Happiness is not a destination, it is a way of life.
In life you can choose many different paths. You can choose to live a real life or pretend to be someone else (for the rest of your life). You can choose to sit in one spot or explore the world with a big smile and camera in hand.
There are things and places I will never forget from our many family holidays – when your parents were as adventurous with a map and tent as mine was, you would probably have gone mad.
We were campers that could set up and break down a camp in less than 30 minutes. We were the family in the old light blue VW kombi and then the light blue Landrover that would always drive slower than the rest.
We have seen Victoria Falls from both Zimbabwe and Zambia. We slept in the Hwange National Park while hyenas pawed our tents and a lion chased a buck through the camp.
We have walked on the Makgadigadi salt pans in Botswana and marvelled at the flamingos in their thousands.
We drove to Cape Town and almost ran out of fuel in some mountain range. We “freed” down the hills and we got there. Unfortunately we were also that family that went to every museum in the Western Cape.
To my parents’ dismay I was the kid that made the menu difficult with my refusal to eat red meats (I come from a long line of carnivores). I was also the kid that refused to take of my shoes to go into (yet another) mosque.
Then I left home and moved to Jozi…
In 2008 I made my first trip to Europe and I was hooked on those beautiful passport stamps. I couldn’t get enough of the food, the culture and the people. It was like a big playground – and I could play around in it for 6 weeks only. It was a whirlwind tour to 8 countries and a week on my own in Ireland.
Ireland stole my heart and I’ve only been back once – and still trying to get back with every possible lame excuse.
Then the whole marriage thing happened and we dragged our guests off to Mozambique for 5 days and an 18 day Europe, Ireland and Egypt honeymoon.
…and then the Kgalagadi called us
Nothing I’ve ever seen could’ve prepared us for the beauty of the Kgalagadi. The sun beating down on the savannahs, the lions casually strolling over the road or the fresh baked bread from the locals.
For some reason all our friends started going to Thailand and raving about it… and we decided to go see what the fuss was about.
All of Thailand’s beauty and splendour could not save it from landing on our list of places never to go back to. It is a tourist trap – and we want true experiences.
The highlight of all highlights…
No holiday could ever compare to the one in the Maldives. This little island paradise stole my heart. My soul still yearns for the white beaches and turquoise waters.
Where would I still like to go to?
- I really want to see the country as it is now, before it becomes too westernized
- The Scandinavian countries
- Eastern Europe
- All the Greek & Italian islands
- Bora Bora
- Seychelles
- Comores
- Anyplace that isn’t yet on my passport
I probably will never stop collecting passport stamps and memories, but for now all I can do is plan, plan and plan.
