August 22nd, 2010 § 0
[Stolen Photo]I can’t describe exactly how I feel right now. I’m on the cusp.
Something big. Something fun.
I’m excited. I’m stressed.
Butterflies.
I can’t sit still. All I have are wild thoughts and vivid dreams.
I’m ready. Or, I’m nowhere near ready.
Is this the sequel or the preview?
This is silly. This all makes sense.
The best way to describe it is: stirring.
Restless stirring.
~Josie
August 22nd, 2010 § 0
I was lucky enough to visit Venice in June. Aric was invited to photograph a friend’s wedding and I was a happy tag along.
More on Flickr
~Josie
August 14th, 2010 § 1
You know, I decided to write a new post, but I have no real direction or focus. I have no idea who I’m writing to. I’m just writing.
I’m drinking my favourite tea, Early Grey, and just starting my day. I’m finally doing some laundry [in-suite is the best], eating breakfast and should probably shower. Big plans!
I should probably do some work at some point, as well. Not super exciting, but it’s the relaxing day that I needed.
The lovely Alisa [Trixie Malicious] and new friend Leah [Pinkie] will be performing. Miss Zoe and I are getting all glammed up 60’s style!
If you’re in London tonight, you’d better get your butt to The Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club for a some kick ass Burlesque.
I’ve been busy!
After stressing for almost two months about not having work, I landed two jobs. One was a clothing shop job and the other [and way more important] is a marketing gig. I worked both jobs for three weeks. It was exhausting. Between, the travel commute to and from work and actually working, I had no time to myself. I realized that I ate most of my meals walking from one job to the other and never saw my friends. I was missing Aric a whole lot and relied on my free texting plan way too much. Not my style.
So, I made the decision that I had to leave the shop job. I’m so much happier. And besides, there’s a far bigger and more fun adventure in the works. [Shh! Can't say just yet.]
Last weekend we went on an overnight sail. Besides the unpredictable English weather, it was very fun. I’ve even starting learning a bit.
It’s was Aric’s extended Birthday. It’s not a birthday unless you’ve celebrated for a solid week, right?
We had a nice sail over to Worbarrow Bay and had a beach BBQ with Mel, Nick and new friends Karen and Paul.
If we pretend the minor [three boats smashing into the rocks] incident didn’t happen, then all went well.
So that’s that. Life is looking pretty good. I have money coming in. I have more time for friends and my boy and I’m on the edge of a great adventure.
~Josie
July 14th, 2010 § 1
It was only two weeks ago, but it feels like a dream already.
Long story short, I was invited to help photograph a friend of a friend’s wedding. What an amazing opportunity considering I’m the poorest girl in the world.
Because our flight was at stupid o’clock [6:30am] and flying out of Stansted Airport, Aric and I decided to pull an all-nighter [instead of trying to get all of 45 minutes sleep]. White wine and Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America were mandatory all-nighter supplies. It was a bit rough, feeling really sleep deprived, but once we arrived, sleep was the last thing on our minds.
I realized I was starving and needed to fill the void. Pizza was the only answer.
It was better than I envisioned. We pulled up a curb, ate our first of many pizza slices and happily people watched.
The whole city looked just as I imagined. I couldn’t take enough photos of building, canals, boats etc. I was in love.
Exhaustion finally started to set in. A caffe latte was in order. Oh and the smallest beer ever served.
Enter Jason and Julie.
~Josie
July 6th, 2010 § 0
This past week has been crazy busy and emotional. It’s been stressful wondering where my rent money was/is going to come from, interjected with moments of totally bliss from all the wonderful things I was lucky enough to experience.
Quick recap:
Interviews, bank account checking, slow emotional breakdown, more interviews, new friends, Birthday BBQ, World Cup football watching by default, trains, cars, buses, planes, boats, VENICE, photos, tons of walking[!!], sooo much wine, wedding, crying, blissing out, more interviews, BBQ, more wine and finally sleep.
This is what it looked like in slow motion:
I met up with Nick, the birthday boy, on the train from London to Whitchurch. It was above 30c and, apparently, I chose THE hottest train car available. We bonded by reading dirty jokes off Nick’s iphone and profusely sweating for the hour long journey. Good times!
Mel was the perfect hostess, while Aric manned the BBQ, Nick drank beer [as the birthday boy should] and I tried to make myself useful.
The weather was perfect and the BBQ was really fun. I stuffed myself as one should at such events, content to fall asleep smelling like a campfire.
Note: Aric has magical powers. He was asked to photograph his friend’s wedding in Venice and somehow got me invited as well. Not only was this completely spontaneous, but didn’t cost this poor girl a cent. I’m telling you magical powers.
Before we jumped on a bus to London, to catch our flight at exactly stupid o’clock, we took a stroll through Winchester with Nick and Mel.
Next stop, Venice! I think it deserves it’s own post, don’t you?
~Josie
June 23rd, 2010 § 0
Before I left Vancouver, I had an amazing job, but decided to travel at the tipping point of my career. Shame on me? Since moving to London, I’ve been relentlessly trying to break into the Marketing / PR Industry to no avail. Today, after a giant slice of humble pie, I dried my tears and hit the street to hand out cvs to local clothing boutiques. I think it actually paid off. I have some leads and finished my job hunting day with a really decent conversation with a vintage store manager. I guess a clothing shop is going to have to do until the Queen calls.
I decided to celebrate my mini victory by buying a tiny bit of ‘extra’ groceries-fresh basil, eggs and avocados [these are luxuries to me now]. As I made my way home, passing pub after pub heaving with world cup football fans, I realized that I haven’t given myself a minute to enjoy the beautiful weather. As soon as I got home, I changed into shorts[!], for the first time since Thailand, and headed for Victoria Park.
I can’t believe how close it is to my flat. I’m so silly. Why has it taken me two months to wander over? Work and crappy English weather-that’s right. None the less, I lied in the baking sun for a couple hours, listened to my ipod on shuffle, and re-introduced my skin to vitamin D.
~Josie
June 20th, 2010 § 0
Right, so. Back when I was a wee pup, new to London, expecting to be all organized and on top of things, I thought I would be able to finish blogging about the rest of the trip. Not so. It’s a huge daunting task that I can’t bring myself to do. I’m about half way through, but my procrastination has gotten the better of me. However, I do really enjoy blogging and will pick up right where I am, London. It’s definitely been an adventure trying to set myself up here and want to continue my story. Who knows, maybe I’ll be inspired to back date 6 months of traveling.
To give a little bit of background, Neil has moved back to Vancouver to go to Culinary Arts school. It was the plan since October, but he wanted to surprise everyone so we kept it hush hush. If you haven’t seen him yet than this might be new information.
My situation has been up and down over the last month. I found a flat and a job rather quickly and all was peachy. Then my job turned into a nightmare and I just up and left one Tuesday, weeks back.
Since then I have been a plethora of emotion. From the initial sigh of relief, knowing that I wouldn’t have to go into that horrible office again, to whatever I’m feeling now. Let’s call it shear panic and fear. I’ve decided that it’s a new dramatic diet of starvation and stress in hopes that I’ll get that super model figure I always wanted.
So, that’s that.
But, to end on a happy note. I have amazing friends over here doing everything they can to help me out. Without them I’m not sure where I’d be. Just wanted to say THANKS!
Also, I’ve had the good fortune to be introduced, by my lovely cousin Heather, to a incredible new friend living on the south coast. Portland Island is a beautiful quirky little place with a beach that I just can’t stop taking pictures of. It’s been my home away from home while I frantically search for another job online.
Enjoy! [and please ignore the spots. my camera is DIRTY]
~Josie
April 25th, 2010 § 2
With the understanding that I’m about 6 months behind on this blog, I’m still going to continue updating it with posts from our adventure. After the world tour is completed, I’ll continue this blog with more day to day adventures. I don’t like having things half finished and I want to share our story. There are just too many cool things that happened, it would be a shame to keep it all to ourselves.
Currently, I am in London, England. I had all my ducks in a row to live in Amsterdam. Then I had a serious change of heart over the last two weeks. What’s life without spontaneity? Neil is traveling around England visiting various family members and I’ve planted myself in a nice new flat and in search of a job. I miss my boy.
Back to the story…
After Ephesus, we traveled to Pamukkale. It took me a while just to figure out how to say the name. (Note: Really awkward video below of me not remembering the name) This place was magic. If you are not familiar check out the history here. All of this is naturally occurring and people have been visiting this area for it’s potential healing power and plain curiosity for hundreds of years. Neil and I spent four days in the little village just hanging out.
It was so interesting walking around. There was a combination of white mud-like stuff, spring water pools and mineral hills to climb.
Everything looked like ice, but the water was warm, almost hot, to the touch. The temperature outside was around 30c.
As advised in our travel guide, and with use of common sense, you are NOT supposed to wear your bathing suit while on the mineral deposits. It’s a sacred place. People we’re in bikinis and speedos flaunting around taking sexy pictures. If you ever go there, wait until your are in the pool at the top to drop your draws.
Once we reached the top, there was a park that led into roman ruins.
It was so peaceful. We spent the better part of two hours just slowly walking through this ancient city.
After strategically wasting enough time to avoid most of the tour buses, we made our way to the sacred pool.
The water was perfectly warm (33c) and clear, there was only a hand full of people and thousand year old Roman columns were left as they fell in the pool. I can only describe this experience as pure bliss. The pool is famous for it’s natural healing powers from the calcium salts and minerals. It’s been noted for its curing properties to the ills of asthma, rheumatism as well as other skin conditions. I was just happen to swim around.
Neil was sweet enough to jump out and take a couple photos of me in the pool.
We stayed until they practically kicked us out. I didn’t want to leave. However, once we began our journey back down we had the unexpected pleasure of watching the sun set.
The rest of our time in Pamukkale was spent relaxing at our hotel. We unexpectedly booked the best place EVER, Artemis Yoruk Hotel! It cost 9 euros/each to rent a private room with free breakfast and a POOL!!! How could we resist staying a couple extra days?!
There were two KITTIES that lived at the hotel. I lured them in with food and then never let them go.
If you ever go to Turkey, you MUST go to Pamukkale. You would be missing out if you didn’t. Next stop Butterfly Valley and a cruise through the Mediterranean.
~Josie
