Final Summary

I had a wonderful time travelling to New Zealand, then onto Chile and Brazil, for Alex and Karen’s wedding. Then spending longer than expected in Brazil and meeting some wonderful people and making friends with them. I then finally returned to Chile to spend time with both old and new friends. Have some special times to discuss, think and impart my limited knowledge. It was a nine month adventure, having a few ups and downs in all areas, mentally, physically and emotionally. I re-connected with some friends and made many new ones, some I still regularly talk to now, either via electronic methods or via telephone. Hopefully I will be able to repay some of the favours given to me by the people I met and stayed with. I am so grateful to them all, as it is due to their friendship and hospitality that I was able to stay longer and experience much more of Brazil and Chile. To cap of my travel experience I was given wonderful hospitality by Debs, her flatmates and her friends in London, preparing me for the return journey to Australia and the change of cultures from the South American culture to the Australian / Anglo Saxon cultre. I am happy to be home.Now, I can sing the song by Peter Allen and sing it with gusto…

I've been to cities that never close down

From New York to Rio and old London town

But no matter how far

Or how wide I roam

I still call Australia home.

I'm always travelin'

And I love bein' free

So I keep leavin' the sun and the sea

But my heart lies waiting over the foam

I still call Australia home.

All the sons and daughters spinning 'round the world

Away from their families and friends

Ah, but as the world gets older and colder

It's good to know where your journey ends.

And someday we'll all be together once more

When all the ships come back to the shore

Then I realize something I've always known

I still call Australia home.

No matter how far

Or how wide I roam

I still call Australia home.