this village danced for us the traditional Dogon dance. It's basically the story of a hunter and the hunted done to some fascinatingly huge drums. Unforgettable. Sadly though last I heard the political situation in Mali was incredibly unstable due to rebellions and so forth and the country has been pretty much off limits for travelling. The next few pics speak for themselves I think...

 A woman carrying sticks on her head. We were regularly lapped by people carrying various items on their heads, most notably our guides who were carrying a few gallons of water in a jerry can on their heads.

 

Dogon Country

 And now we're in Ghana, Cape Coast to be exact. Not only are they fishermen, but the town had a massive role to play in the slave trade.

 The beach in Ghana...the only thing missing from this picture are the millions of bats! Gross...

Hello from Bangkok!!! I couldn't resist this one...

 Bangkok again...Wat Pho to be exact, home of the giant reclining Buddah. Here they sold bags of copper coins that you could drop one by one into the vessel and it made the most amazing sound. You could hear it before you saw it. I thought it must be something amazing the monks were doing.

LAOS!!!

A trek from Luang Num Tha to the Elephant Hills near the China border.

Buddahs Buddahs everywhere...

 Fishermen on the Mekong (Si Phan Don, Laos)

MEKONG!!

 CAMBODIA!!

Dr Fish massage...

 Street food...

Expataversary

It has arrived, our one year (+ 1 week and 2 day) anniversary of living in Australia! For me, it's an expat-anniversary, something to be celebrated. I arrived in Australia in fashion: a wheelchair through customs after an all-expenses-paid business class flight (thank you again Columbus Travel Insurance). Though I don't recommend trying to use the bathroom on an airplane with crutches, a LOT harder than it looks. 

So now I give you these special moments from the past year:

Best: Walking without crutches after only 3 weeks of physio. 

More challenging: Trying to paint the ceiling of our flat with a wet roller, and more broadly, trying to paint the whole flat in 2 days. 

Favourite country visited: Between a road trip to the Rocky Mountains/Grand Canyon/Santa Fe, Eastern Europe by train, West Africa by overland, and South East Asia by bus? It was a tie. Croatia and Saravejo. (MacBoyfriend said Romania, just FYI.)

Most rewarding: Running on the treadmill.

Perhaps there's a bit of a theme developing here...it's a bit obvious to say, but I am thankful for all that I am physically able to do. I know there are more categories, but don't really think the answers would stray too much from this theme. If there's any other categories you would like to propose, please feel free. Otherwise, stay tuned for some favourite pictures to go with the theme. 

Mountains

I know there were big promises about an epic post, and there are plans to follow through, may just be a day longer.

For now, can I say, I am thankful for other people making me breakfast all weekend. And lunch. And dinner. We went to the Blue Mountains and may be converts of the country way of life.

And now I drink tea and watch Homeland. It's less violent, but who knows what will happen in the 'movie length' episode. Two hours of anything is a big call...we'll see how it goes...