Category: Travel

culture, Travel

My biography, as told by my booze

A personal atlas of alcohol.

Before you get the wrong impression, this post is not about booze-filled nights from my backpacking days. It’s an anthology of anecdotes and memories, linked by a common theme: alcoholic beverages.

My discovery of different drinks parallels some important memories. These are what I’d like to share with you.

So let me take you from my childhood, all around the world and back home again. In this brief autobiography, I’ll let the alcohol do the talking. Continue reading My biography, as told by my booze

Suansita5 Comments
Travel

10 Tips For More Meaningful Travel

What’s the difference between a tourist and a traveller? And how can we have more meaningful travel experiences even while traveling for leisure?

Throughout my experiences of being a tourist, exchange student, international intern and expat, I have been reflecting constantly on these questions of identity, foreignness and the assumptions bound up in the practice and concept of travel. Continue reading 10 Tips For More Meaningful Travel

SuansitaLeave a comment
Travel

Seeya, Sydney

You cried the day I left. Well, I like to think grey skies and rain spattered across the windshield means I meant something to you. Part of me wants to say you were a detour. But that would be unfair on you and, frankly, inaccurate. My life the novel, and you’re a chapter – no less vital to the story than the ones that preceded you, or the ones that will be … Continue reading Seeya, Sydney

Suansita1 Comment
Random Thoughts, Travel

No chocolate fix at Sweet Addiction

Question: What does a $14 million state-of-the-art glasshouse and a $15 entry ticket to the new Sweet Addiction chocolate exhibition get you? Answer: Three cacao pods and two complimentary Lindt balls. Look, I know we’re latitudes away from chocolate’s South American origins, but when three pieces of cacao fruit are all you see in an exhibition pitched at chocolate lovers, you wonder if you’re getting your money’s worth. Unless … Continue reading No chocolate fix at Sweet Addiction

Suansita1 Comment
Travel

Reflections from the Reef

Dreaming Embedded somewhere in my subconscious is the ultimate Tourism Australia campaign. Sure I also learned how to spell, do long division and love reading, but one curious legacy of my primary schooling is my Photoshopped notion of Australia. They immersed us in ecosystems and conservation, the outback and the bush, dot paintings, wet and dry seasons, beach life and the surf. Despite having spent 75 percent of my life … Continue reading Reflections from the Reef

Suansita3 Comments
Identity, Travel, Work

Next stop: Sydney

Tomorrow will be my first day in Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, paid employment in Sydney. There is so much “normal” in that one sentence it’s not even funny. Don’t pretend you’re not disappointed. I’m trying not to be. “So when are you going back to South America?” “What are you doing here? Just here for a break?” These are things people have actually, literally, … Continue reading Next stop: Sydney

Suansita7 Comments
culture, Travel

It’s not your fault, Australia

The highest point in all of Australia sits at about the same altitude as the average for the whole province of Loja, Ecuador. It doesn’t even come close to the lowest point in the entire city of La Paz, Bolivia, let alone the altitude of any of the surrounding mountains. I like to tout these little trivia tidbits but am increasingly conscious of coming off as … Continue reading It’s not your fault, Australia

Suansita2 Comments
Travel

Torotoro: Dinosaurs and rocks that rock

Hello! Here’s a quick post to give you the low-down on visiting Torotoro National Park, Bolivia. We did a 3-day tour over the 6 de agosto public holiday, and what I’ll say is this: never before have rocks looked so fabulous. Day 1: Cascada de Golondrinas Day 2: Umajalanta Day 2: Ciudad de Itas Day 3: Cerro Waylas Day 3: El Vergel General advice for visiting Torotoro … Continue reading Torotoro: Dinosaurs and rocks that rock

SuansitaLeave a comment
Faith, Identity, Travel

Travel delusions

Note: I was pleased and privileged to have this post published on A Life Overseas. In that process, I was able to flesh out my original post, which I now consider a draft. This “draft” appears below but to be honest, I am much happier with the slightly amplified version and I encourage you to read it here: http://www.alifeoverseas.com/travel-delusions/ * It cost me USD436 to renew my passport. … Continue reading Travel delusions

Suansita6 Comments
Travel

All About Altitude (Charquini and Chacaltaya)

I thought we were going to the jungle. Turns out we went to a glacier. On the road Emerging from La Paz, we drove a couple of hours through the desolate, windswept Bolivian altiplano. Our first stop was a miners’ graveyard – popular with tourists, judging by the busloads that had arrived before us. I don’t blame them. The quaint tombs (like mini cottages … or kennels) … Continue reading All About Altitude (Charquini and Chacaltaya)

Suansita1 Comment