Author: wheresshelly

I have loved travel ever since I can remember. When I was 6 I asked my Mum to teach me French, she taught me the extreme basics and 1-10, but when I wanted more she had to go buy me a French dictionary. How I loved that book! I think I loved the language before the place but eventually I became obsessed with going to Paris and Egypt. Yet I was still only in primary school! My Grandmother was a big traveller and I remember receiving her post cards and looking through her photos. The Pyramids fascinated me the most. She clocked up an amazing 52 countries in her time, even doing the great overland trip by car from London, which included driving through Iran, Pakistan & Afghanistan back in the 60's. How different it must've been then! So far I'm up to 36 countries and 5 continents. I have the bug and I don't see it ever going away. But not only do I love travel for myself, I'm passionate about getting others excited about travel as well. Never ask me a travel related question if you want a short answer, because I'll just go on and on and on and on... I currently live in a remote community in north-eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia. We're pretty isolated here and closer to Papua New Guinea than the nearest city! It's an experience in itself just living here. I enjoy writing about my travels and have written a few articles. I'm constantly trying to better myself at these with my main goal to be interesting, show my personality and not fluff it with too many wanky descriptions. I would love to hear any feedback you have about any of these articles and I hope you enjoy them.
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Moscow More Often

I had been in Russia for a few days now on a Top Deck ‘Red Star’ tour and was getting used to the language, over-presence of authority, tasteless hotel breakfasts and the imposing communist statues that dot the cities. I no longer felt intimidated by any dodgy looking local walking in my direction and I had even mastered public transport (which when written only in Cyrillic can be a nightmare!)

Continue reading “Moscow More Often”
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Kimonos in Kyoto

A brief glance through the car window, but I saw her, glistening black hair meticulously styled, a pale white oval face of porcelain skin with a hint of pink on the cheeks, eyes lined with black kohl framed by eyebrows shaped into perfect crescent moons and her lips, small, dainty and painted red.
She was sitting in the back of a black taxi cocooned in luxurious and very expensive hand-woven silk. For the briefest moment I saw a creature of fantasy, a woman of the night paid for her company, often the centre of attention in a group of Japan’s most powerful and wealthy business men.
Her night had just begun but she would be profit many times into the early morning for her services, entertaining clients with the skills she has perfected and been trained for. Continue reading “Kimonos in Kyoto”

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Shortest Overseas Trip Ever

Looking for an island holiday, with over 63 long, white, sandy beaches and 20 crystal clear bays to choose from, world standard diving areas filled with colourful coral and abundant with tropical fish, with distinct wildlife not seen anywhere else on Earth, an interesting history and that great laid back vibe, with fares from only $45 return?

Have you thought about Rottnest?

To most locals, Rotto is that sandy island full of those weird rat-like animals, off the coast of Perth that they may have visited once or twice with their school or family when they were young.

But after a recent visit, I have found a new appreciation for a unique and beautiful travel destination that is right on my city’s doorstep.  Continue reading “Shortest Overseas Trip Ever”

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Holy Espagna, Batman!

It was Easter in Spain and I had flown down to Seville to witness one of the most interesting religious festivals in the world. The Semana Santa or Holy Week showcases multitudes of Catholic processions by those wishing to be cleansed of their sins for the year. Participants don long robes in the identifiable colours of their local church, complete with a very large pointed hood that covers the face so that they can only see through two holes in the front. Envision the Ku Klux Klan in various colours but without the hate crimes and prejudice. Their pointed hoods are supposed to hide the height of the person while their face is hidden so that people cannot identify the ‘sinners’.

Continue reading “Holy Espagna, Batman!”