It’s been a long time between drinks since I posted the first blog for outsidetheframe and in retrospect the idea of posting stories whilst still living in Australia was not what I wanted this blog to be about. Unfortunately through my own naivety and events out of my control, (which I will not go through here), I decided to take a rain check and wait until I had all my travel details complete. 

With this done, and the cancelation of my first itinerary I have decide that my first port of call will be the Phillipines and the Island of Palawan.  Already I am finding the prospect of meeting locals tantalising, especially with apps such as Couchsurfing and online booking apps for accomodation and flights.  Gone are the days where you land in an unknown location and freak out because you have no idea where to stay or what to do.  It blows my mind in todays connected world how incredibly easy it is to meet locals before even arriving.  I suppose I won’t know if this is a benefit or not until I spend time away.  I do wonder if it takes that whole mystery out of travelling?  In some ways I am glad I have had the experience of travelling to many places in the world without connectivity.  In a sense even travel guides and blogs, with their recommendations create some sort of homogenous world, like being on a tour bus, no thinking required or the hard yakka of making an effort.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am 30 years older since I last travelled with a backpack and without an itinerary. Physically and mentally I will enjoy the idea of not having to walk km after km looking for a place to stay and having to use sign and body language to communicate. Also the purpose of this trip is not to be on the move every 2-3 days but to stay put a little longer. I do have the luxury of time. 

How it will work

I have no intentions of writing a travel blog that plots my journey about my experiences and taking photos of exotic places, like a to do list. (although I will update with  instagram) There are plenty of blogs out there that do this. The sole purpose will be to document other peoples stories, both locals and other outsiders who view the world without rose coloured glasses and have their story to tell.

Blog, Vlog, Instagram, FB Group, Twitter account and Podcast.  Seems extreme but each social media platform will show a daily snapshot, a bi-weekly update, a monthly vlog about people I meet and places I get know.  I will also create a podcast for women who travel solo. (This will take some time to organise)  I will need feedback as I need to develop my skills and knowledge. Please don’t just click the like button.  I am a teacher and I need feedback. (thankfully I wont have to worry about data or spending countless hours justifying my existence) I would also like people to use this in an educational sense, for teachers to use me to enhance their curriculum (I have the ability of Skype and periscope) and students to plot a journey and develop their critiquing and questioning skills.  Even if you aren’t a teacher maybe you have contacts that you think would be great to hear about.  Let me know, I don’t just talk Madonna and Collingwood.

My intentions are not recreational but also with an eye to develop my production and story telling skills.  The purpose of this is to hopefully and successfully apply for Filmmakers without borders, a non for profit organisation that grants filmmakers, students and teachers to work with a local community for a year.  I will attach a link so you can see what this organisation does.  If not successful I will continue to travel with the idea of also supplementing  my funds with teaching internationally.  Of course with an open itinerary anything could happen, as long as I keep my ears open and my mouth shut, (at times a difficult skill)

There you have it, so with all this in mind, I leave on the 23rd October.  I am already looking fwd to meeting Jonathan.  See you soon, Outside the frame.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton