Travel Play Live Issue #9 by travelplaylivemagazine

Travel Play Live

AU $12.95

ISSUE #9 Spring 2017

The Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adventure Lifestyle Magazine

AU $12.95 ISSUE 9 ISSN 2206 - 4117

ADVENTURE

EMPOWER

INSPIRE

DREAM

CHANGE

23RD - 26TH AUGUST 2018

CONNECT UNLEASH EQUIP and Surprise Yourself

The Travel Play Live Women's Adventure Summit -Immerse yourself in weekend of Adventure held in the stunning Great Lakes on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

TIX ON SALE

www.travelplaylive.com.au/womens-adventure-summit

ISSUE #9

AU $12.95 ISSUE 9 ISSN 2206 - 4117

Letter from the Editor Well, what a wild year it has been! Adventure Summits, launching the Women’s Adventure Grant, ticking off two whole years in the world of print media, meeting some of the most genuine down to earth women and realising that we all are standing together on this journey called Travel Play Live. We have got to meet so many of our readers and followers, hear your amazing stories, laugh with you, cry with you and most importantly celebrate your wins with you. The further along this journey we go, the more we realise that community is essential. Kerryann and I could not do what we have done without standing on some very broad pioneering shoulders – women who dared to step out, push through and stand firm in their passions, talents and vision – it is an honour. To our team – thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Upon reflecting the Summit and our journey so far, I recently wrote this: In a quiet moment of watching women discover the joy and surprise

of learning new skills, I remembered the whole reason I said yes to starting Travel Play Live. It was to empower women through the catalyst of outdoor adventure, to tell their stories and build a legacy of shoulders my daughters' generation can stand on. You see adventure has a way of doing that. A way of pushing you into the unexpected, of facing your judgments and assumptions and smashing away your walls all in the quiet sucking in of your breath as you brace yourself and the melodic flick of a bird song or the gasp of a sunset of the smooth crystal water. And so there we were…Excited, scared, full of doubts and anticipation, but we all said YES to the possibility of adventure. To losing our inhibitions and finding ourselves on the edge of a literal and metaphorical cliff. And that my friend is the real power of adventure.

CONNECT WITH US

www.travelplaylive.com.au @travelplaylivemagazine FOUNDER + CHIEF EDITOR.

Amy Heague amy@travelplaylive.com.au FOUNDER + DIRECTOR OF ADVENTURE.

Kerryann Hayes kez@travelplaylive.com.au DIGITAL EDITOR.

Hadassa Haack hadassa@travelplaylive.com.au NEW COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS AND ADVERTISING.

Lindsay Reed lindsay@themediahut.com.au + 61 431 956 645 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS.

Lucy Stone, Alice King CREATIVE.

Joey Dable Two Minds Creative TPL PHOTOGRAPHY

Ben Cirulis www.fotografija.com.au Sputnik SputnikSays.com SUSBSCRIPTIONS.

subscriptions@travelplaylive.com.au +61 2 8227 6486 Copyright TPL Publishing PTY LTD 2015. No part of this publication may be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publishers. DISCLAIMER: A large portion of original material is created by TPL Publishing and its contributors, including text, fonts, photography, and art work - content used from public domain like social media sites we agree are not the property of TPL Publishing, and in all cases media permission has been sought via electronic or verbal agreement. The content and views expressed in this magazine by individuals and TPL Publishing are provided in good faith as information only. No guarantee is made of the accuracy of the information provided. We have done our best to credit all photographers. In some instances photos have been provided to us by those who appear editorially and we have their permission to use the images. We apologise if anything appears incorrectly. It will be a genuine mistake, let us know and we will ensure to mention it in the next issue.

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THANKS TO THE TPL TEAM.

Monique Bortoli, Sue Goodison, Kristie Stark

This Issues

CONTRIBUTORS. Head to our website to meet our growing list of contributors pioneering Australian Women's Adventure.

Leah Gilbert

Hanny Allston

Kerith Duncanson

Michelle Lawford

Kate Duncan

Sputnik

Hadassa Haack

Jane Grover

Caroline Pemberton

Ben Cirulis

www.travelplaylive.com.au/contributors Would you like to write for Travel Play Live? Perhaps you have a story to share? We are looking to partner with writers and bloggers across a variety of adventure and travel disciplines. Maybe you are a brand looking to get your product or destination reviewed? Contact us with your details and a sample of your work (or wares) and we will get back to you if we feel there is a good fit. submissions@travelplaylive.com.au

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There is no telling what kind of misadventures you might get up to while trying to get your hands on future copies of Travel Play Live Magazine, so let us take the worry out of your adventure by offering you this yearly subscription deal! Subscribe and go in the draw to win some great prizes. Details on page 95.

SUBSCRIBE AND JOIN THE ADVENTURE For just $48 + P&H Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four beautifully inspiring, empowering and adventurous copies of our magazine delivered to your door full of great seasonal ideas to inspire you to travel, play, live! Digital subscription now available - details on the website. Head to our website www.travelplaylive.com.au/subscribe or call our subscription team on

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c ontents 12

RISE OF THE REAL MODELS

THE BUSINESS OF ADVENTURE

DEAR ME

Taking a stand against what the mass media would have you believe are the common attributes of female role models

How has adventure shaped up the business of Alina McMaster, one of the founders of AROC Sport

Al letter of encouragement to self

THE GIFT OF GENEROSITY

TPL WOMEN'S ADVENTURE GRANT

NO ROOM FOR EGO IN REMOTE CHINA

It all started with a conversation with one of our adventurous supporters

A story about teamwork

If you close your eyes and say “Money”, what happens to your body? Does it tighten? Tingle?

TOP TIPS FOR GOING BUSH Feel more confident to venture further into the unknown

THE LAND OF FIRE

LEAVE NO TRACE

She stands facing a ferocious wind. It's minus 2 degrees, and she's naked

The flip side isn’t always pretty

THE CALL OF KOKODA

WOMEN'S ADVENTURE SUMMIT

46 HIKE IT OUT

We introduce to you the Hike it Out Campaign

We’re here for the 75th anniversary since our troops were on the track

REMEMBERING SYRIA

THE ELUSIVE LEOPARDS OF YALA

7 STEPS TO YOUR FIRST ADVENTURE RACE

Complicated yet beautiful, warm and hospitable.

THE COLOUR OF ADVENTURE

GIRLS OWN ADVENTURES

Can this country blow my mind anymore?

What a phenomenal weekend we had - Will you join us next year?

82 BE A CHAMPION With your body image and healthy eating behaviour

READ MORE Head over to our website to for bonus content, competitions and previous articles www.travelplaylive.com.au

STAY CONNECTED We love to hear from you, so be sure to tell us all about your travels and adventures. Contact us at hello@travelplaylive.com.au Share your photos with us on Instagram by using #travelplaylive for your chance to feature.

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"The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." - OPRAH WINFREY

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WRITTEN BY LEAH GILBERT

parade of young feminine beauties, waist-training their way to incredible wealth through a wellapplied trade of imagecrafting and overexposure. Fast cars, designer gowns, lip/butt/breast implants. A constant message to our younger generation of females is that you should be more like them. ‘This is who you want to be, and until then you're not enough.' And this is without even going down the #fitspo rabbit-hole.

vulnerability and talk about what challenges their mental health and well being, how they cope with challenges - and how they sometimes don't. I call these people The Real Models - everyday people who embrace authenticity and bypass the sugar-coating and image-filtering highlight reel portrayals of life to tell it how it really is. People who own their story and tell it without shame. Who openly admit that some days are diamonds, and some days are dirt. Some days are sunrises and picture-perfect landscapes, and some days are tears and fears and stress.

Surprisingly, I have great news. Recently I spent the day with forty odd year ten students from a local high school, talking about health, fitness, and wellbeing. And you know what? They're not buying what the media is selling us. I was jumping for joy to see that our younger generations have bullshit detectors about fifteen times the size I had back then - and I didn't have social media to deal with.

This is where we come in. We are the Real Models.

Every single teen I spoke with knew the exact aim of this new era of advertising through social media influencing. They know the model of consumption through the erosion of the audience's self-esteem. They know that people are trying to make them believe they are not good enough and encouraging them to strive for unrealistic beauty standards. They don't look to Kylie Jenner or Kim Kardashian-West as role models. They look at them as part of the problem. But they are searching. And desperately so. These teens are searching for a new breed of role model - they are searching for Real Models. Every group conversation I had about the role fitness plays in our life, and general health touched on mental health to some extent. For some, it had a lesser impact, and to others, it was the whole focus of the discussion. Around half of the teens I engaged with talked about crying themselves to sleep at night as the only way they knew how to cope with stress - males and females. There was no shame about it; they just didn't know any other way to go about it. Honest | Vulnerable | Human It seems to me that our younger generations are crying out for the same thing we are people who are willing to stand tall in their

We are the people who run to help keep our anxiety at bay. We are the women who comfortably wear the sometimes visible and sometimes invisible scars of life. We are the women who find comfort in nature because we know that is what serves us. We are the women who have stood in the face of modern society and its expectations, stereotypes and limitations and said "you can't tell me where I cannot go and what I cannot do. Not anymore, not on my watch." We are who our younger generations need to see. Blood. Sweat. Tears. Snot. Dust. Dirt. Sweat. Spit. Chafing. So many of us use movement and adventure as a means to satisfy our soul and maintain and treat our mental health. We know that a long, silent run or walk is the comfort we need after a stressful or ‘low' day. We know that a surf or ride after sunrise will help us calm and focus our minds for the day ahead. The therapeutic benefits of these activities far outweigh the aesthetic concerns we are so encouraged to have as women in our society. And with that understanding, we rebel and shun the concept of ‘ladylike' and embrace our bodies for how they perform for us and the adventures we have thanks to them. We get filthy dirty. We fall down and bleed. We grit our teeth in pain, and we get up and keep going. Because it is not a workout for us to post on social media - there's more to be gained here than acceptance and approval. Determination. Resilience.

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The truth is that when you embark on a journey of discovery of physical potential, you discover so many other things about yourself then how far you can run or hike or ride. When your energy levels are low, and there is a long way home, there is no energy for false bravado or social graces - there is just you, in your rawest form, with everything laid bare. You quite literally have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. And this is where we draw resilience and become stronger in our vulnerability. We learn how to embrace our vulnerability and use it to promote greater authenticity and self-acceptance because after all, we believed in ourselves and we got home. This increased resilience also builds our self-sufficiency and affection for spending time within ourselves. By ourselves, for ourselves, with ourselves. These are the tools our younger generations are desperate to learn. They want to know how to be more accepting of themselves in a world encouraging the exact opposite. They want an alternative means of dealing with stress than crying themselves to sleep. They yearn for the resilience that helps them get back up when they get knocked down. They want to see people who show up and own their space. Our girls need to see women running hard, falling down, getting up, brushing themselves off and keep going. They need to see us wipe spit on our shirts, do a bushy snort and cut off to wee in the bush without worrying about anything else except where the closest ants nest is. Above all, they need to hear us talk about how adventure, nature, and our movement practices soothe us. What our adventures mean to our mental health. How it can be the difference between coping well or not for the day. They need to hear us talk about what adventure has taught us about ourselves. About how we can now get back up better after being knocked down thanks to the resilience we have developed. How we once disliked our bodies for how they looked but instead discovered what amazing machines they are. How we stopped giving a shit about society's false expectations of what a woman should be and do in her life. Real, honest discussion. The rise of the Real Models is here, and there is a Real Model in all of us.

THE

business

ADVENTURE

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With the growing success, popularity and participation of women in events like the UltraTrail Australia (the 4th largest trail run in the world), we thought we would catch up with Alina McMaster one of the founders of AROC Sport, an outdoor event management business which runs the event. We asked her how adventure has shaped her business. INTERVIEW WITH

ALINA MCMASTER FROM AROC SPORT / ULTRA TRAIL AUSTRALIA

hat are the core objectives of your company? Our aim at AROC Sport has always been to get people outside and enjoying the outdoors and get some adventure into their life. If people get into the outdoors, they not only do something good for their mind and body but they begin to appreciate our environment and natural places. How has adventure impacted your perspective on your life? Adventure puts things into perspective! It helps you focus on what is important and what isn't. Without adventure, you get caught up in the daily grind, and insignificant things start to become too important. In your opinion, what is it about active adventure via the trails that appeal and inspires so many people? Trail running is an easily accessible outdoor activity which you can take to any level of adventure. You can have the challenge of completing an event, something to work towards, a distance just outside your reach that you aim to finish. You can run in the middle of nowhere in the night, run with friends or solo. You can go on unknown tracks, mountains or just explore new terrain. You can find new vistas, meet new people and have an excuse to travel somewhere exciting and new. How does your event help people tap into this? Ultra-Trail Australia provides a framework for people to feel comfortable trying out the challenges of long distance trail running. There are training groups and networks of people all training for the UTA event. There are different levels people can begin at - start with a 22km event or 50km or even 100km. And there is nothing more inspiring to get you out and running than to have a big goal. What lessons have you learnt from your adventures that you have been able to apply to running a successful business? I believe that one of the most important aspects of a great event com-

pared to just an OK or ordinary event is attention to the course, particularly a course that it is interesting, beautiful, challenging but also safe. Attention to the safety of our events is paramount and something I have learnt from experiences in my racing and adventuring career. If you want people to keep coming back, then they need to know that the event is professional, that their safety is of utmost importance and that it is super fun. What is one of your biggest highlights so far your business journey? It would have to be the recent 10th year of Ultra-Trail Australia. When my husband (Tom Landon-Smith) and I started this event as The North Face 100 in 2008, we had 175 people lined up to run 100km. This year we had just under 5000 runners, around 15,000 spectators and supporters and a fantastic crew that worked seamlessly together with enthusiasm and enormous energy and commitment to do everything necessary to change the course and re-arrange the massive logistics due to the weather. Looking back over the years of this event, its growth, the fantastic support we get from the participants and seeing all the new people the event has brought to trail running, makes me so proud. Your event has continuously grown every year since it started, why do you think it has been so successful? As I have previously mentioned: • Attention to safety and ensuring we have a safe course and excellent rescue and medical services, • An astounding course that has beautiful views, at an epic location. A challenging but manageable course • Creating a unique atmosphere and one that is accommodating and friendly. • A well-marked course with good facilities such as feed stations Do you have a personal bucket list of adventures? If so, what is currently at the top of the list? Trail running is relatively new to me. While I have spent my whole life competing and adventuring which has included running I have only re013

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cently done a handful of trail runs. I did the OCC (the 55km race as part of the UTMB festival) last year and now would love to try some of the other international trail runs what an excuse to see a new country! After having a 13-year break from adventure racing I am in an all women's team - Mountain Designs Wild Women - entered in the XPD - a 5-10 day non-stop expedition race in March next year. In the interim, the next big adventure is to take the kids to Tasmania and attempt some overnight walks. What is your advice to our readers who are teetering on the cusp of their first big active adventure? Just do it! Don't wait till you think you are fit enough or ready enough - chances are you will never be ready so don't let that stop you. Don't put yourself in the position where you end up saying "Oh I wish I had done that". You have been particularly supportive of the growth of women's involvement in adventure events, what are the benefits you see women accessing different to men? One of the things that have really excited me is that this year in the UTA22 event there was 70% females. It is fantastic to see the rise of women in trail running. I think introducing the UTA22 event has provided a manageable stepping stone for women to feel confident to give it a go. As a mother of two boys ages eight and five, I realise the importance but also the difficulty of getting back into exercise when you have a family. The way that women have embraced trail running is inspiring and in turn, inspires more women to give it a try. It also means that there are networks of women's training groups available for new female runners to join and Facebook groups to ask questions and get information to help women on their journey. The ability to get outside and move is so important for women's health both body and mind and having a goal and a group to train and talk with makes that so much easier and comfortable for the majority of women. Thanks Alina

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Dear Me, There is no use continuing to lie on your back on that scratched, leather lounge, trying to block out the intrusive airport intercoms announcing the next departure. Your brain is filled with jetlag and your clear thoughts have been replaced by a murkier mess. Somewhere between Finland and Melbourne self-doubt has crept into your grey matter. Empower yourself! Getup! You did a great job in Finland assisting those younger Australian Orienteers with their preparations for their World Championships. Amongst the forests and lakes, you found an opportunity to anchor your own life experiences to your skills and academia. With your help, those team members were able to perform wilder. You were empowered! You found a voice to encourage them and help Australia succeed on the world stage again. Remember how you started each day in Finland with an early morning explore, cruising along the lake’s edge, finding animal paths through the forest undergrowth. The lake was often mirror calm so after the run you could slip into the gleaming water. For one week, this was your shower. Find some of that inspiration now! Get out there and empower yourself again! Whilst the team fondly nicknamed you ‘Nanny Hanny’ thanks to the copious cups of tea and early-to-bed habits you enjoy, this should not reflect your napping skills here on this airport lounge. Hanny, think back to those who have touched your life in ways that enabled you to achieve beyond what you dared to dream alone. Max Cherry jumps to mind. At 80 years of age, bumbled under an old track suit and a tartan beret, it was his bellowing voice from his car whilst you ran alongside, his handshake at the start of training, his gentle hug when you ‘did good’, that taught you there is no such word as can’t and to see your talents in distance running. Remember how Jackie Feathweather (nee Gallagher) also helped to highlight the importance of vulnerability. One hell of a listener, she allowed openness, demanded honesty and coached you to strength as a marathon runner. Today, Jeremy, with his bike shoes under the table, empowers you to seek authenticity in your own marrow. So many amazing individuals, all with authenticity visibly bubbling from even the smallest of handshakes, nods or eye contact. This authenticity is what enabled them to empower you just like you empowered your athletes in Finland. In Finland, you became the mentor for our future generation. The team gave themselves permission to be empowered by you as they sensed your authenticity, excitability and self-connectedness. Lying here on this lounge feeling blue is not you! You found your authenticity in the natural environment beyond urban walls. Mornings in the sunshine, forest scraps stuck to your hair, mud spatters up your calves… this is where you connect the strongest with your truest self to find inspiration and self-connectedness. Each day you took this empowered self to the competition arenas. There you saw athletes begin to dream bigger and perform wilder, seeing physical, mental and emotional strength unite to create optimal performance. In turn

From Self.

you felt a return of positive energy. Do you see the cycle? Han, today you are as stale and unexcited as the airport terminal itself. Do what you know best – rip open that bag, scrounge for your stale-smelling running attire, draw tight the laces of your shoes and go exploring. That’s the girl! Out past the smokers’ precinct, round behind McDonalds, down around the runway lighting, across a ditch and ‘pop’- into an open parkland we find ourself. Here the noise of that airport begins to fade and the evening light dapples through the open eucalypt forest with dancing grasslands beneath. Can you feel it Han? You are your best self out here far away from concrete and air conditioning! Run out of those stale thoughts, up through this old gate tucked into the fence line with more holes than wire. Do you understand it now Hanny? You empower others when you empower yourself. It requires you to build a bank of trust every day, not with other people but with yourself. Each and every day… remember this! Capture this moment too. For out here on this hilltop with aircraft skimming overhead, you have seen more than the sun’s rays. You see your own light glowing. You are breaking the norm, escaping the concrete and empowering yourself as an excitable adventurer. This simple act of inspiration has replaced the negatives with positives, the internal critique with a gentler voice of compassion, and restlessness with excitement. Empowerment. Au natural, bubbling up deep from within. When you get home just remember that this empowerment blooms from daily actions, (as well as perhaps the occasional big F$%k-Off adventure!). Remember the small things that uplift you, from a nourishing diet to early nights, time camping under the stars and your mini-morning missions before you open your laptop. Find creativity, foster rich friendships and nurture yourself to stimulate richer thoughts. Spend more time immersed in your goals, explore your values and reflect on these in your journaling. Give back when you can and share. Share lots. Hanny, when you first started Find Your Feet back in 2009 you were simply trying to find your own feet. You had fallen out of love with your running and walked the tightrope of health. However, super eager, you found a way to help other adults fall in love with the sport of running. At Find Your Feet they found friendship with themselves and other like-minded individuals. But do you recall how after six months one of your regular clients and someone that you now proudly consider a friend, pulled you aside? ‘Hanny, you have the potential to give us all a beautiful gift. But if all we see is someone who doesn’t give to themselves then we will never be able to truly appreciate the gift you are trying to give us’? Hanny, after all these years, I hope you can finally, truly understand his words of wisdom – empower yourself to empower others. Get out there girl! You were born to be wild.

LETTER BY HANNY ALSTON

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CULTURAL CHANGES IN THE

ADVENTURE LANDSCAPE It has been encouraging to see more businesses, brands and government departments recognize the value of being active in the outdoors as integral to our overall health and wellbeing. The fact that ‘fitspo’ and stale pernicious messages about losing weight are being rejected by women at lightning speeds, these cultural changes indicate a fresh wind a blowin’.

IN THE MEDIA Here at Travel Play Live, finding good quality photos of active and adventurous women has been the bane of our lives. Over the past three years, we have been slowly building our library of Australian images. So you can’t imagine our joy when we read “From Sex Object to Gritty Woman: The Evolution of Women in Stock Photos” by Claire Cain Miller in The New York Times recently. According to the article, “In 2007, the top-selling image for the search term “woman” in Getty Image’s library of stock photography was a naked woman lying on a bed, gazing at the camera with a towel draped over her bottom half.” That or a woman laughing alone with salad. In 2017, “the most purchased photo for the search term “woman” in Getty Image’s library is of a woman hiking alone in Banff National Park. “It really feels like an image about power,” said Pam Grossman, a director at Getty.” It looks like we are finally getting somewhere.

IN EDUCATION Perhaps not the adventure landscape per se, but momentum has been growing across Australia for schools to ditch ‘old fashion’ female uniforms like tunics and skirts that may discriminate against girls and limit their movement and allow a range of uniform options which include shots and trousers. (Can I get an amen from all those of us who use to wear a tunic blouse and a tie!) While the vast majority of schools already offer the option for female students to wear shorts or pants, research shows that girls do less exercise when wearing a school dress. With programs being rolled out across the country to encourage more girls and young women to get outside and be active, this is another step in the right direction to open up a world of adventure.

IN THE WILDERNESS In an article that first appeared on the Sportsister website in 2011, and then republished on the Explorers Connect site in September this year, the author quotes one editor about how they “worry that if we don't change this male-dominated culture [in adventure] we will see fewer professional adventurers and explorers, because less people will want to read about them”. Apart from the somewhat ironic fact that this message still rings true SIX years on, we are encouraged to hear this message more and more in media arenas. This is a key driver as to why we’ve dedicated a whole magazine and business to giving women a voice in this

space. “Explorers and Formula One drivers have much in common: physically in their prime, they thrive on risk and reward, and both are usually slapped head-to-toe in sponsors. Interestingly, in the media at least, they are both almost always male. And for exploring this is a problem, because according to Explorer, Mikael Strandberg, the male ego could see exploring dispatched to the wilderness.” Let's hope that as more and more women find their voice in the arena, we can go together on this journey into the wilderness.

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Creature Comforts

Regardless of whether you are a complete novice when it comes to adventure or a seasoned pro, we all agree that a few creature comforts can make all the difference to how we experience the great outdoors. From climbing mountains, to exploring the bush or floating in the ocean, at Rays you'll find adventure gear that's specifically designed for Australian conditions, and an expert team to help you get out and about with a minimum of fuss. At Rays, we are proud supporters of out there people.

Yeti

HOPPER TWO 30 SOFT COOLER So the good old ‘icebox cooler’ or picnic bag just got an extreme make over! Introducing the Hopper™ two, brought to you by Yeti®. Designed with a tapered body shape, allowing comfortable carrying for extended periods. Improved cold-holding power, easier loading and unloading and increased visibility. It is leak proof, waterproof and resistant to mildew, punctures and UV rays. The liner is made from an FDA-approved food-grade material, the insulation offers superior cold-holding and ensures the promise of ice for days! Seriously – this is one cool must have creature comfort. Price $449.95

Wacaco

NANOPRESSO. We all know that all the best adventures start with good coffee, and now you can be your own barista, no matter how far away you are from ‘civilisation’. Coming from the legacy of one of the most creative and innovative portable espresso machine, Nanopresso redefines the genre and sets new standards. Incredibly beautiful and elegant, it looks every bit as powerful as it is. Price $109.00

Primus

HIGH VOLUME 12V SHOWER Leaving civilisation behind and embrace the untouched wilderness doesn’t mean you can’t have the comforts you enjoy at home, especially that of a hot shower after a long day. Next time you head to the outback, treat yourself to the Primus 12v High Volume Camp Shower. Price $79.99

GO GIRL

Klymit

STATIC V INFLATABLE MAT. This inflatable mat is extremely lightweight and compact - perfect for hiking, camping and backpacking and its design makes perfect for when you need to sleep on the ground. The mat is easy to use and inflates in just 10-15 breaths, ideal for a quick set up after a long day of adventuring. The mat easily compacts down into the included stuff sack, which is very small in design, making it easy to pop back into your rucksack! Price $99.00

It is one of our most asked questions here at Travel Play Live -what do we do about ‘number ones’ in the outdoors? Well here is a great solution. The Go Girl is a female urination device that allows you to urinate standing up. It fits easily in your purse, pocket or day pack and is made from flexible medical grade silicone, making it compact to store and clean for re-use. Price $24.99

Visit www.raysoutdoors.com.au to find your closest store or shop 24/7 online. Rays also offers a 2hr click and collect cover Travel to Play Liveyou on how you like to shop. 017 service

THINGS WE ARE LOVING

THIS SPRING

We are not all mud and sand and wind in our hair here at Travel Play Live, and most of us like the rest of us enjoy a little indulgence once in a while. So, we decided to share with you some of our favourite things we enjoy when not out on the trails (mind you some of these join us out there).

THE LOVE LETTER COLLECTIVE We are in LOVE with the Love Letter Collective. So much so that we have collaborated with them for our TPL Adventure Boxes. The Love Letter Collective (TLL) like to inspire by bringing warmth to your heart, a smile to your face and a spark to your soul. TLL believe that truly loving and believing in you, is the foundation for living a happier and healthier life. Through their Mindfulness Cards they like to bring awareness in the power of practicing daily gratitude. TLL is so much more than just love letters, gift boxes and Mindfulness Cards. By featuring organic, sustainable, ethical, recycled, homemade and small Australian businesses in their products, they are making a small change in the right direction for our environment, the soil we feed from and walk on. tllcollective.com.au

Maya Organics Lip Balm These beautiful lip balms are handmade in Tamarama Sydney using beeswax sourced from an Australian owned honey farm in the wildflower filled area of the Blue Mountains. Bound in a recycled paper, plastic free tube and label that holds organic and vitamin rich oils, butters and beeswax to nourish and moisturise lips. Three times the size of normal lip balms because buying in bulk is better for the earth too. Help Maya Organics spread the word one organic lip balm at a time to keep our oceans plastic free, our bodies happy without all of the unwanted yuckies and support locally sourced. maya-organics-lipbalm.myshopify.com

NO PONG ANTI ODOURANT No Pong is an extremely effective, All Natural, Anti Odourant. Made from delicious, all natural ingredients, blended together to create a ridiculously effective, sweat resistant, all day deodorant that does exactly what it says on the tin!Guaranteed to be 100% paraben, aluminium, blood, sweat, and tear free. It also features in our Adventure Boxes. www.nopong.com

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Arbonne Rescue & renew It’s not just what Arbonne put in their products that makes them superior. It’s what they choose to formulate without. Arbonne integrate the most beneficial botanical ingredients from nature with the principles of green chemistry — crafting products with integrity, expertise and innovation, responsibly, taking care of our earth at the same time. Now available to purchase from Travel Play Live. Links on our website or go to bit.ly/2xsXiMM

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GIFT GENEROSITY O F

If you're anything like me (and since you're human, I’m guessing you are), you probably have a hang-up or two about money. How does the M-word sit with you? If you close your eyes and say “Money”, what happens to your body? Does it tighten? Tingle? What thoughts are thrown around the previously peaceful state of your mind? And how would you feel if I asked you to give a bunch away? WRITTEN BY KATE DUNCAN

For most of this last year, since resigning from my six-figure career, I’ve been on an up close and personal relationship with my beliefs around the stuff. You could say I’m on a journey of money-alchemy, knee deep in a sticky transformation of the M-word and all it means to me. I whisper my affirmations quietly into the privacy of my bedroom, still slightly ashamed with my budding process. We learn about money through our experiences growing up. There are endless combinations of how our parents (and the world) showed us what wealth or poverty could mean. Through language and action, they showed us scarcity or abundance, generosity or greed, trust or fear and we dragged the heavy bags they filled for us into our adulthood. When I hear the M-word I can feel all kinds of things. The most likely are guilt (if I were a real spiritual person, I wouldn't want it so much), fear and doubt (will I ever have all that I need?), and the least palatable of all, greed (no you can’t have any of mine!). It’s a complex, layered, tricky situation mostly because wealth is a mind game and lets face it, our minds are a complex, layered and tricky place. I was between classes at the yoga studio when I got the call from Lulu Agan, owner of SwellWomen that one of our guests was planning to give away her two surf and yoga retreats. Ann Elise Ware of Excelsior Minnesota, had a veterinary emergency with her beloved pup Lily the week before the two back-to-back retreats she had booked in Nicaragua. Lulu was explaining to me that Ann Elise had just called to cancel her trips. “What are you going to do? “ I asked, thinking she was mulling over our refund policy. “She doesn't want a refund”, she said, her voice dangling with wonder and excitement, “she wants to find two women to give the retreats away!” I was stunned. It was so unheard of. It was so… generous. A quick look through our website and you will see that this is no small feat. SwellWomen runs luxury retreats in paradise locations and the

price tag reflects that. Melinda Combs, 48, from Huntington Beach, was on a camping trip in Joshua Tree when she got the news that she’d been selected. Melinda was shocked at first, unable to respond, then five minutes later gave Lulu a resounding yes. Melinda had sustained a brain injury the previous January. She describes being halfway through her recovery and standing in her garage looking at her surfboards, almost crying, not knowing when or if she would recover enough to surf again. When I asked Melinda what was most valuable about her gifted week in Nicaragua she said, “I learned that gifts can happen in the most unusual and beautiful ways, and that we have to say yes to them. I learned that the Universe really does have your back, that life can be fortuitous and magical. We just have to be patient through the storms.” She told me that after she caught an amazing wave on retreat, she burst into tears from the joy of being able to surf again. She told me, “The trip gifted to Melinda was beyond marvellous. It restarted my year and my life.” Sarah Carney, 38, had met Ann Elise on her first SwellWomen retreat in Maui. She had worked super hard to save the money for that retreat and it felt like a once in a lifetime extravagance for her. They immediately bonded, Sarah falling in love with Ann Elise’s adventurous heart, and the way she “tried everything without fear helicopter rides, trekking, hiking, swimming in caves as well as getting up on the board”. When I asked Sarah what it was like to receive such incredible generosity, she said, “To be honest, I had difficulty understanding the magnitude of being gifted an experience like this. I wanted to honour the gift in a way that exemplified Ann Elise’s spirit for adventure and her fearlessness. Each morning, I woke up with the intention of enjoying every moment, from the coffee brewing in the house to the sunrise walk on the beach. I went into the water every morning on my surfboard challenging myself to be more like Ann Elise”. Sarah told me this experience has made her really think about generosity and the act of selfless giving, that it has given her a new perspective on what she can do to help other people

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achieve their dreams. I can’t help but share her enthusiasm. Generosity is contagious. Ann Elise has me questioning what it means to trust that everything happens the way it should. She told me, “I just turned a bad situation into a really good one. If I couldn’t have this amazing experience, why shouldn’t someone else get to love it”? I asked Ann Elise if she thinks of herself as generous. She said, “not really. I just want to make the best of situations. When circumstances are pointing strongly to letting go of what I think is supposed to happen, I just let the situation be what it is. This way, I can allow the best outcome to happen for a difficult circumstance. I am not generous, but by letting go I allowed generosity to happen”. I thought long and hard about what Ann Elise had said. From listening to this beautiful woman, I too am learning to trust. My heart is moved by this idea of allowing generosity to happen on its own. Can I, with all my fears and guilt and doubt, learn to trust? Can you? Sarah is convinced she’ll be paying this forward for a long time to come. She tells me “Ann Elise has made me realise there are so many things I could do to really change someone’s life for the better”. Hearing her say this I think about the things I could do to change another life, the ways I could allow generosity to move through me. No guilt. No fear. No doubt. Just the gift of generosity, moving through an open heart. When we trust in wealth, when we believe we have enough, when we are grateful for what we have, then we can open and allow generosity to move through us. When we give, everybody wins. There’s no real way to measure the full value of our giving, how far reaching our generosity will be. As Sarah says, “It’s difficult to truly place a value on this gift because the experience will stay with me vividly for the rest of my life. Whenever I am having a bad day or a rough time, I can always dream about my days walking the beach, laughing with a bunch of really amazing ladies, doing yoga at sunset, and diving under the ocean with my surfboard”.

"There truly aren't any barriers in this industry except the ones you have set yourself. Understandably, the tough thing to overcome is to find support and help that expedition or trip happen. I'm excited to see this new grants program launch to help other women carve out their way into the adventure realm and discover what their strength is but more importantly, understand their weaknesses and how to grow and evolve from that vulnerable place." - Krystal Wright (Canon Master and Extreme Sports Photographer)

Photo credit ÂŠAndy Mann

Supporting Epic Women and their Adventures in the following 4 categories Expeditions for Change

Adventure Film & Photography

We are after applicants pursuing a wide range of active outdoor pursuits, primarily with the purpose of creating change via their adventure. This category is open to scientists and conservationists, explorers and adventurers of all kinds.

We are after female photographers or filmmakers who are capturing the pulse of adventure where ever it may be found. This category is open to creatives who are equally as adventurous as the subjects they are capturing.

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Youth

Woman Over 50

We are after young women adventurers under 18 years of age who are pioneering adventure and paving the way for their generation to embrace the epic heart of adventure.

We are after women 50 and over pushing the boundaries of expectations when it comes to adventure.

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The Travel Play Live

ADVENTURE G R A N T. Supporting Epic Women and their Adventures

It all started with a conversation with one of our adventurous supporters and all round epic woman earlier this year when she informed us that she had been knocked back from expedition funding because women’s adventures weren’t deemed “epic” enough.

FOR MORE DETAILS HEAD TO: WWW.TRAVELPLAYLIVE.COM.AU/ WOMENS-ADVENTURE-GRANT/

ot only do we share the stories of Australia’s amazing women, Travel Play Live actively supports Australian Women within the Adventure space, helping turn the dreams of women of all ages, with a passion for adventure, change, exploration and expedition into a reality. So once we picked out jaws off the ground, we began to discuss a few things. Firstly what is the definition of epic, and what is it that causes such a controversial reaction when the words adventure and women are in the same sentence? If we are honest the word epic does tend to conjure images of extreme adrenaline filled escapades, and even the dictionary definition of epic is skewed to the male domain, "his epic journey around the world", however, in more colloquial terms epic can be defined as ‘extending beyond the usual or ordinary’ and we don’t see any issues with applying this definition to the domain of women’s adventure. We have written many times about the differences in the feminine experience of the outdoors, and we certainly don’t think that that unique difference should exclude women from being able to access funding for their adventurous pursuits. And so the Women’s Adventure Grant was born. The establishment of the Travel Play Live Women’s Adventure Grant, for 2018 in association with The Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour and Fully Rad Adventures has been created to support women who display a creative and innovative approach towards adventure. We know big adventures can

come with an even bigger financial cost, but, we are here, along with our community to help make it happen for four Australian Women in 2018.

grant is designed to assist female adventure enthusiasts to make their adventure aspirations a reality and create awareness of the causes passionate to them.

We want this grant to be a true reflection of the supportive community here at Travel Play Live, and so we decided that we will be officially launching the Travel Play Live Women's Adventure Grant with a Crowd Funding campaign. With an initial kickstart to the grant with a donation of $5000 from event company Fully Rad Adventures and donations that were received during the recent Dirty Girls Adventure Film Tour (now the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour) Travel Play Live have been able to grow the grant pool, but we need your help. The goal is to raise a total of $20,000 from our supporters, partners and community. We will be launching the crowdfunding campaign in the last week of October so stay tuned.

How to apply for the grant?

In addition to the cash grant, media coverage, mentoring from key women in the adventure space and gear will also be a part of the grant offering. Not only will the recipients be equipped with the world’s most technically innovative apparel and equipment, they will be supported and mentored to get their dream off the ground. What are we looking for? Adventure’s with purpose are what we are all about. We are after applicants pursuing a wide range of active outdoor pursuits, primarily with the purpose of creating change locally, nationally or globally via their adventure. We’re not only looking for elite athletes, we are looking for women from all walks of life, making a difference and promoting the benefits of adventure for others. The

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Applications for The Travel Play Live Women’s Adventure Grant 2018 will open in January 2018. You will be required to answer all relevant information specific to your applications on the application form. You will also be required to provide a short 90 second video introducing yourself, your adventure dreams and why it’s important to you to see it realised. Be as creative and inspire us to get behind your initiative. Once the submission period closes, the grant will be awarded by a panel of Travel Play Live’s chosen experts. Announcement of Grant Recipients The winner will be announced on the Travel Play Live Women’s Adventure Grant page on the Travel Play Live website. The winner will also be contacted by phone and/or email to be notified. Updates on the four women chosen and their expeditions will also be shared through our partners, the Travel Play Live media sites, and our social channels. We will also host an award ceremony to publicly announce the recipients. Who is eligible to apply? The Travel Play Live Adventure Grant is open to residents of Australia only. Females of all ages welcome to apply. Full terms and conditions for the grant application will be released with the Crowd Funding Campaign in October.

Lighten please

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No Room for Ego

IN REMOTE

CHINA

We asked Vivienne Smith, a young Aussie video producer with her own production company specialising in outdoor and adventure sports films, to talk about how the best work gets done when men and women work together as a team rather than compete against each other.

e had just finished production of a ski film in remote northwest China, an area flanked on three sides by the borders of Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. We had barely sat down at a film crew dinner, including my co-producer Erik Nachtrieb when our Chinese client, Li, entered the dining room. He looked troubled, unsure of who to look at, me or Erik. “The government leaders want to have dinner with you tonight Erik.” “Just me?” asked Erik. “Yes, I’m sorry, they just want to meet you.” “What about Viv? We both run this company” Erik looked at me. “I know I told them”. Erik stared at him. His weight and height double that of Li, helped deliver his point. But not tonight. “It’s this special meal for men …” Li explained. “I won’t go unless Viv comes” Erik exclaimed. “I understand, I will tell them you can’t come.” “So it’s me or nothing?” Erik fired back. “Yes, I’m sorry.” What happened earlier: For five days we had worked as a team to pull of a difficult shoot. Erik and I were managing a Chinese film crew who were ill equipped for winter conditions. Some had duct-taped their pants to their shoes in an attempt at gaiters. The film we were making was an initiative by the regional government to increase awareness of this area as a holiday destination. We were staying in Hemu Village, a 10,000 year old settlement with farm houses and cattle corrals dotted around its periphery. There was a sense of having stepped back in time... During pre-production, the locals were con-

STORY BY VIVIENNE SMITH

vinced their horses could carry cameramen to the top of the mountain. Erik, although a direct descendant of Colorado settlers, concluded that perhaps Chinese horses were different. Erik went so far as to ride out of the village with the locals and only then, when they were faced with the looming peak, did they realise what he meant by “top of the mountain”. “You want to go up there?” “Yes! Where did you think the top of the mountain was?” Erik replied. They pointed to a low foothill, puzzled. “Why would you go up THERE?” “To ski!” Erik smiled. “Oh… no our horses can’t go up there.” We later learned, that although these people maintained an ancient ski culture dating back ten thousand years, they skied to hunt. Skiing with a purpose, in the most practical form. If the animals don’t go to the top of the mountain, then why should they? The concept of hiking up a mountain purely for the sake of going back down it was simply pointless in their eyes. Meanwhile, behind the scenes I was working hard with an American Airborne Colonel, JD, to convince our snowmobile drivers that their machines could indeed go up hills as they were designed to do. Me, a small white girl with no knowledge of Chinese, trying to convince a large Kazakh off his snowmobile to have JD show him how to use the machine. After two hours of Chinese hierarchy was navigated, I finally got JD onto a snowmobile. The result, as you can imagine, was satisfying for me, but an ego blow for the Kazakh who believed he knew better. By the end of the week, however, the snowmobile boss asked me if JD would teach his men how to drive better. We had successfully found enough ski runs to make a film and we learned

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how to drink Baijiu, a liquid easily confused with gasoline. Now, after a successful week I found the credit was falling on the shoulders of my male business partner. Erik wasn’t going to back down. “Erik, go without me.” I said. The conversation jerked back and forth between Erik and Li, who was clearly stuck between pleasing us and obeying the government. But the fact was we were in a tightly controlled military region of China, here by invitation from the government. Erik left with my OK and I remained with the team. As Erik is not one to let a matter rest. After the men’s meal he insisted the government meet his business partner. Around midnight, as I was getting ready for bed, Li showed up breathless at my door. “Can you come now? To the bar, Erik wants you to meet the government.” “What, now?” “Yes now!” With JD in tow, we went to meet them. What ensued was a lot of drinking (with JD breaking the local sculling record) and the ‘men’s meeting’ left saying they were very pleased to have met me. One could argue I’ve left a message that says that a women’s problems can only be solved with a man’s influence, but that night, in the face of an old culture, we were a team. As men and women are designed to be. Photos courtesy Vivienne Smith More about Vivienne’s production company: www.1iopen.tv Facebook @1iopenproductions Instagram @1iopenproductions

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Top Tips for

GOING BUSH F R O M

W I L D C R A F T

A U S T R A L I A

Most of us feel relaxed and even excited about going for a bush walk or when heading out to any place in nature, but the more remote our venturing, the more apprehensive we can feel. The tips below are aimed not only to help you feel more confident to venture further into the unknown, but also to help you get more out of your time outdoors wherever you are.

1. Go Often Get your dose of Vitamin N (Nature) as regularly as possible. Treks into the deep wilderness are wonderful experiences, and if you can manage to do them all the time, terrific! Otherwise if you can get to any place that has some natural features on a regular basis, maybe even your own garden, then you’ll be doing a lot to help recharge your batteries.

2. TAKE A LIGHTER AND A KNIFE These two items can get you out of a lot of trouble, and are handy even on the smallest day walk (it is not an uncommon scenario to get stuck overnight unexpectedly with no equipment when a day walk goes awry). The lighter will give you fire to keep you warm, lift your spirits, cook any food, and boil water. If you don’t know how to make a ‘one-match’ fire, practice your fire-making skills before you go out into the bush (see tip 8). The knife helps you form up some dry kindling in wet conditions, chop food, make a shelter, cut bandages and do a multitude of tiny tasks. If you wear a knife in a sheath on your belt, you might be surprised how often you use it, and possibly impressed with your Xena warrior princess look!

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3. Take what you need and leave what you don’t This is a real trick – it is so easy to pack in everything but then you are burdened down– it is also easy to take nothing and then find yourself too uncomfortable e.g. when it starts pouring with rain or you run out of water or food. The goal is to have only what you need to maintain reasonable comfort while you are out in nature. Make a list after each outing of what you used and what you didn’t. Then for your next outing, pack based on your previous list, and re-assess again afterwards; until you get a feel of what you really need. Obviously this will depend on the season and the weather, and just because you didn’t use the snake bandage this trip, maybe still pack it for the next one.

4. TELL A FRIEND We probably all know to inform someone of where and when you are going, but on your return, it’s a great idea to have a chat with someone about your experience. This fosters community enthusiasm for heading into the wilderness, and helps you deepen your experience, as you relive memories and reflect on the joys, challenges, beauty and your own personal interpretation of your adventure.

5. Be here and now There is a whole ecosystem out there, functioning in every moment without our involvement. We can go bush and spend the whole time thinking – about our week ahead, our week behind or any number of things – and notice very little of what is happening in the moment. Try tuning in to the natural environment through your senses. Listen: try 15 minutes of silence, and spend that time concentrating on all the birdsongs and leaf rustlings around you. Sniff: can you smell the ocean in the wind an hour from the sea? Touch: What can you feel on your skin? See: shift your focus - close up, far away and to your periphery. Get out of your typical thought pattern and notice the world around you: even if it is just while strolling through your local park.

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6. Stop in one place Do you really need to be doing anything or going anywhere when you are in the bush? If you can stop for a period of time, say 20 minutes, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more likely that the animals and birds will go back to their daily business rather than worrying about you, and you will more likely notice the things right under your nose. Spending this quiet time means youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll come back from your journey with meaningful stories about a tiny spider weaving the most intricate web or the Tawny Frogmouth impersonating a tree branch or a plant with stunning delicate flowers. This process is a great open eyed meditation that can leave you feeling calm and rejuvenated.

7. LEARN HOW TO USE A MAP & COMPASS Your digital satellite map may not always work. Going beyond the urban bushland with knowledge of how to use a compass and an understanding that your map is just a miniature version of the real world, gives you confidence in the wilderness. Some people enjoy the process so much they navigate this way for sporting fun. Improve your navigation skills by finding your local orienteering group. There are regular events statewide, in urban and rural areas. Together, you get a map to find hidden treasure, learn some navigation skills and improve your fitness!

8. Learn some bush skills There are organisations like Wildcraft Australia across the country who run courses to help you in the wilderness with some bush skills and to strengthen your deeper connection to the natural world. You can learn about finding bush food, purifying water, making a natural shelter, creating fire by friction and converting natural, found objects into useful items such as a knife, a water vessel, rope, hunting tools, baskets and more. Finding a group of friends to regularly practice these skills with encourages you to keep working on your connection to nature and provides another good reason to head off on another adventure into the wild!

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Travel Play Live 10/8/17 9:25 am

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She stands facing a ferocious wind. It's minus 2 degrees, and she's naked. Indifferent to the cold, she dives into the freezing waters of the sub-Antarctic, a thin layer of seal grease applied to her skin serves as insulation. A sea-nomad, she canoes from island to island hunting with her kin, living off the rich fat of marine mammals. WRITTEN BY CAROLINE PEMBERTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY HASSEN SALUM AND JOSIAH HOLWICK

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er stature is short but her barrel shaped rib cage is large, evolved for a greater oxygen transfer. Her organs have adapted to her high-fat diet, and her metabolic rate is high, so much so, that her body temperature runs a full degree warmer than yours. She rests in a deep squat to conserve heat and lights small fires that burn into the night. Her people have lived and thrived here against the harshness of the environment at the End of the Earth for 10,000 years. She is of the Yámana Tribe, the Southern most people in the world and the frigid, windswept ‘Land of Fire’ is her home.

tend fires, even keeping them burning in their canoes to dry and warm their bare skin quickly. Introducing unfamiliar, damp clothing, they contracted pneumonia wearing the foreign clothing that didn't suit their sea faring ways. Today, it is rumoured that there is only one full-blooded Yámana alive who speaks the language. The last full bloodied Selk’nam died in 1974. 10,000 years of history obliterated in a few generations, yet their legacy continues. The customs and culture are proudly shared with us wherever we go. I’m fascinated but also humbled by this unique landscape. I wonder how anyone could survive these gale force winds, the barren pampa, the fierce oceans, sleeping uncovered and unprotected against vast starry skies? I happily and gratefully return to our rustic, warm lodges at days end and think of the original Fuegians.

Fast forward 150 odd years, and it is also my destination. After hours of travel, I arrive in Tierra del Fuego, an island at the end of Patagonia shared by Chile and Argentina. Rugged, raw and wild it is often overlooked as merely the gateway to Antarctica. I’m here to find out whether it should be on your bucket list as a destination in its own right. The sky is on fire. The sunrise colours are so vivid I want to bottle them as they burst across the fjord. No camera, regardless of how fancy, does it justice. We scuttle for them regardless, desperate to capture and consume the moment before it overexposes with the emerging day. Weirdly, it doesn't. So far south the dawn lingers, and the sun saunters around the horizon making every hour ‘magic hour’. The air filling my lungs is some of the purest in the world but the cold squeezes down around my bones, and I bounce from one foot to another in a fruitless bid to keep warm.

The best approach to Tierra del Fuego is to understand it as two sides of the same coin, best explored from both faces. In Argentina, you will find a more urbanised tourism trade, a greater number and range of hotels, outfitters and formalised activities. Whereas on the Chilean side you can expect to completely detach from modern madness amongst towering mountains and stand in sheer isolation on tundras with not a single building in sight for hundreds of kilometres. When the mighty landscapes crush down upon you, ‘Findel Mundo’ meaning ‘End of the World,’ makes sense.

When the mighty landscapes crush down upon you, ‘Findel Mundo’ meaning ‘End of the World,’ makes sense.

I assumed it was these blazing skies that burn at dawn and dusk that gave Tierra del Fuego “Land of Fire" its name. In fact, this moody archipelago was named when Magellan sailed through these inky Straits and saw the same fires of the indigenous Fuegians – the Yámana and Selk’nam tribes. Explorers Darwin, Drake, Cook and Weddell were all left with lasting impressions of these local people who seemed immune to the extremely hostile, unbroken environment that was their home. Sadly, instead of remaining in awe of the indigenous ability to thrive here, to respect their ways and to even learn from them, the story of colonial history once again repeated itself.

European colonials arrived in the second half of the 19th century and disease, particularly measles, ran rampant killing many. Locals were disregarded as ‘uncivilised’ and without understanding the British concept of “land ownership,” they were killed for hunting where they always had, mistaking the newly arrived herds of sheep as fair game, which led to a systematic genocide. Head-hunters were paid to bring in the heads of indigenous people, with bonuses for pregnant women. Their decapitated craniums were even shipped off to museums in Europe. Even the well-meaning missionaries who tried to clothe them inadvertently killed them. Living an exclusively outdoor life in wet, cold Tierra del Fuego meant that heavy clothing didn’t dry, it just made the wearer colder. The Yámana would constantly

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We began our journey in Argentina, flying into Ushuaia. The following days we spent navigating the Beagle Channel spotting for whales and marvelling at the thick confetti of birds that patrol the skies. We observed a penguin colony and hiked across an untouched islet discovering tiny berries that only fruit in the purest air. Back on the main island we drove kitted out Land Rovers to the craggy seaside to climb a remote outcrop, the summit marked by a desolate, broken lighthouse razed to the ground in an earthquake. Even the burliest structures are no match for the whims of Mother Nature out here. We meandered along the desolate coast stopping to explore a shipwreck. These seas are the roughest in the world. However, on closer inspection, they are not as rough as human greed. The bags of concrete lining the skeleton hull and a hefty insurance payout is what felled this mighty vessel, which lies broadsided, naked and rusting in the frigid air, now a funky tourist site.

With a fresh blanket of pure white snow, we explore the island; rip roaring along wild 4x4 trails, breaking through the new powder, which squeaks in protest beneath the snow tyres. The fresh winter dump has brought down numerous trees, and we winch them from the remote tracks, hollering with joy. Parked deep in the silent forest, we hop out and spontaneously break out into an epic snowball fight, our laughter peeling away through the trees. It’s a perfect moment, which sums up our child like wonder in this place. Everyone thought I was mad to come this far south in the middle of winter, but arguably it's a good time to come. Cold yes, but bright and thick with the promise of winter adventure and competitive off-peak pricing. While the days are short, the

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threat of rain is minimised, and we simply don't let the lack of daylight stop us. In the evenings we snow shoe to remote cabins, our path illuminated by the soft circles of light cast by our headlamps. We indulge in delicious meals of scrumptious meat washed down with endless bottles of incredible local wine. We explore and play and fill our adventurous souls to the brim.

On our final day on the Argentinean side of Tierra del Fuego, we take to the skies. The blades of R44 helicopters beat and cut the air above the port of Ushuaia, carrying us higher into the mountains before depositing us atop the mighty summit of Le Cloche, which offers the best few of Mt. Olivia. So great is our awe that we can't fight the urge to drop to our knees at the moment. Do you remember the last time you felt like that? So floored by the beauty that you can't stand up? We are handed glasses of champagne and toast the sunset and Argentina for its incredible show. So much for thinking this is just the gateway to Antarctica. What a treasonous thought. Boarding a tiny twin otter plane we are warned by the pilots that any loud noises shouldn't concern us, it's just ice being blended in the turbine engines, and we should expect some relatively strong turbulence. That's normal down this way apparently. True to their

word we bounce our way over the mighty Darwin range in what feels like a ‘tuk tuk’ plane, transferring to the Chilean side for the second half of our adventure. I have to be honest, at this point, I wasn’t sure how Chile would measure up, let alone match what we’d just experienced in Argentina.

We disembark at an outpost called Provenir, followed by a long car ride and about six hours later, we find ourselves in the middle of nowhere. If ‘Whoop Whoop' were to exist anywhere, this would be it. Apart from the odd fence, there is nothing. Not even a tree. Just low-lying grassland, the aggressive wind whipping any sign of fertility back into the cold, barren earth, the horizon occasionally broken by the silhouette of a guanaco (a native lama like creature). After the rush of Argentina, I begin to question what the attraction of this side of Tierra del Fuego is? After a few more hours passing through this never changing landscape, I’m feeling frustrated to say the least.

Meanwhile, our local guide is waxing lyrical, his passion slightly overwhelming. We finally arrive at the Hosteria Las Lengas a rustic, homely lodge on the water’s edge of a lake. Its warm embrace is welcome, but it raises more questions than it answers - why would anyone build such a nice guesthouse out here in the middle of nowhere, to service no one? The "town" we've arrived at has a pop

ulation of about three people, these guys and the police outpost that patrols the border with Argentina. I take some fresh air outside, hands thrust deep in my pockets and look up. The night sky has come alive; the Milky Way has multiplied, doubled maybe even tripled. I've never seen so many stars and it hits me… The attraction is the nothingness. How could I have been so naive? The galaxy just revealed another layer of itself, and it took coming out here to the middle of nowhere, to see it. The advice of our enthusiastic guide rings around in my head, “He who is rushed here is wasting their time.” Nature is in balance. The endless landscapes under vast skies, the craggy unclimbed peaks, the abundance of fish in clean rivers (side note - this is a secret fly fishing paradise - if anyone asks I didn’t let the cat out of the bag). At first glance, you may see nothing, but upon deeper reflection, you see everything, the world, as it should be. The tundra eventually gives way to lichen draped forests that grow beyond the reach of that fierce wind. It's almost as if the wind finally gave up and relented, an invisible line where it allowed things to stand up again, even the earth begins to rise into foothills, and beyond those, the steep snow capped mountains of the Darwin Range. We climb to the top of Cerro Pietro Grande (which in my atrocious Spanish, I believe translates to Peter’s Big Hill). Up through the Lengas, Centennial

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Nirres and other sub-antarctic trees of the Karukinka Park, we arrive at the top to a stupendous 360-degree view. With the aridity of the plains on one side and the majestic mountains on the other and not a single sign of human interference evident, this is what we have all been seeking. Nature - pure uninterrupted nature. It’s not as much a “Things to Do” list that you’ll find on the Chilean side of Tierra del Fuego, it’s more the wilderness in its own right and the sense of wonder and freedom that disconnection brings. Something that can’t be tamed, bottled and sold in a catalogue. I feel silly at how myopic I'd been wondering why the guest house existed. It's symptomatic of our addiction to always need entertainment, activities and Instagram-worthy experiences. We struggle to be present in the moment, tiny in nature and find that fulfilling enough. Crossing the mountain pass, we arrive at a tiny, isolated bay for the final leg of our adventure – navigating the fjords and glaciergazing aboard a true expedition ship, the ‘Forrest’. Picture a cruise ship and now imagine the opposite. Small, kitted out and tough as nails. It’s our home for the next few days. To get to her, the salty crew haul us aboard like navy-seal-esque Zodiacs, the waves slapping us with freezing water as we go. Aboard, we cruise the fjords, gorging ourselves on more food with wine, al-

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ways wine and feel like real explorers. We don't see another tour group in days, just the occasional fishing vessel hunting for King Crab. Sightings of whales, leopard seals and sea lions become so commonplace that we no longer react in a frenzy for our cameras. We observe and are observed and sail on. We spend the morning kayaking the frosty waters, careful not to fall, while we chase pods of dolphins. They seem to poke fun by breaching right beside our boats, setting us off on a power chase only to resurface again in the opposite direction. Nature wins, and it's a beautiful thing.

abundant nothingness quashed and pruned to fit into the mould of digestible tourism.

I think that fundamentally this is the risk here. Nature needs to win. There are so few places left in the world that have this level of untamed wilderness. Each day they are being conquered and destroyed. While Tierra Del Fuego should be on your bucket list, this lesser known corner of the globe is in danger from our flimsy demands and desires as tourists. It could so easily be overdeveloped and overrun. Its natural resources, stillness and

Tierra del Fuego is resting on a tipping point. Arguably itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in one of the most precarious of its time. Will it remain as it is or will it perish beneath concrete roads laid for tourist coaches? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like the indigenous that died of pneumonia; the desperation to develop it could kill it with misguided kindness. Let's help them keep it the way it should be, like the wild, untamed isolation you imagine.

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So if you come here, which I advise you to do, please be the responsible, conscious traveller that is happy to rough it a little and explain to the local industry along the way, that the wild is what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come for. Stand modest in nature, quiet, unplugged and balanced. Seek that with your powerful dollar and forget about a need for constant wifi, entertainment, creature comforts and uniform luxury hotel chains.

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Photo: Liss Myrays

Ben Morin, Parks Canada

x ND LARAPINTA x PATAGONIAx x CANADA ICELA x PERU x NEPAL CAMBODIA

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Photo: Josh Wiles

IGNITE YOUR HEART OF ADVENTURE AN D TR AV EL - PL AY - LIV E

Photo: Mark Tipple

WORLD EXPEDITIONS AND TRAVEL PLAY LIVEFT HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO CAREFULLY CRA WOMEN’S ONLY SMALL GROUP TOURS.

nces and discover Allowing you to immerse yourself in local cultures, experie skill stop you or level fitness size, age, your let the joy of adventure. Don’t travel. of power the from discovering have put their heads The teams from World Expeditions and Travel Play Live the female traveller with nces together to hand select destinations and experie culture that get and food in ures advent to in mind. From multi day active tours with authentic journey your e enhanc and trails you off the well-trodden tourist fun. of plenty ly certain and tion, explora cultural exchange, real of our Travel Play Live Get the most from your next adventure, by joining one ure to unlock team members as together we discover the power of advent bring the heart of to tted commi are We life. your in s passion and fresh dreams forward to exploring our Travel Play Live message to these tours and we look the world with you and travel – play – live. All tours will be hosted by one of our key team members.

Head to our website www.travelplaylive.com/travel for more details.

Departures in 2018 - 2019

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Leave

NO TRACE. STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPUTNIK

Like most things in life, there’s often a zig for every zag. A ying for every yang. An ascent for every descent. The outdoor and adventure space is no exception. While it’s epic to see more people enjoying the outdoors, the flip side isn’t always pretty. I’m loathe to specifically label it ‘entitlement’, as I’m not a fan of labels in general. Especially when they indiscriminately relate to broad groups of people - be they based on gender, orientation, generation or any other sort of classification. While the word ‘entitlement’ may be new, I’m pretty sure the concept isn’t. In my day, we probably just had a different term for it. Something suitably eloquent like “who does she think she is, the Queen of Sheeba?” Even though I have zero idea who the Queen of Sheeba actually was. Or “He acts like he owns the joint”. Or the slightly less subtle, “he thinks his shit don’t stink”. Actually, looking back, I can see why we probably just say “entitled” now. Whatever you call it, having just come back from a 10,000km road trip across a chunk of Australia, I saw it everywhere. People who thought there were entitled to answer the call of nature in the bushes, then leave their mess everywhere without even the slightest effort to cover it up. Even dogs do better than that. And ladies, sorry, but I’m looking at you with the loo paper situation. Not that blokes don’t use it as well, but based on my comprehensive analysis of disgusting surprise discoveries, I’m calling it as being skewed towards women toilet paper users.

know what yours is and we’ll add them to the list!) I have to wonder, how did we get to this point? I guess by definition, the more people who enjoy the outdoors, the more people there are who will stuff it up because they don’t know ‘outdoor etiquette’, or worse, think it somehow doesn’t apply to them. And at the risk of sounding like grumpy Old Man River, I’m levelling at least a bit of the blame at social media. In days gone by we had people out in the outdoors, purely for the enjoyment of the outdoors. They weren’t there to check in. Or blog. Or vlog. Or to tell people how they can make money traveling the world -let me show you how. They were just there for the experience. To be. Which meant they were way less likely to mess it up while they were there.

Don’t even get me started on the people who thought they were entitled to scratch their initials into trees and rock formations, or even graffiti termite mounds. I kid you not. Think about that for a second who on Earth thinks it’s a good idea to graffiti a termite mound? “Hey, check out that awesome termite mound, let’s spray paint it.” Should I continue? Sure, why not. Every trail runner who thinks they’re entitled to ditch their gel wrapper mid race. Every hiker who thinks they’re entitled to chuck their empty drink bottle on the ground. I could go on. And on. And on. And usually do. (I’d love to hear your personal gripes too so feel free to hit me up on Facebook and let me

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These days, for every Christopher McCandless, there’s 1,000 Instagram ‘influencers’ taking the same shot, in the same place, with the same back to the camera pose, trying to be insta-famous. And probably taking something else afterwards and leaving their toilet paper on the ground.

Now before I get beaten to death by a selfie stick wielding blogger, please know, I’m well aware that this doesn’t apply to every social media wanna be superstar. I don't do it. And you probably don’t either. At least I hope you don’t. And if you do, could you please stop? When I pull over to have my lunch in a stop over, I really don’t want to see what you had for lunch the day before. Or maybe it really is just a numbers game? Less people = less entitlement = less trash and less destruction. Who knows, maybe there needs to be a rule book. You’d think it would all be mostly common sense. But apparently not. Not even close. By all means get out there and enjoy the great outdoors. And if you’re not sure what ‘outdoor etiquette’ actually is in any given situation, you can always default to one simple rule: Leave no trace. Works every time.

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1. Plan Ahead & Prepare 2. Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces 3. Dispose of waste properly 4. Leave what you find 5. Minimise campfire impacts 6. Respect wildlife 7. Be considerate of hosts and other visitors

L E A V E

N O

T R A C E

HIKE IT OUT. BE RESPONSIBLE

P A R T N E R S

S U P P O R T E R S

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Nothing ruins a beautiful moment outdoors more than litter. The whole reason we go adventuring is to feel one with nature, to get back to our roots, get away from the city and experience a place that’s untouched. It's about feeling connected with Mother Nature, rather than imposed on by mankind. Aiming to bring back the beautiful moments, we introduce to you the Hike it Out Campaign.

The brainchild of Heather Porter, Hike it Out is an environmental awareness campaign aimed at making adventurers responsible for taking their rubbish with them when exploring, and better still to remove what they find along the way. The campaign does this by educating people on the damaging effects of litter in the environment and provides advice on how to minimise your impact when exploring.

Scouts; as part of my Baden Powell Award, I got to create a Community Project. Originally all I had was the mission 'to be adventure inspiring and environmentally focused targeting waste and pollution. The project must make a difference and benefit the community.' From here, Hike it Out came to life, a project which will continue to make an impact long after I achieve the Baden Powell Award".

"After falling in love with the outdoors, I became painfully aware of how much litter was around. I vowed to myself to always pick up what I see, but it’s impossible to have the impact I wanted when doing this alone. It occurred to me that creating and promoting Hike it Out would be the perfect way to address litter in popular areas and create a healthy hiking culture.

Many people have already jumped on board and are submitting photos of their Hike it Out Hauls, proudly cleaning up after others and contributing to a positive hiking culture, but now the final challenge is to get everyone involved. We want YOU to join the community of people who care about our environment by taking the Hike it Out Pledge online at www.thisramblingrover.wordpress.com

The push to start the campaign came from

Whether you're hiking, biking, kayaking,

"I pledge to be environmentally focused when outdoors to minimise my impact. I pledge to Hike it Out with my litter and any extra I can take, aiming to leave all natural sights better than I found them." 047

surfing, trail running or strolling through the suburbs - there's nothing stopping you from making a difference. Hike it Out aims to highlight your environmental responsibility; if you step over the tossed water bottle, you are now just as responsible for it being there. Become an activist and pick it up! In November Hike it Out Week will provide a full week of content to pledge takers on how to care for the environment, minimise your impact and respectfully enjoy the outdoors. By taking the pledge, you are committing yourself to saying "I care" and setting the intention to make a difference. Get involved with the campaign either on Facebook, Instagram or the Website. Facebook: hikeitoutcampaign Instagram: @hikeitoutcampaign Website: www.thisramblingrover.wordpress.com

HOW LONG T I L L

I T ' S

Rope: 3-14 months Rubber boot sole: 50-80 years

Tin can: 50 years

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G O N E ?

Banana Peel: 4 weeks Cigarette Butts: 10-12 years

Plastic Bag: 10 - 1000 years Apple Core: Plastic water 8 weeks bottle: 450 years

The Call of

KOKODA

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STORY BY ANDREA RIDDELL

Sweat has started to form. I’m standing around looking at my group of fellow trekkers in 90% humidity, excited and a little nervous. We’re here for the 75th anniversary since our troops were on the track; the men who put Kokoda in the hearts, and on the bucket lists, of so many Australians.

here are twenty- seven of us, ranging in age from 28 to 68 years old who have signed up to walk the Kokoda Track to raise funds for The Salvation Army and give hope to some of the most marginalised people in Australia. There are four other women in our team, plus our fearless guide, Kathy, who keeps us all in line and awake in time for breakfast. It’s amazing to share this experience with all of them, particularly as war seems to be such a masculine story of mateship, and most of the trekkers are male.

In my group, Lana and Bec are our strong leaders, always in front of the pack as we cross incredibly lush jungle, cascading rivers and webbed tree roots. One moment we’re walking in the shade of giant pandanus, the next through swamp-like mud, mud, and more mud.

Even pre-trek advice didn’t seem very female friendly; I was sceptical as to whether the “just take one pair of underpants” recommendation applied to women as well as men. None of the brochures seem to cover things like, “What to do if you get your period on the Kokoda Track?”

At 61, Sue had signed up to Kokoda because of her love of history and as a personal challenge, and the track definitely ticks that box- “It was tough! And exhausting! Often I felt as though I just couldn't take the next step. I was struggling to breathe, my heart was racing, my legs were hurting and my toes were killing me. There were times when I was asking myself why I had been so crazy to think I could actually do this!”

So I’m slightly relieved when I meet the other women- some ladies to commiserate with over the lack of showers and the abundance of drop toilets. As a beginner adventurer, I had also wondered what a hike graded 5/5 for hardness would actually take to complete. Had I trained enough? Would I be able to keep up with all the guys? Would I have to be airlifted out at the first village? I definitely had my doubts. And I wasn’t the only one. For Angie, a fellow novice adventurer, her nerves almost made her cancel the entire trip.

The amazing scenery almost takes your mind off the physical challenge of Kokoda but your eyes are constantly on your feet and your next step so you have to actively remind yourself to stop and take it all in. The amount of concentration you need to not go cascading down the steep slopes is mentally exhausting.

The week before the trek commenced, I was petrified that I wouldn’t be able to cope. I had heard how difficult the trek was and kept wondering what I’d signed myself up for. I think this resulted in me being more prepared for Kokoda.

“The week before the trek commenced, I was petrified that I wouldn’t be able to cope. I had heard how difficult the trek was and kept wondering what I’d signed myself up for. I think this resulted in me being more prepared for Kokoda. I didn’t have any illusions as to the difficulty of the trek. I trained hard.”

I start to enjoy the daily routine of waking up before the sun and walking for hours at a time. Real or imagined, I can feel my muscles getting stronger as I become accustomed to the steepness and the constant climbing. By Day Three as we’re ascending a long climb named “the Ladder”, my porter turns to me and says, “Training, well. Good exercise. Well done,” and I’m chuffed. The six months of intensive training, early morning hikes, late nights at the gym, and (almost) tee totalling, seems to have paid off. And what once was a fear that I’d struggle to keep up, is replaced by a realisation that I’m not only doing this, but excelling at it. Bec, in her 40s, was also surprised at how well she had picked up the challenge.

It’s the history of the track that has brought Angie here, her fascination with the first and second world wars stemming from when she was a young girl reading stories of Kokoda and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

“My whole physical prowess surprised me! And how much I loved walking it every single day. I never woke up any morning thinking ‘I don’t want to get up and walk’. My energy and enthusiasm amazed me.”

Other trekkers are here to remember their grandfathers, fathers or uncles, to share their stories and retrace their footsteps. Loved ones, some who never returned and others who returned never the same.

As we walk the flat stretch to Kokoda- our finish line, I’m a little sad that it’s almost time to say goodbye to these strong, empowered women. The group has become my family. We’ve formed amazing friendships, swapping our own war stories, in the form of blisters and aching limbs, around the communal dining table each day.

For Lana, a mum of two, it’s the story of her two grandfathers who were on Kokoda during WWII that compelled her to sign up to Kokoda as a challenge for her 40th birthday. 049

Angie sums it up perfectly when she says, “I think I had a little

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taste of the camaraderie that the Australian soldiers had.” For all the physical accomplishments, it’s the emotional and spiritual journey that takes us by surprise and lingers with us long after the trek has finished and the kilos have crept back on.

There is a smidgen of disbelief as I look back over the adventure, like: ‘did I really do that?’ I now want to conquer a number of other difficult treks, like Everest and the Inca Trail.

“Words cannot describe it and photos do not do it justice. The sheer exhaustion and pain of the physical effort; the emotional and awe inspiring journey following the footsteps of our soldiers fighting for our country in horrific conditions; the exhilarating feeling of achievement walking through the arch at the finish. I am overwhelmed,” Sue says when we’re back home.

“I feel a great sense of achievement and belief in myself. I'm very relieved that all my hard work paid off and I got to enjoy the whole experience,” says Lana, whose hardest challenge was missing her two children.

By the time we get home and settle back into the daily grind, the group has raised $170,000 to help those who might be homeless, struggling to pay their bills or fleeing violence. It’s a wonderful thought that our own amazing journey can have an impact on those who really need it. The Salvation Army will be trekking the Great Wall of China in 2018 before heading back to Kokoda in 2019. To find out more about their Treks for Hope, go to salvos.org.au/ adventure

The sense of accomplishment makes us feel invincible. The realisation of what our bodies can do has a profound impact on our self-confidence. “I often say to myself, ‘I walked Kokoda’, like a pinch me moment,” says Bec, reflecting on the journey. “I give myself a lot more respect now.” Like me, Angie is already thinking about what’s next. We’ve had a taste of adventure and now we’re hooked. “There is a smidgen of disbelief as I look back over the adventure, like: ‘did I really do that?’ I now want to conquer a number of other difficult treks, like Everest and the Inca Trail.”

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It was even more incredible to share this journey with The Salvation Army, an organisation that was there for troops every step of the track. As we struggled with the muddy slopes and the steep climbs, we could only imagine what comfort the sight of that red shield must have brought.

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The real meditation practice is how we live our lives from moment to moment. - JON KABAT-ZINN

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That by which we call adventure by any other name would smell as sweet

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2017 WRAP UP What a phenomenal weekend we had at the Travel Play Live Women's Adventure Summit! So much fun. Our boundaries and assumptions were challenged, fears were faced, friendships were forged, and passions ignited all via the power of adventure. Personally, I was challenged this weekend (along with many others) to find my place within the Adventure landscape. WRITTEN BY AMY HEAGUE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN CIRULIS & SPUTNIK

I could choose to be intimidated by stories of ultra running or mountain climbing or hanging out of Blackhawk helicopters over the mountains of Indonesia (true story), OR I could check in with the fire in my belly, my passions and gifts and see how those tales of adventure fan the flame. For as long as I could remember I have called myself a story teller. From wandering around with a little cardboard window and framing what I saw as a shot for a movie, to forgoing food to spend my very last dollar on a book about writing. I adore sitting with people and teasing out their stories and capturing a fleeting look on their faces when they least expect it. For a myriad of reasons, somewhere a long this journey I forget about all of that and stopped nurturing the storyteller and stoke the belly fire. This revelation may sound strange for someone who has been a part of founding and growing Australia's first ever women's adventure magazine and community, but somewhere in my heart, there was a disconnect until this weekend. Through a series of minor miscommunications, unexpected moments and last minute 'we can do thats' which could have been seen as failures to fulfill a 'plan', I spent most of my weekend with our camera

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crew, photographers and creative storytellers. I didn't abseil off any cliffs or shred any trails. I didn't walk barefoot through the forest or light any fires with sticks but I sure as hell re-stoked the fire in my belly. In a quiet moment of watching women discover the joy and surprise of learning new skills, I remembered the whole reason I said yes to starting Travel Play Live. It was to empower women through the catalyst of outdoor adventure, to tell their stories and build a legacy of shoulders my daughters' generation can stand on. You see adventure has a way of doing that. A way of pushing you into the unexpected, of facing your judgments and assumptions and smashing away your walls all in the quiet sucking in of your breath as you brace yourself and the melodic flick of a bird song or the gasp of a sunset on the smooth crystal water. And so there we were. Gathered in the stunning natural wonder of the Forster region. Excited, scared, full of doubts and anticipation, but we all said YES to the possibility of adventure. To losing our inhibitions and finding ourselves on the edge of a literal and metaphorical cliff. And that my friend is the real power of adventure.

2017 WRAP UP

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Kemi Nekvapil.

S U M M I T K E Y N OT E S P E A K E R , L I F E COAC H & AU T H O R

“Women coming together to empower and support each other is always a good thing. What I could not imagine was how the journey of adventure has connected so many women to their true selves. A growing self, a powerful, determined, strong, brave, kind, compassionate, vulnerable and whole self. We are the sum and parts of what we do and what we create in this world, and the world needs more and more women to do and create, without guilt or apology. It is time to stop shaming our bodies and instead begin using our magnificent bodies. This weekend was a highlight for me as a speaker and as a woman who has grown so much through adventure. I am so grateful to have been part of such a creation. Thank you to the people I connected with deeply. Thank you Travel Play Live for your gift to the world.”

2017 WRAP UP ALICE KING. “One of the truths brought home to me at the Travel Play Live Women’s Adventure Summit is that when I see someone else doing something next-level EPIC, I have a choice. I can choose to be intimidated...or I can choose to be inspired. Just because Samantha Gash has run across India, or Hayley Talbot has kayaked 400km up the Clarence (while surviving off the land!), doesn't invalidate my own achievements and experiences. I can take that 'wow', and use it to fuel my own adventures - no matter how big or how small. Because there's more than enough awesome to go around.”

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FUCHSIA SIMS. “It's rare to come across a business that has such pure hearted passion and authentic ethos, who simply wants to empower and inspire others to realise and achieve their potential! But this sums up Kez and Amy from Travel Play Live. United by the Power of Adventure several years ago, they saw first hand how collectively we can inspire each other to shape and create a greater good. This past week they took our stories from the pages of their magazine and turned them into a real life chapter …brining all walks of life together from aspiring adventures to the weekend warriors and ultra athletes… It was a melting pot of adventurous minds that boiled over with positivity and wild inspiration.... Thank you both for your hard work and reminding me to keep working hard on my dreams for @adventurejunkys because it is so important that if we have the opportunity we should all get out and TRAVEL PLAY LIVE!

LINDA SAUNDERCOCK. "Thank you so much for putting this amazing weekend together. You created a space for women to push ourselves and learn what we are capable of, surrounded by empowered women supporting each other. It's been an honour to be a part of. "

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HAYLEY TALBOT. " There were so many things I loved about the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Adventure Summit. One main thing was being able to try so many different things all packaged up in a way that removed the headache of personally organising individual activities. There was mountain biking, abseiling, canoeing, bush survival, bodyboarding, stand up paddle boarding plus so much more. I called it 'adventure speed dating' ~ the love-at-first-try chance to fall for something new, minus the time and expense of buying or hiring the gear and trying to figure out how to use it! Across all ages, fitness and experience levels, it was a coming together of some seriously awesome energy - all on individual paths of discovery. Can't wait for the next one!"

JOIN US IN 2018 The Travel Play Live Women's Adventure Summit - Immerse yourself in a weekend of Adventure held in the stunning Great Lakes on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

23RD - 26TH AUGUST 2018

www.travelplaylive.com.au/womens-adventure-summit

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WHAT TO BRING?

NAVIGATION

Race food, yum! It’s easy to forget to eat and ‘hit a wall’ later with no energy, so eat a small amount, frequently. Bring high carb food that is easy to eat on the go like muesli bars, sandwiches/wraps (in bite sized pieces), chocolate, energy bars or dried fruit.

Many people worry about navigation but there’s only one way to improve, so just give it a go. In sprint races, it’s rarely harder than reading a street map. Take your time - going fast is no help if it’s in the wrong direction. Other teams are (usually) willing to help if you get stuck, but don’t assume they know where they’re going either! If you go wrong, it just makes for a good story anyway.

Equipment wise, start with the mandatory gear list. Try not to carry extra if you can help it; a light pack makes a huge difference. Test your race clothes, equipment and food in training, so you don’t get nasty surprises on race day like chafing or blisters.

WHAT IF IT ALL GOES WRONG?

RACE DAY. Arrive early on race morning. Double check your bike, especially if you have to dismantle it to get it in the car. Mark your route with highlighters so you can follow it easily and contact your map if it’s not already waterproof. Don’t forget suncream and a final snack. The race - it’s the big moment finally! In your first race, finishing is already a tremendous achievement. Try to pace yourselves (hard to do when you’re full of adrenaline) and look after your team mate - chances are if you’re finding it tough, they are too. Sprint races are very achievable and even more fun with some training and preparation. You get to challenge yourself and have fun in the great outdoors with like-minded people. So pick a race, find a team-mate and go for it!

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Who cares! Any experienced racer had ‘lessons’ - it’s how you become experienced after all. My first 24hr race was a disaster - we started without our map and had to kayak back to get it (much to the amusement of the crowd at the start line). My team mates’ bike brakes were jammed on, and it took 30mins to get the wheels to turn. We finally finished when the organisers had packed up everything, including the finish line! But I learnt so much, and I still look back and giggle. At the end of the day, you’re hanging out in the bush with a mate, so it can’t be that bad.

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REMEMBERING

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When I travelled to Syria for the first time ten years ago, I was sure that I would return soon and often. Now, some of the people I met and the places I admired donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exist anymore. And so I choose to remember Syria just how I found it: complicated yet beautiful, warm and hospitable.

REMEMBERING

STORY& PHOTOGRAPHY BY HADASSA HAACK

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s I found myself in the arrivals hall of Damascus airport, I thought that the many women in their black burqas carrying bags and children were a normal, everyday sight. I was soon to learn that these were families that had fled neighbouring Iraq and were seeking shelter. A whole new village had been created on the outskirts of the city to accommodate these refugees. It was the year 2007, and no one could have imagined what Syria would be ten years on. I visited Syria at a time when many women would wear niqabs while others would walk the streets in jeans and skirts. Some would wear jeans and their hijab – because they wanted to. Mango, the clothing retailer, had just opened a flagship store in Damascus and the area around it was lively and full of young, beautiful people meeting in cafés, drinking freshly pressed juice and cruising around the block to see and be seen. A few blocks down the road, old men would sit outside their houses, smoke their shisha and comment on the world passing by. Walk down a small quiet lane and peek into the courtyard of a 18th-century house and you might find the cosiest tea shop with people deep in animated conversation or reading the paper undisturbed amidst the chatter. Damascus is a dusty, noisy, fascinating behemoth of a city. It apparently sits on eight metres of mostly un-excavated history and wherever you turn there is a testimony to centuries of uninterrupted human habitation, layers of different empires and epochs. At the time, however, there were only a few travellers, adventurers and archaeologists and it seemed that the whole country knew we had arrived before we even had our first cup of cardamom coffee (hashtag police state). Not that we minded. Wherever we went, we were already expected. We decided to roll with it. In Palmyra, which to me was the most magical place in the middle of the desert between Damascus and Bagdad, I was given my own camel, secret stashes of free red wine and – had I wanted to – free accommodation wherever I went from there. Days were spent riding camels at sunset, exploring archaeological

finds and discussing single (and simple) life with a handsome Arab who was hiding his impeccable education – as well as an expensive watch and latest smartphone - behind a minimalistic Bedouin outfit (hashtag secret police). Also, his camel wasn’t just an ordinary camel. She was a beautiful, soft, all white creature called Zenobia, after the third-century queen and national hero who resided in Palmyra. Start researching and you’ll find that, amongst others, adventuress Lady Hester Stanhope famously visited the area, dressed as a Bedouin and was received as “Queen Hester”. ISIL has since destroyed many of the stunning archaeological sites we visited and captured in my photos. I fell asleep leaving the oasis in the middle of the sun-bleached desert and woke up in what looked like Switzerland on a rainy day. About 40km outside of Homs the imposing medieval castle Krak des Chevaliers sat on a hill that seems to have been made for it. The sheer size and history of this structure were breathtaking. The former stables alone were the size of a small airport hangar. T. E. Lawrence once wrote that Krak des Chevaliers was "perhaps the best preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world, [a castle which] forms a fitting commentary on any account of the Crusading buildings of Syria". Its exact condition to date is unclear, but it’s still standing. We spent the evening with friends of friends in Homs who cooked the most delicious feast for us and who proceeded to forcefeed us even after we were more than full. The rest of the night was spent telling stories in a comfortable state of food coma. I can’t remember how we got to Aleppo from there but as I walked into the Al-Madina souq (the largest covered historic market of the world) with its beautiful ceilings – most of it now sadly destroyed – a man who looked like a soccer star approached me and started speaking in fluent German. I am a German native, and I could barely trace an accent. It turned out he had never even left the country, and he spoke five languages fluently. He had a small designer jewellery shop in the souq with beautiful, handmade modern pieces and he was happy to prac-

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tice some of his language skills on my Italian friends and me. Did I ever not feel safe? There was a brief moment that evening in Aleppo at the big roundabout, it was already dark, and my friend and I were trying to hail a cab. If that is an art form in New York, well, let’s just say the Big Apple is a piece of cake in comparison. As we were getting desperate, I sensed someone staring at me, and as I turned, it was an old man who, admittedly looked dubious and kept trying to tell me something. I finally understood: he pointed to a policeman a few metres down the road. As we approached him to ask for help, he blew his whistle, and the very next taxi immediately stopped right in front of us, kicked out its male passenger who didn’t even complain and took us in. It was unbelievable. To top it off, the cab driver was a happy young guy who had our favourite song on the radio and spoke fluent English. He was so excited to meet foreigners; I almost felt we should have invited him to hang out. Instead, he dropped us at the famous Baron Hotel where we stayed – as did once Agatha Christie and T.E. Lawrence, whose last bill is framed in the lobby. And while I don’t recommend you go to Syria now, here’s what I recommend for travel and adventure, and in fact, life: Don’t believe everything you read and hear - go and see for yourself and give people a chance to speak for themselves. I am glad I did before it was too late. What I found was one of the most hospitable, open people in one of the most fascinating countries and the experience would forever affect my life. My heart goes out to all the ones who have lost their homes and family and are forced to now survive in another country, like my own, or who may still be there and struggle to survive on a daily basis. When we meet refugees, let’s not forget that these people might have had everything in their country: their own house, a good education, a career, and a beautiful family. Just because they stand before us now with very little to their name does not make them any less valuable.

The Elusive

LEOPARDS of Yala STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELLE LAWFORD

In the pre-dawn magic, everything becomes a silhouette in an indigo world. Trees and jeeps become indiscernible shadows. The drivers are gathered together in the dark. The burning ends of their cigarettes look like fireflies. Within this scene of deepest blue and darkest black, there is a single lamp in the park rangerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office casting a small shaft of light on the road.

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he sky will soon transform night into day, but it is the rising tension and not the rising sun that permeates the morning air. There are only a few jeeps here at the park entrance, waiting since 5 am for the Ranger’s office to open at 6 am when the drivers can get their day permit. Waiting impatiently in the jeeps are people like me, obsessed with the challenge of seeing and photographing the leopards of Yala. Every one of us wants to be first in the park. Being first in means being the first to come across a leopard before it dashes off to conceal itself in the bushes. It’s day three of our safari. The drivers stand in a lazy circle, casually chatting, but when the office opens, each driver will race to be first in the queue. At exactly 6 am, the office opens, and the drivers line up. My driver is first. He grabs the permit and runs like a maniac back to the jeep yelling, “let’s go, go, go!!!" and we’re off.

and a crazy driver, your chances of seeing a leopard here are pretty good. Even in such optimal leopard territory, the first day had been unfruitful. These are the days when I want the kids to just get a thrill out of being in the wild. Yes, our goal was to see a leopard, but sometimes adventure also requires patience and being in the moment. Knowing there are leopards out there, somewhere, close but unseen, is a special kind of excitement. At dusk, we were headed back to the entrance. Caked in red dust and sweat, exhausted from the heat, dryness and relentless hours of bumpy roads, I was barely aware that the jeep had stopped. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something on the road. My brain had shut down, and I slowly began to register that it was an animal. It was the shape of a big cat, and it was yellow with black spots, but I looked at it without any recognition of what it was. As my brain struggled to comprehend and put a name to this vaguely familiar creature, my children were excitedly taking photos.

It was the shape of a big cat, and it was yellow with black spots, but I looked at it without any recognition of what it was. As my brain struggled to comprehend and put a name to this vaguely familiar creature, my children were excitedly taking photos.

My driver, a lovely young man from the local village, is crazy. If I am obsessed with seeing a leopard, he is obsessed with finding one for me. Maybe he sees me as just another mad photographer, but he is happy to take on the challenge. Perhaps the jeep drivers compete as much as the photographers. To this end, he has developed a unique driving style that often involves driving backwards at great speed. Yesterday, he was sure there was a leopard at one of two watering holes about a kilometre apart. It's a one-way road, so driving backwards and forwards between the two watering holes was the only way to keep scanning the area. His love of driving in reverse around tight bends, on a dirt road full of potholes, was both impressive and terrifying.

Leopards are notoriously elusive animals. In Kenya, I saw a leopard and there was incredible excitement because a leopard had not been seen for months. Word was sent out, and apparently, people all over East Africa changed their itineraries to come to the vicinity hoping to catch a glimpse. When you look at the favourite habitat of the leopard in the Masai Mara, it's easy to see why this animal is excellent at hiding. Asian leopards are not as shy. Yala National Park in South-Eastern Sri Lanka is renown as the best place in the world for leopard-spotting. It still isn't easy, but there are more leopards here, per square kilometre than anywhere else. With a bit of time, patience, luck

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Suddenly, my brain screamed "leopard!!"

Not one but two beautiful adolescent leopards lingered at the side of the road, growling, stretching, playing, sauntering, licking and doing all that fabulous feline stuff. I was in leopard heaven, so it seemed mighty odd that our driver became very keen to leave. Finally, he stopped suggesting we leave and started to insist. My initial reaction was not sympathetic, but as he explained that his licence to enter the park would be revoked for a month if he arrived at the entrance gates after 6 pm, I realised what was at stake for him. For me, this was just about photography, passion and adventure (which until this moment had felt important.) For him, the ability to feed his family was on the line. It was 5.30pm now, and we were far from the entrance. We immediately put down our cameras and told him to go. Driving like a demon, he navigated every bump and twist in the road with incredible precision. We held on for dear life and, without seatbelts, or side panels, I was sure one of us would be thrown out of the jeep at every bend. At precisely 5.59pm we arrived at the gates. Our driver got his permit stamped, and he looked pretty pleased with himself. I looked at my photos and felt pretty pleased as well. We had both achieved our goal. My family had a new appreciation of what a privilege it is to be free to be adventurous.

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“NOTHING CAN BE COMPARED TO THE NEW LIFE THAT THE DISCOVERY OF ANOTHER COUNTRY PROVIDES FOR A THOUGHTFUL PERSON. ALTHOUGH I AM STILL THE SAME I BELIEVE TO HAVE CHANGED TO THE BONES.” - JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

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Waiting Woman at Bab Mansour Meknes

By day four I was thinking, “Can this country blow my mind anymore?” Yes, it can! I have visited Morocco twice in the past year, hiking the High Atlas Mountains and summiting North Africa’s highest peak, Jbel Toubkal on my first adventure. A photographer’s nirvana, each city has its own colour palette of simplicity, be it the muted tones of whites and browns of Fez, or the dynamic blues of Chefchaouen, proudly called the Blue Pearl of Morocco. WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACQUELINE SERGEANT @LATEBLOOMINGWANDERLUSTER

This country doesn’t suffer from mediocrity and therefore it can polarise many. However, if there is one characteristic that Morocco refines in those who visit, it is patience. Through its modern and ancient cultures, welcoming locals and incredible landscapes, this country will reveal layer upon layer of adventure, wonder and beauty if only you give it permission and time. Whether your adventure takes you through its labyrinthine medinas or hiking its rugged, scree covered High Atlas Mountains, have no doubts, Morocco will test you. These lessons however will enrich you and provide a truly memorable adventure that only this North African country could

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Jacqueline is not a professional travel writer/photographer and does not pretend to be. She is solo traveler who chooses to experience a country through adventure. She then attempts to capture its essence through words and photography, embracing the potential stories they can tell while respecting the mediums’ limitations. Now age 45 and only having her first overseas holiday at 34 years of age, she is playing catch up - hence her Instagram handle @latebloomingwanderluster. Although she has only visited a handful of countries, she has set foot on every continent and had some pretty epic adventures, from hiking Patagonia in Parque Nacional Torres del Paine in Chile, moshing at a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Paris, negotiating icebergs while kayaking Antarctica, and snorkeling the warm waters of the Red Sea in Jordan. Jacqueline’s inquisitive nature and pursuit of knowledge has led her to an honours thesis in human geography. Her research will explore women’s lived experiences of international travel; investigating themes of gender, mobility, and power and how they are experienced when crossing international borders as a solo woman. Participant recruitment will commence in December 2017. If you are interested, please email js84@uowmail.edu.au

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After prayer conversations Grand Median of Fez

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Road Trip Somewhere between Tangier and TĂŠtouan

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Village Dwellings

Modes of Transport Marrakech

Prayer and Reflection Ramadan Marrakech Medina

Berber Boys of Jbel Toubkal

Asilah Media

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The stairs of Chefchaouen

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Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to Strong Women. May we be them. May we support them. Most importantly, May we raise them.

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Dads & Daughters Many of us remember with great fondness the adventures our dads took us on. From epic road trips to off the beaten track camping expeditions. Climbing trees, bobbing in the ocean past the break safe in dads strong arms, riding through muddy puddles, climbing through barb wire fences and poking ant hills with sticks. Dads helped bring out the brave in many of us when facing down the vast unknowns of the big wide world. How our dad's approach life, serves as an example to us to build off in our own life, even if we choose a different view of the world. "What matters in the fatherdaughter relationship is that dad seeks to live a life of integrity and honesty, avoiding hypocrisy and admitting his shortcomings so that she has a realistic and positive example of how to deal with the world. He should try to model a reflective approach to life's big questions so that she can seek to do the same," says Michael Austin editor of Fatherhood — Philosophy for Everyone: The Dao of Daddy.

adventurers:

One of our favourite adventuresses Alyssa Azar’s dad Glen recently shared this great post on his social media, which summed up why we love Dads and Daughter

For you:

'SHE WAS NEVER QUITE READY BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS BRAVE. THE UNIVERSE REWARDS BRAVE.' “I saw this quote and immediately thought how true it is. I know in Alyssa's case, how can you ever know if you're ready for something like Everest? If she waited until she was 'ready' she may never have even attempted the climb. But she was always brave, she was always willing to take on the challenge and step up the plate. The universe DOES reward BRAVE. I've witnessed it so many times. If you're not quite ready, do it. If an opportunity presents, take it. If the details are sketchy but you just know this is what

you want, then tackle it. Say yes. Be brave. Always be brave. Then reap the rewards of that bravery. You're good enough. You deserve it. Your past is just history, leave it there. Be brave and let the universe do its bit too. If you're not happy with where you are right now, then don't defend the habits, behaviours and beliefs that got you to this point. If nothing changes, nothing changes”. Glen Azar Here at Travel Play Live we love seeing the men in our lives adventuring with their kids, and especially their daughters, so we touched base with a few of them to fill us in on what it means for them to adventure with their daughters.

" My Daddy was my hero. He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things. But most of all he was fun." - Bindi Irwin

Glen & Alyssa Azar in Tanzania

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Joe Bonnington Daughters names: Edie 13 yrs and Honor 11 yrs Joe Bonington is the founder of Joe’s Basecamp and has been helping people kick amazing goals and put ticks next to awesome bucket list items for almost 15 years. He specialises in ordinary people, unlocking their full potential and helping them to do amazing things that they never thought possible. Joe has a long family history of mountaineering and adventure: his father is one of Britain’s pre-eminent mountaineers, so who better to ask about being a dad and the role adventure plays in bringing up his daughters. How did having kids impact on your fitness / outdoors / adventure routine? Mmmm! It hasn’t interrupted the big stuff but has disrupted the small things. I may get shot here! I left to help lead a Kokoda Trail trip two weeks after my first child was born. I do a big trip most years, and that is planned, so it doesn't affect too much. When the girls were small, it was fine. We did things like taking Edie hiking through New Zealand in a backpack. Now that they are older, things get trickier. The kid's sports - basketball and soccer tournaments get in the way of backpacking weekends or taking them away on short break adventures. I own a gym so I’m there all day and they don’t get in the way of my routine there - that's more likely to be the members. I manage to get out for a short (10km) trail run most Sundays Did having daughters affect the way you perceived and then pursued adventure afterwards? To be honest no. I want my girls to understand that life is about looking at a whole series of uncertain outcomes. Taking stock of the situation, calculating where there is a risk and whether that risk is worth it. Then they can decide if they want to proceed or not, and have fun doing it! When you head out with the girls, what do you all love to do? Bushwalking and camping - we just bought them their own lightweight North Face tents

for Christmas, and we will be testing them out during the coming school holidays at Barrington Tops. What are some of the lessons or traits dads can instill in their girls through adventure? Apart from assessing risk, and then giving it a go anyway, it's about confidence in themselves and their abilities. The skills acquisition that they have to go through to learn how to deal with the multi faceted challenges of adventures, bush skills, planning, the physical challenges, the mental challenges, pushing boundaries, understanding the environment around them and their impact on it and how it may affect decisions they have to make. These are all just bloody great analogies and lessons for life! I can also think of several analogies around leeches, ticks and men but we won’t go there! The other thing is just about the amazing wonder of the natural world, how that despite stuff going on at school or in the world, the natural world is their constant; an unpredictable, beautiful, terrible and fantastic place of wonder and never ending learning. What is one of your all time favourite experiences with the girls in the great outdoors? I love walking and running in the bush, but showing the girls the “fells” (hills) of my home in the Lake District, where I walked, played and ran amok as a child was pretty special. What is the best piece of advice you

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would give other families on how to get girls out and active? Block out the initial whining. Kids tend to default to what they are doing at that moment, so when you suggest a walk, it seems a lot less attractive than the game they are playing on a screen. I ignore their pleads and drag them out kicking and screaming. As soon as they are out they love it, and the more regularly we do it, they know there is no “No” - they just get in the flow. Once you are out there, make it fun and educational. Appeal to a child's natural inquisitiveness, this also makes you step up your own game and keep learning. Teaching kids how to read weather, map and compass skills, how to follow tracks and scats, teaching them all about flora, fauna, bush tucker, how to pack, how much to drink - everything. Kids are sponges, the more you can give the more they will lap up. What is your dream adventure destination to take your daughters and why? Nepal - for so many reasons. I've spent a lot of time there as has my father. We have a long family association with Nepal and the Nepalese. To show them the cultural differences, and how happy people are with so much less, to take them into the mountains that their grandfather was obsessed with for over twenty years. Visit good friends, watch their faces when I make them accept yak butter tea (ha ha ha), that will be a sight for sore eyes.

Photo by Anthony Murphy

Aaron Dodds Daughters names: Ruby 7 yrs and Audrey 2yrs

Dads & Daughters We have been following Aaron’s family adventures on social media for a while now and have been so impressed with his kids passion for the environment, exploring their own backyard and the joy they exude when playing in the outdoors, so we asked Aaron to share some insight into his family adventures. How did having kids impact on your fitness / outdoors / adventure routine? I have always been an outdoors land and sea adventurist, having children has inspired me to explore more. Utilising the amazing joy of adventure as an educational tool, unleashing the young at heart and seeing the world through different eyes. Our love for the environment is second to none, and we are now always doing rubbish clean ups to keep nature beautiful and preserve its perfection. Did having daughters affect the way you perceived and then pursued adventure afterwards? Yes and no. Having two older brothers, my girls are always chasing bigger dreams. Ruby's pure joy for life is contagious, and Audrey's inquisitive nature is so humbling. From laying under the stars in rainforests with flowing water falls to playing at secluded beaches or swimming in pristine swimming holes my girls are always teaching me the unadulterated beauty of nature. When you head out with the girls, what do you all love to do? Every adventure is new, and we love to explore land and sea. We always make sure we pack a picnic with a treat of strawberries and dipping chocolate. We quite often will go trekking in rainforests, headlands, beaches, mountains searching for waterfalls/ swimming holes and then dive our waterways followed by a beach fire with marshmallows. Close friends and I study google maps

and maps of new regions and locations to explore. We love inviting like minded families to inspire the dream to live and explore.

at the girls, both of the girls were hysterical as their elder brothers were scared, but they weren't.

What are some of the lessons or traits dads can instill in their girls through adventure? I believe it's imperative to have a healthy relationship with dads and daughters, and what better way to develop it via adventure.

• Exploring New Caledonia and Vanuatu, Ruby and I climbed volcanic mountains, dived the tropical reefs and enjoyed some quality time and food with locals.

Adventure inspires my daughters to think outside the square, to become great problem solvers, consistently learning their strengths and abilities to become independent. I believe the biggest gift I can give my daughters via adventure is: If you fall, get straight back up, look for a different path with the same result and to live life to the fullest. What is one of your all time favourite experiences with the girls in the great outdoors? There are so many to list. I have four that come to mind. • Early September 2016 before school one morning, my children and I were diving under Forster Tuncurry Bridge. I had Audrey on my back, and Ruby dived down to touch the bottom, she returned with the biggest smile followed by a giant sea turtle in tow. • Regularly my children and I will do environment clean ups to keep our home and waterways pristine. Audrey's love for helping, she jumped into a creek with Ruby to pick up some plastic, a blue tongue came out hissing

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• Regularly trekking for hours into rainforests and finding amazing waterfalls or caves, building cubby houses, living the dream and making today ours. What is the best piece of advice you would give other families on how to get girls out and active? Start today, not tomorrow. The pure excitement and enlightenment on your girls faces once they have discovered something, conquered a fear or taught you something is priceless. The best classroom in the world is outdoors, exploring and adventuring the unknown has brought us together with an unbreakable bond. What is your dream adventure destination to take your daughters and why? My daughters and I have spoken of The Kimberly Region, learning more about our backyard and culture. We would love to go back to Fiji and Vanuatu. My dream adventure with my girls would be to explore The Amazon or Hang Son Doong Cave in Vietnam. Soooo much to learn and experience via culture and the purest environments on earth.

19 th NOV 2017 Join us for a bearishly adventurous day of orienteering and bear themed action at the Bandaged Bear BOOST. A GREAT CAUSE: The Adolescent Medicine Unit of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. You can enjoy the Bandaged Bear BOOST knowing that 100% of entry fees received and additional funds raised will be helping our finest doctors and researchers. We can all help to launch teenagers into a healthy adulthood. A GREAT LOCATION: The beautiful park-like grounds of Pymble Ladies’ College, Sydney A TASTE OF ADVENTURE: Run, walk or wheelchair a course. A COMMUNITY EVENT: Everyone is welcome. From under 10’s to over 80’s, whether it’s your first time orienteering or you are one of NSW’s best: you are ready to enter the Bandaged Bear BOOST. The event will include beginners’ options and also incorporate the NSW Sprint Orienteering Championships. Race for a title or start a new adventure with the family. Enter, donate or volunteer to help at the Bandaged Bear BOOST plus obtain further information at www.boldhorizons.com.au You can also follow Bold Horizons on FaceBook for all the latest news.

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If you would be interested in sponsoring the Bandaged Bear BOOST Travel Play Live 081 please email barbara@boldhorizons.com.au

Zoe Waller Meet a Young Entrepreneur with a Heart for Adventure At thirteen years old, Zoe Waller is still mostly a kid. She stands at the very beginning of her entry into womanhood, peeking through the gate, looking ahead to the formidable world of high school. And yet, there's something about the way she walks through life with a quiet determination that has me asking, what is she up to? STORY BY KATE DUNCAN

You see, even at thirteen Zoe already knows that if there’s something she wants, she had better go out and get it. Earlier this year, she began looking at ways to launch her own small business, driven by her desire to buy her own phone. Around the same time, she met a girl two years her senior that was running a small Instagram based clothing store. A few months later, Zoe finally opened her own. Zoe is part of a new generation of budding teen entrepreneurs. Youngsters that see ingenious ways to earn their pocket money without actually getting a job. With the number of resources available to start an online or social media based business, it is easier than it has ever been, and many teenagers are jumping at the opportunity. Zoe, like many other teen entrepreneurs, has a particular reason why. She wants freedom. I asked Zoe if she plans to be wealthy. She giggled as if I were silly for the asking, and plainly said, “yes”. But Zoe was clear that this isn’t about wanting a big house or fancy items, it's about being free to do as she pleases, and to go wherever she wants.

Which for Zoe, means going to the beach. Zoe lives on the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in the beautiful and remote town of Port Lincoln, with her entrepreneurial parents and four siblings. The house is busy and comes with challenges for a young girl starting out in an online business. There’s school work to be completed, chores to do, young siblings to look after, and of course, there are all those trips to the beach. Nonetheless, Zoe has her eye on the prize, currently researching the best way to set up a website, purchase more product, speed up her shipping times, and all the other things that go along with making her store a better place. Running a business is no easy task for anyone, but her enthusiasm and determination are inspiring. The Eyre Peninsula has endless beaches. The ocean is rough, raw, icy cold, and well known for its great white sharks. Regardless, Zoe jumps at any chance to get to the beach. She says if she had her own car, she would drive out there every day to listen to the sound of the roaring ocean.

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I asked her why, “It's the vibe”, she said, “It's the way it makes me feel”. She went on the explain that the energy of the ocean, and all of its sounds, make her feel calm. And for somebody spending their extra hours working on an Instagram business, I couldn't think of anything more important. Her love of the beach was also the inspiration for her product line, which is all centred around the ocean; bikinis, beach towels, blankets, and beach inspired accessories. And the name, @aqua. balance.beach reflects the calmness she draws from the ocean. Zoe says she doesn't think this will be her full-time job when she is an adult. Instead, she has her heart set on one of three things, becoming an interior designer, a make-up artist or a forensic psychologist. Her goal is to make enough money from her business to pursue her dreams. When asked what she will do with her first year or two of income, Zoe’s answer was simple, “buy more product for the store, and then, buy my phone”. You can see Zoe’s online store through Instagram at @aqua.balance.beach