Sugar highs, Leaving lows...

Three weeks at The Golden Door Retreat in Queensland left me invigorated, healthier, more energetic, and positive. Whilst their my eyes were opened to natural ways and means to cure your body, holistic health, the benefits of vegetarianism, and alternative therapies. Whilst there I embraced the life change and tried several of the treatments on offer : flower reading, naturopathy, feldenkrais, hypnotism. I tried to cure my sugar addiction, found out about my intolerance to gluten, attempted to realign my posture, and sort out bad sleeping habits.

I left the Golden Door with a spring in my step clutching my two sugar-free muffins determined to make some changes to my lifestyle and diet. I arrived home to Melbourne to find a welcome home spread of pick and mix, chocolate, cheesecake and wine. Needless to say I couldn't get to sleep until 5am that night...my body was so high off the sugar it hadn't had over the last three weeks I just could not sleep! Not even a bottle of wine was enough to put me into a slumber.

 Old habits die hard and I spent my last day in Melbourne with the girls re-toxing my body with cider in the sun, then crying into an open suitcase as none of my things would fit. A fair chunk of outfits had to get left behind in various friends wardrobes, and when I toddled off to the airport there was little weight difference between myself and the 50kg of clothes I 'had' to take with me.

Australia has treated me better then I ever could have hoped, and its a country I will always hold dear to my heart. But as the fortune teller at the Golden Door said to me : Australia is just a pit stop for myself. So on to the next one : New Zealand awaits!

Emily x

"Good Neighbours become good friends"

Well my visa is almost out, and I've worked the 6 months I could at 'Neighbours' so sadly the time has come for me to say goodbye to Lou and the rest of the Ramsey Street residents! I have met some lovely people there, and I will miss rather a lot of them.

But all good things come to pass and it's time for me to move on to my next adventure. A health retreat! Many a 12 hour day at 'Neighbours' I dreamt of meditating and just having time to myself, so I decided to make this dream a reality. 'The Golden Door' in Queensland offers a work experience program, and I was lucky enough to be accepted on. In return for helping out 5 days a week for several hours with the guests I get free board, food and use of the facilities. A sneaky way to save the $3000 a week it is to stay here!

I'm currently embracing Tai Chi at sunrise, walks through the forest, meditation, yoga, delicious vegetarian food, swimming under the stars and the positive attitude that everybody seems to embody here. It also helps that Queensland is ten times sunnier and warmer then Melbourne! I'm here for the next three weeks but I'm quite tempted to extend my stay as I'm enjoying the stress-free, simple pace here. 

Now whats the bets I'll be running for the nearest MacDonalds in a few days? 

Emily x