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    <title>Adventures of Tiff</title>
    <description>Adventures of Tiff</description>
    <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/</link>
    <pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:42:39 GMT</pubDate>
    <generator>World Nomads Adventures</generator>
    <item>
      <title>Homeward Bound~</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44765/DSCN2346.jpg"  /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;And I can't wait!!! I have very much enjoyed these past several months, but I am ready to return to the promised land, as I miss much. I have seen some things; from amazing architecture, to stunning sunsets, the world we live in is truly beautiful, mind blowing really. I have met many awesome individuals, and although I wish I had more time and less responsibilities pulling me from these people, I will hope that the future permits our paths to cross again. It is good to explore, and we must make the time to do so. Next on my list is Australia, and the Canary Islands...perhaps next winter.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I checked into an amazing hotel yesterday, and really had no desire to go out kiting today as my ankle was still swollen from the wakeboard park...but I did, and damn near broke my foot. Thankfully, I did not, as the pressing responsibilites upon return would not enable me to be crippled. The cable car up to Table Mtn. was closed when I returned to Cape Town, so that will be on the bucket list for next time as SA is the only place on this journey in which I would want to return. I would have liked to have a little more downtime in Cape Town as there is much to see and do, Kitesurfing being the primary focus really did not permit me to do much else...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I'm exhausted, and slightly amazed that I did not hurt myself, but I'm also a little disappointed that I did not pick up this new sport a little quicker than I have. Winds won't pick up in the bay until March, so I have a little time to recoup this broken brain and body, and try try again. I will take more classes in the spring to refresh what I have learned as well as to ensure I don't hurt myself or others. As I now have a much greater understanding of what kitesurfing entails, I feel assured of my future success. Needing to focus on getting back in shape being a good in between for me...I can't wait to get back to yoga!!! I think I like yoga so much, cause I'm good at it, and it is far less challenging. ;)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So...I'm going back to Cali Cali Cali, and I can't wait for touchdown!!! Very much looking forward to hugs, stories, laughter and love...soon come!!!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/108509/South-Africa/Homeward-Bound</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>South Africa</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 10 Nov 2013 06:15:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Final Countdown...</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44765/DSCN2633.jpg"  alt="Cape of Good Hope" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Less than a week left on this adventure, and although it has been fantastic, I am ready to return home. I miss my bed, and I miss my crew. I have met some incredible people on my trip, but I find myself longing for those that know me best...soon come.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;My kite classes finished Wed, and thankfully, on Tuesday I was finally up and travelling on the board; it took awhile...;) The wind this week has not been good at all, so I am going to check out of the school, and into a spa on Friday to get some well deserved r&amp;amp;r before returning home...departing Sunday and will arrive in SF Monday around noon...yay!!!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In regards to the kite surfing...when I first witnessed this sport, it was in HI almost 10 years ago. I remember thinking how fun it looked, and how it seemed effortless, as though you were flying. Watching in the bay as well, it looked quite easy; however, it really is not. I have struggled these past two weeks, and never before had such a desire to give up...my brain and body, beaten. Desperately trying to be compassionate with self, I pursued, and was elated when I actually did it!!! There was an episode on the vlei in which I launched the kite during a gust and forgot to let go. I was dragged and dropped hard, and extremely apprehensive to continue as the pain was quite severe. Last weekend, once we had returned to Cape Town, I battled with the ocean as well. My kite had dropped, and the wind was not so strong. I got caught in a wave set while trying to relaunch, and it was no fun at all, short of breath I finally crawled onshore. So this is an extreme sport, and I must admit I had no idea what I was really getting into. Tomorrow I am going to a cable park to practice getting out of the water on my board a little more while the wind is down, and if Saturday's forcast is correct, Ugo and I will head up north for my final session in the morning.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It has been nice having a few days of no wind, as I've been able to get out a little bit and see more of the cape. Monday, we hiked Lionshead, and yesterday, I went on a cape cruise...a road which reminded me of the PCH. It is truly beautiful here, but hearing the horror stories from some of the locals only makes me more grateful that I live in the promised land. I am returning home with a renewed appreciation, and an immense gratitude for being so blessed to love where I live. I have been all around this world, and although there are many stunning places, California remains my favorite.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Looking forward to sharing stories and reconnecting with you all in the near future. Much love in the meantime~&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/108441/South-Africa/Final-Countdown</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>South Africa</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 7 Nov 2013 00:36:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Photos: Cape Town</title>
      <description />
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/photos/44765/South-Africa/Cape-Town</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>South Africa</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2013 18:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Cape Town!!!</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44765/DSCN2435.jpg"  /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I arrived in Cape Town a week ago, and find the southern tip of South Africa stunning, quite westernized, and extremely awesome. I very much like it here. I ended up renting a car from the airport, and feeling intimidated, due to the fact they drive on the opposite side of the road, I made my way to Sunset Beach which is where my kitesurfing school is located. I was greeted by the kitesurfing crew upon arrival; everyone being extremely welcoming and kind. Katrin and Jonah are interns at the school, and Wolf is the owner of Kitekahunas. I began lessons immediately as the wind forcast for the weekend was not well. Ugo, a patient man from Belgium is my teacher...I learned safety on the beach, and Friday, he and Gavin and I went to the southeastern tip to follow the wind. Gavin is an ex student of Kitekahunas, and moved south from Pretoria to kite more and follow his bliss. He and Ugo had come to this area previously when he was learning as there is a vlei~a small seasonal lake on a farmer's property in which I have been learning to get out of the water. We are currently still in Cape Agulhas which is the most southern tip of South Africa where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Learning anything new is fun, frustrating, and requires much self compassion and self tolerance...I have been working on these qualities as well as being patient with self, as this is not an easy sport. I have faith that once my footings are a bit more secure, that I will in fact love this new activity. My journal entries have been limited, as once the day is done, I have been as well...exhaustion superceeding all else.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As Halloween is getting closer, I am missing the fact I won't be in the states to celebrate, as it is one of my favorite holidays. It is also Katrin's birthday, but as we are on the coast, and she in Cape Town, we will have to celebrate once we return.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I will extend this entry with more details soon, but want you all to know I am well and happy. I will definitely return to South Africa sooner than later, as it is amazing. Love!!!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/108056/South-Africa/Cape-Town</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>South Africa</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Oct 2013 17:42:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>AFRICA</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44670/DSCN1766.jpg"  /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I definitely saved the best for last, as Africa is amazing and fulfills all of my expectations. I arrived safely in Johannesburg last weekend, and just hung out resting in preparations for arrival at the consevation. Monday I flew up to Polokwane, and was met by Mark, and the Danish~Henriette and Casper. Mark is in charge of us currently, and is &amp;nbsp;pretty awesome, the Danish, are volunteers like myself. We did a bit of shopping in town, and then headed north 2 1/2 hours to the camp, just south of the Botswania border.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Arriving safe, and meeting the other volunteers, I immediately knew that I had landed in a great spot. Most of the other volunteers are much younger, some fresh out of high school, and it is inspiring to see the independence and determination that they exert. I don't think this would be a journey I would have been prepared for at any earlier stage of my life, but I am so very thankful to be here now.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Everyone asks how I chose this particular volunteering opportunity, I don't really have a reply aside from the fact that I wanted to see and experience Africa in a less touristy environment, and really didn't want to be subjected to too much poverty on my vacation. I really couldn't have chosen a better avenue. Most of the volunteers are here for much longer than two weeks, but I think my timing will be perfect, as I am also looking forward to the kitesurfing school in Capetown.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Driving in to camp, we passed giraffes and wildabeests, and impala, and countless other animals. On the first day, it was mostly an introduction for me, yet on our afternoon drive we saw hippos and a breeding herd of elephants at one of the water reservoirs. The landscape is stunning, and just as I imagined...open land, with a sandstone shrubbery backdrop, and sunrises and sunsets which seem magnified in their beauty. We went out on a night call which consisted of playing this shrill sound of a dying buffalo for five minutes on, and five minutes off in an effort to entice wild animals. We played this sound over a large intercom which rested on the hood of the cruiser, and parked near a dead carcass which they had hung earlier from a tree. Although we didn't see much at the carcass, we did have an elephant cross our path in the road, and proceeded to eat his way through the vegetation quite close to the car. Apparantely the elephants can be mean, so we turned off the engine, and sat quietly while it ate. When we turned the engine on to leave, the elephant's African ears flared in all their glory through the shadows of the night. Too dark for pictures unfortunately~&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We've been finishing a garden here at camp as well, which is quite nostalgic. It is nice to work, and I am reminded of the joy experienced throughout the process of seeing projects through from beginning to end...it's fulfilling, and helps prepare me for the work I will jump into with the move upon return. We went elephant poo hunting, as it is used in the soil as a coco/nitrogen source. It's consistency retains the water quite well, as the soil itself is super sandy. I was initially opposed to picking up the poo, but it is quite dry, and wasn't like scooping shit...thankfully! The heat here can dry anything fast, so I have been trying to stay hydrated...Africa hot is real.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Friday we woke early to go lion tracking, as the conservation has collared a few of the lionesses. With Henriette's guidance and use of the tracking tool, we were able to locate Bentley in a riverbed. It is amazing to see these animals in their natural habitats. After locating her, we went to pick up a dead carcass that we drove back to the spot &amp;nbsp;where she was found, and hung the impala in a tree with hopes that she would return to feed later that night. I ended up volunteering to split the belly to sternum, afterwhich Mark warned that there may be spewing blood and other bodily fluids. Reluctantly I proceeded, and gratefully the liquids streamed out of the lifeless body, with none landing on me. After which Mark beat the belly with a stick until all it's intestines were hanging out...the pic's are awesome!!! Unfortunately internet here is too slow to upload all the pics, but I have some amazing ones, and will look forward to doing so. After dinner we went back to the spot and witnessed the most fantastic display of National Geographic...LIVE. There were six lions there in total, 2 mommas, 2 cubs, and 2 teenagers. We quietly watched the cubs play tug of war with the antlers while the teenagers and mommas just feasted. Truly an amazing sight. After the lions had left, we were going to fix the cameras they had knocked over. While approaching the cameras with the vehicle, a male lion stepped into our headlights and just stood there as if allowing my photo op. The night pics are iffy, but I did manage to get a few fantastic ones.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The weekends here are mellow, and after cleaning camp yesterday, it was an afternoon of drinking, rugby watching, and pizza making. Today we arose and drove out to a lovely spot overlooking a reservoir and had a bush brunch...awesome! One of the volunteers, Mia, is leaving tomorrow so we went for an evening sunset cruise and climbed up to a spot on the rocks in which we drank some wine, and just hung out. Tomorrow morning is another early one as we are lion tracking again. The managers of the conservation are trying to get an idea of their locations so they can recollar them~it's all quite fascinating.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Will be here for another week, and cannot wait to see what the days will reveal~&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Love!!!&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107656/South-Africa/AFRICA</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>South Africa</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2013 01:20:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Photos: Africa</title>
      <description />
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/photos/44670/South-Africa/Africa</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>South Africa</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Oct 2013 01:08:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Africa Bound!!!</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44561/DSCN1511.jpg"  alt="Love!" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Well, Prague is a wrap, and my journey now half over. I can not express how excited I am for Africa!!! I am currently in Dubai, awaiting my layover. Found a nice bar to chill in, and gonna hit the spa here momentarily. Busiest airport ever for being 1:00 in the morning...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Prague was awesome. Very cool European city, and the history dating back to buildings built in 900 amaze me. I only caught brief clips here and there, for it is quite extensive. From the rise and fall of communism, to alchemists, to it's amazing architecture, I found it fantastic. I really hate that I missed the peak of the foliage, but catching glimpses here and there of what's to come, I can imagine it's splendor. Prague is a fairly large city, and although I did no yoga while there, I'm thinking the amount of walking I did balanced out my exercise.:) I did an underground tour, as the city once resided up to 7 meters below where the buildings sit today. It was pretty cool, and several of the bars and restaurants reside underground as well.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I did make it to Moazrt's house, as well as a marrionette performance played to his opera Don Giovanni. The coordination of the puppet players was impressive, and the show was humorous and traditional. It was nice to be in Europe, as the accents and eye candy far exceeded that of Bali. I will say that thus far on this journey, the more places I see, the more in love I fall with California.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I went to the Karlstejn castle one day, and with the help of a few angels along the way, was able to navigate my way there via public transportation. The castle was lovely, the history extensive, but the tour kind of sucked, as the contents open to the public were very limited. My last day in Prague, I had scheduled another tour of the Prague castle...it was a nightime tour, as the cathedral is glorious when lit up. Before taking the tour, I went to the PO to send off a few things, and found the John Lennon wall. I was excited because I was able to take the best flair flag photo yet this year, and although I'm not quite sure of the history of the wall, it was awesome. I believe the communist covered it at one point, as they had done with many of the painted walls inside some of the castles as well...go figure. After walking the Charles Bridge into old town to do the castle after dark tour, I finally reached my destination. Classic Tiff story followed...&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Most of my group was a little younger than myself, and the tour guide was American and a speedy walker. Long story short, I got caught up taking pic's of the alchemist's house, and definitely lost my tour group...Ultimately I thought, no big deal as I knew where they were headed, so I decided to venture forward on my own tour. ;) Made it to the castle before dusk, and did not see the group. So I walked around for a bit, and then returned to the castle. It was amazing lit up...probably an hour and half after departing my group, I found them. Humorously humiliated, I reluctantly rejoined them...it was CLASSIC!!!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Prague is definitely a drinking city, and quite different from that of Bali. I am hopeful that South Africa will be the self reflective part of this journey. Feeling blessed and privelaged that I am able to make this dream a reality.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bright blessings to you all!!!&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107474/Czech-Republic/Africa-Bound</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>Czech Republic</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 5 Oct 2013 07:33:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Prague</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44561/DSCN1180.jpg"  /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Friday I arrived safely in Prague after a 20 hour travelling day. The crisp air that greeted me as I stepped onto the clean cobblestone streets outside of the airport was awesome, as I love the fall. I arrived at my apartment via taxi, and was met soon after by Tom, my official tour guide thanks to Hawaii Brian. We rallied and went to dinner, and then forward to a 'pub'. It should be noted that beer here in Prague, is cheaper than water...if only I drank beer! I should also inject that Prague's food basically consists of meat, potatoes, and fried cheese. Yay for fried cheese! (The Balinese were a little stingy when it came to the cheese, and I was beginning to crave it.)&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Prague is an extremely liberal city, with ex pats from all over. The Europeans, as did the Balinese smoke everywhere, and of course the Euros love their spliffs. Personally not the biggest fan, but whatevs, when in Rome. :) I was hopeful that I might end up quitting on this venture, but so far it is far from reality...perhaps South Africa will be different. The weather here has been awesome, and this week I am looking forward to checking out the city. Tuesday night I'm going to a Marrionette Puppet Show originally composed by Mozart. This was a suggestion from Julia and Chris, and I'm very much looking forward to it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Last night I met Tom out, as he was going to play trumpet at this local dj's birthday party. It was in a club called Akropolis, and despite the extremely tiny rooms, and mass overcrowding, it was big fun. The kidz my age here seem happy, and the night scene, pretty off the hook. I left the club close to 3 this morning, and it didn't seem like the party was going to end anytime soon. I like the fact that the ex pats here seem to have quite a close community; it's pretty cool, and I've felt very welcomed.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Although I am a bit early for the leaves, and will certainly miss their peak, it's nice to wear some layers, and the cool dry air is a fantastic change from the heat and humidity. I'm going to do some research, and try to get to the outskirts of the city in hopes for a little more color in the foliage...fingers crossed. All in all, I really can't think of a better intermission between Bali and South Africa than the one I've landed in. It's nice to be in the western world for a bit. I can drink tap water, the streets are much cleaner, and the coffee, way tastier...could just be the Baily's in it, as liquor is everywhere. :) There are multiple flower stands, and I have already come across a variety of a mum that I had never seen before today...can't wait for more explorations this week!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I will depart for South Africa Friday, but will hopefully post another update from Prague in the meantime. Miss and love yous!!!&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107354/Czech-Republic/Prague</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>Czech Republic</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 23:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Photos: Prague!!!</title>
      <description />
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/photos/44561/Czech-Republic/Prague</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>Czech Republic</category>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 21:22:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Onward to Prague!!!</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44420/DSCN0850.jpg"  alt="Amazing orchid paintings~" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So Bali is a wrap. All in all, an amazing experience, and a nice transition into my travels. Very much looking forward to arriving in Prague, and having a little western culture. Over the past week and half, I noticed huge improvements in yoga, mostly in regards to my core strength, and was able to do certain postions I had previously been unable to achieve, the headstand being the biggest one, and several others, not knowing the names in which the weight of my body was positioned on my arms. (((Arms of Steel))) ~or at least getting there. The teachers at the yoga barn were awesome in explaining how to accomplish these postions, and for that I am grateful. One of my teachers stated at the beginning of a class that yoga was not a competition, and that if that is what we were seeking, sports was a better avenue. This resonated as truth, and I found some of the yoga practitioners to be quite self righteous, and almost snooty. To be so involved in anything based on self love and generating light, I feel as though some are missing the target. For me, I like yoga because it is an opportunity to improve self by keeping my body fit, and my mind still. I wish for us all to have the capability for compassion of self and others...to really just spread the love and light without the need of feeling superior or the desire to always be the best. For aren't we all just doing the best we can? Isn't it easier to lift others up rather than attempting to break them down? Life's endless lessons I suppose~&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I completed my shopping list as well, and found these amazing wooden flowers. Along with the mirrors, and what I thought to be a decent portion of my backpack, I was able to ship the cargo as well. However, once packed, my bag seemed just as full? Not sure how this was possible, as I really did download...still, it remains full...oh well, perhaps I will ship the warmer gear home before leaving Prague. Last Monday, Julia, Chris and I went north on the island for a hot springs, waterfall day. We had a fantastic time, and it was nice getting out of Ubud. The roads and infrastructure in Bali suck, so it takes forever to get anywhere. But the day was delightful, and it was nice to see more of the island.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I also went to an amazing art gallery in Mas, as word had it there was an American working there. Granted the dude was super spun, but very obliging in allowing me to take pictures and educate me a little on Balinese art. The orchid paintings were spectacular, and the artists, quite talented. They were even painting leather furniture which I found the product to be interesting and awesome. Pic's attached. :) Also made it to a Lagung dance, and the women's costumes and the musical instruments were quite impressive. If I were to return, I would try to see more than just one as it was amazing, and one part of the Balinese tradition I found which resonated best with me.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I completed my final days in Ubud with yoga classes and massages. Hour and half massages for $10, I definitely indulged while on the island. My flight out last night was late, so I went to Denpasar early to have dinner with my Belgium buddies. The only night I went out in Ubud, I ran into them at a bar, and ended up partying till 4:00am. They are super fun, and Lies owns a clothing company with her tailors residing in Bali. Will definitely attempt to have some shipped to the US, as her designs are my style. Bram boutiques them, and together they make a great team, and were my other favorite tourists. :)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It saddened me to depart Julia and Chris, as we definitely became family. They will be in Bali for several more months, and although I will miss their company, I feel confident I will see them again. Australia has definitely moved up on the bucket list.:)&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;So here I sit in Korea, about to depart for Prague. So excited and hopeful for cleaner air, and earth. Know that I am well, and thoroughly enjoying this adventure.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;xoxo&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tiff&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Will download and post pics of dance and instruments soon, as they're incredible!!!&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107309/Indonesia/Onward-to-Prague</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>Indonesia</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
      <comments>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107309/Indonesia/Onward-to-Prague#comments</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107309/Indonesia/Onward-to-Prague</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2013 12:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Two down, one to go!</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44420/IMG_1197.jpg"  /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Learn and love and grow, it's what we do. So I have been in Bali two weeks now, and have continued to do just that~&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I went to the beaches last weekend, on a mission...to find Nyoman and Nyoman. Mission, accomplished. Before departing Cali, I ran into one of Brad and Trish's neighbors who was very excited about my upcoming trip. He requested I find Nyoman, and give her a big hug. She resides at Bingin Beach, and has her business established there as well. I assumed this mission, not knowing anything about the destination, but excited for an adventure to the beach. The beaches of Bali are boiling hot!!! Wasn't quite prepared for that aspect, but adapted. I didn't want to head down completely blindsided, so I booked a room at the pinkcoco close to padang padang beach. Pic's attached~unfortunately, the monkey pic I posted did no justice, as my good camera's battery crapped out. I will attach another photo of the monkeys on the beach...this factor, and my mission, inclined me to seek new beaches the following day. While in route, I met Justin from Australia, who was also headed to Bingin. I asked if I could follow as I had no idea where I was going, and he obliged. He was going to surf, I to read and hug Nyoman. I was very grateful for a companion, and the day ended up awesome. Having been to Bali before, Justin knew of a few spots I would not have found otherwise and even though he felt as though he caught milaria in Java, he hung tough, and &amp;nbsp;kept me company. Through our discussions, he conveyed the fact I paid too much to get to the beach, and empowered me to be more definitive in my negotiations. This being an ultimate blessing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Agung picked me up from the beach, and we headed to watch a Balinese dance. Unfortunately, we were shut out as it was too full, but I am hopeful to still see one while here. The dresses and attire which the women wear are pretty fantastic. I genuinely like Agung, but as with any poverty stricken nation, Chris says we are "walking wallets" in the eyes of the natives...sad but true. I had my eyes on this amazing mirror that I was going to ship back to the states, along with half of my backpack as I way overpacked. Agung had told me to let him do the negotiations as he would get me the "local" price. Well, long story short, Chris's wife Julia is originally from Java, and she and I went to the same store today and bought two mirrors for what Agung had said was the cost of one. I'm taking them to dinner tonight. :) I'm feeling more confident in my negotiations at this point, and am grateful to my Aussies for that.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It was nice to return to yoga as well, as I do need to begin building my core strength back~the vinyassa flow classes being my favorite. Tomorrow night there is a full moon gathering which the yoga barn is putting on, and I hope to attend. To center in this space of chaos is crucial. The traffic here in Ubud is insane, as there always seems to be ceremonies, and horrific jams~like the scooter pic shown. Not to mention the exhaust fumes which are constantly inhaled with any venture. For such a religious community, their lack of love for the earth and the beauty that surrounds them is quite unnerving, and I am almost over it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There are a few more things I'd like to see and do while here...Monday, Julia and Chris and I are headed up to the volcano and hot springs, and hopefully next week I will see a traditional dance also. I will work on preparing my shipment for cargo, and next Thursday I depart for Prague, anxious for a little "city life"...bright lights big city~YAY!!! Bali has it's beauty for sure, but very much looking forward to the next destinations.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Love and bright blessings to you all.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107136/Indonesia/Two-down-one-to-go</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>Indonesia</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
      <comments>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107136/Indonesia/Two-down-one-to-go#comments</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107136/Indonesia/Two-down-one-to-go</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2013 20:09:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Week one!</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44420/DSCN0741.jpg"  alt="Indian Ocean!" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Well, I have been in Bali a little over a week now, and it is weird and wonderful. Weird, because I am solo on this journey, wonderful, because my options are open and endless. The first few days of settling and spa treatments were necessary, but getting the scooter, and becoming mobile was crucial...and intimidating. At first the rental company brought me a new scooter, but once they saw my driving techniques, they brought me an older one.;) Can't say I blamed them really, as I was a bit uncomfortable to say the least. Day one however, I only semi crashed, and now I feel fairly confident. I have been taking yoga classes at the yoga barn in Ubud, and the classes are taught in English, and mostly filled with Aussies and Americans. I am not self disciplined enough to do yoga without an instructor, so being on the farm for two years, I am a bit out of practice. My body is a bit sore, and my muscles somewhat weak. I enjoy the practice, and look forward to regaining my strength. The teachers are pretty amazing, and I have tried to go as much as possible.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Last week I took my first tour around the island. Bali is interesting, because it's a fairly large island with different options drawing different people. Some come for the yoga, others for the surf, others for the furniture. Agung and I went to the rice fields, and then attempted to go to a temple. In the pics you will see a list of rules of who can and can't go in. I was #4, and attempting to be respectful of their tradition, chose not to. However, I was extemely agitated. When inquiring as to why these rules were set forth, Agung informed me that those on the list were seen as "dirty". Of course I had major issues with this. Prior to, we had been to an art cooperative that only featured male artists. The women in Bali work hard. Yet it seems as though tradition still casts them below men, making me extremely grateful to come from a culture that has made their way into the 21st century. I struggled to understand this part of the Balinese culture, especially when creation and fertility is such an amazing thing. Needless to say, I became a bit emotional and expressed my feminist views to Agung, who was a bit taken aback. Our next stop was an amazing butterfly farm. This brightened my spirits a bit, and the people there were very kind. They placed massive bugs and butterflies on me, and the pics from this are awesome. We had planned on visiting another temple, and I told Agung I had no desire to see anymore temples on my trip. The night ended with a lovely meal overlooking the Indian ocean, and a beautiful sunset as the pics will show.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;My downstairs neighbors, Julia and Chris, an older couple from Australia, have been very kind to me as well. We go sunset scootering, and I've been to dinner with them several times. It's nice to go out, and feel safe doing so. Today I have travelled south to the coast to check out the beaches. I am within walking distance to Padang Padang, but the monkeys on the beach, a bit of a deterrant. Tomorrow I am hopeful to find better ones, as there are several close by, most of which are surf beaches, which equals hotties from around the world!!!;) Will update soon with how my weekend goes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Hope and trust that all is well and wondrful for you all!!! Much love.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107043/Indonesia/Week-one</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>Indonesia</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
      <comments>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107043/Indonesia/Week-one#comments</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/107043/Indonesia/Week-one</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Sep 2013 20:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Bali</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/aphs.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/44420/IMG_1052.jpg"  alt="Tree orchids!!" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;My travels have been safe and amazing thus far. The people of Bali are happy, and the landscapes are gorgeous. There are flowers everywhere, which of course, I love. Spa treatments are cheap, so I have been indulging since my arrival to help with the transition. I am keeping a daily journal, in hopes of collaborating weekly for updates to keep you all posted on my adventures. Tomorrow I am renting a scooter, so I can hop around Ubud. I am going to start yoga classes Monday, and plan on exploring the island a bit on the weekends. Agung, my driver, is very kind, so have no doubts, I am in safe hands. Will look forward to sharing this experience with you all via this online journal. And, for those of you with smart phones, please upload the viber app, as I have been able to place calls, and text. Happy trails, and much love!!!&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/106853/Indonesia/Bali</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>Indonesia</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
      <comments>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/106853/Indonesia/Bali#comments</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/story/106853/Indonesia/Bali</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 7 Sep 2013 12:07:00 GMT</pubDate>
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    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Photos: Bali</title>
      <description />
      <link>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/photos/44420/Indonesia/Bali</link>
      <category>Travel</category>
      <category>Indonesia</category>
      <author>tiffany3939</author>
      <comments>https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/photos/44420/Indonesia/Bali#comments</comments>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://journals.worldnomads.com/tiffany3939/photos/44420/Indonesia/Bali</guid>
      <pubDate>Sat, 7 Sep 2013 11:06:00 GMT</pubDate>
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