When life gives you friends, make a pyramid.

Melanoma Awareness Month: Portland Events in May

Monday, May 5th

#letsbenaked on Melanoma Monday

Saturday, May 17th

"Burn on the Bike, Don't Burn in the Sun"

Friday, May 23rd

"Don't Fry Day"

Saturday, May 31st

AIM at Melanoma: 2014 Portland Walk 

**BONUS EVENT**

Road to Healthy Skin Tour. Free Skin Cancer Screenings

August dates in Portland, Eugene and Medford

#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

An Escape to Wilsons Promontory.

Sunset, Tidal River Beach

The state of Victoria in Australia has so much to offer that I swear I'm discovering or hearing about a new breathtaking place every day. The more I see, the more I realize how much I haven't even begun to scratch the surface. I had never even heard of Wilsons Prom until the morning my best friend (we shall call her Shayla) and I were going to rent a Jucy campervan and head out on a little road trip. The plan was to make the drive inland up towards Sydney and work our way back down along the coast stopping in beautiful beach towns as we went...because hot damn, there are plenty of them! But there were a few things stacked against us: time, lack of desire to sit in the car for hours on end and bushfire season. So we consulted the traveling bible (we shall call it Lonely Planet) for what "must see" places to hit up if you were to drive up the coast from Melbourne to Sydney and make some decisions based on that.

Campervan life.

They had us at Squeaky Beach. How cute of a name is that?! So with that picturesque beach image in our mind, we figured we'd start the adventure there, hang out for a bit and then continue up along the coast to keep the journey going. This was Monday afternoon and only about a three hour drive from Melbourne. As we dug a little more into our research, we realized Squeaky Beach was in Wilsons Promontory National Park which from the reviews sounded pretty nice, so maybe it'd be worth an overnight stay and THEN we'd keep going. The keep going part never happened. We arrived a little after 5:00pm and the one camp ground in the park was booked out plus the office was closed for the night, so the lovely lady at the park entrance said we could go on in, hang out for sunset, and then there was a free parking lot area outside the park we could park for the night to sleep. *Insider tip alert: turns out if you go into the camp ground after hours, you can drive around and if you find a free camp site you can set up for the night and just go into the office in the morning and let them know you've stayed and settle up your bill (they don't advertise this on their website). As soon as we started the drive into the park, we knew we'd probably want to stay a little longer than originally planned. Every corner we turned or hill we came up on we had to pick our jaws up from the floor! We'd smack each other in the arm and say "Oh my God, oh my God." Followed by "Holy shit, do you see that?" The landscape was like a photograph had jumped off the pages of a book and had been brought to life right in front of our eyes.

Squeaky Beach

Wilsons Promontory is an outdoor lover's paradise at it sits in the southernmost tip of mainland Australia. So many little beaches to be discovered, trails to be hiked and wildlife to be viewed. Do you have a soft place in your heart for wombats? Then run, don't walk, to this corner of the world! Our adventure allowed us only two and a half days of exploration and relaxation in Wilsons Prom. However, since this is nearly in my backyard at the moment, I will definitely be going back and allowing myself the luxury of getting lost in the gullies, forests and beaches of The Prom.

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)... 

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!

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. 

A Koala Named Harry.

An Aussie Moment.

As predicted, I knew I couldn't/wouldn't stay away from the Great Ocean Road for very long. 12 days to be exact. While on this little excursion I came across something worth sharing. A koala. I shall call him, Harry. There we were just winding along the road, enjoying the beautiful scenery when we came around a corner to cars stopping and people getting out. And what do you think we should see in the middle of the road causing this little roadblock? Yes, a koala. He (in reality though, Harry could've been a Harriet), was just plopped down on his rump in the middle of traffic with no sign of guilt whatsoever. After a few people attempted to scoot him out of the way, a guy got out of his car who looked as though this was not his first rodeo, picked up Harry by the nape of his neck like a cat, and drug him to the side of the road where he swiftly gave him a kick to the ol' behind. Harry started running down the road and tried to climb up the first thing he saw. Sad to say, in the few seconds we were able to watch, it looked like he was striking out with the street lamp pole. 

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. 

A Very Merry 'Orphan Aussie' Christmas.

Christmas Down Under.

This is the second Christmas ever that I've been away from my family for the holidays. Coincidentally enough, the first Christmas away was 4 years ago and also spent in Australia. There is something to be said about starting the day at the beach, eating outside and lathering up in sunscreen (SPF 30+).

Thanks, Oliver for hosting!

I wasn't exactly sure how things would pan out. Would I be an emotional wreck? Would I feel lonely? Would I get in the holiday spirit? I'm happy to report: no, no, yes. One MAJOR benefit to traveling the world and putting yourself into new situations, is that you are never too far away from a friend.

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!)

In addition to the crab we had for dinner, I had my first taste of a prawn sandwich! My dad was chirping inside my head so I only allowed myself one, but I must say it was quite delicious and I saved myself from getting ill.

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.

Another coping mechanism is to bring with you an old tradition to the new experience - wouldn't be Christmas without making mom's Christmas Crack! But let's get real, even that had an Aussie spin to it because I had none of the original ingredients. If I've learned anything over the last year and a half, its that you've got to live your life to the fullest! It sounds cliche but it's oh so true. When you're given opportunities to try something new or invited along to do something that's out of the norm, seize that moment. You will be pleasantly surprised by the people who let you in and the invaluable experience it will bring to your life. And, if it totally sucks, well...at least there's a story in that too.

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.)

The Great Ocean Road: As seen in 36 hours.

When I boarded the plane in Portland a week ago bound for Melbourne, Australia, I never would've thought I'd kick this adventure off so perfectly with a road trip along the Great Ocean Road! The entire route is 151 miles of dramatic and breathtaking coast lines and small towns. This route was built by soldiers who returned from WWI to honor those who lost their lives during the war and is the largest war memorial in the world. 

I don't think I have the right vocabulary to paint the proper picture of just how majestic this stretch of land is. So hopefully my photos can communicate what my words cannot. This route pictured here was done only in 36 hours, but honestly I could dedicate a week (if not longer) to exploring the beaches, towns and little treasures off the beaten path that this stretch of land has to offer. For example, did you know that Victoria, Australia has it's own Californian Redwoods planted in 1939? Neither did I!

Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. India and the wildlife of Africa have always been in my mind the most photogenic places I've ever been. The GOA has now joined the ranks. I can say with confidence that this will not be my last visit to the Great Ocean Road during my Working Holiday Visa and I can't wait to share what I come across next!

Road trippin' - You can't go on a road trip without writing something in the sand and then taking a picture of it. That would just be wrong. 

A little piece of the Best Coast found in Victoria, Australia. Small in comparison to the Redwoods in California, but mighty and enchanting all the same. 

It smells like home. Huge ferns surround these massive Redwoods and just beg you to keep walking deeper into the forest.  

 The Twelve Apostles dart out of the ocean to give one of the most breathtaking views you'll ever have the pleasure of seeing. So hurry and get here - only 8 of the 12 are still standing.

 Endless pockets of beaches are tucked all along the impressive coast line. No shortage of awe-struck moments. 

 My heart breaks a little every time I wear my Beth's Walk tank, but it also feels like a giant hug!  

 A striking contrast of colors. Enough Said.

Smile,
Court

Australian cement.

Whelp, I've  landed on Australian soil, or rather cement. It's a strange, liberating, exciting, nervous, giddy, holy shitballs, here-goes-nothing kind of feeling! Waiting in Sydney right now to board my flight to Melbourne which is where the real adventure will begin. 

Thanks for the amazing send off everyone. Love to you all! Now, let's do this thang...

The Turkey Eleven.

#theturkeyeleven at Ephesus

#theturkeyeleven started out as a fun hashtag to group all of our photos together while on a two week trip through (you guessed it) Turkey, but the phrase has taken on a robust self-identity and now reflects amazing friendships created. (For those that need a refresher course on what a hashtag is.)

On September 2nd, eleven of us met at the Portland International Airport to embark on a life changing adventure together. Some of us knew a handful of the others on the trip and others not a soul, but it was obvious once we were all stuffed in the back of the A330 and wine was flowing like water (we literally were drinking it like it was the only way possible to hydrate our bones) that we all were there for a reason and had something unique to bring to the table. 

The Assessment.

I am still awestruck that Rachel and I tricked people into thinking we could lead a tour through Turkey and come out the other side unscathed. Well let's be honest, I can't believe I tricked myself into believing that, but by golly it actually worked. Like, really worked. The route we planned was one we had done 15 months ago where we met the most amazing people along the way. All those things considered, we felt comfortable we could replicate it and make it go even smoother. Happy to say that every connection was made, every reservation accounted for and no girl left behind along the way. High five. 

To be honest, I was a little nervous taking such a large group back to Turkey with me. These were a few of the questions that were floating around in my head (and I'm sure a lot of people were thinking too when they found out my master plan of leading this trip): 

Our route and modes of transport.

1. Could traveling with 10 girls make for a drama filled vacation?
2. I've got a love affair with this country and have talked it up so much, what if it isn't as magical for the girls we've convinced to come along with us?
3. Will traveling with such a big group take away the possibility for spontaneous moments?

I thought I would have a lot of critical things to say in response to these questions, but in short the answers are: no, even more magical, not a chance. [1] Traveling with a group of 11 dynamic women made for constant entertainment. There was always someone to split off with who was interested in the same things you were and there were enough people that you never felt things getting cliquey (or if things did, it wasn't rubbed in your face and it really didn't matter). Plus, there was always someone around to laugh at you if you tripped on absolutely nothing on the sidewalk. [2] Everyone walked away (or flew away) from Turkey just as in love with the country as we were after our first, second and now third visit. They must put something in their water. [3] Eleven American women definitely caused for some attention to be thrown our way, but whether we were split off in smaller groups or traveling in our wolf pack, we had some of the most beautiful moments with the locals that maybe we would've missed out on if we were traveling in pairs or solo. Two moments come to mind in Cappadocia that I would love to share more of later. 

The highlight reel.

The Blue Mosque

In Istanbul, we wandered the streets and bathed in the history the mysterious metropolis has to offer. From the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque to the alleys and layers of merchants in the Grand Bazaar. Baklava and icecream to kahvaltı and Turkish coffee, we made the absolute most out of our three days in the city. Highly recommend Cheers Hostel for a centrally located and affordable place to park yourself while you are there! 

Balloon ride over Cappadocia

You cannot go to Turkey without going to Cappadocia. I repeat. You CANNOT go to Turkey without going to Cappadocia. A part of my heart lives there and forever it will stay. Stay in a cave (love the guys here). Rise before the sun with a hot air balloon ride. Ride wild horses with a real Turkish cowboy through the valleys and have your breath be taken away by the incomparable and dream-like landscape. And a shit ton more.

View of Kaş from the boat

Take a Blue Cruise. Four days/three nights is a perfect amount of time to enjoy the luxury of relaxation, sprinkled with small coastal town visits, fabulous food and refreshing jumps into the water. We've used Alaturka Cruises in the past and have had great experiences! They have a few different itineraries to choose from so you really can't go wrong. Treat yourself and don't forget a good book! 

The Library at Ephesus

We rounded out our trip with three nights in Selçuk  A great place to base yourself to visit the ancient Greek (and later Roman) city of Ephesus. The ruins of this once booming city of the ancient world will leave your jaw hanging on the floor. Don't be shy and get a guide, because there are so many great stories tucked into the nooks and crannies of what is left standing (and many more in what is no longer visible to the eye). Paired with a visit to the House of Virgin Mary, we made all of our history teachers proud with the amount of information we soaked in. From Selçuk you also have easy access to destinations such as Pamukkale, Şirince and Camel Wresting (if you go the right time of year). To guarantee yourself a good time, stay at Atilla's Getaway!

Wrap it up.

I have a million more things to say about this trip but I'm going to save it for later. This isn't to exclude you and leave out some of the juicy details, but as bait for me to take in efforts to get my ass to blog more and write shit down. So there you have it. #theturkeyeleven took on Turkey and I would humbly say, we dominated! We all came out with a few more friends than when we left, have a few more laughs under our belt and a few more stories to share with our children to make them think we were cool at one point in our lives. Can't wait to see what's in store the next go around....

Smile,
Courtney