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Tamika's Travels

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06.06.2022

28.05.2022

18.01.2022 Tuesday morning was started with a visit to the Singapore botanic gardens. We decided to pay a measly $1 to enter the orchids garden, and of my it was more than worth it! Orchids of all shapes, sizes and colours, as far as the eye could see! Next we raced to the Lee kong chian nationally history museum. This museum has the most exquisite display of every organism you could imagine! Some highlights included a t-rex leg, sperm whale and multiple tigers. This concluded the Sing...apore portion of our journey. Running through airports certainly appears to be a running theme of this trip! This time it was running through both Singapore to get to Bangkok, and then again in Bangkok to catch our flight to Vientiane, Laos. But we made it! Laos, wow. Unfortunately human trafficking is very common here, so we must be cautious when walking alone or with another. However our hotel last night was stunning, it even had a pool!! Very desirable in the muggy tropics! This morning we headed out past Thabok to a rural homestay. After 2 hours we disembarked our bus and switched to a laos bus aka a ute, where we sit in the rear. We travelled through the rainforest, our hair flying in the wind. We then departed on an hour and a half hike through dense forest to an amazing waterfall. The lads had the opportunity to jump in and have a swim. Us females had to remain out in the sauna we know as Laos. However, I found joy in climbing all over the surrounding rock face. At one point I went to jump on a rock, to my surprise there was bo rock. But instead a misleading pile of leaves. I went down down down, I thought I was going in the water! But I stopped a few centimetres shy... unfortunately. We were then treated to a picnic in the forest before returning on the bumpy journey back to our homestay. After the hike we had free time to wander the village before a group of young girls performed some local dances for us. This was followed by a delicious meal vooked by the local women. Tonight we stay with villagers before heading back to the city tomorrow to attend a meeting. Im writing this on Wednesday night in my homestay. With no internet, I have the opportunity to reflect on my time away and my year so far. Its been a tough one, but aren't they all? Thank you all for your tremendous support! Update: It is now thursday evening. Today we travelled back to Vientiane, the capital. On the way we stopped by numerous temples. After this we stopped in the hotel for a quick dip in the pool. Then we went to the Australian embassy in Laos where we had a meeting with the second secretery about our a variety of issues. Photos in next post!! This evening we've spent at the night markets.

18.01.2022 In September of last year I took up the opportunity to camp in the Flinders Ranges for two weeks with SEG. SEG (scientific expedition group) is a group of volunteers who go out a few times a year and conduct biological surveys for requesting organisations. The particular trip I went on was a full biological survey (reptiles, soil, mammals, birds, vegetation) conducted in assosciation with the ranges stationed at Oriparinna. It was here that I fell deeply in love with reptile...s. This lead me to acquiring the nickname 'Tiliqua Tamika'. Tiliqua comes from the scientific name of the shingleback, or stumpy tail blue tongue. I learnt proper techniques of picking up these stunning creatures as well as sexing them and multiple other intriguing facts. I identified many lizards in particular over the fortnight. I was fortunate enough to spot a family of Stokes' skink residing in a rock pile at the top of a hill overlooking the ranges. I also had multiple special envounters with a friendly masked rock skink at one of our sites. This was quite marvellous as they have been sighted around the Flinders, however, not at this particular site previously. I had a fantastic time in the Flinders with SEG. Although I was one of only 2 under 30, I learnt so much from everyone. From cooking to travelling and everything in between. Possibly the best part was having no service for two weeks! Later this month I will be venturing back there with a few friends I met on the trip to conduct photopoints further north. We will be gone for 5 days and spend much of the time bushwalking and examining the region. I have included a variety of images from the reptiles we found to the habitats we explored. I was fortunate enough to be offered the position of coordinator of SEG's Science Alive! display in August of this year! I am currently working on creating an immersive natural experience for the children, which will include live fauna amongst teachings of trapping. If you have any suggestions, would like to be invloved or bring along a special native pet, please message me as I am more than stoked to hear fron you!

13.01.2022 What a busy few days we've had! Walked in excess of 10 kms every day, today was just under 16km! We've seen beaches, rice terraces, rainforests and scooters. Lots and lots of scooters. Ryan's highlight so far is a toss up between the food and white water rafting. The rafting was remarkable with a stunning iguana basking in the sun. While the food is a chef's dream! My highlight would be having two baby monkeys jump on me and play with my hair in the monkey forest. (See the v...ideo below!) So far we've visited Seminyak and Ubud, with Sanur beach and Nusa Dua still to come! So many memories and fun adventures! Stay tuned to hear more!

11.01.2022 I depart Australia on Friday, bound for country number 8 (well, 9 if you count the 2 hours in Thailand). Who knows the destination?? Hint - lots of surfing, and even more hiking!

07.01.2022 Wow oh wow! Fiji is stunning! From scenic mountain ranges, to coral reefs of magnificent shades of blue, Fiji provides the goods. While I've certainly been lapping up the sun, maybe a little too much, we've also been working super hard. For those of you unaware, Project Everest is a social enterpise that focuses on solving the worlds complex social issues. This month I'm working in the fuel sustainability sector. This consists of creating a supply chain and distribution chan...nel, as well as a competitor analysis for our rocket stove. Our rocket stove aims to alleviate the financial burden of kerosene, while also consisting of a more complete and efficient combustion. Last weekend my team and I headed to Namuka Bay. A breathtaking beach with glorious coral reefs. Unfortunately this coral has not escaped the wrath of climate change, with most of the coral being extremely bleached. We snorkelled around the coral and saw all the fish from Nemo. We also swam over way too many sea snakes, although a couple members of my group would not like admit so. This weekend we are going to Mana Island where we plan on snorkeling and sleeping.

07.01.2022 Off again. See you in a month Australia!

07.01.2022 SINGAPORE - THE GARDEN CITY What an intense day! Nearly 20km of walking around! We visited MacRitchie reservoir this morning, an incredibly huge manmade ecosystem to supply Singapore with water. Highlights included seeing monkeys, lizards, fish, ray and birdies. ... Next we were given a lovely talk by a guide at Fort Canning. Did you know that the Japanese surrender was not signed by the person written on the document, technically making it not a legally bound document! Following this we headed to the gardens by the bay, where we went to cloud forest. Wow oh wow. Just go there. By this stage we were all starving and it was 2pm so we finally got lunch! Our next stop was the Marina barrage, where we found out that 25% of Singapore is reclaimed land, ie. Used to be the ocean. Our final stop was the flower dome followed by watching the tree lights. Spectacular!! We had Indian food at the markets before packing our bags ready for our early morning departure. Anyways, its rather late now and we've had an intense day already! Tomorrow we head to Laos, where internet is supposedly limited. So you may not hear from me for a couple days.

03.01.2022 Today I jet off again! This time for a university study tour in Singapore, Laos and Cambodia! We will be focussing on animal trafficking and conservation efforts in the region. I'm sitting on the plane to Singapore now, after a minor dilemma at Melbourne customs. My bag was identified as requiring a closer look. However the person in charge of this decided to go walk abouts and I ended up waiting until 5 minutes after boarding closed. A quick dash to the gate and multiple co...ncerned texts and I made it! This trip has been covered by the New Colombo Plan! I'll keep you all informed over the next two weeks. Ps. Guess where I'll be spending my 20th birthday, hint, its not on land...