Inspiration
I whole heartedly believe in this quote. Travelling is the university of life.
Japan in 7 days – part one
It’s hard to believe that this time last year we were in windswept Patagonia, Argentina with our globetrotter, Finn, who was seven months old. After returning home from a whirlwind seven-day trip to Japan I’m looking forward to a sultry, laid-back summer in Queensland. I’m looking forward to collecting the mangoes that drop abundantly from […]
big bad joel
We have some very good friends that live out near Surat in rural Queensland. So for the past six years we’ve been making the five hour car trip west to attend Surat’s annual race meet. Suffice to say it was our first year that we attended with a toddler (teething mind you!) in tow. It’s […]
a river runs wild
Our first glimpse of the Canadian wilderness was sky high in a 6-seater aeroplane. On our two hour flight departing from Vancouver we swept past mountain ranges dusted in snow and marvelled at high-altitude lakes hidden in the elbow of mountains. I rode shot-gun as co-pilot and was equipped with my very own head set […]
the land of maple syrup, grizzly bears and wild salmon
I’ve got a guilty confession to make. We’re heading off to Canada as of next Friday, August 30 for a whirlwind ten day trip to Canada. The guilty part of this confession is we’re leaving our gorgeous little globetrotter behind in the safe hands of Popcorn (my Dad) and Meme (my mother). Two weeks without […]
inspiration
“A horse is the projection of peoples’ dreams about themselves – strong, powerful, beautiful – and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.” Pam Brown This photo was taken by my lovely husband in a remote part of Mongolia.
saying goodbye to saffy
On a perfectly sun-bleached Sunday two weeks ago I decided to take the opportunity to work my three ponies while Buster was home to look after Finn. As I passed Sapphire’s paddock, my 28 year old Welsh gelding, he was lying down in the far corner of the paddock. On first site I wasn’t too […]
a place to press pause
In December last year we embarked on a epic guided globetrotting journey through Patagonia in Chile and Argentina. This post follows on from the Chilean instalment. We spent ten blissful days traipsing around an estancia hidden in the sleeves of Patagonia under a big sky canopy. Our days consisted of roaming mountain tracks from the […]
polo at puddle duck farm
With the start of May just around the corner the 2013 polo season is set to start and I must admit I’m getting quite excited at the thought of pelting up and down the polo field on my mares. Its going to be a interesting balancing act this year with Miss Finn in the picture. […]
for the love of alpargatas – the BEST riding and travelling shoes
Don’t be disheartened if you can’t pronounce this peculiar Spanish word – al-par-gatas – all you need to know is they are THE best travelling and riding shoes you’ll need for your next riding safari or holiday. Alpargatas are a jute-soled canvas footwear favored by Argentine’s for their comfort, durability and low cost, pretty much […]
happy shiny people – the Maasai
A lovely client of mine recently shared a moving and powerful video of a young Maasai lady by the name of Kakenya Ntaiya. Kakenya with dogged determination well beyond her teenage years had a dream of becoming a teacher. Persistent as she was to the buck the trend of becoming a child bride, she cleverly […]
patagonia and pisco sours
I first fell in love with Patagonia five years ago on a ten day horse riding holiday to Torres del Paine, Chile [sadly no longer available]. A wild, unkept region positioned at the bottom of the earth shared by Argentina and Chile where mountain peaks are craggy and treeless, rivers flow icy and translucent, the […]
Shared moments
Over summer our family of three has resembled a travelling circus, tripping to South America for six weeks. Five years ago, I fell in love with a particular Argentinean estancia and I was determined to return to show Buster and our baby girl, Finn. It’s hidden within the depths of Patagonia, shadowed by the Andes […]
It’s been awhile but we’re back
Why hello blog, I’m sorry I’ve neglected you for the past month or two. It’s disgraceful to think that my last post was at the end of November. I’ve got a relatively good excuse, we’ve been globetrotting around South America for the past six weeks (more on that later). Granted we’ve been back on Australian […]
The Simple Life in Patagonia
At the moment my nights are spent organising, planning and booking our next Globetrotting guided ride to Chile and Argentina at the end of the year. I’m brushing up on my Spanish, thanks to a wonderful collection of podcasts by Notes In Spanish. Granted it’s Spanish from Spain rather than Castellano Rioplatense, which is subtly different […]
Backward Glance: Trancoso, Brazil
In these bleak winter months where night overshadows day and the rain seems endless I find myself daydreaming of tobasco-hot beach rides. Memories of lazy seaside canters where the salt water licks your skin, after a day’s ride quenching your thirst with a crushingly sweet cider and sultry summer evenings where the sea breeze tickles […]
Horse People: Chile’s Baqueano
The man’s face is worn and tanned like a well-loved leather boot. He sits deep in his rustic sheepskin saddle, his feet pushed out to the sides, his stirrups positioned near his heels. Spare spurs attached to the saddle chink in rhythm with the clip of his horse’s shoes on the rocks. A rawhide lasso […]
globetrotting with a conscience
Each year with my Globetrotting clients in tow we make our annual pilgrimage to Kenya for the Maasai Mara guided ride. Before we embark on our riding adventure through the pancake-flat plains of the Maasai Mara, we spend a day playing tourists exploring the dusty streets of Nairobi. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust situated in the […]
getting under the skin
Naadam Festival – Mongolia The girl’s cheeks are flushed beetroot red, her half moon eyes bright with anticipation as her wiry bay pony jigs around in a circle. Shadows of her horse’s ribs are visible beneath the make-shift saddle, a stirrup-less foam pad that is secured by a rawhide girth strap. The number nine is […]