amyclementine

[amyclementine]

I'm often asked if I get scared traveling in the van alone. I alway wonder what they mean, what monsters are they thinking of? And I question my naivety. Then one night, after traveling along this lone road for hours, I did feel a spine tingling fear. I was alone, in pitch darkness, with no reception, a place where no one can hear you scream. The fear needled into my psyche and I felt it as a full body experience. In morning light, the fear had dissipated and even seemed foolish. I'd merely let a monster into my head. (at Cooktown, Queensland, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CKAbzgsAiY-/?igshid=15pt760w9m3u5

[amyclementine]

Socialist Alternative at the Climate Action Protest in Sydney. #climateaction #climateprotest #socialistalternative #unistudentsforclimatejustice #bushfiresaustralia #australiafires #scomomustgo (at Sydney, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7J_cN0gO0c/?igshid=trri54eoib8s

[amyclementine]

Extinction Rebellion crew at the Climate Action Protest in Sydney. #climateaction #climatejustice #extinctionrebellion #extinctionrebellionsydney #extinctionrebellionaustralia #bushfiresaustralia #australiafires #sydneyprotest #scomomustgo (at Sydney, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7J-2XfAbIG/?igshid=1xwbsmhaugtrg

[amyclementine]

One of my favourite shots is one from a final moment with charismatic speaker, Gavin Stanbrook. So many, united in a common fight. Paired with a shot from the start. Such a massive turn out. #climatechange #climateaction #bushfiresaustralia #australiafires #extinctionrebellion #unistudentsforclimatejustice #gavinstanbrook #portest #scomomustgo (at Sydney, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7I9ub4Aws2/?igshid=z90gvn2vpxrv

[amyclementine]

Meet sister cows, Woori and Doori. While I brought in the near year breathing fresh clean air on my friends property in country QLD, my aunty and cousins were taking shelter from the out of control fires on a beach down south with hundreds of others, horses, dogs and cats. (They're fine). These moo babes don't know how lucky they are. (at Cootharaba, Queensland, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6939pDgSml/?igshid=rw3t6e60hz8l

[amyclementine]

Goodbye Brighton! Here I'm cycling behind Miranda, my half sister. She led me on an epic ride along the coast. Two only children having a sisterly time. 👯 (at Brighton) https://www.instagram.com/p/B35K4NCA54t/?igshid=xngrgdt87807

[amyclementine]

Brighton Beach. Where the water temperature peaks at about 17°C at the height of summer. Still nice to gaze at. (at Brighton) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3pDcbbAMsw/?igshid=1nqoysmgcqef5

[amyclementine]

Oh Bowie. (at Brighton) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nWjJFggar/?igshid=75npla06r4w4

[amyclementine]

A field of figs on that bright orange earth. In love with the colours I found in Portugal. (at Portugal) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3QU2PBAAGg/?igshid=lwmrky42tsud

[amyclementine]

The trail leading to one of my favourite places. Nature is medicine. (at Portugal) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3NvQg_AVkm/?igshid=1k5dlnc8conxb

[amyclementine]

Soon this will all be condensed into a few memories. Everything so tangible and seemingly important to me now, gone. Makes a little wave of nausea in my stomach thinking about it, but I ride it out and let myself get excited about stepping forward, carrying with me a little more wisdom and a little more strength. View from near me and Alice's camping spot on our final two nights together. Picnic dinners and red wine with a sunset view. (at Praia Da Ribeira Do Cavalo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FAu2_ggL_/?igshid=r8mpiivi61kd

[amyclementine]

It wasn't easy, the first couple of days being alone, after spending 11 fun filled days road tripping with one of my best friends from home, but low and lonely times are good for processing and reflecting. There was something about being in the company of someone who has known you for over two decades which was so easy and energising. I didn't know how it would be traveling with another person after traveling solo so much, but it was all laughs and we seemed to be always be on the same page, riding the same moods, same travel styles. The day before she left I was walking along the beach and felt overwhelmed, I hadn't planned anything for after her visit. What next? I felt directionless and for the first time I felt a pang of homesickness, I miss my friends, my mum. I love Portugal, but this chapter feels like it's coming to a close, it's served its purpose. I'm feeling so excited about new beginnings with familiar friends and family, on Australian soil. (at Portugal) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2t4wWqgwD_/?igshid=1oer79ynk925m

[amyclementine]

I'm a little bit in love with certain colours and textures I've notice in Portugal. If I'd grown up here and walked this street often I wonder what beauty, if any, I'd see. Being in a new place seems to awaken the senses and switches on a little image seeking radar in my mind. #collectingcolours (at Pêra, Faro, Portugal) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1e_G6dgBdf/?igshid=iioib12h7yui

[amyclementine]

I spent the last two and a half weeks in Berlin. Not to sure how the time slipped away but I know I had fun and it was made special by all the old and new friends I saw there. Even though Berlin and I don't always see eye to eye we've made peace with each other and something about leaving this time felt resolved and final, even a little bit sad. The picture here does not represent how I spent most of my time in Berlin. It's me at Tempelhofer Feld, which use to be an airport and now it's a public park where people picnic, drink beer or roller blade. Berlin has many cool public spaces. (at Tempelhofer Feld) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzwKCEtgB58/?igshid=zgr9cz0dvybt

[amyclementine]

Reconnecting in Berlin with this legend 💙 (at Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzD5OsEgeOI/?igshid=188cxcvh3x5el

[amyclementine]

I loved Pat so much - loved - death transforms you from an is to a was.  That always seemed so strange to me. She’s gone, but my feelings for her are still present. I had this heart warming conversation with her while I was in Portugal. We chatted for over an hour. She said she could hear in my voice how happy I was, she was so proud of me, she said I was like a bird free of its cage, she told me, “live your own life, do what you have to do". Damn, I love/loved her so much. So I question why I don’t feel sadder right now. Maybe because I already mourned when she could no longer stand up and they had to lift her skinny body up off the chair with a machine, so small and fragile. This woman who was the matriarch of my family, who had favourite shops and restaurants, loved cats, strong willed, young souled, fun and independent. Now she couldn’t stand and needed help eating, I wanted to tell the nurses, “Don’t you understand, this is Pat Piddington!". That felt harder than death, after that death came as a relief.   The people who loved her stepped forward to be with her while she started dying (if you can pinpoint when dying starts). I realised that the time spent being present with people you love is all you really have, at the end of the day. Where you’ve been,  what you’ve done, what you own, comes to nothing. So, tell them that you love them, that you’re sorry, that they helped you, but most importantly, be present with them, properly present, because we don’t have much time left, probably less than you think.   No need to be sorry for my loss, be happy for what I had. https://www.instagram.com/p/BxBSzsSnvUy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1m8q662ey7s9w

[amyclementine]

Another on from Japan 2016. How good is being in transit? Sitting on the ferry or the train and watching the world go by as you let your mind wander. Especially in a new country. Better than TV. (at Japan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvUs1ikF7mI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=186vlog9j7cgq