I'm a Brit who's been travelling & living in Asia for the past 5 years. I began my Oriental odyssey in Istanbul & travelled east through Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand, China, Laos, Cambodia & Viet Nam, where I have been based for the last 3 or 4 years.

It has been challenging & enlightening as a lone woman experiencing Moslem, Hindu, Buddhist & communist lands, variously as adventurer, volunteer, spiritual seeker & English teacher; exploring & documenting what it is to be human, in the wake of natural disasters, during revolution, in war & in peace, & how we treat our Mother Earth & all our kin.

In former times in the UK & the US I also worked with wood, plants & then people. For a decade my profession was Shiatsu therapist. I did project work, treating people with HIV, addiction & mental health problems. Then teaching English to refugees in the UK drew me to Asia...

In Viet Nam, though I've made my living principally as an English teacher, I have written & spoken much about Vietnamese culture, the environment & the wildlife trade. My non-fiction stories have been published in the Guide Magazine & Vietnam Heritage, one in Ultimate Bird Lover book & two have won Short Story awards. I write primarily to share my knowledge of the Beauty of this Earth & its desecration.

I recently took a great leap across continents to Africa, to join an old, old friend in Nairobi, Kenya. I tried so hard to find ways to get there without flying, but surrendered in the end to a long haul flight from Bangkok. I am planning to plant many trees to compensate. And hoping to connect with some Pulse Wire women there.