Standing at the Bottom of the Top of the World

Standing at the Bottom of the Top of the World

Motivated by a lecture, guest writer Vicki Dawson, realises a dream by climbing one shallow breath at a time to Everest’s Base Camp. On October 25th 2010, something that had started as a vague idea and then became a full blown obsession, led to me standing at Everest Base Camp crying my eyes out… Armed with 80 wet wipes, two pair of trousers, two tops and some sturdy walking boots I...

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Around the Airport in 80 Days

Around the Airport in 80 Days

Vancouver Airport (YVR) launches a contest to find a correspondent to live, eat and sleep at the airport for 80 Days ~ without leaving. Following in the footsteps of Queensland’s hugely successful viral campaign to fill the World’s Best Job, earlier this week Vancouver Airport launched a web-based contest to find a storyteller who would live at YVR for 80 days and 80 nights telling...

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Dental Drama

Dental Drama

My fear of dentists is so great that I went to my veterinarian for a follow up check up. This past week I was in the dentist’s chair and as usual I didn’t recognise the person sitting there. Between cries of pain, wiping my sweaty palms on my shaking legs, and struggling to keep my adrenaline-fueled, anxiety-pumping heart from jumping out of my chest I had an epiphany: my fear of the...

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Remember Me?

Remember Me?

A travelling companion from more than 20 years ago reaches out and says G’day after stumbling across The Experience Junkie website. I’ve always maintained that experiences are best shared: for the enriching perspective a companion provides – seeing things that you might not have noticed; for the energy they offer at the time, and even better for the shared experience that you can...

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Where Next?

Where Next?

I’m frequently asked two questions: Where’s your favourite place in the world? – and – Where would you go tomorrow if you could? I loathe the first question. It is impossible to answer. There are too many incredible places on this magnificent planet of ours to narrow it down to just one destination. I like different places for different reasons and even then I’d find it hard to narrow...

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Family Time

Family Time

My pets come together each morning and bestow their affection on me at the most inopportune of places and times. My street puppy Cenizo follows me around all the time. At first I thought it was insecurity. It’s a big world out there and as Dad I offer sense of safety. But then he started to get brave, and now if left off the leash the distance I can walk before he’ll race to catch up to me...

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Robbed: Bank Balance $0

Robbed: Bank Balance $0

Imagine my surprise this past weekend when I logged into my savings account via the internet only to find that my bank balance read a big fat $0. I had been robbed; my account emptied over the past month via a number of ATM withdrawals in Bogota, Colombia. I wasn’t completely shocked, resigned rather to the frustration and hassle that would, and has, ensued. You see this has been happening...

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‘Til We Meet Again Oprah

‘Til We Meet Again Oprah

Thanks for the insight, for the inspiration … we’ll take it from here. I just watched the final Oprah episode. (Thanks to a neighbour with Tivo and a television – I have neither). Her last show was simply Oprah, no guests, standing in front of the camera giving thanks to her audience the world over that have supported her these past 25 years and sharing for the last time all the...

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