TRAVEL AND WANDER

Over 60,000 years ago the Aboriginal people discovered an island that brought them much fulfillment. This land down under was their home for centuries until 1788 when the British began colonizing it as a land for prisoners. In January of 1788 British citizens consisting of convicts, government officials, and Royal Marines landed at Port Jackson and found a new nation; AUSTRALIA. Now in the 21st century Australia consists of a diverse population of 22 million including the Aboriginal people. Together they live in a country that's also a continent with much natural resources. Australia is divided into seven regions; New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. My time in Australia was spent as a conservation volunteer in New South Wales. A group of us volunteers were based in and around the Bathurst area. Living in a charming residence that was once a train station a small group of us spent several days working on

                                                         A  R  U  B  A                                      The Caribbean beaches in Aruba are exceptional!                                                                                                                                Adrianna in ARUBA Although our world is now at a population of about 7 billion human beings there's still plenty of places on earth that feel and look like a bit of paradise. When the daily stresses of work, family, and responsibilities get overwhelming a few days or even weeks on a relaxing Caribbean island can restore the senses  and make worries seem a million miles away.  The Caribbean is known for it's abundance of palm trees, pure sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and beautiful islands. Each island has it's own uniqueness and you really can't go wrong with any of the islands that make up the Caribbean. I never had much opportunity to explore the Caribbean until I st

                                    Wild & Wonderful ALASKA For many years I longed to see Alaska and immerse myself in the great outdoors of America's last frontier. As a New Yorker I was accustomed to life in a concrete jungle where nearly everyone is in a hurry and the hustle and bustle of an exciting city never ends but my heart was longing for big open spaces where I could roam for miles and not see a single soul except for an occasional deer or moose. My opportunity to fly from New York City to Anchorage Alaska occurred on a mid June day. Laid off for over a month from a busy Manhattan hotel where I worked as a concierge (due to renovations) I was off to Alaska at long last. (Hooray) I couldn't have chosen a better time to arrive in Anchorage because in June Alaskans celebrate solstice festivals and 20 hours of daylight. Imagine being able to hike at midnight? (Very Cool) My first two days were spent smack in Anchorage where I felt right at

Alaska is a massive state so massive that if it were its own country it would be the seventh largest country in the world. Alaska's beauty is unsurpassed and it's diversity comes in first place. Alaska is the land of glaciers, forests, tundra, mountains and sea as well as a haven for wildlife. Alaska is America's gem. With a wander lust for exploring America I was thrilled when the opportunity came to make a trip to Alaska. For a whole month I left the busy streets of Manhattan, New York where I lived and worked and immersed myself in a true Alaskan wilderness experience by camping in a tent. My trip started in Alaska's biggest city Anchorage where about 40% of Alaskans live.  Anchorage is one of the only cities in America where cosmopolitan vs outdoors comes so close together. Within a short distance of corporate buildings and busy streets one can easily get onto the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and spot some bears. The museums, shops, and restaurants