 |
| The one and only Machu Picchu |
I'm writing this in bed. Literally just opened my eyes, and I can't believe it's the last morning of 2012.
Each year I keep thinking - this year can't get any crazier or any better than the last. But yet it does. I don't want to get all mushy on you, but reflecting on this past year just makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
Leaving home in mid December last year all I had was a one way ticket to Hawaii, my new camera gear that I had NO idea how to use, and enough money to last me about 3 months. Fast forward to now and I'm back in Hawaii after an unreal year on the road.
I surfed amazing waves all over the world, was the first person to document women's surfing in Cuba, was then stranded in Cuba and rescued by the Canadian embassy, continued on to run the ground operations at a surf camp on a crazy remote private Panamanian island with no electricity, water and amazing surf where every day brought new and dangerous challenges.
In April I found myself being brought along on a 10 day magazine surf trip with WSSM, traveling all expenses paid to beautiful Peru to surf the best left waves in the world. We caught Chicama, the longest lef in the whole world, so good they were setting the Guinness World Record for the most manoeuvres done on one wave. The set up there was the most beautiful thing I've ever witnessed. But was I going to leave the country after only 10 days? Hell no! So I changed my ticket to stay with my surfboard, suitcase and almost non existant travel funds.
The travel gods were smiling though and I was offered a job managing a beautiful hotel in front of a smoking point break. I spent 5 very difficult months there learning the ups and downs of business management in a foreign country. No one spoke a word of english either so I had to learn fast. It was sink or swim, but one of the most incredible learning experiences of my life.
It was a very tough decision leaving Peru, but my need to move keeps me going. Will I ever feel the itch to settle? Guess we will have to wait until next year to find out, but I doubt it!
To everyone I met this year, to everyone in my life old and new, to all the people following me, supporting me and inspiring me, thank you and Happy New Years! xox
Here are a few previously never seen pictures from this year.
 |
| Surfing at Lobitos |
 |
| Blue moon rising at Lobitos Lodge |
 |
| Shooting the women surfers of Cuba |
 |
| Taking in the view in Peru |
 |
| Good friends, good times |
 |
| My third magazine cover |
 |
| beautiful people, beautiful year! |
