"Why did I decide to walk? Walking will leave me the most open and accessible to meet people, to be fully immersed in their everyday activities, and to fully appreciate the rich texture of each culture. It is also to build trust. I can’t be a part of life and lives through the windows of a moving vehicle; life has to be breathed, tasted, and one’s pace adjusted to its more subtle rhythms. I’ll rely on the kindness from people and strangers for shelter and companionship. I hope my journey will help build bridges of cross-cultural trust and understanding by revealing that there are far more similarities than differences that bind us together as one tribe on this planet."

Over the next two years, Australia’s rugged brown and often hostile land became her constant companion as Almitra crossed the world’s 6^th largest country from east to west and met people from all walks of life in the towns, cities, and small communities she visited. After crossing the Nullabor Plain, it was up to Alice Springs in Australia’s "red centre" and then across the country’s eastern half to finish in Cairns on the 16^th August, 1999. Averaging 10-13 miles a day, Almitra immersed herself in local cultures as she travelled to meet people, visit schools, and share her travel tales and photos with those she met. Travel tales and photos that you, the reader, can also share on this website.

During this time, dire warnings about her safety as a woman travelling alone continued to flow as "freely as the beers in Australia’s pubs," Almitra recounted. "You must be very courageous or crazy!" many said.

"It doesn’t take courage, though, to follow one’s destiny. My fears have also nothing to do with outside influences, so I do not consider myself courageous at all."

"When my children left home, I came across this quote by an unknown author: "My only regrets are the risks I didn't take". I made a vow right then and there to face my fears, not timidly but head on, and boldly."

As Almitra crossed the city limits of Cairns, she also crossed the ‘finish line’ of the Australian leg of her journey. It was a major milestone in her journey, but also another ‘first step’; the first step towards a great many new and undiscovered experiences that lay ahead of her, beyond Australia’s borders.

"No, it’s not over; the odyssey has just begun."

Papua New Guinea and the rest of the world beckoned her onwards…

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The itinerary below outlines the path Almitra will be taking across Papua New Guinea and the rest of the world. While the dates are only approximate, we hope they will give those of you that might want to meet Almitra or even wish to offer her food and shelter, the opportunity to do so. During her travels, Almitra will be relying on the goodwill and generosity of the people she meets, or in her own words: "I seek to convey what I believe in my heart is true; that the majority of humankind is generous, trusting and helpful. I'll rely on this kindness from a stranger amongst them for my shelter and companionship."

-Madang (north-west of Port Moresby on coast)

-Fly to Goroka (just south of Madang in the highlands); attend festival Sing

Sing; walk the highlands

-Fly to Port Moresby (capital on south coast and 300 kms from south-east tip of mainland)

-Attend festival Sing Sing

-Bus to Hula: attend Hiri Mooale Festival

-Fly to Rabaul: visit volcano on new Britain (top eastern tip); walk

-Boat/ferry to New Ireland (across the St George Channel)

-Walk from Namatanai north to Kaving (capital) on east side (200 kms) stopping in villages during the night.

-End of Papua New Guinean leg.

-Fly back to Cairns (Australia)

(more detailed itineraries for each country will follow. Please note these dates are only approximate)

April - May 2000: New Zealand (a more detailed itinerary will be posted very soon)

May - Sept 2000: China (part of the Great Wall as well as through the country)

Oct - Nov 2000: Vietnam

Dec - January 2001: Cambodia

2001: Almitra will head west towards Thailand and India.