Dare

Take a chance! All life is a chance. The person who goes the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The 'sure thing' boat never gets far from shore. - Dale Carnegie

The moment you commit and quit holding back, all sorts of unforseen incidents, meetings and material assistance will rise up to help you. The simple act of commitment is a powerful magnet for help. - Napolen Hill

People will try to tell you that all great opportunities have been snapped up. In reality, the world changes every second, blowing new opportunities in all directions, including yours. - Ken Hakuta

To get profit without risk, experience without danger, and reward without work, is as impossible as it is to live without being born. - A.P. Gouthey

Wherever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. - Peter Drucker

Alas, for those who never sing, but die with their music in them. - Oliver Wendall Holmes, Jr.

No, you never get any fun out of things you haven't done. - Ogden Nash

All humanity is divided into three classes; those who are immovable, those who are movable and those who moves! - Benjamin Franklin

Life is like a tiger. You can either lie down and let it lay its paw on your head - or you can sit on its back and ride it. - Ride the Wild Tiger

Do the thing and you will have power. - Emerson

Others can stop you temporarily; only you can do it permanently. - Don Ward

As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do. - Zachary Scott

Sit, walk or run, but don't wobble. - Zen

A good plan vigorously executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week. - General George Patton

There are risks and costs to a program of action - but they are far less than long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. - John F. Kennedy

Build it and they will come! - Fields of Dreams

If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves. - Thomas Edison

Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing the attempt. - Shakespeare

Two road diverged in a wood , and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost

Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps. - David Lloyd George

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult. - Seneca

You have to think anyway, so why not think big? - Donald Trump

Live all you can; it's a mistake not to. - Henry James

Use the word 'impossible' with the greatest caution. - Werner von Braun

High achievers spot rich opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly, move into action immediately. Follow these principles and you can make your dreams come true. - Dr. Robert Schuller

You can't leave footprints in the sands of time if you're sitting on your butt. And who wants to leave buttprints in the sands of time? - Bob Moawad

You are one of a kind; therefore, no one can really predict to what heights you might soar. Even you will not know until you spread your wings! - Gil Atkinson

We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness. - Maxwell Maltz

Care

If you love what you do, you will never work another day in your life. - Confucious

The more you love what you are doing, the more successful it will be for you. - Jerry Gillies

To love what you do and feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun? - Katherine Graham

If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don't have to be pushed. The vision pulls you - Stephen Jobs

If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live. - Martin Luther King,Jr.

Live your life so that your children can tell their children that you not only stood for something wonderful - you acted on it. - Dan Zadra

Don't care what others think of what you do; but care very much about what you think you do. - St Frances DeSales

Life owes us little; we owe it everything. The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose. - John Marm Brown

Integrity is what we do, what we say, and what we say we do. - Don Galer

Some succeed because they are destined to; most succeed because they are determined to. - Anatole France

There is no failure except in no longer trying. - Elbert Hubbard

Enthusiasm is contagious. Start an epidemic - Don Ward

Enthusiasm is faith set on fire. - George Adams

Dreams

My interest is in the future, because I am going to spend the rest of my life there. - Charles E. Kettering

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us - Alexander Graham Bell

Dreams are renewable. No matter what your age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within you and new beauty waiting to be born. - Dr. Dale E. Turner

The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. - Goethe

Keep a daily diary of your dreams, goals and accomplishments. If your life is worth living, it's worth recording. - Marilyn Grey

Your imagination can focus on ugliness, distress and failures, or it can picture beauty, success, desired results. You decide how you want your imagination to serve you. - Philip Conley

You do not need to know how you're actually going to achieve a goal when you set it. Just repeatedly visualize the desired results, and the 'how' will open up to you. - Vince Pfaff

The first and most important thing about goals is having one. - Geoffrey Abert

The future never just happened. It was created. - Will and Ariel Durant

You cannot take charge of the present if you are busy reliving the setbacks of the past. - Newman & Berkowitz

You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. - Dr. Seuss

Imagination is the beginning of creation. We imagine what we desire; we will what we imagine; and at last we create what we will. - George Bernard Shaw

Never fear the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so. - Belva Davis

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. - Bill Meyer

Whatever you're ready for is ready for you. - Mark Victor Hansen

Model III

NAME: Zack
ORIGIN OF NAME: Named after Chris Issak the crooner singer!!!! Shorten to ZACK
NICKNAME: Poobear, Stinky, Farty, Fatty (thank god I have got a thick skin!!!!!)
AGE: 6.5 years old
COLOUR: Black/tan
WEIGHT: approx 65kg but that can change when I steal Maya's and Sabre's food. The most I ever weigh was almost 70kg!!!!! Alice-Mum was not happy at all!!!!!!
LIKES: Food and more food. The cow hide in the living room. I love rubbing my back on it. Swimming in the river.
DISLIKES: Being yelled at when I steal Maya's and Sabre's food. Being kicked out the room when I let a ripper of a fart out. Ok it was a bit ripe but hey its natural...isn't it???
BEST FEATURE: Handsome, don't call me FAT, I am just BIG BONED!!!!

Model II

NAME: Maya

ORIGIN of NAME: Named after the Aztec Mayan Indian

NICKNAME: Mai-Mai

AGE: 5.5 years old

COLOUR: Black/Tan

WEIGHT: manageable and sexy 45kg

LIKES: Chasing shadows and shining reflections, squeeky toys (the louder the better!!)

DISLIKES: Whipper snipper, rideon mower, hand mower, hedge trimmer, GRRRR!!!!

BEST FEATURES: my lovable nature and my beautiful face and off course my sexy figure!!!

Model I

NAME: Sabre

ORIGIN OF NAME: The light sabre from STARWARS because I was a very destructive puppy!!!

NICKNAME: Sabe, Bitch (thats when Alice-Mum catches me destroying things again!!)

AGE: 1.5 years old

COLOUR: tan/white

WEIGHT: 25 kg (very petite)

LIKES: Red Frogs lollies, Chocolate paddlepop ice-cream, all types of junk food!!!!!

DISLIKES: dog food pallets, cats!!!!( actually I love chasing them.....), sleeping outside

BEST FEATURES: demure, loyal, cutie, butter-won't-melt-in-my-mouth attitude, good alert guarddog minding the perimeter while Big Bro and Big Sis are having their siestas

Blossoming Growth

I have come a long way. I have achieved growth, spirituality, purpose and fullfillment. I have gained more guidance and much more freedom to pursue my interests and my endless thirst of knowledge, experiences and travels.

There is still so much out there to experience and so much to learn in this lifetime. Life is good and the Universe is answering my quests. I am now receiving with wide open arms and smiling thoroughout the whole process. Life is beautiful.

Joy, Joy, Joy

Love, Love, Love

I appreciate Myself

I am Me

I am Alice

I love Me

And the Universe loves Me back.

I radiate energy, love and passion. The Law of Attraction is working its magic in my life!!!!!. Miracles are happening everywhere. I feel that there is a sleeping giant inside of me and it is now waking up and blossoming. I have been searching for a while now for answers and now through constant self improvements and persistant, everything now is much more clearer. Once I was dormant and now I am so ALIVE!!!!. I feel so renew with more momentum energy and having the ability to allow the Universe to flow and to show me the path of my true self.

I feel like a flower within me has finally reared its head and unfurling its beautiful petals and in full bloom stance, facing the sun for its warmth and growth. I am ready!!!!.

Come on bees

Come on birds

Come on wind

Come and get ME!!!!!!

ALICE 2007

Joviality in the garden

The sun is shining, the birds are chirpping and all of us are having fun in the garden and being silly buggers.

March 1st 2007 - HOME AT LAST!!!!

Home at last!!!. It is so good to be back home and the babies were so excited and even Zack come for a cuddle. Normally he gets very peeved off when I go away for long period at a time. At least I am 'forgiven' by all of them.

We spend the day bonding and playing dress-up with all the hat gears I bought from Peru and Brazil

Zack really liked my sherpa hat. It fit him better than it did on Sabre. She looked a bit dicky. Zack is such a poser, noticed that he is actually winking as well. At least I have now 2 converts to become Flamenco fans!!!!!! Go Brazil!!!!!

Feb 28th 2007 - Sydney, Aust

Flew into Sydney early morning and caught up with Leanne for the day before heading on home to Perth.

It was great to catch up with Leanne as the last time we were together was back in September last year at the Gold Coast.

We did the Opera House, Queen Victoria Building, Hyde Park, China Town, Darling Harbour, lunch and even coffee and chatting away a mile a minute!!!! I really felt like I am in a Berocca advert, its go,go,go from one country to another and beating time frame. It is FUN!!!!!!!

We came across this poster on the Taj Mahal at one of the station stop. We are off to India in November with a group of Belly Dancers from Sydney and will be visiting the Taj Mahal and lots of interesting places in Northern India. So the next photo will be the real thing!!!!!

Feb 26th 2007- Rio to Australia

I have liken life to airport situation. You will get to your destination (ie your purpose in life) but there might be delays due to technical difficulties, weather storms, time delays, etc but if you are patient enough and just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride, make sure that you have all you need ie, lots of muchies, a good book, good company and musics to listen to or even meeting up with strangers in similar situations like yourself, regardless of time, in the end you will always reach your intended destination. That's my food for thought for the day!!!!!!

This is our last group photo together before heading home to Australia. Goodbye Sth America!!!! Until next time!!!!!

Feb 25th 2007 - Manaus, Brazil

Had a quick morning dip in the Negro river. I had breakfast and was joined by the resident parrot of the lodge.

Everyone was ready and off we went to the airport to get back to Rio. One thing I learnt about South America is that planes are never on time. This is where I really learnt to be patient and not get too flushed and let things go with the flow as they say here.

Feb 24th 2007 - Manaus, Brazil

2 hour hike into the amazon jungle with our guide 'Black Moses' He is such a character!!!!!! Moses showed us the jungle and it is very educational. Had to watched where we walked as there were snakes and spiders around. Spiders not a worry but snakes...urgh!!!!!

Then it was off to the monkey santuary on the other side.

They were a pretty cheeky lot these monkeys. Back to the Ecopark for a quick lunch and a nanna nap. The afternoon is schedule to meet up with the Amazonian Jungle people.

The locals put on a dance and show for us and we had a look at their way of life in the jungle. The kiddies are so cute!!!!!

On the way back to the Ecopark, the heavens opened up and we were caught in a heavy downpour. Very refreshing and this is what I expected from the rainforest. The lightning was spectacular to watch.

Then it was off to spot some alligators in the dark.

It was amazing to watch the shinning eyes of the alligators in the waters when Moses shined the spotties on them.

It was a very eventful day and tommorrow we will be heading back to Rio overnight and then homeward bound. I can't believed that I have been on the go for 3 1/2 weeks in South America. It felt like months and am looking forward to going home and missing my three babies lots. Betcha they will be happy and thrill to have me home with them.

Feb 23rd 2007 - Manaus, Brazil

Finally here at the Amazon!!! Saw the meeting of the two rivers, the Amazon and the Negro river.

The Negro river is clear with a pH of 4.2 which makes it acidic and it is alot warmer. The Amazon river is muddy/clayey and it is cool to the touch as the river flows from the Andes mountain from Peru. It is amazing to see the two rivers meet and there is a clear distinction and becuase of the different properties, these two river does not mix at all.

The Amazon river is 8700km and is the world longest river running from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean.

We did a spell of pirahna fishing but no bites from them except catfishes.

We were greeted by the locals in their long boat and they brought along anaconda, alligators and sloths.

The sloths are so beautiful. I touched the anaconda and it felt cool and soft. I was not game enough to have it around my neck. I cradled the alligator and they do have sharp claws.

We arrived at the amazon Ecopark. It is beautiful and out of this world.

My room is very nice and all I can hear is the birds and insects chirping outside my windows. It is so peaceful and went out to the natural rock pool for a quick dip and then down to the Negro river for a swim. The waters here is so warm. I was a little skeptical to go for a swim when there are pirahnas, alligators etc but what the heck!!! You only live once so live dangerously.

Feeling quite exhausted as it has been a full on day. Dinner and then straight to beddybye. The holiday is slowly coming to an end and what a finale to have a relaxating couple of days in the jungle to finish such a glorious holiday.

I am so glad that I have taken the chance to come to this adventure and there are no regrets what so ever and I can't wait for the next one with all these like minded people which I can now call friends.