“The intimidating taxi ride to our resort left me shell shocked and desperate to board my jumbo back to civilisation, but in the light of a most beautiful day the warming beaches of Phuket evoked a sense of joy and tranquility that I had never experienced.

On one side the turquoise sea, white soft sand and the sound of gulls engulfed the air. On the other, the street a bustle of noise, fumes and sticky hot tar melting in the dominating sun. All the locals smile and brush their brows with a vigor that makes you appreciate the country and its people even more.

A young lady is pouring her energy over an open flame, where she brushes and bastes the skewered charcoal meat. Her face, flushed from the heat of the cooking fire, her smile friendly, warm and full of life. Her clothing is heavy with grease, yet still floating in the salty sea breeze.

I ask her kindly for a piece of her wares and she is more appreciative of me contributing to her wage than I am that she can provide me with my much-needed lunch.

I don’t know whether it is the sunshine, the fresh sea air or the delectable food I have just inhaled, but Thailand, I believe, will be offering me a cultural experience that I hope I learn from, and its only day one.”

It was my trip to Thailand that made traveling a passion for me. Though not my first overseas adventure, being in such calm chaos, the country was amazing on all sensory levels. This exert above is from my travel journal that I took with me on my trip to Thailand with my husband. I always take a notebook wherever I go.

A few years after that trip, to be precise today; my driving force to earn money is to achieve more stamps in my passport, and to experience places that I may have missed the first time around.

I’m continually making plans for the next destination; the next photo opportunity, the next food-gasam {they exist – have you tried brisket in Texas?} and the next “oh my God” moment when something is either so shocking or so beautiful that it takes my breath away.

I’ve planned so far in advance for my travels that I have the Northern Lights penciled in for when I am going through “the change” that all women go through. I figure my hot flushes will prevent me turning into a frosticle as I look out to the Alaskan skies.

As 2012 settled into retirement, and another New Years Eve rolled around, the resolutions spilled over the table like the wine we were enjoying with friends.  I declare 2013 “The year of Mandy” and set about making plans to discover the career path that can provide me with not only income, but also joy. Mind you, I have 3 vacations planned for 2013, so it better be a good choice of paths.

Googling one career path after another, I am feeling lead up a garden path with nothing more than confusion and my frantic mind jumping from stone to stone.

With my pros and cons list in ink, therefore non negotiable, I look at what I want in life and what hobbies or passions I might be able to make a job out of.

I would love nothing more that to be set up in my own home office, sipping my latte in the AM and my Pinot in the PM as I write.

I throw up ideas of what to actually write about. And who the hell would read it?

I wonder, if it’s that easy, why isn’t everyone doing it?

The “50 Shades” sex slave cat has been let out of the bag in a big way, so I don’t want to ride on any erotic fiction coat tails there.

A novel would be out of the question as I have the attention span of a goldfish.

Maybe “Year of Mandy” should have more experiences! Maybe I could share these experiences through the power of words. Should these experiences involve a plane, train or automobile?  I think so. BOOM!  I am transformed into a tall tanned Getaway presenter.

Wait, that’s not me.

But starting from small seeds grow great trees, so maybe travel writing, or my new favourite term, “geographic experience sharing,” seems like a good place to start, and see where it takes me.

I could either fall flat on my face, {hopefully on a beach in New Caledonia, the sand won’t hurt as much there} or I could be entering the next phase of an already exciting journal entry, one that takes me to far away destinations, and maybe even the Northern Lights.

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR :: AMANDA EDWARDS

My name is Amanda Edwards and I would like to describe myself using three adjectives. Passionate; about so many things it’s hard to keep a track of them myself. Fun; so fun in fact I have scars on my body from maybe a little too much fun. Honest; proverbial what you see is what you get.

I love my friends, family and all things pink. Life’s just cuter with a bit of pink. I would call myself a bit of a hoarder with a minor addiction to antiques, second hand stores and vintage items. Entertaining is the name of the game at our house and I will usually bellow “I’m the hostess with the mostest” after a few wines; but cooking, feeding and spending time around a dinner table are truly magical with witty conversation and good company. I am looking for the golden chalice of having it all and looking fabulous while doing so. Let me know if you find it. I’ve Googled it, it offered a few suggestions.