I’m back into a life of having things like a house with a dining table, couch, and plates and glasses. But the great part is that we design and create these pieces of furniture ourselves, such as our new lamp.

I work with both an agency in Isabela and the Charles Darwin Station in Santa Cruz which means attending meetings, working to deadlines and sitting at my laptop for a few hours everyday to work. But the fantastic part about my work is I do it most often from the dining room table in my house, outside of the main hub of Puerto Ayora. As a contractor I can work from wherever I am, allowing me to maintain the freedom I’ve discovered I need in my life.

It’s also nice to be earning money in an enjoyable way, feeling like I am making somewhat of an impact with my work and making future plans.

Changing from a life of constant travel to one of more ‘normalcy’ means that I have good friends who I catch up with regularly. We go out for dinner, have drinks in each other’s houses, have friend’s pop over to our house if they are in the area, and it’s nice. I still move between the islands here in Galapagos. As I work for organisations on 2 different islands, and my love of and desire to travel remains deeply imbedded within my soul, I like being able to change where I live and reduce the boredom I am prone to suffer living in the same place doing the same thing everyday.

Galapagos is a beautiful place to live

There is a good sized expat community who live in Galapagos, therefore I am surrounded but many different languages, cultures and customs which is one of the things I loved staying in hostels while traveling. There are also a lot of local events in Galapagos that we participate in. Local fairs, outdoor cinema nights, beach events and parties happen frequently and, as an expat with more time and resources than I had as a backpacker, are something that I happily participate in.

Though I am currently traveling less, my future plans are still very much around travel. With plans to return to Australia to visit, friends located around the world, the USA a very short flight away, and family and friends located in the Ecuador mainland, travel still plays a big role in my life.

So though my blog posts will be less frequent, I will still write them. I still enjoy incredible opportunities, adventures and experiences here that I want to keep sharing with readers.

The post From Backpacker to Expat appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

Living in Galapagos is amazing and there is not one day that I do not appreciate the wonderful life we have here, but island fever is a very real thing and sometimes we just need a break. So with both work and leisure purposes in mind, my husband and I saw a flight sale from Guayaquil to NYC and took advantage.

Living in South America allows us to find great flight sales into and around the US. I was able to book return flights from Guayaquil city to JFK, New York for $500USD per person. As our travel dates were in January, which is low season in the States due to winter weather, I was able to get a great deal on an Airbnb apartment in the Upper West Side. We also decided to add to our US travel by visiting Washington DC. Again as January is low season we were able to get a nice self-contained suite in a quality hotel for a very reasonable price in the heart of downtown DC.

Over New Year’s, knowing that we were boarding a flight to the US in a couple of weeks, we watched as the coldest New Year’s Eve hit NYC, and an extremely volatile storm unleashed heavy snow and freezing conditions all along the East coast. Not the best for tropical island paradise residents who don’t really own winter clothing, but we remained positive. I even hopefully said, ‘Maybe global warming will work in our favour and there will be an unseasonably warm snap whilst we are there?’ Which was met with blank stares from those I told my theory too.

But that’s exactly what happened! Upon our arrival to JFK at 2am, we decided to take the AMTRAK from Penn Station to Washington DC rather than pay for an overnight hotel room. But when we landed in -3 degree temperatures and walked the NYC streets from one subway station to another at 4am with no gloves, no scarves and one layer of clothing, I was completely unprepared for the level of cold we found ourselves in. Luckily, arriving a few hours later in DC the sun was shining and hotel check in staff told us the weather would be warming for the remainder of the week.

Having not left Ecuador for 18 months, 9 months of which had been spent in Galapagos Islands, it was so exhilarating to arrive into a Western World country knowing that everything would be so easy. There are shops like Victoria Secret, Lush and Best Buy where the newest quality products are available at good prices. Amazon is so easy and everything is available at your finger tips, and having an Airbnb apartment that items could be delivered to, we took full advantage of the Amazon juggernaut that does not exist at all in South America.

Finally the food. Ohhhh the food! Vegan eating is so easy in the US, at restaurants, take away places, and supermarkets. Our first night in Washington DC we ended up with 3 types of takeaway that were all regular restaurants with vegan options within a 10 minute walk of the hotel. Overindulgence I know, but that first night our hearts and stomachs were filled with Western World fat person joy!

We indulged completely in delicious pizza with vegan cheese, Chinese and Thai takeway, and Wholefoods vegan ice cream. We even found Michelin Star Restaurant NIX in NYC that offered affordable Michelin Star food with a separate entirely vegan menu.

The joy we felt from shopping, visiting museums and monuments, and dining out made our 2 week holiday so great.

Though we only saw snow on our final day in NY, we were able to walk through Central Park in both dreary, rainy conditions and bright sunny days and see the lakes frozen over.

The break in the US was exactly what we needed to restock on items we needed, enjoy ourselves to the full and return to Galapagos refreshed and grateful for our tropical island lives.

The post A much needed holiday break in the US appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

Having now settled permanently in Galapagos I’m fortunate to live in a great area with wonderful people. But I am still slowly getting to know the Galapagos community; the locals and the products they produce, the expats and their stories of how they came to be here.

So a couple of months ago we, along with our friends and neighbours, decided to create a local fair – La Chakra del Artesano. An opportunity for the people in our area to show, share and sell their locally produced goods, with the additional benefit of encouraging others to visit from downtown and also getting know members of the community.

The first Fair was held in our front yard – seriously. We live on a large property that is perfectly suited for tents and stalls to be set up in the open area at the front of the house.

We had a variety of locals selling home made and local goods such as jewellery, locally grown coffee, beer, plants and vegetables, and I made my delicious vegan brownies.

We were thrilled with the turn out for the first event. With the sun shining, visitors enjoyed a relaxed Sunday afternoon catching up with each other, buying products, and I’m thrilled to say I sold out of my two plates of brownies.

The success of the first fair was so good, we had double the amount of sellers and visitors for the next fair. With the opportunity to move to a location just down the road that is even better suited to seller’s stalls and the growing fair’s needs, the following month everyone set up their products and enjoyed another great Sunday afternoon of relaxed selling, buying and fun atmosphere.

Now the once a month fair is continuing to grow to the point where sellers need to be turned away as space is becoming limited. These types of events, locally run, organised by those participating and enjoyed by everyone, have allowed me to meet others and get to know more about the people and community I’m now a part of. Whilst selling my popular vegan brownies is definitely a lot of fun, the opportunity to make new friends and integrate myself into the small Galapagos community is the most valuable for me. These types of events are so much fun and there is a real sense of enjoyment and happiness with everyone committed to making the day, and future events, the best they can be.

The post Meeting Galapagos Neighbours by holding a Local Fair appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

Though I’d been a backpacker for the past few years, deciding to begin a new life in one location was a completely different experience with it’s own set of challenges and also rewards.

I’m happy to say that I’m living in a beautiful house, surrounded by open space, fruit trees, highland greenery and peace. I have an amazing husband, am now part of a beautiful Ecuadorian family, and have wonderful new friends and neighbours who drop in to our house and lives on a daily basis.

Of course the flip side of this is that I miss my Australian family and friends everyday. I wish I could join my mum and aunts at their cinema nights, or have Friday night dinner with my best friend. But I can’t and this is the unfortunate side of travel, you always leave something behind. Thankfully Whatsapp and Skype exist so I can still talk and message with my Aussie people, I can’t imagine trying to cope with an overseas move 30 years ago when the internet didn’t exist.

I’m also pleased to say that I’m working, earning money, learning and enjoying what I’m doing far more than when I was sitting in an office all day. I’m fortunate to be able to work as a contractor, meaning that I work from my kitchen table watching the occasional chicken walk past the window. I love the ability to maintain my work life whilst having the freedom to move between islands, or Galapagos and the mainland, or even spend some time in another country.

For 6 months of this year we needed to move to Isabela Island, and whilst the initial setup and settling in to our apartment was at times challenging, it was a wonderful time, getting to watch the sunrise whilst snorkelling, or playing and relaxing on the beach each afternoon.

Whilst there we rode horses up Sierra Negra Volcano in the pouring rain, camped at the top, and awoke to the most amazing sunrise and spectacular scenery. We still move between islands here in Galapagos as work needs arise, and it blows my mind that taking a speed boat between islands is part of my normal life.

Really this all stemmed from a thought 5 years ago that I wanted to leave my life in Australia and do something more. An idea that just wouldn’t quit. If I hadn’t followed my instinct, packed up and started my around the world backpacking adventure, I don’t know what I would be doing today. Actually, that’s not true. The urge to travel, see the world, be brave enough to jump in to the unknown where I knew the happiness I was chasing existed, was so strong I couldn’t ignore it.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this is how my life would be today. I really encourage everyone who is thinking about traveling, volunteering or studying abroad, or just wanting to get out of a daily routine that is not fulfilling you the way you think it should, to work as hard as you can to make whatever you want happen. You won’t regret it.

The post One Year Since Moving to Galapagos, Ecuador appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

Identifying Illegal Fishermen

20 crew members have been arrested after authorities found thousands of protected Hammerhead sharks and endangered Silky sharks in the ship’s hold.

However the ship caught within the Galapagos Marine Reserve is not a fishing vessel. It is instead a carrier vessel whose job is to collect catches from illegal fishing vessels and deliver the catch to port. It is being reported that this seizure is the largest ever within the Galapagos marine sanctuary.

The Galapagos Marine Reserve covers more than 51,000 square miles and is part of a marine corridor that many species of sharks use to migrate. Many fishing vessels wait just outside the reserve protected waters which exposes sharks to illegal fishing fleets.

The catch is then illegally sold into Asian markets where endangered sharks have their fins and cartilage used in Asian dishes such as shark fin soup.

After the ship was seized, by aerial monitoring the Ecuador Navy discovered a fleet of approximately 100 fishing vessels in the waters just south of the protected Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Reaction

Outrage has been felt throughout Ecuador and Galapagos that this high amount of illegal fishing is happening in and around the marine reserve.

Protests have been held both inside and outside of Galapagos by residents and visitors showing the passion and distress at the continued destruction and devastation on protected shark populations.

These protests coincided with the Ecuador government’s announcement that it will be suing the company that owns the Chinese ship for $36.8 billion dollars. This amount is based on the long-term impact of the loss of bio-diversity and damage to the environment this haul has caused. The killing of protected hammerhead sharks has a devastating impact on the area’s bio-diversity, the effects of which will take approximately 20 years to recover from for each shark killed. The crew caught onboard are currently on trial in Ecuador and face a maximum 3 year prison sentence.

What Can be Done?

There is a petition you can sign right now through change.org petitioning the United Nations and the Ecuador Government Communications and Chinese Relations departments to increase the prosecution of vessels caught within the Galapagos Marine Reserve and further increase protection of the reserve and its surrounding waters.

Sign the Petition Now!

Residents are also calling upon Sea Shepherd to begin patrolling the Galapagos Marine Reserve waters as part of their AIS campaign. You can lend your voice to the cause by contacting them through their Galapagos website.

But the most important thing is to spread the word internationally about what is happening. Sharks, fish and all marine species are vitally important for the health of the world and therefore the human population. The imbalance being created by continued killing of endangered species will keep causing extinction and a permanent environmental imbalance that we cannot recover from.

The post Chinese Shark Killing in Galapagos appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

1. Plan in advance.

Start formulating a list of all your diabetic medication and supplies such as insulin, syringes, glucometer and glucose tablets, in addition to other necessities such as pain relief tablets. Be aware that some destinations may have limited or no supplies available, so it is crucial you pack enough to last the duration of your trip.

2. Bring double the amount of medications and diabetic supplies you need.

Building on the previous tip, extra supplies will come in handy and provide a buffer if you decide to stay for longer or accidentally misplace or damage your supplies.

3. Use a durable and light insulin carry-on bag to store your medication and supplies.

Make sure to pack a sturdy case to keep all of your diabetic essentials safe and organised, and a waste disposal unit, such as the MySharps pocket container, to store your used syringes and other used supplies. Including a pack of alcohol wipes will also come in handy, as being on the go can mean you have less opportunities to wash your hands before testing your blood glucose levels. Diabete-ezy Test-wipes, for instance, are made from hospital grade, alcohol free ingredients and are designed to remove any impurities from the fingertip safely and effectively, and are small enough to take with you on your travels.

4. Become familiar with the destination.

It is important to check what the weather will be like before you jet off, as it may mean you need to take cooling cases for your insulin! You may also need additional supplies if you are not in close proximity to pharmacies or shops, so make sure to pack surplus supplies – as mention in the second tip.

5. Take good care of your feet by wearing proper socks and shoes.

Take care and be extra cautious with slight blisters and scratches as they can develop into serious infections. Broken shells and stones on the beach can cut the soles of your feet, so try to wear shoes when walking on the beach. Additionally, make sure to keep moving your feet around when on an airplane or bus which entails long periods of sitting.

Guest Post by IBD Medical

IBD Medical is an Australian-owned boutique pharmacy sales and distribution company. We are committed to providing innovative yet cost-effective solutions to common personal problems. We search the world for high-end quality medical & personal care products that have been proven to be effective. We then make them available to our customers in Australia at affordable prices. Visit our store at www.ibdmedical.com.au to see our range of diabetic supplies and accessories.

The post Why Diabetic Travel Doesn’t Have to be Stressful appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

Most of the time these supplies have an expiry date of 18 months in advance and as an Australian I am fortunate that all the diabetic products I need like insulin, test strips and pen needles are easily available and (mostly) affordable. So before leaving I stocked up with a 5 x 5 supply of both Humalog and Lantus insulins, as well as 9 boxes of test strips, the most available for purchase at one time.

Unfortunately both insulin and test strips either get used up, or have an expiry date which I have found insulin to be quite sensitive to. So I went on a pharmacy search this week to see how to obtain more.

A few months ago when I was in Guayaquil on mainland Ecuador I happened to be at a pharmacy and glimpsed a box a Humalog as the pharmacist opened the refrigerator. This confirmed my thoughts that the insulin I use was available in the country, I just had to work out how to get it and how much it would cost.

To my surprise it was easy, even here in Galapagos. The first pharmacy I visited told me that they had 3 vials of Lantus in stock and they would be able to order the Humalog, which I needed, and it would arrive in the islands 3 days later. Awesome! The price however, is a different story. In Australia thanks to insulin being on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) a box of 25 vials of insulin (5 vials in 5 boxes) costs approximately $46AUD. Usually this supply will last me anywhere from 8 – 10 months. So multiply that by 2 types of insulin, and the cost is approximately $100AUD for 8 months supply, which is very inexpensive.

Here in Ecuador, especially in Galapagos, insulin is not that cheap. A box of 5 vials of Humalog cost $65USD, which is approximately $80AUD for just 5 vials. But it’s here and I can get it easily. So this week as I am in need of Humalog and just ordered the 5 vials and will slowly order insulin as needed.

BSL test strips however are something I am still searching for. I use an Accu-Chek Performa BSL machine and took a bottle of strips to the pharmacy with me. Unfortunately the pharmacist had never seen these strips before and said there was no way to order them. We also asked at another pharmacy chain but were met with the same blank look in regard to the strips. The good news however is that they have other strips and apparently the BSL machines to go with them. So since I have a couple bottles of strips left I will wait, use them up, then see how much a new machine and strips will cost to buy.

I am once again impressed with the Ecuador health system. I have never tried to buy insulin anywhere else in the world other than in Australia, and though I am now a resident of both Ecuador and Galapagos, it would not have mattered if I was a tourist. I did not need to visit a doctor for a script, as I do when I’m in Australia. I simply went to the pharmacy with the insulin vials I needed, and had no problems ordering. Yes the price is more expensive than I’m used to, but I had anticipated it would be. But it is here, easily accessible and allows me to continue to my amazing life here in Galapagos.

The post Buying Diabetic Supplies in Galapagos appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

Last weekend I was very lucky to have the opportunity to horse ride up to the top of Sierra Negra Volcano, one of Galapagos’s very active volcanoes and camp overnight on the edge of the crater.

Many visitors to Galapagos visit the Sierra Negra volcano on a day tour, where a Naturalist Guide leads the group on a 16km walk to the volcano caldera (edge of the rim), with the tour lasting approximately 5 hours. As a resident of Galapagos, I am in the unique position of having friends here who know people in the highlands that own horses. So when the offer was given to go with a couple of guides on horseback up Sierra Negra and camp overnight, of course we said yes.

Our group had a very late afternoon start, not leaving the Galapagos National Park checkpoint at the base of the volcano until 4:30pm. It was raining and we had been told that the ride would take approximately 3 hours with our group of 8 people and horses.

The horse riding learning curve was fast and steep. It was a muddy, uphill walk and for those of us not overly experienced with horses, there were a few slippery moments. Listening to the guides tell me to trust the horse, it will not slip over, hold the hair of the mane and the reins and grip with my legs meant the first hour was pretty tiring, especially as there was constant rain. But I learnt my horse and how to give direction, learnt control pretty quickly and was soon confident to be trotting and into a canter on the more flat areas.

As we left so late, the last 45 minutes of our ride was trotting in the dark to hurry up and get there. Whilst a little nerve racking, after having been on the horses for 3 hours everyone was happy to reach the top of the volcano as quickly as possible and set up camp.

Before leaving Australia I bought and packed a tent in my suitcase and brought it over to Ecuador. Many people thought I was crazy for packing a tent along with a projector and food processor, but I had hoped that we would have the opportunity to go on an adventure like this. The tent was great and we had it set up reasonably quickly in the dark. With the continuing rain a camp fire was unfortunately not possible, though we tried, so we instead enjoyed a picnic dinner of sandwiches with squashed avocados and tomatoes snug in the tent.

At 5am the next morning, we woke before sunrise to a clear sky and the promise of something spectacular. As we had camped on the volcano rim, on one side we could see into the Sierra Negra volcano centre scattered with continuously smoking sulfur mines. On the other side was another of Isabela’s volcanoes, Cielo Azul poking up through the clouds. Both Sierra Negra and Cielo Azul are very active volcanoes, with seismologists recently saying that both could erupt at any time. Over the past month Cielo Azul has had significantly increased seisemic activity and is predicted to be the first to erupt.

As the sun rose, the views were spectacular. Tourists who visit Sierra Negra on the day tour walk a different section of the caldera, so for many people in our group the formations around us were new and unexpected. This was my first time visiting Sierra Negra and I was overwhelmed by the views.

After breakfast we hiked down into the volcano crater to explore the sulfur mines. The sun was shining, the day was beautiful and we had gone from being cold and wet to hot and needing sun protection at 9am.

Never having walked inside of an active volcano before, it was a surreal experience for me, especially hearing the very active lava chamber was only approximately 2km beneath our feet and the sulfur we were walking across was so thin our footsteps echoed in some places.

Once we had explored the stinky sulfur centre, we hiked back to the rim. Our wet tents, sleeping bags, socks and clothes had dried in the sun and we packed up, mounted the horses and descended back down the volcano. We rode down into the rain and as with the day before the path became very slippery and a lot trust was placed in the four legs of our slipping and sliding horses to remain upright. Thankfully everyone made it back without incident and ended an incredible volcano weekend.

The post Camping on Sierra Negra Volcano appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

As I have posted previously I decided to try a vegan diet after watching the documentary Forks Over Knives. Highlighting the health benefits of a diet without animal proteins, I was unsure if I could actually maintain this style of eating. Whilst I have never really eaten a lot of meat, as a diabetic I used to rely on dairy products such as milk, yoghurt and cheese to give me the carbohydrates I had always been told I really needed to keep my sugar levels up, avoiding hypos. I was very unsure if I would be able to cut out all these products and still maintain a stable sugar level.

My concerns were at first valid. The first two months of the conversion to a vegan diet were very rough. As I immediately cut out all dairy other than some occasional cheese, I hadn’t factored how much I needed to also reduce the levels of insulin I was taking. The result of reducing the amount of sugar laden milk and yoghurt I ate for breakfast without reducing my insulin intake adequately meant that I had many low sugar hypos and caused both myself and my husband a lot of stress, as he was the one who needed to continually bring me out of my often diabetic coma state.

However once I had stabilised my insulin dose and adapted to a plant based diet, my sugar levels started to even themselves out. Now two years later I have gone from having 5 injections a day (36 Lantus, 6 Humalog in the morning, 6 Humalog at lunch, 6 Humalog at dinner, 2 Lantus before bed) to now only having 2 injections in the morning , 15 Lantus and 2 Humalog. That’s it. The reduction in my insulin intake is dramatic. I am now on less than half of what I used to be on and I am still lowering my dosage as my sugar levels continue to trend lower than higher.

Additionally in the first three or so months after switching to a vegan diet I lost approximately 10kgs. I was travelling as I had done for the previous few years, had not increased my exercise and had done nothing else other than stopped eating animal products. I couldn’t stop the weight from coming off. My clothes were huge and falling off of me and upon my return to Australia 6 months into this new diet, my friends and family were shocked at how good I looked.

Two years on, having not stepped on a scale at all in the past eighteen months, I think I have lost 12 – 14 kgs. My body has reached a stable weight I am really happy with. I have also found that my weight does not fluctuate anywhere near as much as it did before I changed to vegan eating. I am not a bird and enjoy eating a good healthy diet, but as most of my food is non-processed and all is plant-based, I am not consuming the sugar, additives, fat or salt that I had been previously. I believe cutting out dairy and processed food is the biggest reason for my weight loss. It is absolutely possible to be vegetarian or vegan and still be eating an unhealthy diet if that diet consists of packaged food. I used to live on packaged musli/granola bars, soft drink or jelly beans and candy to raise my sugar levels when they were low. No longer. If I eat any of these products I feel incredibly ill and it seems my tastebuds have adjusted to eating less sugar, and if I do take a bite of a packaged granola bar I am overwhelmed with the sweet taste.

So what do I take in a sugar emergency now? Usually I have a bottle of honey on hand. Now I know many vegans will freak out that I am eating something that can be classed as an animal product, but as a type 1 diabetic who switched to the plant-based diet for the benefit of my health, honey is something that I simply can’t cut out.

I also have a couple of packaged products that I keep on hand for low sugar situations such as crackers. Whilst I try not to consume packaged goods, in my life sometimes this is unavoidable. However I will always read the package to make sure the product does not contain any form of milk or egg. It is shocking how many packaged products contain milk or egg derivatives, powered milk and preservatives.

Finally switching to a vegan diet has also meant I have stopped taking cholesterol tablets. My endocrinologist recommended I begin taking Lipitor tablets approximately four years ago as my cholesterol level was 4.8. Whilst this is not overly high compared to others with high cholesterol, my doctor suggested that I begin taking Lipitor to ensure we had my levels under control as soon as possible. When I first went on the tablets, I was disappointed. I didn’t want to be taking tablets everyday for the rest of my life! I was already on insulin and now I need to be on Lipitor as well? That’s not good.

So for four years I took 20mg of Lipitor everyday. Then six months after switching to the plant-based diet I read that the only way people can consume cholesterol is by eating animal products. This is not the only reason that people can have high cholesterol, but eating animal products greatly contributes to the level of bad cholesterol in your blood. So without doctors advice I decided to stop taking the Lipitor tablets. I had seen such good results from my weight loss, diabetes control and reduced insulin levels, I felt that as I was returning to Australia in six months time, I would stop taking the Lipitor and get tested when I returned to see what my levels were.

Upon my return my doctor did test my levels and also reviewed the history. Whilst taking 20mg of Lipitor on my former diet my previous level had been 3.1. After being on a vegan diet for twelve months and not taking Lipitor for six of those months, my cholesterol level was 3.6.

The doctor was pleasantly surprised. I explained that I had changed to a vegan diet, that I really did not want to be taking these tablets at all and she said that as the result was only 3.6 that was not a problem.

So as a result of switching to a vegan diet I have lost 12 – 14kgs, reduced my daily injections from five a day to two, more than halved the amount of insulin I’m taking and corrected my cholesterol levels so I could stop taking Lipitor entirely.

As I said, changing to a vegan diet has been one of the best life decisions I have ever made.

The post My Diabetic Life 2 years since turning Vegan appeared first on The Wanderlust Days.

I’ve read many interesting titles during my travels, not all of them related to travelling. A strong book with a great story can transport you from wherever you are to an exciting new world. It can also inspire you to cherish the mind blowing experiences you’re having while traveling through new and exciting places.

Here are a few of my suggestions of great books to read whilst travelling:

Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

Of course Eat, Pray, Love is on the list. A woman decides to leave the life she is no longer enjoying to travel to exotic locations and experience things she never has before? Of course it’s a traveler’s book.

Amazon link: Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

The Beach – Alex Garland

Everyone likely knows the movie The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio, and this is the book it was based on. About a guy who, like many backpackers in South East Asia is looking for a not so touristy attraction, it’s an enjoyable ready especially for those who have experience backpacking in this part of the world.

Amazon link: The Beach – Alex Garland

Tommo and Hawk – Bryce Courtenay

This is a book I read many years ago and the story has stuck in my mind. A story of the challenges, struggles and the journey of two boys into manhood set in Australia and New Zealand this is a great read from the fantastic Australian author Bryce Courtenay, and my suggestion to keep you entertained during long train or bus trips.

Amazon link: Tommo and Hawk – Bryce Courtenay

The Celestine Prophecy – James Redfield

The Celestine Prophecy is an interesting book that really needs to be read to be understood. A kind of spiritual guidance fictional book, the novel brings up interesting ways to see the world and others in it.

Amazon link: The Celestine Prophecy – James Redfield

The Alchemist – Paolo Coelho

The Alchemist is a novel than many have read and often have different opinions about. I did not love it, but did find it interesting to read in the time when I was between travels. I suggest giving it a go and decide if it is something you would recommend to others.

Amazon link: The Alchemist – Paolo Coelho

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