"And this too was Greece.."

First day in Byron Bay, Australia.
February 2012.

I love connecting travel to art and poetry.  Both powerful forms of expression harness how a new destination touches the mind, body, and spirit...how an unfamiliar environment invigorates the senses...how the intellect is stimulated and the heart transformed.

Another Island

by May Sarton

And this too was Greece: 

Water so clear

A jellyfish looked opaque;

Silence so transparent

A voice could scratch it

Like a pane of glass;

A long crescent of white sand

Where we found

Not a broken hand of Aphrodite

Nor a silver coin,

But small pink shells,

The rockrose

White as foam

Under the dark pines--

And across the translucent sea

Another island

Floating on a dark blue line.

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The Trail to the Lighthouse

{Australia Challenge Day 7}

Two and half hours later, I returned to my hotel room. My feet sloshed around in my sneakers as droplets of water hit the floor from my clothing. I grabbed my towel hanging in the closet and wrapped it around me for warmth. I plopped on the bed and kicked off my sneakers to rest my feet.

"How was the hike," my roommate asked in a concerned but curious voice.

Smiling I replied, "Great!"

 I had just completed the popular trail to the historic Cape Byron Lighthouse. A midday storm hit the seaside town during the descent of my hike. But the trail's scenic complexities play to the senses, easily distracting hikers from physical discomfort felt from weather fluctuations and the steep uphill climb. 

Below are few pre-storm photos from my time on the trail. Enjoy!

Adventures in Sea Kayaking

{Australia Challenge Day 6}

Take a risk. Be nervous. 

Try something you've never done before.

I did. And was. 

And it turned out like this:

My Go Sea Kayak Tour Group.

Coming in on a wave! Me w/my German kayaking partner Fabian.

Salt water in the eyes! I am a mid-west girl through and through. I never got use to the salt water of the ocean.

Fabian and I were both trying stand on the boat simultaneously.
Needless to say, we were both in the water seconds after this photo was taken.

Snacking on Tim-Tams, and patting ourselves on the back for an awesome morning tour.

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The Truth of Our Choices.

Atlantic Byron Bay
@Byron Bay, Australia February 2012

"It is our choices, Harry, that shows us what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

{Australia Challenge Day 5}

Travel at its core is a person or group of people making a lot of choices.

Choosing destinations. Choosing lodging. Choosing modes of transportation.

{trains, planes, automobiles}

Choosing w/whom your travels will be spent.

Choosing urban versus rural. Choosing souvenirs. Choosing guide books.

{Lonely Planet =)}

Choosing clothes to be stuffed in your pack. Choosing shoes to comfort your feet.

{as they pick up particles of life on every road you take}

---

  Analyzing the choices I made in Australia has been an interesting process. The choices I made are concrete evidence of my preferences and biases. If I want to understand who I am and what makes me come alive, I cannot hide from these choices.

One choice I've reflected upon was my decision to avoid "party" hostels.

During the first week of my travels I stayed in Melbourne, and crashed with friends. While traveling alone outside of Melbourne, I chose {subjective to my ideals} cozier accommodations. 

One example would be my stay at Atlantic Byron Bay. This hotel sells a few shared rooms for the same rate as hostels, but is adorable and quiet. No late night disruptions. And my roomies were women just a bit older than myself. One from China studying yoga in the area. One from Germany on a two week vacation mostly involving reading. I absolutely loved this arrangement.

The choice on the surface seems simple. I either wanted to party or I didn't. Right? But I am also a person who enjoys recommendations and getting the inside scoop from those who have gone before me. This led me to discover opinions mostly pointing to one essential component of visiting Byron Bay; party hostels. 

I mauled over the decision for a few days. I scoured the internet reading hostel reviews. I asked more people's opinions. 

"Why am I struggling so much with this decision?" I asked myself. I was struggling because I wanted to go against the dominant advice. My being wanted nothing to do with the "party" hostel. My being wanted quiet. It wanted the beach, the sun, and the ocean. It wanted a massage. It wanted a novel and pen to paper. It wanted trail running, and flora and fauna.

My being wanted a glass of wine {or two} coupled with live music at the end of each relaxing day. For the record, I am not inherently opposed to evenings of debauchery. {Just ask my friends.} But for me on that trip at that moment; it wasn't the experience I was looking for. 

So I chose what I yearn to do more often. I honored my inner voice. I discovered a piece of myself. And I enjoyed every minute of it.

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I Did Not See Kangaroos in Australia...

{Australia Challenge Day 4}

...but I did fall in love with several animals. The photos below are from my Willing Workers On Organic Farmers (WOOF) experience. In future posts, I will discuss WOOFing in depth. But for now, enjoy photos of some adorable furry friends.

Barney!! My favorite animal friend of my entire Australia experience.

Unfortunately when I think of cows, I think of factory farms. Seeing them grazing in this beautiful setting filled me with joy!

 In love with this cat's memorizing deep yellow eyes.

Alpacas!!!
{enough said}

How crazy are those ram's horns?? I was delighted to have a fence between him and I.

Snack time!!! This adorable pup was lucky to have a pear drop from a tree.

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A Media Must Have...

{Australia Challenge Day 3}

In high school, despite my social tendencies, one could typically find me secluded in my room. Bedroom door shut, stereo on, and a stack of magazines at my side. Glamour and Rolling Stone were among my favorites. 

 When I went away to college my magazine stacks slowly disappeared.  My academic classes urged me to think critically about the world.  And I soon felt disillusioned about the way in which the media presented "information" and portrayed women.

Within the past year, magazines have made a resurgence in my life. My ottoman yields stacks of The Atlantic, Runner's World, and Yoga Journal.

And after my Australia travels, I've added one more magazine to the decor of my ottoman; Frankie Magazine. The narratives, art work, photography and cultural insights are fresh, fun, and original. If you've never had the pleasure of flipping through this publication check out the website, or try to find a local store selling this Aussie gem. 

What magazines are sitting on your ottoman these days? What magazines did you read as an adolescent? I would love to read your thoughts! Please leave your lovely comments below.

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Travel, Reading, & Book Club...

{Australia Challenge Day 2}

While traveling in Australia I read the Salinger classic, Franny and Zooey. The words pulled playfully at the corners of my mouth and moved me to put pen to paper. I saw Australia through an altered lens because this paperback was my traveling companion.

Last week my lovely book club ladies and I met to discuss Salinger's words. I was able to share and express all that I had kept to myself while seeking adventure. The evening was joyous. The flow of discussion moved seamlessly as the group showed academic engagement with the text. We chuckled at the characterization of the mother, dissected the obsession with the ego, and disagreed with SparkNotes concerning the interpretation of the ending. We also came to believe that the stories were relevant to the contemplative words of Howard Thurman:

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

What makes you come alive? I would love to hear your thoughts, so leave 

comments below!

image via.

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A Creative Block & Solving Problems.

Chinese Museum, Melbourne.
January 2012.

{Day 1}

I am three weeks removed from my Australian adventure. And with the passing days, my current case of writer's block only seems to intensify. To break myself free of my struggles to contribute to the written word, I am giving myself a blogging challenge. Hooray!

The Challenge:

For 26 days {the length of my travels}, I will continuously post reflections, photos, and insights from my trip on Underlined and Bold. With a little outside accountability, I hope to regain my sense of creativity with words, and rekindle my love of snapping photos. 

Do you ever experience writer's block? What strategies do you use to break away from it?

  I would love to hear your thoughts, so leave 

comments below!

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