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So I fell into a gutter in India.

The Jokhang temple is the holiest temple in Lhasa, the ancient capital of Tibet. The first time I entered the temple I could feel the energy of its sacred history. Rows and rows of candles were casting shadows on the dark walls.

One of the main reasons I chose to visit East Africa was the possibility of seeing endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. What I thought would be a highlight of the trip turned out to be one of the best days of my life.

The youngest of the two sisters approaches, her playful nature shining through a timid smile. Loose strands of her jet black hair hang from a messy ponytail. I grin her way and wave hola.

The three of us were about to enter the highly restricted exclusion zone around Chernobyl's reactor. Myself, a friend, and our guide - Yuri, in his noisy Lada. After a two hour drive from Kiev, we were at the first check-point.

Don Quixote had his horse, Che Guevara had his motorcycle, Batman had the Batmobile and I've got Black Betty, a beautifully shiny black scooter.

When traveling alone in a foreign land, especially when you’re a woman, you must always be careful. Never give your passport or money to a total stranger and expect it all back. But, that’s what I did exactly.

I was standing beside the highway about 5 miles outside of Napier, New Zealand. I was headed north towards Rotorua and eventually Auckland and on the power of my thumb I’d made it out to the highway proper.

It took 10 days to reach Lake Zorkul. Our small group had experienced and endured day-long drives in over-full, increasingly decrepid four-wheel-drive vehicles on decreasingly bearable roads.

Conversation stops midstream. I’m the only fair-haired Gringo on the bus. “Buenos dias”