hit the road, jack

It's been a relatively quiet couple of months, and peaceful, because after a taking a month off from work to recharge, it's helped me find some clarity about what I want to do next.

Turns out, what I want is a change from my current job, and hah, even more time off from work. I've decided to head over to South America for a couple of months - a continent I've always wanted to see, and no better chance now that I've decided to take an extended break. My itinerary begins in Chile, and includes Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, and tips for making the most of my trip are welcome! I also have a 12-hour stopover in Amsterdam, so ideas for killing time there are welcome as well.

It's a little daunting, to be going off on my own, but mostly, I've felt grateful for the luck and life decisions that has made it possible for me to do something like this.

Some other random thoughts:

• Watched "Elle" and thought it was brilliant - it hits all the right spots to make you blink, flinch, laugh, and question any assumption you've always held about how rape should be addressed and discussed
• Read "Secondhand Time" by Svetlana Alexievich and loved it - I started on it while I was travelling in Russia and it was an amazing travelling companion that helped me make sense of what I was seeing. It's not an "easy" read - parts of it gave me nightmares and I had to take a break before finishing the book because of the pain and sadness it evokes. 
• Bought reusable cotton facial pads, which I use to apply toner to my face, and it was such a relief to eliminate one more source of waste from my life. 
• Found a cheaper replacement for my Aesop spray deodorant - a similar product from Sukin, also an Aussie brand. The scent isn't as amazing but it's every bit (actually more) effective in keeping smells away. Also ticked my "no animal testing" box.