I got the Job! but my beau's feeling sore

   I've been a bit quiet lately, this is because, although I have decided to stay in Australia, I still want to be in the inspiring world of travel. So I have been busy trying to get a job as a travel consultant. This morning, my work has paid off, and I got a job offer (which I promptly accepted), and on Monday I will start learning how to send others off on adventures! As a 35 year old entering the industry it did seem like my options were limited, but I'm adamant that I can do this and do it well.

   Yay!, I couldn't think of a better option for me at this point in time. And I think it might be the first job I have ever had which is, well, normal. 

   On the other side of things my beau fell off his (push) bike yesterday morning and had to go to hospital and get patched up. He also broke a tooth and so he isn't looking too good, or feeling too good, and he is facing a lot of dental work.  I had wondered how I would be if a crisis hit... maybe it would make me want to head off again and have no responsibilities. But no! I got into car and drove 1.5 hours to Brisbane, and then phoned hospitals until I found out which emergency department had him so that I could go and 'be there'. I wanted to be there for him!

Disaster in Japan

   A couple of years ago my favourite cousin came to me with a question.
   "Should I go to Asia and teach?".
   "Yes!" I said.
   She hadn't travelled a lot, and she knew her family wouldn't like the idea, and so she had opted to ask me before she asked anybody else, because she wanted to hear a positive response first. Despite the fact she also has a husband and 2 young children, I really thought there should be no hesitations.
   At the time, she had talked about China, but in the end she chose to go to Japan. The husband and children, of course, went too. And now a disaster has hit! (The Earthquake, Tsuanami and problems of the nuclear power plant).
   Her mother says she should never have gone, but I disagree completely. One shouldn't live life as if something bad might happen, because mostly it won't.
   At this point, my cousin and her family are all fine. I believe they might be currently flying back to Australia, after having had 6 months there. I wonder if they will go back?

Should I stay or should I go?

   It was only in my last post that I told readers that I am staying on for the sake of a man I met. And now I am having hesitations.
   You see, until now I was occupied with a project I was doing. I was cleaning up the flood damage in a 5000sqm industrial shed. A group of us cleaned, then I stayed on to co-ordinate the builders, electricians, and plumbers, while I myself painted the offices. It was a massive job that took me 8 solid weeks. But that job has come to an end and the tenants have moved in, and I am left deciding what to do with my future.
   As for staying with the man, yes I still enjoy his company, but could he please send me flowers and ring me and offer to take me out? For dinner or to a movie, or something else. Just 2 months in, and he seems to think effort is no longer required.
   I could be to blame in this, men, and even friends, do seem to leave many of the "us" decisions and suggestions to "me". But I would like some to come from "he". And, in the first week, when I still had my sights set firmly on travelling he called me constantly and I asked him not to. Now I wish I hadn't said a thing.
   A problem, for me, is that I feel like whether I stay or go, then that will be it. I think I either choose to keep backpacking now, or I chose to stay and commit to a life here. There should be no in-between, I must do something properly.
   I actually I want to stay, I loved backpacking but I also want to work towards a future, build a sustainable house, have a sustainable garden, and this man reckons he wants that too! I've started applying for jobs, and this time I'm happy to take a job that requires some commitment.

Staying On

Ok, I got back to Australia early in December and I did promise that I would head away again and keep travelling, and yet I haven't left!
   I had a few things I wanted to do in my life, travel was clearly one of them. Another dream I was harbouring for quite a while was to have some self sufficient Permaculture lifestyle, one day in the future, but it wasn't something I wouldn't want to do alone. And so, being that I was still single, I figured I would keep travelling, as I find it pretty good to do alone.
   So, what happened? I came back to Australia, and got stuck in the flood cleanup (which I finally expect to finish this week), and I met a man who seems, so far, to tick all the right boxes for me. The floods might have been a lucky event for us because they made me stay around long enough to get to know him.
   Of course it's early days now, so who knows.... but for now I am staying in Australia.
   If people are interested I will keep writing about my travel adventures... I have plenty more!
 
   Oh, and those nasty things I wrote about Peruvian men.... well this one seems different!

Backpacker Pack List continued, again!

Ok, continuing on with what to take backpacking...

Towel
   I really don't like travel towels and prefer to travel with an old worn cotton towel. But I did wish I had a little towel for my feet and and Croc sandals.

A friend had this little towel-in-pouch. I wished I had one.

Toiletries
   I have travelled with people who travel with a tremendous lot of bathroom products, but I've got no intention of being a beauty queen, and so I just keep things pretty basic. Here's one thing that you can learn.... it seems that, in my experience, toilet paper is available in most parts of the world. Yes, you might need to carry a roll, but no, you won't need to bring it from home!
   Regarding shampoo, if you can get to a Lush shop you can get a shampoo bar, other shops might sell them too leave a comment if you know of places). Used correctly (not much is needed each time) a bar will last for ages. I wash my hair about twice a week and I made one bar last a whole year. I kept it in a sock made of the same stuff as what winter tights (ladies) are made from, and I kept regular soap in the other sock of the pair. These socks kept the bars together, and kept the space taken up in my toiletries bag to a minimum.
   I discovered that a good comb was sufficient enough, and I didn't need to carry a hairbrush. You will probably want a moisturiser. In Peru I discovered buying individual satchels of Ponds moisturiser was cheaper than buying a tub, and the satchels were more convenient.
   To shave, look for shaving oil, a little bottle lasts a long time.
   Nappy pins are essential.... daily to hang a wet facecloth to dry, and you are bound to find other uses.
   Important! Toiletry bags are much better if they have a strong, large hook to hang them with. If it doesn't you might have to sit your bag on a wet bench.
   Finally, GIRLS ONLY, a menstrual cup (see http://menstrualcups.org/ to find out more) works wonders at home and whilst travelling. They are easy to use, just take a bottle of clean water with you to the toilet when it's time to deal with it. When you have a menstrual cup you won't have to search for pads or tampons ever again.

Miscellaneous Travel Essentials
   A swim shirt! Australians call them 'Rashies'. They protect your skin from the sun, especially whilst swimming (because a regular shirt doesn't perform as well when wet). These are great, especially if you are travelling alone and not comfortable the stares of locals or wanting to ask any Tom to rub suncream on your back.
   A hat - preferably a broad brim hat that you can fold or stuff into your bag.
   Suncream
   Sunglasses.
   A first aid kit. From the travel doctor.
   Pen, notebook.

Well, that, I think, covers it!