A Traveler's Booty
trav·el·er [trav-uh-ler] •a person or thing that travels / boo·ty [boo-tee] •any prize or gain. Life is all about moments. Some beautiful and some devastating. From amazing, nomadic travels and experiences full of intention, to simple things and thoughtful gestures. I've decided to start writing some of this shit down, if for no other reason than to have it reside somewhere else other than in my head.
12 August 2014
02 May 2014
Melanoma Awareness Month: Portland Events in May
Monday, May 5th
#letsbenaked on Melanoma Monday
Saturday, May 17th
Friday, May 23rd
Saturday, May 31st
AIM at Melanoma: 2014 Portland Walk
**BONUS EVENT**
Road to Healthy Skin Tour. Free Skin Cancer Screenings
01 May 2014
#letsbenaked on Melanoma Monday
The first Monday of May has been designated as "Melanoma Monday" by the American Academy of Dermatology and who are we to try and stop them? Melanoma Research Fund came up with the idea to #getnaked in efforts of catching Melanoma in the early stages. But I want to take this one step further, so instead of sharing a stock image, make it personal. I say #letsbenaked.
Early detection is Melanoma's worst nightmare. Actually that's a lie. Knowledge is it's worst nightmare, prevention and early detection come in at a close second and third. Did you know, if caught in the early stages, Melanoma has a 98% cure rate?! That's pretty darn high.
So quit making excuses and drop those trousers, strip off that shirt and get a closer look. It's time to get to know your body a little bit better. Map your moles. Stand in front of the mirror and check yourself at all angles. Take pictures and keep them on file. Have your partner scan your body. Make an appointment with your local dermatologist and get a skin cancer screening. #letsbenaked and save some lives shall we?
On Monday, May 5th, show your friends and family you aren't afraid and share a photo of you getting naked for the sake of Melanoma awareness! Use the hashtags #letsbenaked, #bethswalk and #melanomaawareness to help scale these efforts. You never know who your message might reach and what life could be saved.
Thanks for being naked with me,
Courtney
Labels:
#letsbenaked,
Beth's Walk,
Melanoma Awareness,
Melanoma Monday,
Mom
10 February 2014
An Escape to Wilsons Promontory.
Sunset, Tidal River Beach |
Campervan life. |
Squeaky Beach |
Wanna check it out? Here's some info you may find useful:
- Multi-task and combine your car rental and your camping equipment into one! Campervan hire is one of the easiest ways to explore Australia.
- 31 Things To Do in Wilsons Promontory via VirtualTourist.
- You may choose to get lost along the way because that's awesome, but just in case you don't, here are some directions to get your ass to The Prom.
- Your overnight hiking guide (but if you use this, you must take me with you).
And last, but definitely not least, here is a wombat (we shall call her Marsha)...
Labels:
Australia,
Camping,
Jucy Campervan,
Victoria,
Wilsons Promontory
30 December 2013
2013 in Review.
It's New Year's Eve here, so as I prepare myself to start drinking copious amounts of champagne I'm
having a mental recap about all the craziness that 2013 held. I'm a little (or a lot) in awe about the amount of changes that can happen in a year. I wouldn't believe me unless I had lived through it.
I was inspired by an article I read in the Huffington Post and thought I would do my own little rendition.
In a very dumbed down version, here is what 2013 looked like for me:
Rang in the New Year in Paris, then off to Morocco, Turkey and India for my first buying trip topped off with a little R&R in Thailand. After that, landed in Central Oregon for a few months and took our little business on the road for the summer which gave me the chance to visit friends in Idaho, Montana, Arizona and California. Organized a memorial walk for my mom which was an overwhelming success and have done a lot of reflection on our relationship! Attended weddings in Portland, Vermont, North Carolina and South Carolina. Reconnected with many friends I've met throughout the years traveling to all corners of the world. Made lots of new friends. Led a tour through Western Turkey. Joined back up with my old company, FMYI, for a little bit. Took some side trips in there to Boston, more California and all around Oregon. And although the business didn't end up going the way I hoped, it gave me the kickstart I needed that and ultimately gave me the opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine of coming back to Australia on a WHV. So here I am!
I've learned a lot about myself during the course of these experiences and learned a lot about others too. Thanks to everyone who joined me on this roller coaster ride, you've made it exciting and at moments when needed, bearable. There have been lots of ups and many downs but at the end of the day, I've vowed to live my life to the fullest and take some chances. I think it's working.
Here's to 2014!
having a mental recap about all the craziness that 2013 held. I'm a little (or a lot) in awe about the amount of changes that can happen in a year. I wouldn't believe me unless I had lived through it.
I was inspired by an article I read in the Huffington Post and thought I would do my own little rendition.
In a very dumbed down version, here is what 2013 looked like for me:
Rang in the New Year in Paris, then off to Morocco, Turkey and India for my first buying trip topped off with a little R&R in Thailand. After that, landed in Central Oregon for a few months and took our little business on the road for the summer which gave me the chance to visit friends in Idaho, Montana, Arizona and California. Organized a memorial walk for my mom which was an overwhelming success and have done a lot of reflection on our relationship! Attended weddings in Portland, Vermont, North Carolina and South Carolina. Reconnected with many friends I've met throughout the years traveling to all corners of the world. Made lots of new friends. Led a tour through Western Turkey. Joined back up with my old company, FMYI, for a little bit. Took some side trips in there to Boston, more California and all around Oregon. And although the business didn't end up going the way I hoped, it gave me the kickstart I needed that and ultimately gave me the opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine of coming back to Australia on a WHV. So here I am!
I've learned a lot about myself during the course of these experiences and learned a lot about others too. Thanks to everyone who joined me on this roller coaster ride, you've made it exciting and at moments when needed, bearable. There have been lots of ups and many downs but at the end of the day, I've vowed to live my life to the fullest and take some chances. I think it's working.
Here's to 2014!
Sparkles and the Eiffel Tower for New Years 2013! Paris, France |
Paris Love Locks and an admirer. Paris, France. |
Getting lost in the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery. Paris, France. |
A stall at the Paris Flea Market. Simply brilliant! |
View of the Galata Tower. Istanbul, Turkey. |
Camel Wrestling. Selcuk, Turkey. |
Joining the crowds at the Camel Wrestling. Selcuk, Turkey. |
Lively activities in the Djemaa el-Fna. Marrakech, Morocco. |
A typical door in the Fez Medina. Fez, Morocco. |
The Cave of Hercules. Tangier, Morocco. |
Jama Masjid. Delhi, India. |
A moment of zen. Delhi, India. |
Block printing magic. Jaipur, India. |
View from Spencer Butte. Eugene, Oregon. |
The glorious Smith Rock State Park. Terrebonne, Oregon. |
The Turkey Eleven Tour! Ephesus, Turkey. |
The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey. |
Wine tasting in style. Sonoma, California. |
Lowndes Down Plantation destination wedding! Charleston, South Carolina. |
On top of the world. Outer Banks, North Carolina. |
The Great Ocean Road. Victoria, Australia. |
28 December 2013
A Koala Named Harry.
An Aussie Moment.
I didn't capture the moment on film because I was too busy smiling from ear to ear at the absolute preciousness of the situation. However, a ways down the road on the way to Cape Otway, we were able to catch a couple handfuls of koalas chillin' in the trees up above. So without further ado, I would like to introduce you to Amy.
Not Harry. |
26 December 2013
A Very Merry 'Orphan Aussie' Christmas.
Christmas Down Under.
Thanks, Oliver for hosting! |
Enter Oliver. I met Oliver four years ago in Sydney (and who is coincidentally from West Linn!) and he was thoughtful enough to include me for Christmas with his Australian family and another 'orphan' from New Zealand. It was pretty stinkin' magical!
The Day's Events.
The morning started out with a short walk and a plunge in the ocean at Jan Jac beach. I call it a plunge, because although the sun was shining high and bright, the water hasn't quite got the memo that its summer yet. But I can guarantee you I'm not complaining! And the day just continued to get better from there.
By definition, I am a vegetarian. BUT there is something about Christmas that calls to my inner sea child and I literally cannot eat enough crab. I mean, literally cannot stop. (Side story for perspective: two years ago at xmas, my dad had to tell me to stop inhaling the crab so I wouldn't make myself sick. Truth.) Usually I spend the eve of Christmas with my Aunt Diane's family where we indulge in crab cakes and whiskey sours, so fortunately for me, my 'adoptive family' feels the same way about seafood at Christmas, but instead of whiskey sours, there was endless amounts of Sol brewskies.
Prawn Sandwich in the making. (Thanks Mark!) |
Food and booze were definitely a focal point of this "Very Merry 'Orphan Aussie' Christmas," but other things were happening while we weren't stuffing our faces. There was the secret santa festivities. I got an awesomely large beach towel that will quickly become my new best friend. There was the walk down to the beach to reenergize ourselves before our eight meal of the day. There was the setting of the table and cleaning of the dishes (this probably took up about half the day due to the amount of meals we committed to). And of course the poker game to end the night. No, I didn't win.
The Analysis.
So, there you have it folks. I think one of the best ways to cope with being away for the holidays and not being with your loved ones is to not try and compare too much of what you are doing in this moment to what you would be doing if you were at home. However, there is no escaping the fact that I missed everyone dearly, especially the ol' pops and brother (and even more especially, my mom).
Group shot: Devin, Oliver, Me, David, Jenny & Mark. |
Cheers to Christmas Crack and all of the goodness that is waiting just around the corner.
xo,
Court
Christmas Crack. Maybe one day you'll be lucky and I'll share the recipe with you! (Best served in a Christmas tin.) |
Labels:
Australia,
Christmas,
Life,
Working Holiday Visa
Location:
Torquay VIC, Australia
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