The Middle East

ABU DHABI – WHERE THE OLD RESIDES PEACEFULLY BESIDE THE NEW

ABU DHABI – WHERE THE OLD RESIDES PEACEFULLY BESIDE THE NEW

Apr 15, 2018

As many may already know, the Islamic religion dictates everything from the way people worship to what they eat, wear and drink. Although the culture of the UAE is inextricably linked to Islam, Abu Dhabi is a truly shining example of Islam's commitment to hospitality...

MY EXPERIENCE WITH MUSLIMS IN DUBAI

MY EXPERIENCE WITH MUSLIMS IN DUBAI

Apr 4, 2017

Today, as I'm sure you're well aware, we are currently living in a world that is screaming constant social alienation and hatred to people that have particular religious beliefs. It's an extremely disheartening and deeply concerning climate that we're faced with, that finding positive stories...

DUBAI, THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT

DUBAI, THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT

Jul 11, 2016

Dubai is such an overwhelming place; a city in the middle of the desert with overlapping roadways, the highest building in the world and temperature that makes you sweat as soon as you hit the outside air. In the eyes of someone who has never...

Girl in red beanie looking at camera with mountains in the distance

Welcome to Travel for Difference!
Inside the mind of a compassionate, animal-loving, eco-conscious Australian! Standing up for things that matter and inspiring you along the way. Come and join me ♡

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  • HOW YOU CAN AID WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FROM YOUR HOME: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ♥️ Be conscious of what you buy! This applies to food, fashion, beauty, physical products and more. Are they contributing to deforestation, death, pollution, poaching etc? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🦧 Avoid unsustainable Palm Oil (I have an entire blog post on this - link in my bio)! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🌼 Plant native flowers, trees and shrubbery in your backyard to help wildlife and bees thrive! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💧On hot days, put out a shallow water dish (in a safe place) for thirsty wildlife to access. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🦆 Be cautious of what you feed birdlife — human foods can harm their stomachs and encourage bad behavior. Avoid it all together if not necessary, and DO NOT feed other animals either! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💵 Donate to genuine organizations and programs that are working to save lives, protect endangered species and aid conservation (if you have the ability to). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ♻️ Pick up trash! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⌨️ Email companies and encourage them to reconsider any harmful practices. Sign petitions, contact government officials and get loud for our furry, feathered, scaly friends who don’t share our voice. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📞 Keep a contact list of local wildlife rescuers/carers so that you can quickly contact them if you see an animal in need. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🧠 Educate yourself on any issues surrounding your local wildlife (globally too) and how you might be able to help. Knowledge is power! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There are so many more, but this is already super long. Maybe a blog post is in order... 🐝🐸🦊🦘🐙🐛🐨
  • Future kings 👑 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As I’m sure you have noticed, the lion in the first photo has one blind eye 👁 I was quite a distance from him at the time, and actually didn’t notice the colour until zooming in on my camera... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I mentioned it to our knowledgable guide — a local Maasai — who seemed to think that he was (and would be) aye okay 💙 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A relief to hear, and what a beauty he was 🦁 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ On a side note: HOW MANY FLIES CAN YOU SPOT? 🦟
  • Dreaming 🌙 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Despite being 384,000 km away, the moon is one thing that will always ground you back to Earth. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Don’t forget to look up, friends... There’s magic up there 💫
  • HERE’S WHAT I LEARNT LAST WEEK: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🎉 More than 1 million people have recovered from COVID-19! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🌟 Long exposure photography is a creative outlet for me... With the added addition of drawing with light (more on that soon) ✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🧠 Anxiety can creep up on you when you LEAST expect it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🐧 3% of the glaciers in Antarctica are composed of penguin urine... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🏃‍♀️ I love running without music — it forces me to concentrate on only the sounds of nature, my breath, and clearing my thoughts. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🦇 Over 80 medicines come from plants that need bats to pollinate them (be nice to bats, don’t blame them for COVID-19 please) @jessicaolien ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 🌊 In the time it takes you to read this sentence, a gentle sea wave has crashed twice. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ♥️ Staying positive doesn’t mean you need to be happy all the time... It means that even on hard days, you know that there are better ones coming. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What did YOU learn last week? Learnings inspired by @ethicallykate as always 💫
  • 4 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday 💚 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ It was my dream to see the Northern Lights one day, and I had my fingers (and toes) crossed that I would witness the magic on this trip to Iceland in 2016. Mother Nature happened to be on my side (thank you Nature — I love you) and I ended up flying through an Aurora on my way there, and continued to see them 4 nights in a row. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ On this particular day I stayed in a cabin by the beach, watched the sun slowly hide behind the sea, and then observed the Aurora from the window above my bed. I only took 5 quick photos from this night... And the rest are images for my memory to keep ✨ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A moment I will cherish forever 💫
  • How are you? No really... HOW ARE YOU? ♥️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As I’m sure most of us are experiencing, this period of time is teaching me so much about myself. I’ve learnt this week that having something to ‘strive for’ or ‘look forward to’ is so important for my mental health... I think I’ve been this way for a few years now, and during this chapter of immense uncertainty and unknowns, it’s kind of taking a toll. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ BUT! What I’m holding on to is the MAJOR excitement I know I’ll feel when I can lace up my hiking boots or my trail running shoes, and head out on an adventure to some of my favorite places 🌿 I’ll never take those things for granted again... 🏔 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’re feeling a similar way, know that you’re not alone — “it’s okay to grieve the loss of what you thought these next few months would bring”. It will pass if we all do our part, I know it ♥️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stay hopeful, focus on what you’re grateful for, and please please PLEASE look after your mental health - there’s really nothing more important. Tell me how you’re doing (if you want to of course) and know that I’m sending you the biggest virtual hug from my corner of the globe 🥰🌍😘
  • I had a lot of wildlife plans for this year... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I wanted to deepen my knowledge, venture on a career path more specific to conservation, and see some incredible species that I haven’t yet before. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I don’t think 2020 will be the year for that, and although I was so excited about it, our setbacks in time are a minuscule inconvenience in the grand scheme of things. Humankind needs us, and I know that I can tackle my dreams when the time is right - just as you can too ♥️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But for now, I want you to dive into your archives and tell me about your most memorable wildlife experience... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ From pygmy elephants and orangutans in Borneo 🦧, capybara and howler monkeys in the Amazon, humpbacks and orcas in North America 🐋, rhinos and sloth bears in Nepal 🦏, the amazing creatures of my homeland - Australia 🇦🇺, and the mighty mammals that span across the African landscape 🦒... I feel incredibly privileged to have experienced so much, and each encounter holds a special place in my heart. I don’t know how I could ever possibly choose. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But it’s your turn... Which wildlife experience stands out in YOUR heart the most? 🌍
  • HOPE ⭐️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This area was burnt out by bushfires just over one year ago, and here it is today flourishing back to life... ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Just as nature can overcome a challenge, with cooperation, resilience, strength, amplifying vulnerable and indigenous voices, challenging the systems, relishing in community spirit, and extending an abundance of love to ALL human beings, we will overcome this crisis too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stay hopeful - #inthistogether ♥️
  • A message from me (and this baby ele) to you 🐘♥️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Remember that it’s okay not to be okay during such times of uncertainty. It’s okay not to be productive. It’s okay to feel anxious and concerned... Let yourself feel whatever emotions rise. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Take care of yourself, move your body, watch David Attenborough (👑) Keep your distance physically - but stay close socially 🥰 Focus on what you can control, be grateful for the little things, and look after your mental health in whatever way that looks like for you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Being frustrated and disappointed by cancelled plans and forced isolation is more than okay, but remember that this is about us working as a collective to help those who are most vulnerable. 👫 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stay safe, stay present, stay hopeful, and find stillness amongst the chaos. Act out of love, not out of fear. Take care of yourself and those around you. We’re so much stronger together 🌏 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ PS. I really hope this ele frolicking in the mud puts a bright smile on your face. If you start to feel overwhelmed, take a break from the news and look at animals instead 🐘🐝🦁🦓🐸 BIG hugs ♥️
  • ETHICAL WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY 📸🦛 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We all know I have a strong passion for wildlife conservation and photography... I’m no professional by any means, but there’s one thing I know for sure - it’s vital that ALL photos we take are not at the expense of these beautiful, wild beings. Ethical photography extends to our animal friends too! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Here are some tips: - Don’t bait/feed wildlife. - KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. - Don’t ever interfere with their natural behaviour. - Never destroy habitat or alter vegetation. - Be cautious at breeding season and around gathering/feeding locations, and don’t invade their privacy. - Learn about the signs of stress. - Be aware of the laws/rules of the National Parks and protected areas. - Be TRANSPARENT about how the photo was taken... Tell the full story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Know when it’s okay to take a photo, and when it’s best to put the camera down. Capturing magic is a wonderful thing, but it should never ever EVER be at the detriment of an animal. Share when it’s okay to share, and keep things private when it’s not - it’s a very important balance. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Respect wildlife, respect their privacy, and always keep them safe... It’s every photographers responsibility ♥️
  • Slathering on sunscreen has never felt so good... 🌞 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ DID YOU KNOW - Traditional sun protections are damaging our coral reefs, harming our precious marine life, and damaging your health too (yep). But with @sunbuttersuncare that’s all thrown in the trash... Or the compost 🌍 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ SunButter is zero waste, vegan certified, chemical free, paraben free, fragrance free, cruelty free, reef safe (of course 🐡), water resistant, broad spectrum spf 50 coverage AND perfect for sensitive skin. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And to add to all the positives, SunButter donates 10% of all profits back to the planet, are carbon NEGATIVE (yep, you heard it right), have a #spreadthebutterfurther upcycling campaign, and are made in a solar powered factory right here in Australia... It’s the only sun protection you’ll literally ever need ☀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Click the link in my bio to read ALL about why this is one of my all-time favorite brands, and why you need to ditch the chemical sunscreens and slather on @sunbuttersuncare instead! 🌊 #spreadthebutter [AD]
  • A small reminder to embrace your weirdness 🐬 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Take this dolphin for example... His friends were calmly cruising next to the boat, but he decided to go and do a backflip instead! 🥳 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Listen to your gut, follow your heart, and remember that it’s okay to take a different path. Being unique is COOL ♥️

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