an Eastern Euro's views on backpacking Western Euro - post #1

For me, 2014 ended with my personal "big bang".  It took me 4 days to pack up 36 months of my life in Brisbane after calling defeat on my phd.

I packed up all that I can carry and gave away everything else I could not.  I hugged only a few of my dear friends and got on the next plane to Canada to enjoy my Christmas holidays with those who give me the most comfort and safety in such time, my family. It is very difficult to care about anything else when 2 adorable toddlers (my nephews) are discovering their own world for the first time. Therefore, the best remedy for 18 months of misery, is family :) 

Once the holiday passed, I was excited about my next career opportunities.  Work did not slow down in December and January for me.  Instead, I continued applying for research grants and planning my next adventures.  While a few promising opportunities lingered.....I took a deep breath and decided to finally visit Western Europe .....since as an Eastern Euro citizen....I have yet to experience the epicenter of my global career. 

I have spent most of my late teens and twenties living between home and home and home.  Brisbane, though temporary, could be considered home #4.  Growing up between countries really just means that family members are sprinkled far and wide.  While I consider Canada my due north, Hungary and Romania always remained a destination for reuniting with family.  If I wasn't traveling to see family in Canada, I was traveling home, to see family in Europe.  I managed to turn 30, and never experience Western Europe in this time. 

However, 2015 was panning out to be different.  From the infinite roadblock of 2014, I have made a pact with myself, that nothing, and I mean, nothing was going to stop me from visiting THE places which could advance my career and also fill the culture void I landed over time. 

The plan: 17 cities in 77 days and on a budget of $4000 (roughly). 

I imagined that traveling off season, staying with friends, and limiting my food intake to only local/traditional meals would help me accomplish this adventure without any issues.

Looking back, the only, and I mean only mistake I made was to have 3 sets of travel clothes with me: 1) for Uganda, 2) for business opportunities and 3) for recreational travel.  What really ended up happening is wearing the same (1) yoga gear for nearly 77 days of my journey.  Why, because I could :) 

For business meetings, I was able to pick up a few things along my journey....and well, I did not end up scoring an immediate position.....so it was a waste.  But, carrying such large cargo helped me discover Europe's cities which are tourist friendly and those which are not.  I will elaborate on this once we get to transportation and luggages. 

So, in summary, here are the places I visited and I will spend my next few posts describing each city and the activities I enjoyed (dates are a blur now but will add them in later): 

1. Uganda - Jan 20-Feb 4 

2. Amsterdam - Feb 4-5

3. Dortmund - Feb 5-7

4. Antwerp 

5. Ghent 

6. Brussels 

7. Luxembourg 

8. Paris 

9. Geneva 

10. Interlaken 

11. Barn and Zurich 

12. Munich 

13. Prague 

14. Budapest  

15. Szeged

16. Oradea 

17. back to Brussels and Amsterdam with a friend 

Since completing this trip I managed to successfully qualify for a position in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut....which really is a continuation of my travels....but I will leave this bit of my travels for a later post.  For now, I want to take you on a Western and Eastern Euro journey, as I absorb new cultures and taste foods which I have yet to enjoy. 

I hope to capture my journey in a way which makes you feel as if you were next to me....however, if that is the kind of stories you are looking for then I suggest you travel directly with me next time.  My mind works faster than my fingertips and may not do justice to all my sensory experience ....but let's give it a try. 

- R :-)

Arctic camping near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

I arrived to Rankin Inlet, Nunavut approximately 2 weeks ago (May 27, 2015) and I am finally off on an adventure to discover the arctic land.  Well, it is more like a camping trip for 1 night with friends I have met during my time here. 

While Saturday turned out to be one of my most favourite days since arriving here, unfortunately my camping trip was short lived.  I got a stomach bug which forced me to head out early morning on Sunday and therefore miss more amazing hikes with the crew.  

However, I did manage to take a few amazing shots on our first day and here are the photos to prove to you how wonderful it is to live in the arctic :) 

R

Temporary relocation to Brisbane - first adventures

Relocating to Brisbane comes with various adventures regardless of my previous stay.

Dan had warned me, a few days before my arrival, about a trip he has planned for us to take (which will conveniently postpone meeting friends and family on my very first day of arrival).  Once we collected all my belongings, packed it in the Pajero, or the 'monster' and hit the road North, to Noosa Head.  

Noosa, located on the Sunshine coast, North of Brisbane, is probably my second favourite location (as first place, in my opinion, still goes to Byron Bay).  It started raining as soon as we arrived in Noosa, which was not a surprise to me at all.  My very first memories of this place included backpacking with a dear friend, searching for our next place to rest as the rain poured down on us and a rainbow guided most of our journey (Natalie, memories do linger).  

We parked and thought to wait for the rain to pass, and when we realized it wasn't, we grabbed all our stuff and ran indoors.  We checked into a lovely place called Ocean Breeze Resort, located right along the main beach.  Once we moved our stuff into our room, I still had my rain boots on from the plane ride, we headed for a rainy stroll on the main strip.  Some of the shops were open but most were closed.  I believe I arrived on a weekday, so not much was happening.  Plus, June is a winter month, so cold rainy days are not at all popular beach days.  

Our 4 days in Noosa stayed rainy, but we managed to get out and shop, dine, and spend some time catching up about the last 6 months Dan and I spent apart.  I shared my Red Lake stories and Dan explained what was waiting for us in the next coming weeks.  I were to look for a job, a place to stay (with or without Dan) but all this had to be accomplished in about 4 weeks time (as this was the agreed time for me to stay at Dan's friend's place). 

Majority of my stories weren't new to Dan, as we kept in touch quite frequently via skype throughout our distances.  

Getting back to Brisbane, from Noosa was both daunting and exciting.  My first weeks were filled with job searches and meeting several of Dan's friends (some I knew from my previous stay, but many were people I only knew from Dan's stories).  Also, it was lovely to finally meet Dan's parents over a nice meal.  

Though I had feared that finding work will be tough, as the Australian public sector is suffering greatly, I managed to qualify for a position just 2 weeks living in Brissy.  I started working for a private travel clinic, providing vaccinations and travel health counselling to people traveling for either work or pleasure.  Well, I must say, it's quite a tease having to tell people how much fun they are going to have during their travels (as long as they take proper precautions).  Most days I offer to provide personal chaperoning, but it never seems to be necessary :-P

Another 2 weeks went by, and Dan found a place for me to rent, only a 15 minute walk from his house.  Living together was an option, but my finances aren't there to cover a one bedroom, in a metropolitan city.  I had no idea property rentals are so pricey in Brisbane.  Regardless, it's good to have my own space, and a space that I can afford.  My lease is up in the next 6 months, and we will see what happens after that. 

Lastly, my final accomplishment in my 2 months of staying here, was a temp full-time research gig with my previous professor.  I really cannot be any more thankful for my accomplishments and luck to settle quickly and start building my resume in the field of my interest.  That is all anyone can ask for.  However, I have not made it to the top of this hill.  There is much more work to be done.  But for now, I will enjoy and appreciate what has come to me, and take each day as it comes. 

More stories to come ....

-R 

Temporary relocation to Brisbane - the flight

DHC-3 Turbo Otter C-FODQ flight over Red Lake, Ontario

This is my very first update since moving from Red Lake back to Guelph, and packing once more for a journey which (first time around) was the main reason for starting my blog: I'm temporarily relocating to Brisbane once more.

It was a hectic 2 weeks just before my flight to Brisbane. Getting my stuff home from Red Lake happened in 2 separate flights, but all was sorted. Good-byes were said, and as always, practice does not prove to make these easier. I have a lifetime worthy of greetings and good-byes, and it still makes my heart ache every time. Regardless how little or a lot I have stayed in one place.

 I only had a week in Guelph to get as much time in with my parents as one could. Going to Brisbane is a special trip. Leaving my parents never seemed so difficult before, as it was on June 5th, 2012. Mom and I shared a bed each night during this week because my room was flooded with my stuff I brought back with me from Red Lake (this is also possibly one of the most nostalgic moments from when we used to live in a studio apartment or a bedroom in Budapest, and we had to share one bed.) Our current house in Guelph has 5 bedrooms, but regardless of the number, my comfort still lies in having mom near by.

Dad was also happy to have me home but he was thinking it was too short for some of his plans. We were planning to finish the basement renos together, and since planning takes time, I didn't get to help much when it came down to the physical labor. However, working with Dad, I learnt how to put up a new ceiling using one of those cool ceiling lifter/fixers. Pretty neat if you ask me. This was all only a month ago and I'm having trouble recalling our final week together. I managed to fit in a few visits with my brother and sister-in-law and of course my little nephew, before my departure. My great family and wonderful friends, I leave behind once more as I head off to a (this time) known land but with a very different agenda.

Intermission: 
A story of Renata's flight to Brisbane

I can recall pretty much every flight I have experienced, thanks to the power of emotions, which are invested during a chain of actions/reactions, and with it creating memories. So let me share with you one of these stories, taking you from YYZ to BNE.

Let's start by saying, one check-in luggage when relocating countries is not a fair amendment by the airline I was flying with (anonymous because there aren't many to choose from where I come from). Wanting to avoid flying through the US of A, should give you a hint on the flight company forcing me to fit my entire life into ONE checked-in suit case. So, as a true Romanian born, Hungarian, raised in Canada, I had 4, I repeat, FOUR carry-ons. Air Canada got nothing on this woman ! Oops. Said too much again.

To be fair, I had:
1) my laptop bag (which is a school backpack),
 2) my 60L backpack only filled to make it look small
3) my purse which is a side bag
4) a shopping recycle bag with books

So, I repeat, to be fair, I have always traveled with a few carry-on bags, and every time I was told, "those filled with books and papers are not a threat to any nation. They may come as extra carry-on and we won't make a fuss". I'm quoting myself, but you get the picture. Never been heckled for my 'ways' of travel.

The day was June 5th, 2012. Flight #, I can't remember, but I was on it, and I had one check-in bag, and FOUR carry-ons. Going through YYZ security was a joke. No one even blinked at me. Arriving in Vancouver brought a few extra giggles among the flight attendants when they saw me boarding. Some asked if I was planning for motherhood, and others pointed out that if I happen to fall, (having a bag at the front, on my back, and each side) it will protect me, and even bounce back from the ground.

Arrived to Sydney airport with all my gear, all my bags were in tact. Then comes Sydney security. Disregarding my FOUR carry-ons, but they do find a 10, I repeat, TEN CENTIMETER long pair of scissors. I immediately tell the guy, "Sir, I have been flying almost every 2 weeks, I am not smart enough to try and smuggle scissors across in my carry-on bag(s)", being too assure of something I was going to be proven so wrong. He checks once more and asks me kindly to pull out a small case, my pencil case, and sure enough, there is was, my scissors from home. My mouth dropped, I froze, and what does one say (after just speaking words of sarcasm): I'm so sorry about this and please take those away, I won't need them on my last 1 hour flight to Brisbane. He smiled and wished me a nice flight.

Why is it that every time I have a run in with security (this is a whole other story on its own), the guy has to be young and handsome ???

So I went with my FOUR carry-on bags, to my last flight, and as I was the last to board the plane, I was stopped and asked to get rid of one of my carry-on bags. A flight attendant ran downstairs to have my bag loaded on this same flight. In just under an hour, on June 7th, I was landing on a humid day in Brisbane, as Dan awaited for me with open arms at the luggage collection. Can you guess what were his first words to me?

"How many carry-on bags you got there ?" - and then we hugged.

And just like that we were off to Noosa for the weekend.

(Brisbane Update to be continued...)

Christmas in Romania - December 2011

Home for the Holidays

A wonderful Christmas Holiday with family and dear friends.  

The Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, 2011

25 September, 2011
Heidi is drumming for Desmond Tutu.  She invited me to come and watch both her playing, but also to witness the man himself in action.  It was an honour to attend this event, and hear Heidi's soulful drumming.

































Gandhi Peace Walk at Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa
2 October 2011

A dear friend, Vafa, invited me to walk for peace.  A 5km and 10km walk/run on a sunny Sunday makes for a wonderful day to gather at Sea Point in support for peace.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu attended the event in full support and initiated the walk by leading the first few meters.

We managed to walk the full 10 kms and have Heidi join us for the end of the stroll.

Another wonderful day in Cape Town spent with dear friends while supporting a great cause.

R :-)