| How do you feel about being nominated as 1 of the1000best! |
I'm delighted that I've been nominated! What a priviledge it is to receive this recognition!
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| What do you think prompted your nomination? |
Good friends who had an amazing travel experience! In my 27 years as a tour guide I have shared destinations all over the globe with over 4,000 people. I've been priviledged to meet some incredible people on my tours and I still keep in touch with many of them!
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| What qualifies you for this YouNameIt! category? |
I have 27 years experience in the travel industry and have travelled to over 80 countries and all 7 continents.
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| What's your most memorable moment? |
I've had so many memorable moments it is too difficult to choose only ONE! Amongst ones that come to mind are: standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon as dawn breaks; seeing the Taj Mahal by the light of the full moon; walking along the Via Delarosa with throngs of pilgrims on a Good Friday; watching the sunset in the African jungle over the flat-topped Arcacia trees with a pride of lions feasting on a wildebeest nearby; cruising thru the majestic icebergs in Antarctica; sitting spellbound while an elephant gives birth in a dry riverbed in Kenya; walking the Great Wall of China and climbing up to Machu Picchu in Peru. Aahh ........... such memories!!!
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| What would you like others to know about you? |
I was born in Holland and my parents migrated to Australia when I was 8 years old. I grew up in Australia and think it is the best country in the world! I have been in the travel industry for 27 years and am still passionate about it. My birthday is on February 14th - Valentine's Day. I've travelled to over 80 countries and am still always on the look out for my next holiday destination. In the next few years I would like to travel to Eastern Europe and return to Egypt and Israel. Some of my favourite countries include Sri Lanka, Turkey, Greece, Kenya, Peru, Israel and Egypt. I live 4 hours east of Melbourne in Loch Sport, which is on a peninsula situated between the Gippsland Lakes and the 90 Mile Beach. The Gippsland Lakes are the largest inland lake system in the Southern Hemisphere. Loch Sport is a beautiful quiet little resort town and my house overlooks Lake Victoria, the largest of the lakes. From my balcony I can watch pods of dolphins playing in the lake and mobs of kangaroos graze in my backyard and keep the grass trimmed. The laughing kookaburras and the wild parrots come and visit me each day and I hand feed them when I am home. This is where I am "Living the Dream Today"!
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| What's important to you, what are your values? |
The things that are most important to me are:
My faith.
My family.
Friendship.
Respect, integrity and trust - to me, these are amongst the most important things in life.
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| What are your passions? |
I have a passion for conversation and will talk with almost anyone (and often do!). Travelling, photography, reading, writing, painting, cooking and ................SUDOKU!
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| What are your hobbies and interests? |
I enjoy meeting people, boating, dancing, watching and painting sunsets, listening to music, pottering in my garden, reading (especially by an open fire in the winter), computering, writing and cuddling on the couch while watching a good movie.
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| What's the most amazing thing you've ever done? |
Only one??????? There are too many to choose from for only one......
Bungy Jumping in New Zealand - the most scary!
White water rafting in grade 5 rapids in Malaysia - the most exciting!
Scuba Diving at Sipadan Island off the coast of Borneo - phenominal!
Para-Sailing in Thailand - exhilerating!
Fishing for Piranha in the Amazon River - tasty little critters!
Spending my birthday at Cape Horn- WOW!!!!
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| What are your dreams and goals? |
To be happy and healthy; ..... and to continue to travel in the company of good friends!
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| Who inspires you? Who would you most like to meet? |
Oprah Winfrey, Dr Phil McGraw, Nelson Mandela, Tiger Woods and Winston Churchill - very inspiring people!
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| How would you describe yourself? |
I’m down-to-earth and uncomplicated with a mischievous sense of humour. I am playful, but also serious and a great listener. I have a lust for life and am a loyal and loving friend, daughter and sister. I can speak several languages, I adore travelling and have few regrets in life. Within myself, I am a happy, well adjusted, busy, optimistic and fairly independent person who enjoys meeting people and I love a good laugh. I'm a positive, thoughtful, affectionate, creative, confident and open person who has old fashioned values.
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| What do you think is the secret to success? |
Faith, Hope, Love and Charity and treating others as you would like to be treated yourself! and ........... to never stop learning!
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| What is success for you? |
Having people say they have had the best vacation of their life and watching people's faces as they see incredible sights on their travels.
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| What makes you happy? |
A bright sunny day, watching a beautiful sunset, a fabulous meal, the company of friends, beautiful music, watching children play, a picnic, a good film with a special friend, travelling to a favourite place or a new destination, a drive in the country, a walk in the forest or along the beach, cuddling in a warm bed on a cold rainy winters morning, a back massage and being in love!
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| If you had only one day left on earth, what would you do? |
Spend it with those I love, enjoying good food and music, somewhere near the water and watching a final sunset.
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| If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you take and what 3 people would you choose to be with? |
My iPod, a good book and a picnic basket filled with goodies! I'd only need one other person - the love of my life!
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| What's your favourite food? |
Mainly Asian food, especially Sri Lankan curries! I love cooking them too!
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| What's something about yourself that nobody knows and is safe to publish? |
Now, if I told you that, then everyone would know and it wouldn't be a secret anymore!
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| What would you like others to remember you by? |
My sense of humour and the experiences I have shared with them.
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| If you won lotto, what would you do? |
Give 90% of it away to my favourite charities.
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| What's your strategy for overcoming challenges? |
Patience, a big smile and don't lose your cool! Few things are ever fatal!!!
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| What's the best advice you could give someone who wanted to learn from you or achieve the same success? |
Make people happy, go the extra mile, treat people the way you would like to be treated yourself! Money is NOT everything! A smile gets you a lot further than losing your temper!
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| What's your favourite Quote? |
"Happiness in life is NOT found by getting what you want, but rather by wanting what you have!!" Unknown author
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| Do you have a mySpace URL? |
www.myspace.com/LivingTheDreamToday.net
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