BACKPACKING ALONE

My biggest worry while traveling alone from Cape Town to Johannesburg was that I would get lonely, that I would not meet people along the way. But if it's something that I have proven to myself in these weeks it's that when you travel with an open mind and an open heart you will meet people along the way that you connect with. I have a genuine interest in people and I think people can tell that I am authentic. As long as you mean no harm and approaches people with no expectations more than kindness and curiosity in return then you can't be in the wrong. Then there will always be people you don't connect with but if someone is not interested in getting to know me I don't take it personal, I'm not everyone's cup of tea. One of the most beautiful things I was told on this trip was that I am always wearing a smile. Such a small comment but I took it to my heart and I since I believe that life should be about joy and happiness I take it as a sign that I am on the right path. And let's face it, traveling alone is not always a walk in the park but it makes it possible to learn more about yourself, you have time to make that journey inwards that normally might  be pushed away by everyday life.

DAY 7-9 // HOGSBACK // AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES

I left Port Elisabeth early in the morning and arrived in Hogsback in the late afternoon. Hogsback is situated high up on the Amathole mountains of the Eastern Cape Province and it's surrounded by the centuries-old Afro-montane forest. I checked in at Away with the fairies and got a beautiful little cabin that overlooked the mountain. There was a nice vibe from the start at this backpackers and I knew that I was gonna enjoy the two nights I had booked there. Sadly I had gotten a bad cold in The Grags and I wasn't able to hike that much. I did one sunrise hike to The old tree and I could easily understand where the fairy thing comes from. There is something magical about that forest, if you had been there with me as the sun started rising and showering the woods with light you would have understood what I meant. In the evenings there was a campfire that we all gathered around. I met some cool Australians and another Swede who is also traveling alone. I can highly recommend both this area and this place. If you go there you must try their pizza, it's multo delicato and of course take a bath in probably the most famous bathtub on instagram. 

ONE DAY // SELF PORTRAIT

"So much of what causes heartache is our wanting things to be different than they are" That quote is from The Book of Joy with Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, a book my dear friend Pete loaned me in Cape Town. I read it slowly and I try to reflect and I write my favorite parts down in my notebook. I'm not even half way through and I learned so much about myself, It's like traveling with a therapist. I am backpacking from Cape Town to Johannesburg on my own and even if I meet people along the way this book is my constant companion. At this moment I am sitting on a porch in Chinsta on the Wild Coast, looking over the beautiful beach and drinking a cup of coffee. I just read about mental immunity and how we can train ourselves, to not avoid the pain but how to handle it better when it comes to us. We don't put our hand on the stove when it's warm because we know it's gonna hurt and we should think the same way about our minds. I know that a lot of my self portraits comes from suffering of the mind. But I also know that I would not be able to make these images if I was in a dark place. Because when you are in a dark place your are so focused on the pain and yourself that nothing else matters. I like to think of it as me being able to manifest those moments where I have felt it or that I am able to connect to it, a bit like acting. I had my heart broken badly twice and the second time I felt like something in me had changed forever and back then I embraced that, not knowing I was letting the darkness even deeper into myself. We all carry around things that makes our hearts heavy, it's part of being human. I'm absolutely loving life and I see the fact that I am sensitive as a strength, it allows me to feel it all and to connect with others. And everything passes, just as long as we allow ourselves to feel it then eventually it will transform. At this writing moment I find myself in a familiar place, a place where I have to be grateful for what have been but not linger on it, not hoping for more and just look ahead. The things I can't change I simply have to accept and avoid heartache by wanting things to be different then they are. I'll probably find a way in these days to turn that into a photograph...

DAY 4-6 WILD SPIRIT / THE GRAGS

After spending 24 h in Mossel Bay it was such a relief to arrive at the Wild Spirit in The Grags. I rate myself as a 7 on a 10 hippie scale and after 5 minutes I knew this place would suit me. The location in the forrest was magical and the people there just so sweet. I arrived in the evening, just as the sun was going down and you could see it set over the forrest. Soon people started gathering around on the porch and there was live music. Once that was finished we were a group that gathered around the fire and just talked, it was so nice being around so many friendly faces. A girl sang a low key cover of an Adele song and my eyes teared up, I wish you could have been there to hear it. I was quite sleepy from the trip and went to bed early. I had a plan to catch the sunrise which I did, I was the only one on the porch and I thought that was a big strange. Ever since meeting Lisa on my last days in Cape Town and learning that according to my element in Ayurveda I should be in bed by 10 and up by 6 I am trying to do that. It's working surprisingly well ( I know mum, pretty shocking right). After witnessing the sunrise I did a small hike to a waterfall and arrived back in time for their wonderful brekky on the porch. I saw that you could get a free shuttle to a long hike and I thought why not, that sounds like a great activity. I have planned ahead when it comes to my stops on the way to Johannesburg but once I arrive I just go with the flow. The hike was beautiful and it was nice to do it together with other people for a change. The hike took us down in Nature Valley, a place people had recommended to me and the beach was truly beautiful. We swam in a lagoon and after walking for hours that was amazing. In the end my feet started giving up on me and I was in pain for the last part. It sucks that once one part of your body starts getting better another one just starts acting up. So the next day I just took it slow and sat on the porch and drank at least 5 cups of tea. I hung out with the girls I got to know the day before but sadly I am pretty sure we won't meet up again since I am doing my trip faster than them. I am meeting so many women that are traveling alone in South Africa just like me and it's inspiring. Many people have expressed concern about me doing this backpacking and I know that I have to be street smart and careful but I refuse to live in fear. At The Wild Spirit I also got to know Rosie Gabrielle who is traveling through the world alone on her bike, pretty bad ass. Just like me she is a photographer and we had cool talks on photography, fear and life. Check out her work here: https://www.instagram.com/rosiegabrielle/
After two night in The Grags I continued my trip towards Port Elisabeth where I just stopped over night before continuing my trip to Hogsback. Since I arrived there in the night and left there in the morning I didn't really take any photos. I was happy to get out of the city and on my way to the countryside again.