I love waterfalls and on Wednesday morning we arrived at a unique one called Kiti Kiti Waterfall. Nestled in the lush jungle of West Papua and accessible only by boat, the spectacular natural wonder cascades fresh water directly into the ocean, through a crack in the rocks rather than a river or stream. (That’s mist... Continue Reading →

I started writing today's blog post while gazing at this view from my cabin. Even though it is day … seven … I think … our cruise still feels a bit surreal. We sailed into West Papua's Triton Bay at dawn, with the Captain using dynamic positioning to hold the ship in place as the... Continue Reading →

It was fascinating to see the ocean transform from aquamarine to murky green as we approached the mouth of South Papua’s mighty Digul River. Our ship followed the coast north to our next port of call - the village of Agats in the province of Asmat. The region is one the most remote and mysterious... Continue Reading →

A 1200km strip of road connects Cairns and Cape York - a journey that takes around seven days in a 4WD. The trip has been described as “dry, dusty and often rough as guts”. The jewel at the final destination is the northernmost point in Australia, marked with a sign that was once riddled with... Continue Reading →

I need to tell you about a crazy thing the youngest did last week. She cycled 500km to Wagga Wagga for the Gear and Beers festival, where she participated in the Dirty 130. As the name suggests, the event involves cycling 130km on dirt roads and drinking craft beer at the end. I freaked out... Continue Reading →

I am feeling very blissed out and fortunate to be cruising to Indonesia with DD. It’s another no-solo-supplement special aboard Ponant, which means we have two cabins for the price of one. The partition has been removed between our balconies, providing a spacious outdoor area to lounge on together, and separate bedrooms to ensure a... Continue Reading →

I feel a little embarrassed to tell you this ... but … I'm on another cruise ... I know, I know, it has been a year filled with holidays. I think it’s a midlife crisis, but I’m buying cruises rather than a red sports car. I promise this is my last cruise for a very... Continue Reading →

How's this for irony? You know how the bad stuff is always easier to believe? Well, a senior manager praised me during my department’s monthly Teams meeting … and I accidentally disconnected myself from the call, midway through his shout-out. I knocked a button on my headphones and was suddenly staring at a blank screen.... Continue Reading →

Is it a generational thing to feel constant guilt and inadequacy? Are women my age victims of our Gen X-ness? A friend described me as a "rare gem" this week and all I felt was shame. There is nothing rare or gem-like about me. I am far too flawed. I worry constantly about these flaws... Continue Reading →